Author:Lionel Birnie,Ellis Bacon
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 Four features original and exclusive pieces by leading cycling writers. William Fotheringham remembers the journalist who was instrumental in bringing road-racing to a British audience; Ellis Bacon looks beyond Queen to the link between bikes and beats; Richard Moore finds out what happened to that ‘little punk’ (Lance Armstrong’s words), Iban Mayo, and asks if he really did become a long-distance lorry driver; Daniel Friebe re-examines the ups and downs of Marco Pantani; Tom Southam explains what it’s like not to ride the Tour de France; and much more.
Between them, these writers have covered hundreds of Tours de France and written dozens of excellent books and some have even ridden the Tour. Here, their work is showcased together.
Professional pro cycling journalism for grown ups. These are the kind of stories that you may have wondered at, but don’t often get to see in this detail
—— Road.ccA pleasure to read … packed with a variety of subject and rich prose
—— The Inner RingThere is a golden rule in triathlon: when a Brownlee races, they win. They are incredibly close, do most things together, train as a team, and yet come the big race they are deadly rivals
—— The GuardianUnder the pressure of the biggest race of their lives, they delivered in unforgettable style
—— The TelegraphA cracking read… the go-to present for anyone with even a passing interest in football… I sat and read this from cover to cover in one long sitting. It’s funny, it’s entertaining, it’s perfectly paced.
—— Irish MirrorWe know this story, but it's still a page-turner
—— Marcus Berkmann , Daily MailThe 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 ComesAbsorbing
—— SpectatorThis should be essential, sobering reading for anyone who cares about West Ham, England or English football
—— Julian Shea , MetroBobby 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 OnlineFull marks to Matt Dickinson
—— Steven Howard , SunDickinson makes Moore sound more human… One suspects this excellent biography comes close to describing the real Moore
—— UK Press SyndicationExcellent
—— Jon Wise, 5 stars , Weekend SportOutstanding
—— UK Press SyndicationDickinson manages to bring balance to this incredibly well-researched book
—— 4 stars , FourFourTwoDickinson is tender to the memory of the Essex lad who, for a breathtaking instant, was glorious
—— Ain Finlayson and Kate Saunders , Saga MagazineMatt'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 BrownA compelling and complete account
—— SportIn 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 , NudgeOutstanding... this excellent biography comes very close to describing the real Bobby Moore
—— Post