The Spring Classics: Cycling's Greatest One-day Races: Amazon.co.uk: Philippe Bouvet, Pierre Callewaert, Jean-Luc Gatellier, Serge Laget, Philippe Brunel: Books

Review

"Get your cobble on without breaking your collarbone. "The Spring Classics."..will keep you absorbed on rain-soaked April days--and just might inspire you to get out and ride regardless of the weather." -- Bicycling magazine""The Spring Classics" is one of the most beautiful books it has ever been my good fortune to set eyes on. A monument in its own right." -- TheWashingMachinePost.net
"Enjoyable and emotive, "The Spring Classics" is like a children's fairy tale book for cyclists, full of valiant and fallen heroes and monstrous terrain." -- DailyPeloton.com
"Only a still photograph can capture the moment, provide a lasting and deep impression. The proof is "The Spring Classics." The superb pictures, complemented by text from the best cycling writers, capture the beauty, the excitement, and the brutality fo the toughest races of all, the spring classics." -- "Cycling Weekly"
""The Spring Classics" delves deeply into the rich stories of the classics." -- "Peloton "magazine"After reading "The Spring Classics," you'll be inspired to ride from your heart, ignoring the pleas from your legs and friends alike. The images gave me chills." -- RedKitePrayer.com""The Spring Classics" is for die-hard fans. The things I care about are all contained within this book. Hard man single-day racing. Great style from racers. Cool cycling photography from the days of yore and also from not that far back." -- "Embrocation Cycling Journal"
"If you've never heard of riders like Coppi, Kelly, De Vlaeminck, and Moser, it's time to learn more about the epic history of our sport. "The Spring Classics" delves into the one-day events that have helped define professional road cycling. The classics are the most prestigious, longest-running events in cycling--the domain of warriors--and this coffee table book tells the stories of those races where men became legends." -- "VeloNews "magazine
""The Spring Classics" emphasizes photographic composition and sce

Product Description

Cycling's spring races are always the most anticipated of the year, not only because they herald the start of the season, but also because they are brutally difficult and spectacularly unpredictable. Known as the spring classics, these one-day races test cycling's toughest riders with the worst conditions imaginable - sucking mud, choking dust, leg-numbing sleet, fanatic spectators, and Europe's narrowest, most bone-grinding country roads. Clattering through agrarian hamlets on routes established a century ago, "The Spring Classics" celebrates cycling's most glorious and meaningful history. "The Spring Classics" delves into the stories of Milan - San Remo, Ghent-Wevelgem, the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, the Amstel Gold Race, La Fleche Wallone, and Liege-Bastogne-Liege through hundreds of rare and restored photographs presented in a lavish format. With authoritative text from cycling's expert sportswriters, "The Spring Classics" commemorates the riders, traditions, and secrets of cycling's greatest one day contests. This is the only book to explore the history of the spring classics. The authors are top sportswriters for L'Equipe, France's leading sports publication. It features hardback with jacket. It includes full-colour and black & white photographs throughout.

Customer Reviews

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

8 reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars

Write a customer review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

"The Spring Classics - cyclings greatest one -day races 19 Feb 2011

By denny

Format:Hardcover

I've had this book since July 2010, and it has quickly become my main "go to" book whenever I need to delve into something for any cycling history on the classics. You won't find anything in this book about the Tour de France, or any other stage race for that matter, as there are many books in circulation already. This book deals with only the single day classics, from the spring opening of the season, through to the end of season races. The book itself is well written, with an excellent full listing of all classic results. But what really sells it, in my opinion, are the many excellent photos, with some covering the spring classics from as early as 1892. Photos of a 21 year old Merckx, shots of Rik Van Looy, and the rest of some of the greatest riders of all time.

If you buy no other book on cycle racing, then make your choice to be this one, a must for ANY fan of the one day races...

Comment |

Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

beautifully illustrated and a good historical reference 30 July 2011

By C. Barnes TOP 1000 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE

This year I went to see my first one day classic bike race, Paris Roubaix. It was amazing and a completely different atmosphere to the big stage races. the passion of the crowds and the pride of the history of this brutal race were tangible. Next year I'm off to Flanders for some more of the same. Having already bought the sister volume to this book Paris-Roubaix: A Journey Through Hell I knew what I'd get. It's a lovely volume tracing the history of all the classics and filled with great photos spanning the 100+ years that many have been running. It's more than a coffee table book. It's inspiring and a glorious record of the toughest races on earth. If the series continues to be expanded I'll be buying more. An excellent luxury for any fan.