Boy Racer steps behind the scenes of the Tour de France. It unmasks the exotic, contradictory, hysterical and brutal world of professional cycling from the compellingly candid viewpoint of someone right in the thick of it. Written off as ‘fat’ and ‘useless’ in his youth, Mark Cavendish is now cycling's brightest star. His extraordinary quadruple stage-win at last year’s Tour proved him Britain’s best ever cyclist. Some have called him cocky, but to anyone who doesn’t like his style, Mark will simply shrug his shoulders and reply, ‘I know I’m good. There’s no point lying about it.’ Peers say that they have never seen anyone with Cavendish’s hunger for success and while this fearlessness – both in the saddle and on the record – has at times led to controversy, it has also earned him the respect of ever more fans. In Boy Racer we follow him through through the mayhem of the Tour de France in a page-turning journey of pure exhilaration.
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Review
"It's pure Cav--honest, outspoken, occasionally aggressive, imbued throughout with that trademark self-confidence...an absorbing read...But if (like me) you do harbor a certain fondness for the Manx Express, chances are you'll tear through this book with sheer delight and find yourself quoting bits of it for weeks to come." -- Podium Cafe
"Boy Racer - expertly ghosted by the cycling journalist Daniel Friebe to catch the inner conflict between the impetuousness that makes Cavendish such a daunting competitor and the introspection that makes him such an interesting person - winds its way to the top step of the podium from BMX races as a ten-year-old via spells as a bank clerk in the Douglas branch of Barclays and as a resident of the academy run by British Cycling." -- The Guardian
"Cavendish writes in a breathless style, brimming with emotion at every turn, that often seems to say more than it should. There are interesting insights into his views on drugs in the peloton and on coaches, teammates and stars of the sport. He is often disarmingly frank, sometimes too much so. Inspiring reading, perfect for the beach this summer." -- spoke.ie
"refreshingly frank and entertaining" -- Scotland on Sunday
'Boy Racer, is essentially a masterclass in the art of winning relayed through the eyes of a young, hungry and sometimes impatient embryo superstar with a penchant for entertaining industrial language. It is also highly personal and revelatory and gives you a unique insight to one of Britain's most successful and respected sportsmen worldwide.' -- Brendan Gallagher, Daily Telegraph
"Boy Racer - expertly ghosted by the cycling journalist Daniel Friebe to catch the inner conflict between the impetuousness that makes Cavendish such a daunting competitor and the introspection that makes him such an interesting person - winds its way to the top step of the podium from BMX races as a ten-year-old via spells as a bank clerk in the Douglas branch of Barclays and as a resident of the academy run by British Cycling." -- The Guardian
"Cavendish writes in a breathless style, brimming with emotion at every turn, that often seems to say more than it should. There are interesting insights into his views on drugs in the peloton and on coaches, teammates and stars of the sport. He is often disarmingly frank, sometimes too much so. Inspiring reading, perfect for the beach this summer." -- spoke.ie
"refreshingly frank and entertaining" -- Scotland on Sunday
'Boy Racer, is essentially a masterclass in the art of winning relayed through the eyes of a young, hungry and sometimes impatient embryo superstar with a penchant for entertaining industrial language. It is also highly personal and revelatory and gives you a unique insight to one of Britain's most successful and respected sportsmen worldwide.' -- Brendan Gallagher, Daily Telegraph
Review
"Boy Racer - expertly ghosted by the cycling journalist Daniel Friebe to catch the inner conflict between the impetuousness that makes Cavendish such a daunting competitor and the introspection that makes him such an interesting person - winds its way to the top step of the podium from BMX races as a ten-year-old via spells as a bank clerk in the Douglas branch of Barclays and as a resident of the academy run by British Cycling."
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By tsl04
Format:Hardcover
I have read a large number of sporting books in my time; some very good, many distinctly mediocre. This might just be the best one I have ever read.
Love him or loathe him - and it is difficult to be anywhere in between - Mark Cavendish is to sprinting on two wheels what Usain Bolt is to sprinting on two legs. If road cycling had anywhere near the same profile in the UK as athletics does, more people would be idolising this young man in the same way as the incredible Jamaican athlete.
Cavendish's autobiography weaves the tale of his four stage wins at the 2008 Tour de France with his life story up to and including his win at the 2009 Milan-San Remo classic. Although the book covers only the first two-and-a-bit years of a pro career which still (hopefully) has many successful years to come - and therefore does not include his six stage wins at the 2009 Tour - there is so much packed into the 340-odd pages that it does not feel padded at all.
The book reads in much the same way the man himself conducts himself in interviews: he shoots from the hip with his heart on his sleeve, occasionally inserting foot in mouth. But anyone who has ever seen Cav interviewed would expect no less: in a PC, PR-conscious world, here is a sportsman who is as brutally honest as he is fast. At times it is painfully obvious who he does and does not respect in the cycling world, and yet he is surprisingly self-critical, self-effacing and not afraid to admit when he has been proven wrong about someone. The book is full of little insights into the mindset of a master practitioner and behind-the-scenes revelations of what it is like to be a professional road cyclist, which make this a cut above the average sporting autobiography. Add this to the fleshing out of a person far more complex, meticulous and magnanimous (to his team) than the one-dimensional cocky narcissist sometimes portrayed in the media, and what you have here is a compelling tale that had me tearing through the pages much like the man himself does when he has the sniff of the finish line in his nostrils.
Unputdownable. Having waited a few months before buying this, I will be first in line to buy the next chapter of the story of this incredible young man.
Love him or loathe him - and it is difficult to be anywhere in between - Mark Cavendish is to sprinting on two wheels what Usain Bolt is to sprinting on two legs. If road cycling had anywhere near the same profile in the UK as athletics does, more people would be idolising this young man in the same way as the incredible Jamaican athlete.
Cavendish's autobiography weaves the tale of his four stage wins at the 2008 Tour de France with his life story up to and including his win at the 2009 Milan-San Remo classic. Although the book covers only the first two-and-a-bit years of a pro career which still (hopefully) has many successful years to come - and therefore does not include his six stage wins at the 2009 Tour - there is so much packed into the 340-odd pages that it does not feel padded at all.
The book reads in much the same way the man himself conducts himself in interviews: he shoots from the hip with his heart on his sleeve, occasionally inserting foot in mouth. But anyone who has ever seen Cav interviewed would expect no less: in a PC, PR-conscious world, here is a sportsman who is as brutally honest as he is fast. At times it is painfully obvious who he does and does not respect in the cycling world, and yet he is surprisingly self-critical, self-effacing and not afraid to admit when he has been proven wrong about someone. The book is full of little insights into the mindset of a master practitioner and behind-the-scenes revelations of what it is like to be a professional road cyclist, which make this a cut above the average sporting autobiography. Add this to the fleshing out of a person far more complex, meticulous and magnanimous (to his team) than the one-dimensional cocky narcissist sometimes portrayed in the media, and what you have here is a compelling tale that had me tearing through the pages much like the man himself does when he has the sniff of the finish line in his nostrils.
Unputdownable. Having waited a few months before buying this, I will be first in line to buy the next chapter of the story of this incredible young man.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By hilldo
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
for a boy who is constantly being told to read more books my mum brought this to get me reading because i love cycling and Mark Cavendish is an inspiration to me. I stayed in my room for a hole week of my holidays reading this book over and over and i think this is an brilliant book!! sorry if my English is bad!
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By Quintax
Format:Hardcover
I found `Boy Racer' to be an immensely satisfying and intriguing insight into the most talented sports star ever to emerge from the Isle of Man. Interspersed with his recount of his momentous achievements in the 2008 Tour de France and paradoxically calamitous under-achievement in the Beijing Games, is a heartfelt and moving account of his life and driving passions. This book is about a man with an unerring sense of self belief, whose drive and will to win define him.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cav... what a legend!
Thoroughly enjoyable read, I read it after watching him at teh olympics... mostly commentating but the book confirmed he is an honest no nonsense ATHLETE.
Published 1 month ago by Mr. R. McGrath
4.0 out of 5 stars
Husband Liked It
Another good cycling book for my husband. He thoroughly enjoyed reading about the Manx Missile. Cavendish is a great personality
Published 1 month ago by Pen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great insight into a cycling legend
This book gives a great insight into mark's life from the start, his no nonsense talking continues in this book with this honest and frank insight into his career. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Shozza
5.0 out of 5 stars
refreshing after armstrong
breath of fresh air after all that's happened in the cycling world, brings faith back into the peloton and has stopped me watching a race and wondering... Very much worth a read.
Published 2 months ago by geo72
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great insight into what makes Cav a winner.
I have read a few cycling books and this is up there just behind Tyler Hamiltons.
The common theme with all truely great sportsmen is that they just hate losing. Read more
The common theme with all truely great sportsmen is that they just hate losing. Read more
Published 2 months ago by pedropete
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great read
A very interesting book about a very interesting cyclist. I'd read the Bradley Wiggins book prior to this, and that was superb ( if not a little rushed to press judging by the... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Keith Middlebrook
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good read
Excellent book which shows how much of a winner Cavendish is. it also gives a very good insight on the dedication and perseverance needed to succeed at the top in Pro cycling
Published 3 months ago by Kramdrof
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boy Racer
Bought secondhand but in excellent order. Read with enjoyment and passed on to my son, insisting that it comes back so that I can dip into it again. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Anne Laing
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb
Really great book. I've read several cycling books and this is my favourite. Great insight into his season. Highly recommended
Published 3 months ago by Mr. Robert Leslie Sims
4.0 out of 5 stars
Boy Racer
I gave four stars for this book because At times I found it witty and very exciting. I loved the description of the final moments of particular races. Read more
Published 3 months ago by MarkCousins
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