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Lance Armstrong: Tour De Force (Paperback)

by Dan Coyle (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 346 pages
  • Publisher: HarperSport (15 May 2006)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0007195281
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007195282
  • Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 68,676 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #38 in  Books > Sports, Hobbies & Games > Cycling > Cycling History & Biography

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk

Lance Armstrong's achievement (as vividly detailed in Daniel Coyle's Lance Armstrong: Tour de Force) has been one of the most astonishing in recent sporting history, not least for the reasons detailed in the book's strapline: tough guys, flawed heroes and one man's battle for ultimate supremacy. This is the remarkable story of a man who triumphed over all the odds -- a behind-the-scenes record of the 2004 professional cycling season and the manner in which Armstrong landed his sixth Tour de France victory. What makes the book particularly inspiring is the fact that Armstrong is no superman -- he talks about the many strikes against him (his age, the dissolving of his team and -- most of all -- his triumph over potentially lethal illness (his struggle against cancer is, of course, well-known).

Coyle takes us from the cyclist’s turbulent youth in Texas through his many achievements in the cycling field (notably his near loss in the 2003 tour), and his massive struggles against a series of disasters that would have floored most of us: his difficult divorce and subsequent separation from his children and, finally, the terrifying revelation of his cancer. The section on the various solutions that Armstrong tried (including new age healers and radical Italian sports doctors) makes for particularly fascinating reading: as Armstrong realised that his solutions lay elsewhere, there is a genuinely inspirational note here.

Equally fascinating are the descriptions of his obsessive fans, the mind games he was forced to play (both with his opponents and corporate heavyweights), and, of course, his much-publicised relationship with rock star Sheryl Crow. The climax, his victory in the 2004 Tour de France, rounds out one of the best sport biographies in years. --Barry Forshaw --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.



Review

'This is an incisive portrait of an intense and driven man. Daniel Coyle holds nothing back but provides the wherewithal for the readers to make up their own mind about the Armstrong phenomenon. This is a remarkable book.' Judging panel, 2006 British Book Awards
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Customer Reviews

17 Reviews
5 star:
 (13)
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 (2)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Cyclists dream read, Excellent!, 19 Jun 2005
This review is from: Lance Armstrong: Tour De Force (Hardcover)
I have read all the Lance Armstrong based books with great fascination but this one tops the lot, it gives an in-depth view of the man himself, what makes him tick, his relationships, the way he ticks, his obsesive training regimes, i couldnt put this book down, if your into your biking then read this book, you wont be dissapointed, its a warts and all story of the complex sport of cycling and the most gruelling race in the world. EXCELLENT!!!
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Good in places, disappointing in others, 25 Aug 2005
By A Customer
This review is from: Lance Armstrong: Tour De Force (Hardcover)
When I bought this book I wanted a complement to the two volumes of Armstrong's autobiography. I was looking for a measured appraisal of Armstrong and in many respects this is what I got. Daniel Coyle has sufficient standing as a journalist to have access to Armstrong and his team. He can really write, as the passages describing stages in the 2004 Tour de France were gripping even though I had long since known their outcome. He sheds a lot of interesting light on the effect abandonment by his father may have had on Armstrong which adds to the autobiographies. You also understood a lot more about Armstrong's training methods and his relationship with Jan Ullrich and you can see why of the two great talents it is Armstrong that has consistently maintained the lead. The book is also very interesting on Armstrong's relationship with his trainer, Dr Michele Ferrari. The relationship has been damaging to Armstrong, as Dr Ferrari has made some injudicious remarks about drug taking in sport and ultimately Armstrong is forced to sever his links with him after Ferrari is convicted of a doping offence by an Italian court. However, you can see why Armstrong was prepared to stick with him for so long as Ferrari has a genius sporting mind and is full of highly creative ideas to improve Armstrong's performance still further.

Those are the books strengths. However, I was disappointed by the Coyle's treatment of a book by David Walsh and Pierre Ballster. The Walsh/Ballster book makes new allegations against Armstrong but Coyle does not add anything new. I would have liked more evaluation of these claims rather than reportage.

The book also lapses sometimes into tabloid journalism including some astonishing mean spiritedness. Instead of an analysis of how Armstrong's relationship with Sheryl Crow may have affected his performance as a cyclist instead we find out that Mr and Mrs Coyle have been taking bets on whether the relationship will last until the 2005 Tour. Happily the relationship is still going but I think using someone else's potential heartbreak as a form of entertainment tells us more about the author that the subject of the biography.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Evenhanded portrait of Lance Armstrong's 2004, 3 Aug 2005
By A Customer
This review is from: Lance Armstrong: Tour De Force (Hardcover)
Very entertainingly written account of Armstrong's preparations for and participation in the 2004 Tour de France. From an American sports writer who also manages to include "the bluffer's guide to cycling" in explaining the subject to his presumably U.S. target audience.

This book covers a huge amount of territory including sketch portraits of a number of other leading cyclists and key U.S. Postal staff but it never feels slow or needlessly drawn out. You come away with the idea that you have gained a very believable behind-the-scenes glimpse of Armstrong's character and the workings of the pro peleton.

This is probably not a book for those who worship the ground that Lance Armstrong walks on ...or maybe it is.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
After reading his two autobiographies it was interesting to get a different view on the guy. Great read with some great insight into how the tour works.
Published 2 months ago by Chris Jones

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant writer, brilliant subject
Not just about Lance. Read this book and you will glean what it is like to train, sweat, bleed, shed tears for the Tour de France. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. C. M. Mills

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining!
Very well written & entertaining book. This is a good one to read if you have read Lance's autobiographies and enjoyed them, although that's not absolutely necessary, it's very... Read more
Published 5 months ago by F. Poole

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly written and entertaining
Brilliantly written insight into the lives and personalities of Armstrong but also many other leading cyclists
Published 10 months ago by Barry Greene

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Armstrong book so far!
As per the title, this is the best Armstrong book so far. Coyle is a very talented writer and I could have easily carried on reading if the book was twice the size... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Tricky

5.0 out of 5 stars wow
i am somewhat going through a period of obsessively reading books about the tour, and about lance. As a result I have read much that is highly repetitive. Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2007 by adam Jessup

3.0 out of 5 stars In the frat house with Lance
I'm really not sure what book those other reviewers were reading but this was very disappointing. The author just seemed to be so grateful to be in the presence of Armstrong -... Read more
Published on 16 Jan 2007 by Ms. K. Hall

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
The title of the book suggests that this is a Lance Armstrong biography, but it's more than that. It's a look at the whole world of professional cycling, covering one season, and... Read more
Published on 12 Dec 2006 by RH

5.0 out of 5 stars Inside the world of Lance......
An interesting insight into the complex world of Lance Armstrong, This person Is a born winner, and doesnt care who he upsets along the way to obtain his goals, but apart from... Read more
Published on 25 Aug 2006 by Mark Colley

4.0 out of 5 stars TOUR DE FORCE
Daniel Coyle's book on a year in the life of the most successful cycle racer of all Lance Armstrong balances on the razor edge between feeding the knowledgable racing fan with... Read more
Published on 11 Aug 2006 by Mr. Dr. Washbrook

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