Promotional Information

One ageing journo’s journey on the shoulder of giants. Follow our author as he trains, rides and eats like the planet's toughest athletes, to conquer his very own Grand Tour.

Table of Contents

Prologue
Chapter 1: The Eye-opener
Chapter 2: Stolen Dreams
Chapter 3: Crossover to Road
Chapter 4: The Bloody Secret to Speed
Chapter 5: The Lion Meets the Pussy Cat
Chapter 6: The Race of Truth
Chapter 7: Go and Go Again…
Chapter 8: Fuelling Dreams
Chapter 9: Suffocating Stamina
Chapter 10: Preparing to Peak (or Pass Out)
Chapter 11: Exorcism at the Étape
Chapter 12: The Debrief
References
Acknowledgements
Appendix 1: Training notes
Appendix 2: Pro rider’s race calendar

About the Author

James Witts has a background in sports science. He's a regular writer for numerous cycling publications, including Cyclist, Cycling Plus, Pro Cycling and Rouleur.

Reviews

Humble, very funny, and full of detail.
*Ned Boulting, cycling broadcaster and author*

Essential reading for any Étape rider.
*Daniel Friebe, co-host of The Cycling Podcast*

Informative yet amusing, exhaustive yet entertaining, James Witts’ latest cycling tome has much to recommend for both casual cycling fans and grizzled racers alike.
*Matt Baird, editor of Cycling Plus*

Required reading for anyone who is at that stage in life where their waistline is becoming as concerning as their balding head, and who need a bit of motivation to just get out and do the thing they keep saying they'd love to do.
*Cillian Kelly, Global Cycling Network*

James's plan to learn how the pros do it and then apply it to his own goal of riding the Étape is educational, informative and entertaining. The education and information come from his in-depth research; the entertainment comes on the day of the Étape.
*Ed Pickering, editor of Rouleur*

Entertaining and useful guide
*road.cc*

An entertaining read ... it also offers insight into the latest thinking in sports science ... Its real value is how those lessons, learned with great care and expense, can have their principles applied to improve the cycling performance of enthusiastic amateurs.
*Pez Cycling News*

Recommended for both casual cycling fans and grizzled racers alike.
*Cycling Plus*