The Yellow Jersey Club

(Paperback)

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Description

A fascinating exploration into the psychology and physiology of Tour de France champions by one of cycling's most perceptive writers. The Yellow Jersey Club contains just twenty-six living members. To become one of this exclusive number requires complete dedication, brutal self-sacrifice and the most extraordinary physical attributes. Yet along with the ability to climb mountains, bomb along time trials and survive all the perils of the road, what really makes a Tour de France champion Edward Pickering set out on a mission to ask them, and gained some astonishing insights into the minds of cycling's best ever riders of the past forty years, from giants like Greg LeMond and Stephen Roche to more unfamiliar names like Bernard Thevenet and Joop Zootemelk. With his trademark sharp analysis and deft style, Pickering explores the myriad factors that combine to produce success. What does it take to accumulate such great mental strength, skill and endurance What are the differences as well as the key factors in common What sets these men apart from the rest of the field The Yellow Jersey Club gives the reader unprecedented access into the secrets of the greats of cycling.

Reviews

An insightful, informative and analytical look at those who have stood on the top step in Paris. * Cycling Weekly *
Pickering's narratives are cleverly deceptive; it's surprising just how much the author unravels of each winner's character... compulsive reading. * Washing Machine Post *
Throughout The Yellow Jersey Club, Pickering asks plenty of pertinent questions which he leaves up to the reader to resolve, which is something I like. It makes reading the book slower - Pickering's actively engaging you with the text - but ultimately more rewarding. -- Feargal McKay * Podium Cafe *

Author Bio

Edward Pickering is a writer and journalist who is editor of Procycling magazine. He was previously deputy editor of Cycle Sport, and has been a regular contributor to Cycling Weekly, Rouleur and The Cycling Anthology. He has also written for the New York Times and Loaded. Edward was shortlisted for Best New Writer at the British Sports Book Awards for his last book, The Race Against Time, about the rivalry between Chris Boardman and Graeme Obree, and he was also the co-author of Robbie McEwen's autobiography, One Way Road. Edward is a keen fair-weather cyclist, whose mid-life crisis is manifesting itself in an ongoing project to run a sub-three hour marathon. He also loves to indulge his other passion, taiko drumming.