Review by Booklist Review
Cycling fans who follow the polka-dot jersey (awarded to the King of the Mountains in the Tour de France) revere the prowess and suffering of competitors through steep climbs followed by harrowing descents and hairpin turns. In a follow-up to Lanterne Rouge: The Last Man in the Tour de France (2015), Leonard, a British writer and cyclist, offers a series of loosely connected essays that explore the appeal of mountain rides. Using as a backdrop his experiences on the Col de la Bonette (French Alps), Leonard not only ruminates on peddling up and down mountains, but he also shares insight from American cyclist Joe Dombrowski and provides fascinating historical and geographical information on mountain ranges in general, covering the early years of the tour as well as broader reflections on the role of mountains in history, from Napoleon to WWII. Includes photos and recommended list for further reading.--Brenda Barrera Copyright 2019 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Riding a bike up steep inclines for long periods of time punishes the body in every way. Cycling enthusiast Leonard (Lanterne Rouge) takes readers on a physically metaphysical journey to try and figure out the human fascination with conquering mountains. This work transcends "all things related to biking up mountains," applying a multifocal lens to the psyche that creates "climbers," from the core activity itself to the historical and cultural roots of mountain biking. Leonard covers the rarely mentioned maintenance work required to clear snowbound alpine passes in time for major cycling races and how a fitness software application can fuel a riding uphill addiction. The narrative includes ample historical accounts of famous alpine pass racing, past and present. In-depth interviews with professional cyclists (legendary and up-and-coming), who thrive as "climbers" further lend to the mystique that being first up a mountain is a significant accomplishment. VERDICT The author's passion for cycling and his scrutiny of every detail of the sport makes this latest work a shining contribution to the genre. For all libraries.-John N. Jax, Univ. of Wisconsin Lib., La Crosse © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
