Alpe d'Huez: The Story of Pro Cycling's Greatest Climb

Goog guide for possible future pesonal bike ride/vacation/event.

The book could have been called “The Second Visit to Alpe du Huez by the TDF”. The book dwells to much on this one instance and on Lucien Van Impe. It was like the author needed to meet a minimum word count. Instead of one chapter on this one visit he starts off almost every chapter referring to this visit. Another item that would have made this book more enjoyable would have been a couple maps of the climb showing the numbered turns and landmarks. A profile of the grades between the turns would have been nice as well and would have made the book more enjoyable. However the rest of the book is well written and anyone who has followed le Tour de France will enjoy it. Tha is why I am giving four stars instead of five.

I appreciate the history of racing and this book has inspired me to try and ride this. My bucket list.

Interweaving a story re-telling the 1976 race up the famous climb, Peter Cousins recounts the history of the mountain, the town, road, resort, and finally how it became one of the iconic climbs of the Tour de France.

Me he leído del tirón este libro sobre la mítica cima del Alpe d'huez. Tomando como hilo argumental el duelo de 1976 entre Zoetemelk y Van Impe, el autor disecciona las características de la ascensión, las historias ocultas, las vidas, triunfos y dramas personales de quienes triunfaron en su cima, la fascinación que despierta en los seguidores holandeses, la época negra que comenzó con la descalificación de Pollentier en 1978 y siguió con la proclamación de campeones supuestamente dopados. Pese a ser un lector habitual sobre ciclismo, el libro me ha aportado nuevos conocimientos. Recomendado para lectores que disfruten subiendo puertos. Imprescindible para los que preparen un viaje a la zona.

the book was priced at a value price and received on time and in good standard based on initial sales description

A decent read if you're an occasional cycling fan who enjoys watching Le Tour.The Alpe is undoubtedly the most famous of all the stages on the tour and these tales undoubtedly showcase some of the tales which have made it so legendary.However, in terms of both the stories and the style of writing for my money it pales into insigificance when placed alongside Etape by Richard Moore which made me laugh out loud (which was somewhat alarming for the woman sitting next to me at the pool in Fuerteventura where I was on holiday) and also reduced me to tears (which she found even more alarming).You won't be disappointed reading this. It is entertaining. But there are better books out there

Almost too much information formost people but for me a mine of stuff I never knew before.

This is a really interesting view of one of the great stages of the tour De France. Lots of history of from when it became a stage up to the present day and accounts of riding it from the riders' points of view.Highly recommended.