Title: The Story of the Tour de France (vol. 1)
Author: McGann, Bill & McGann, Carol
Published by: Dog Ear Publishing (Indianapolis)
Year: 2006
Date reviewed: 04.12
ISBN: 1-59858-280-5

In the introduction to this book the authors, themselves American, explain that most Americans don’t understand the significance and depth of feeling the European cycling Grand Tours generate in their fans. They set out to explain through the history of the greatest Tour, the Tour de France, how and why this race is so much more than a mere test of athletic ability.

I don’t think they quite achieve their objective but nonetheless the book’s well worth reading. It covers each edition of the race year by year from the start in 1903 through to 1964: the more recent years are in volume 2. Along the way there are some fascinating stories of hardship, rivalry, endurance, triumph and tragedy. The story of how the Tour began, its management as the personal fiefdom of its founder Henri Desgrange and its evolution into the major event it had become by the 1960s is as interesting as the tales of the riders and teams. In the early years the stages were huge, roads often unsurfaced, bicycles had fixed wheels (no gears, no freewheeling) and riders had not only to do all their own repairs without help but finish each stage still carrying everything they started with.

The historical detail is excellent: commentators far more knowledgeable than I praise how well the McGanns have covered the subject. What was missing for me was some sense of passion and excitment in the writing to reflect the emotions the race inspires in cycling enthusiasts. You can read it as a reference work to find the story of the race in a given year or to follow the career of any of the top riders of the early era. You can enjoy the historical information about the jerseys, the equipment, the changing rules of the race. But if you aren’t already excited and intrigued by the dramas played out on different levels during the three weeks of the Tour I’m not convinced this book will persuade you to invest the time and effort to become a cycling fan.