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'Wonderfully evocative' - Independent on Sunday; 'Thrilling reading... a fascinating national sporting history' - Times Literary Supplement; 'A fascinating and beguiling book... worthy of the magical realism of Gabriel Garcia Marquez' - William Fotheringham, Cycling Plus
Andrew Longmore, Independent on Sunday
[A] wonderfully evocative book.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Well researched and well written account of the history of cycle racing in a country where it is the national sport. If you've seen the Tour de France or even ridden up some of the mountains, then you can still only imagine what some of the climbs in the Vuelta must be like. If you're interested in Colombia or in cycle racing, you won't regret buying this book.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Anyone who has read my reviews will be forgiven for thinking that 'All my heroes are cowboys'. Well a lot of them are, but there are also a few cyclists amongst them, one being Lucho Herrera a rider from Colombia who was only the second rider to win "king of the mountains" jerseys in all three grand tours. He wore the distinctive 'Cafe De Colombia' shirt with great success during the eighties. My first memory of him was when he seemed to sprout wings and glide away from everyone to victory on the ascent of Alpe d'Huez on stage 17 in the 1984 Tour De France. After this I was constantly noticing how the 'Cafe De Colombia' shirt was always prominent during the gruelling mountain stages. These mystery men from Colombia attacked in the most ridiculous places, and reputations meant nothing to them. Fabio Parra finished third overall in the 1988 Tour De France, a magnificent achievement. I have always wondered how this relatively poor country managed to produce such a wealth of great cyclists, and this book provided me with all the answers in an informative and entertaining way.
These men competed in Colombia's own grand tour, the Vuelta a Colombia over ridiculous terrain and ascents that makes those on the Tour de France look like a cakewalk. Almost all the great Europeans who competed in this event were utterly destroyed by the terrain and altitude, including most notably the great Fausto Coppi. It was fascinating to find out how much cycling is loved in Colombia and how it has influenced the country. But there were other great cyclists apart from Herrera and Parra who came from a dynasty of great cyclists. There was the legendary Cochise, the indomitable Zipa, Ramon Hoyos, whose biography was written by none other than Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Then there was Nino, Alfonso Florez and more recently Santiago Botero. There were many other fine cyclists too numerous to mention who were churned out on the Colombian production line. Sadly money and politics have put an end to those halcyon days. It is a great story that deserves telling by a fine writer who has lived amongst these men and knows his stuff. No Marquez for sure, but not bad. He has a genuine heart for the Colombian underdog, and so do I. When I take my old legs to the Pyrenees this summer I will wear my battered old eighties Cafe De Colombia shirt with pride as I attempt the Tourmalet. Unfortunately I will be but a pale shadow of those cycling legends. The memories live on!
These men competed in Colombia's own grand tour, the Vuelta a Colombia over ridiculous terrain and ascents that makes those on the Tour de France look like a cakewalk. Almost all the great Europeans who competed in this event were utterly destroyed by the terrain and altitude, including most notably the great Fausto Coppi. It was fascinating to find out how much cycling is loved in Colombia and how it has influenced the country. But there were other great cyclists apart from Herrera and Parra who came from a dynasty of great cyclists. There was the legendary Cochise, the indomitable Zipa, Ramon Hoyos, whose biography was written by none other than Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Then there was Nino, Alfonso Florez and more recently Santiago Botero. There were many other fine cyclists too numerous to mention who were churned out on the Colombian production line. Sadly money and politics have put an end to those halcyon days. It is a great story that deserves telling by a fine writer who has lived amongst these men and knows his stuff. No Marquez for sure, but not bad. He has a genuine heart for the Colombian underdog, and so do I. When I take my old legs to the Pyrenees this summer I will wear my battered old eighties Cafe De Colombia shirt with pride as I attempt the Tourmalet. Unfortunately I will be but a pale shadow of those cycling legends. The memories live on!
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is an extraordinary account of the cycling history of Columbia, featuring its big names like Zipa and Cochise, but it is masterfully woven in with the story of this troubled country's search for identity and democracy. The tales of the Vuelta make your heart pound in symapthy as the riders gasp for air in their titanic struggle up the mountains, and you cannot help but appreciate the metaphor for this rich but deeply unhappy country and its journey through coups and drug-lords to where it is now. A book for cycling enthusiasts, Latin America fans and people who want a good read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Disappointing
was very disappointed with this book. Found it very boring and hard to read. I'm sure it is a great story but you wouldn't get that sense from reading this.
Published 17 months ago by Shoulders
Excellent
I had read Rendell's "A significant other" a while ago and ever since I had been looking forward to grab this book: I'm glad I finally did; Rendell just delivered again! Read more
Published 22 months ago by J. Mendoza
Boring except for the drugs
The only interesting chapter in this book relates to Pablo Escobar. I would like to see drugs and cycling as far away from each other as possible but it really was the only point... Read more
Published on 27 May 2010 by Smart Mart 13
revelations
aving grown up in Germany in proximity of the Tour de France, I had heard of Lucho Herrera. Being Catholic and a student of politics this book is a facinating summary of beauty,... Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2006 by Lothar M. Stejskal
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