Reviews
In 2003 Lance Armstrong won the Centenary Tour de France. It was his fifth victory and has cemented his position as one of the greatest cyclists of all time.This is the story of the 2003 Tour through the eyes of Lance's right-hand rider, the Colombian Victor Hugo Pena (who himself became the first Colombian to wear the yellow jersey during the race). Behind every great cyclist is a close-knit team of 'domestiques', world class cyclists who eschew individual glory to ensure their star rider wins. Pena was handpicked by Armstrong and is uniquely placed to provide an insight into what it takes to stay at the top of this most gruelling of sports.By deconstructing the myth of the Tour de France, and revealing the true role of the domestique for the first time, A Significant Other will be a classic sports book.
'Rendell elegantly elucidates the tactical technicalities of cycling's unique mixture of cooperation and competition, teamwork and individualism...The beauty of Rendell's brief book is that he has secured the cooperation of a real-life domestique, the Colombian Victor Hugo Pena, who was a key member of Lance Armstrong's US Postal squad on his way to a record-equalling fifth Tour won last year.'
Matt Seaton
GUARDIAN (10.7.04)
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