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Imprint: Yellow Jersey
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Published: 04/06/2015
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ISBN: 9780224092005
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Length: 272 Pages
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Dimensions: 198mm x 18mm x 129mm
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Weight: 215g
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RRP: £12.99
Lanterne Rouge
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The Last Man in the Tour de France
lanterne rouge (French | noun): The competitor who finishes last in the Tour de France
Froome, Wiggins, Merckx – we know the winners of the Tour de France, but what about the men who finish last?
Lanterne Rouge tells the forgotten, often inspirational and occasionally absurd stories of the last-placed rider. We learn of stage winners and former yellow jerseys who tasted life at the other end of the bunch; the breakaway leader who stopped for a bottle of wine and then took a wrong turn; the doper whose drug cocktail accidently slowed him down and the rider who was recognised as the most combative despite finishing at the back.
Flipping the Tour de France on its head and examines what these stories tell us about ourselves, the 99% who don’t win the trophy, Lantern Rouge forces us to re-examine the meaning of success, failure and the very nature of sport.
‘A lively account of largely forgotten men... It’s not easy to come up with an original angle on Le Tour, but with this rear view Leonard has managed the feat in style’ Independent on Sunday
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Imprint: Yellow Jersey
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Published: 04/06/2015
-
ISBN: 9780224092005
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Length: 272 Pages
-
Dimensions: 198mm x 18mm x 129mm
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Weight: 215g
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RRP: £12.99
Reviews
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Excellent ... compulsive reading...redresses the balance with considerable literary style and panache.
The Washing Machine Post
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Don't be surprised if you fall in love with Max Leonard's book. A glorious celebration of coming last.
Brendan Gallagher, thetour.co.uk
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Thoughtful, properly researched and consistently entertaining
Tim Moore
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[A] lively account of largely forgotten men... It’s not easy to come up with an original angle on Le Tour, but with this rear view Leonard has managed the feat in style
Simon Redfern, Independent on Sunday
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Brilliant... The stories of the lanternes rouges that Leonard picks out have real value, because the race's rear view can tell you much more than the angle we're all familiar with
Michael Hutchinson, Independent
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Makes for oddly inspiring reading. There is an art to losing
Jon Day, London Review of Books
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An elegant book... Surprising and illuminating
Ian Bell, Herald
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This is a valuable book with some great stories. Deeply-researched and well-written, it’s an enjoyable read that shouldn’t be rushed
The Inner Ring
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Fascinating… Without losers, there are no winners
London Cyclist
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Thoughtful, witty
Times Literary Supplement
