The Cycling Anthology

Oct 21, 2024 10:58 AM

Author:Ellis Bacon,Lionel Birnie

Professional cycling is a rich, dynamic and often controversial sport that lends itself to great writing. Some of the most famous and illustrious races were founded by newspapermen and The Cycling Anthology continues this tradition by bringing together the best in the business.

Volume Five is an eclectic mix of stories old and new:

As World War One is commemorated acros the globe, Brendan Gallagher looks at cycling's war heroes and the role the bicycle played in WWI.

Jeremy Whittle goes in search of panache - why you don't always have to be a winner to be a winner in the public's eyes.

Francois Thomazeau examines how the Tour de France became the international event it is today.

The 2014 Tour de France is relived in the form of poetry, by Ellis Bacon.

Lionel Birnie tells the story behind the Linda McCartney cycling team, the great British team that could have been.

Joey McLoughlin was a shining star of the British cycling scene in the 1980s and '90s - Andy McGrath finds out what happened to him.

Edward Pickering returns to one of cycling's great Pyrenean climbs - Superbagneres.

As Matt Beaudin finds out, the Tour de France is a treat for the senses - albeit a loud one.

Matt McGeehan sends a postcard from the 2014 World Track Championships in Colombia.

And Daniel Friebe introduces us to Jean Francois Naquet-Radiguet: Tour de France pioneer.

Reviews

Almost timeless… The book [will be] just as relevant and readable in years to come… A worthy addition to this well-proven series of eclectic and well-written stories

—— Cycling World

Insightful and easily-digested collection of cycling stories covering a wide range of topics

—— Mike Stead , Road

Even though we don't see each other so much anymore he has lived in my dreams. He (was) wearing the yellow jersey every day and I almost felt like I was wearing it myself

—— David Kinjah, Chris Froome's former cycling mentor and coach, Safari Simbaz

Just a few years ago we did not have anyone who could podium, but now we have two cyclists who can win the Tour in consecutive years. It is a phenomenal achievement and what Chris has done is phenomenal

—— Sir Chris Hoy

It’s an immaculately researched voyage of discovery into a footballing enigma. We’ll never know the man in full, but this comes close

—— Ben East , Metro

We know this story, but it's still a page-turner

—— Marcus Berkmann , Daily Mail

The strength of the book lies in the way Dickinson has been able to go beyond football and find Moore’s real character… Dickinson’s achievement has been to honour the memory of Moore while also allowing us to understand that he was far from perfect

—— Mark Segal , When Saturday Comes

Absorbing

—— Spectator

This should be essential, sobering reading for anyone who cares about West Ham, England or English football

—— Julian Shea , Metro

Bobby Moore will rightly be forever remembered as the champion of his era, the most serenely masterful footballer ever to have hailed from these shores; “The Man in Full”, not shying away from human fallacies, serves as a reminder that he was the same as every one of us

—— Jack Gaughan , Mail Online

Full marks to Matt Dickinson

—— Steven Howard , Sun

Dickinson makes Moore sound more human… One suspects this excellent biography comes close to describing the real Moore

—— UK Press Syndication

Excellent

—— Jon Wise, 5 stars , Weekend Sport

Outstanding

—— UK Press Syndication

Dickinson manages to bring balance to this incredibly well-researched book

—— 4 stars , FourFourTwo

Dickinson is tender to the memory of the Essex lad who, for a breathtaking instant, was glorious

—— Ain Finlayson and Kate Saunders , Saga Magazine

Matt's work is the most impressive West Ham book of the year, a genuine and sincere attempt to get to the root of the man. It is an excellent, thought-provoking book

—— Knees Up Mother Brown

A compelling and complete account

—— Sport

In The Man in Full, acclaimed football writer Matt Dickinson traces the journey of this Essex boy, peeling away the layers of legend and looking at Moore’s life from all sides – in triumph, in failure, in full

—— Bert Wright , Nudge

Outstanding... this excellent biography comes very close to describing the real Bobby Moore

—— Post

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