Alberto Contador, El Pistolero, Clément Pernia and Julien Moreau, editions Talent Sport
Passed by the sports editorial staff at Le Figaro, Julien Moreau is releasing with another young journalist, Clément Pernia, a new reference biography on Alberto Contador, winner of the Tour de France 2007 and 2009 but also of two Tours of Italy ( 2008 and 2015) and three Vueltas (2008, 2012, 2014). Contador or the itinerary of an aerial soloist on his bicycle. A unique destiny too. Plunged into a coma at the age of 24 for three weeks, the gifted Pinto is as much the adored icon in Spain as the athlete by whom the scandal arrived with a doping case scratching his image. The title of his victory in 2010 was also withdrawn. The investigation is full of testimonies from race followers but also from great figures like Bernard Hinault and Bernard Thévenet or one of Contador’s greatest rivals, Andy Schleck.
The forces of the road, Étienne Bonamy, editions in highlight
The crazy story of the 1942 “Tour de France” organized on the initiative of a collaborationist daily in the middle of World War II. From September 28 to October 4, 72 riders set off to attack a pale imitation of the Grande Boucle called the Circuit de France. A fiasco all along the line and a parody of an ordeal that Étienne Bonamy, former editor-in-chief at L’Équipe brings to life through a magnificent novel and endearing characters, lost or wandering in this funny adventure. Exciting.
A history of cycling races, Jean-Noël Blanc, Glénat editions
A great lover of cycling and already the author of several reference works on the subject (The Tour de France will not take place, in particular), Jean-Noël Blanc retraces the fabulous odyssey of the history of cycle races, from their origins in 1867 ( with a race going from the avenue d’Antin to Versailles) to the current Grande Boucle, a planetary sporting event. From pioneers to e-pedaling, passing through cheating or the era of business cycling and its excesses, the author tells his story of cycling. We peck each chapter with curiosity.
Legendary passes, Nicolas Geay, Amphora editions
We can’t resist the urge to present this book to you once again, essential for all good cycling enthusiasts and lovers of the Tour de France when the slopes become unforgiving with the riders. Le Galibier, L’Alpe d’Huez, l’Izoard, l’Aubisque, le Tourmalet are all names that have rocked young people and fueled the wildest dreams when riding their bicycles to play Bahamontes, Pantani or other Virenque. Nicolas Geay reviews the most legendary climbs in the history of the Grande Boucle. Each difficulty is presented, dissected and explored in depth with interviews of runners. As a bonus, we appreciated the little “gear advice” and the “good plan” which help to prepare for its exit to the summits.
Jean-Paul Vespini, 1903, the epic of the first Tour de France, Mareuil editions
120 years! An eternity. The first Tour de France started from Montgeron, in the Parisian suburbs, on July 1, 1903. An extraordinary adventure for these sixty amateurs who had left their workshops and factories, ready to tackle the six 400 km stages on the program ( they are three times shorter today) being able to stretch over 17 hours! On bikes weighing 16 kilos, without brakes (you read that right!) and equipped with wooden rims, Maurice Garin was the first to engrave his name in the Tour de France prize list. An adventure but also a huge party across the country that would quickly fall in love with this event.
Snapshots of the Tour, Jérémy Lempin, self-publishing, to come
Jérémy Lempin left in a motorhome in July 2022 with the idea of diving into the heart of the post-Covid Tour, to see if the popularity of the event was intact. The photographer (winner of an Istanbul Photo Award, a Pictures of the Year International Award) who stretched the pleasure on the Women’s Tour (i.e. 5693 km in 28 stages) drew from the experience a collection of photos, a sorted human adventure, reproduced in a book “Snapshots of the Tour de France” (available at the Atelier/Galerie Taylor, 7 Rue Taylor 75010 Paris). The festive spirit and humanity burst in every shot. Behind the scenes is restored with sensitivity and proves, after the pandemic, the strength of the test of which the spectators are also actors. A selection of the best portraits established by the organizers of the Tour de France will be exhibited every morning in the Start Village, at the start of each stage.
Tour de France, Men’s Theater, Jean-Paul Ollivier, Mareuil edition.
On the shelves of our dear neighborhood bookstores, there are names that immediately catch the eye and offer the assurance of a good reading moment. Should we still present Jean-Paul Ollivier, the Mr. History of the Tour de France for four decades on public service? The retired Breton (since 2017) tells the greatest epics and dramas of the Grande Boucle through short chapters (110 in total) to be devoured on the beach, between two swims, with, in the corner of the head, the small enveloping voice of the passionate reporter that he is and will remain forever.
Luc Leblanc, The important thing is to stay alive, Solar editions
Undoubtedly the autobiography of the year of the planet bike. Luc Leblanc, 1994 world champion, 1992 French champion and former wearer of the yellow jersey, gives himself up like never before in a touching story that begins with the tragedy that marked his life: the death of his little brother, mowed down before his eyes by a driver. Little Luc, 12, was also hit before being hospitalized for many weeks, seriously injured in his leg. This injury, which will pursue him throughout his career, did not prevent him from becoming one of the most brilliant French riders of his generation. It is, like the disappearance of Gilles, the breadcrumb trail of his life. His rise, his victories with panache, his boundless admiration for Poulidor, his sometimes stormy relations with Virenque, Fignon, or Guimard, his meeting with Tapie, doping and taking EPO, the fiasco of his adventure at the Groupement or that of his project of seamless jeans, his joys, his sorrows but also the despair of the post-career accompany the reader for nearly three hundred pages. A wonderfully well-written story, nourished by a few tasty expressions from the mouth of this Limousin. Must read this summer to discover or rediscover “Lucho”.
Raymond Poulidor, Serge Laget and Jean-Paul Vespini, Mareuil editions
Already more than three years since Poulidor left us (in November 2019), Serge Laget and Jean-Paul Vespini, two essential feathers in cycling, had told in 2013 fifty years of Tour de France (from 1962 to 2012) through the eyes of our national “Poupou”, whether in the shoes of the runner, the commentator then the emblematic figure of the caravan. The duo added the stories of the editions from 2013 to 2022 based on the testimonies of those who were alongside this cycling legend, of unparalleled popularity and generosity. A remarkable story.