What a Ride An Aussie Pursuit of the Tour de France

An updated, behind the scenes story of the Tour de France and the evolution of Australian riders from a curiosity to a major force to be reckoned with in the world's greatest bike race. Rupert Guinness has been covering the Tour de France for more than 20 years and in that time has watched Australian riders evolve into the collective force they are today. From the pioneering Phil Anderson, who, in the 1980s, set the mark by becoming the first Australian to claim the yellow jersey, to the new crop of gun riders, Guinness analyzes the riders' fortunes and misfortunes through his knowledge of and relationship with these extraordinary athletes. There are humorous and sadly tragic moments, heroes and villains, and testing times when everything seems to go wrong. But there are also days of perfect riding, extraordinary scenery, and uplifting successes. What a Rideis not just a book about Australians racing the Tour, but a warts-and-all insider's account from an Australian journalist in pursuit of the riders seeking victory in the greatest and hardest race of them all.

Rupert Guinness is a senior sports writer for the Sydney Morning Herald, covering rugby union and rowing as well as cycling.This is his ninth book.