Book Review: The Race and The Tour

by Steve Johnston

A few months ago our beloved webmaster included a few recommended readings on the LBC newsletter – one of the suggested readings was The Race with its sequel The Tour and as we find the sun setting earlier and earlier and the end of our summer riding season some of you might find yourself looking for some other way to get that "cycling fix" that we have come to rely on from week to week.  These books are your answer.

While I have only able to witness the Tour de’ France from a comfy sofa or lazy boy – Dave Shields puts you in the race.  Not only from the perspective of a cyclist but also in the car with le directeur sportif, to the fans and freaks and the sights and sounds of Le’ Tour.

American Ben Barnes rides for Team Banque Federale Peugeot as domestique for team leader Thierry Depardieu a popular French cyclist who has won Le’ Tour two previous occasions.  Ben is suddenly thrust in the team leader role as a result of a bone breaking crash by Depardieu.  Ben soon learns that winning Le’ Tour can mean much more than being number 1 in the GC at the Champ-Elysees.

As if taken from today’s cycling headlines - Ben is faces the dilemma of using enhancing drugs to boost his performance over the stages that remain in the race.  These opportunities are provided and encouraged not only by the Banque Federale owner Monsieur Robidoux – who will stop at nothing to get his team in the Maillot Jaune – but includes Ben’s French girlfriend who is recruited to entice Ben’s efforts for a victory.  Ben is forced to deal with Robidoux’s power of persuasion for victory at any cost when pivotal Banque Federale domestiques are intentionally removed from the race during a crucial mountain stage. Ben also learns that the love of his life has a past involvement with doping professional cyclists and discovers that his hero and mentor used drugs to ascend to his cycling fame.

Ben reflects on his upbringing and the people that assisted his progress to get his to this stage in his career to decide how and if he can finish this "historical" Le’ Tour de France.

If you want to know how Ben finishes his race – read The Race and The Tour.   If you don’t want to take my word for it – Dave Shield was awarded the Benjamin Franklin Award as the best new fiction voice for The Race in 2005.  And if that still doesn’t entice you enough - Bob Roll read the books and sums ups his thoughts nicely… and I quote "Dave's books are really good. Go buy 'em!" 

Dave Shields meticulously researched information for these books with interviews with pro athletes, scientist and medical professionals. For more information on Dave Shields and his books – visit www.daveshields.com.   Trust me you will like these books.