The Racer: The Inside Story of Life on the Road

(Paperback)

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Description

A unique and powerful insight into the mind of a professional cyclist in his last year before retirement, from British cyclist David Millar, writer of the bestselling Racing Through the Dark. What is it really like to be a racer What is it like to be swept along at 60kmh in the middle of the pack What happens to the body during a high-speed chute What tactics must teams employ to win the day, the jersey, the grand tour What sacrifices must a cyclist make to reach the highest levels What is it like on the bus In the hotels What camaraderie is built in the confines of a team What rivalries How does it feel to be constantly on the road, away from loved ones, tasting one more calorie-counted hotel breakfast David Millar offers us a unique insight into the mind of a professional cyclist during his last year before retirement. Over the course of a season on the World Tour, Millar puts us in touch with the sights, smells and sounds of the sport. This is a book about youth and age, fresh-faced excitement and hard-earned experience. It is a love letter to cycling. 'Cycling has always been about a great deal more than its winners, and The Racer is quite a ride' Spectator

Reviews

David Millar's book takes you inside the sport of cycling while also emphasising the absurdity of it. It's quite rare for a sportsman to be so immersed and yet able to detach themselves from it all ... The parts on crashing are amazing. I felt frightened and sore reading it -- Richard Moore, author of Slaying the Badger
Cycling has always been about a great deal more than its winners, and The Racer is quite a ride -- Jon Day * Spectator *
Whats it really like to be a professional bike racer David Millar gives you an unparalleled insight -- Colin Henrys * Road Cycling UK *
A love letter to the simple pleasure of riding a bike, and a very well-written one at that -- Jamie Beach * Bike Radar *
Millar's love for what he did, and the curious world he inhabited for 18 years, shines through his prose * Scotsman *

Author Bio

David Millar was a professional cyclist for eighteen years, and was the first Briton to wear the leader's jerseys in the Tour de France, Vuelta a Espana and Giro d'Italia. He is now part of the ITV cycling commentary team and a key spokesman on anti-doping. His first book Racing Through the Dark was a bestseller and was shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award.