The Tour de France Companion: A Nuts, Bolts & Spokes Guide to the Greatest Race in the World

With the popularity of Lance Armstrong and the Tour outstripping our knowledge of bicycle racing, here is THE TOUR DE FRANCE, a fully illustrated primer that explains the strategies, ground rules, history, personalities, techniques and technology behind one of the world’s most spectacular and brutal sporting events. It’s all clear: How teams work together. How their bikes are different from our bikes. What it takes to be a racer – the rare combination of slow-and fast-twitch muscles, a huge cardiovascular system, and an extraordinary toughness that allows you to endure more pain that your rivals. The jerseys: yellow, green, polka-dot, white, and the "combativity prize" to the rider who tries the hardest (look for the red race number.) The complicated timing structure, including why it’s so difficult to finish a tour – every rider must finish within ten percent or so of the fastest guy every single day, or head for home. Even what happens when the leader needs to make a rest stop – no, contenders don’t zoom off into the sunset. Includes a glossary, stats, historic timeline, 2004 tour map, and more.