Full speed ahead: a selection of the best books on cycling
Throughout its history, cycling has gained thousands of followers. The sport itself is simple, yet functional: a bicycle is used to ride circuits, both outdoors and on indoor tracks. The discipline encompasses several disciplines, such as competitive cycling, road cycling, track cycling, mountain biking, cyclocross, gravel cycling, trials cycling, indoor cycling, BMX cycling, freestyle cycling, and other types, such as touring cycling and urban cycling, which is not necessarily a sport.
There is also a wide variety of bicycles, depending on the type of cycling you do—for racing, exercise, or transportation. Among the most popular are brands such as Specialized, Trek, Scott, Giant, Orbea, Cannondale, Pinarello, and BMC, and models like the Trek Marlin. If you'd like to learn more, we invite you to read our list of the best cycling books.
Best books on cycling
How to win the Giro by drinking ox blood (2021), by Ander Izagirre
Izagirre, through his characteristically agile writing, recounts the epic origins of the Giro, an Italian competition held during the month of May, where a different route is covered each year. Historically, It is one of the three Grand Tours, being the second to appear. The volume, part chronicle, part report, part essay and part narrative, offers a unique perspective on the sociopolitical situation in Italy in the last century.
This context not only helps us understand the sport and its competitors, but also how an entire country has evolved since the time in which the story takes place. The pages of the book give the opportunity to meet iconic characters, such as Giovanni Gerbi, who was known for his unconventional techniques. Alfonsina Strada and Marco Pantani are also mentioned.
Plan your pedal strokes (2008), by José María Arguedas Lozano
This is a guide specifically designed to help cyclists improve their training through planning and discipline. Arguedas Lozano is an expert in physical preparation. is able to provide its readers with advice on how to set realistic goals, design personalized training plans and monitor progress over time.
At the same time, the text addresses topics such as nutrition, recovery, and injury prevention. Likewise, The writer provides other very useful tools for cyclists of all levels who seek to optimize their performance and enjoy sports more.
The cyclist (2024), by Tim Krabbé
Originally published in 1978, this novel has become a cult classic when it comes to sports-inspired fiction. The 2024 version, published by GeoPlaneta, offers readers a new opportunity to delve into the fascinating world of road cycling. In it, he delves into the mentality of the cyclist in the middle of the laps.
The book's story follows an amateur cyclist during the 137 kilometers of the Tour de Mont Aigoual, a race in which they face breakaways, chases, attacks, and alliances in a relentless struggle. Krabbé builds it all through a fast-paced and detailed narrative, immersing the reader in the protagonist's physical and mental experience, as well as exploring the thoughts, emotions, and strategies that arise during the competition.
Gregarious (2016), by Charly Wegelius
The author puts on the table a raw and honest autobiography, which chronicles his adventures and misadventures in the world of professional cycling. What's interesting in this case is that the story is told from the perspective of a "Russian soldier" in the peloton. Wegelius, who was one of the most respected athletes during the first decade of the 21st century, never won a major race or stood on the podium.
Still, Wegelius played a pivotal role as a domestique, which involved sacrificing his own opportunities to help his team leader achieve victory. In this text, The author recounts the realities of the professional circuit, ranging from seedy hotels and low wages to high-speed declines and job uncertainty.
Death against the clock (2018), by Jorge Zepeda Patterson
This is a crime novel set during the Tour de France, the world's most prestigious cycling competition. The book follows Marc Moreau, a former military man and cyclist who works as a teammate for Steve Panata, his best friend and leader of a four-time champion team. As the race progresses, certain suspicious events occur: a hit-and-run, a violent assault, poisoning, among others.
The last incident, A suicide attempt alerts the authorities, who begin to suspect that there is a murderer among the competitors.Due to his experience, Moreau is hired as an infiltrator to investigate discreetly, so he will be forced to choose whether to protect his team or discover what is really happening. in the races.
Elbowing it out: Voices and secrets from the best generation of Spanish cycling (2020), by Laura Meseguer Mata
This is, nothing more and nothing less, than the literary debut of its author, the journalist Laura Meseguer, recognized for her career in media such as Eurosport. The volume is structured around a series of personal interviews, where the writer offers readers an intimate look at the so-called "great generation of Spanish cycling," which dominated the scene during the first two decades of the 21st century.
The book has a prologue by Perico Delgado and an epilogue by Pedro Horrillo, and focuses on iconic figures such as Alberto Contador, Alejandro Valverde, Óscar Freire, and Joaquim "Purito" Rodríguez. Meseguer doesn't shy away from tackling controversial topics, exploring not only the victories and achievements of these cyclists, but also the challenges and controversies they faced during their careers.
The race against the Stasi (2020), by Herbie Sykes
The work, awarded the British Sports Book Award for best cycling book of 2015, offers a gripping story of love, sport, and politics set against the backdrop of the Cold War. tells the story of Dieter Wiedemann, a prominent cyclist from East Germany, who reached the podium in the prestigious Peace Race, considered the equivalent of the Tour de France in the socialist bloc.
However, the athlete's life takes a turn when he falls in love with Sylvia Hermann, a young woman from West Germany. The problem is that their romance is prohibited by the GDR authorities., leading the lovers to plan a daring escape during a western competition in 1964.
