Book description
Racing cyclists all ride the same frail machine and all are equal
before the demands of the road. But what is it that makes a winner? What
special attributes do winners need to give them that extra edge? To find
out, Fife analyses and illustrates the moral strength, intelligence,
racing nous, cunning, tactical acumen and superior mental resilience of
the champion racing cyclist. Drawing on exclusive interviews and
personal acquaintance with some of the best riders to have raced on the
continent, as well as mechanics and team-support crew, Inside the
Peloton is a vivid portrait of the complex character of cycle racing. It
is an unparalleled, in-depth study of ambition, the rage to win, the
capacity to recover from defeat, the harrowing misery of lost morale and
the hard initiation faced by every newcomer - however talented - to the
unforgiving demands of professional competition. Provocative and rich in
insight, this book is a very personal account by Fife. Read it to
discover: What made Merckx, apparently invincible, so prey to doubt?
--What rendered the massively talented Poulidor so beatable? --Why did
Sean Yates, with a cardiovascular and lung capacity equal to that of
Merckx, ride so contentedly as a domestique? Graeme Fife is a
full-time writer with several books published in the UK and the USA. He
has written, directed and performed in many plays and stories for stage
and radio. A keen cyclist, he has ridden all the celebrated cols of the
Tour de France legend.
