Product Description

"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 the mayhem of the Tour de France in a page-turning journey of pure exhilaration.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1221 in Books
• Published on: 2009-06-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

Review
'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."

Review
"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."

Customer Reviews

Top man
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.

A sprint read
I read it in one sitting. Chapeau to Cav's ghostwriter - this is a stonking read for anyone interested in a seemingly completely honest and unvarnished account of life in and around the pro-peloton. Cav might not be the most attractive character ever - and how the hell his girlfriend puts up with the ego I can't imagine - but he tells it the way he sees it, which is a refreshing change for a sports star. Looking forward to the next instalment when he wins green at the Tour next month!

Hugely entertaining
This book is one of the most frankly written books on cycling that I have in my collection. Cavendish takes us on a whistle stop tour of his life and career to date. In parts hilarious, in other parts sad, he does not let his famed ego get in the way of the story but tells it as he sees it - to hell with the consequences. It will not make comfortable reading for a few people; but if you want an entertaining read (cyclist or not) then you could do a lot worse than buy this book. His awe inspiring description of the unfolding seconds of his victories is incredibly vivid and puts you right into his zone. The closest I have ever come to visualizing what it is like to win a stage of the TDF came whilst holding this book.