Geraint Thomas - How a Welshman Won The Tour De France - Softcover

Phil Stead

3.54

13 ratings by Goodreads

9781912631049: Geraint Thomas - How a Welshman Won The Tour De France

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1912631040 ISBN 13: 9781912631049

Publisher: Y Lolfa, 2018

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The story of a Welsh cycling fan's 25-year love affair with le Tour de France, culminating in the joy of witnessing Geraint Thomas' unexpected victory in summer 2018. Is this the greatest ever Welsh sporting achievement? How does an unassuming bloke from Whitchurch win le Tour de France? And what was it like to see Geraint win?

Table of Content

Prologue Stage 1: Noirmoutier-en-l'�le to Fontenay-le-Comte Stage 2: Mouilleron-Saint-Germain to La Roche-sur-Yon Stage 3: Team Time Trial - Cholet to Cholet Stage 4: La Baule to Sarzeau Stage 5: Lorient to Quimper Stage 6: Brest to M�r-de-Bretagne Stage 7: Foug�res to Chartres Stage 8: Dreux to Amiens Stage 9: Arras to Roubaix 16 July - Rest day: Welsh cycling before Sky Stage 10: Annecy to Le Grand-Bornand Stage 11: Albertville to La Rosi�re Stage 12: Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Alpe d'Huez Stage 13: Bourg d'Oisans to Valence Stage 14: Saint-Paul-Trois-Ch�teaux to Mende Stage 15: Millau to Carcassonne 23 July - Rest day: Geraint Thomas Stage 16: Carcassonne to Bagn�res-de-Luchon Stage 17: Bagn�res-de-Luchon to Saint-Lary-Soulan Stage 18: Trie-sur-Ba�se to Pau Stage 19: Lourdes to Laruns Stage 20: ITT - Saint-P�e-sur-Nivelle to Espelette Stage 21: Houilles to Paris Champs-�lys�es Acknowledgements

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Review:

We were all cycling fans in Wales in 2018, werent we? Well, we certainly were for a couple of sunny, yellow weeks in July when, as Phil Stead puts it, our greatest cyclist won the greatest race. Phil himself is no stranger to following the Tour de France, and in this must-read book for occasional and full-time cycling enthusiasts alike, he combines a stage-by-stage account of Geraint Thomass race with memorable anecdotes from his own years of watching the Tour from the roadsides. Theres also plenty of analysis of the sport itself, presented in an appealing and accessible way for anyone who enjoyed watching a Welshman reach the top of the podium on the Champs-lyses this summer. As ever, Phil Stead writes eloquently and entertainingly, and yes, its a compelling read that will see you flying with the peloton and the maillot jaune all the way from the prologue to Paris. But the Tour, of course, features rest days during the three weeks of racing, and this gives the author the opportunity to share his knowledge of Welsh cycling from the early days onwards, in a particularly riveting chapter about our nations relatively unknown cycling past. Theres detailed analysis too of the rise of Geraint Thomas himself, on the second rest day, from his days at Maindy Flyers to 2018, the year when everything seemed to fall into place. And for anyone who felt this year, more than ever, that the sofa was no place to be watching the Tour, Phil provides plenty of inspiration and practical advice on travelling with the Tour, as well as tales of his epic rides to conquer some of the Tours biggest climbs. It was impossible not to smile while watching Geraint Thomas ride through Paris, the red dragon flying. And for me, the same was true of reading Phils account of the Welshmans historic win. Always informative and interesting, the stage-by-stage chapters bring it all back, capturing the crucial elements of each day of racing. And theres never a dull moment in Phils account of his own Tour escapades either, with several memorable tales, not least of his holiday-interrupting efforts to follow this years race, once the realisation set in that he would be watching a new chapter being written in Welsh sporting history. Im glad youve been following the Tour for years, Phil, and this years in particular, and can recommend your account of it to anyone and everyone who enjoyed watching 'G' win for Wales. Nia Peris It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgment should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council. Gellir defnyddior adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru. -- Welsh Books Council

About the Author:

Phil Stead was born in Pontypridd and lived in Cardiff until he moved to north Wales in 2004. A sports columnist for Golwg magazine for the past 12 years, he is also the author of Red Dragons - The story of Welsh Football and Ar Dy Feic ('On Your Bike').

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