For better or for worse, the Giro d'Italia remains the sporting metaphor for Italians. To celebrate its centenary, Herbie Sykes produced a unique - and uniquely personal - evocation. In realising it he undertook a Giro of his own. Travelling the length of the peninsular, he met with 100 of its constituents, and simply listened to their stories. They were the champions and gregari, the superstars and nearly-men, their wives, families and tifosi. There were kingmakers and journalists, sponsors and officials, those who have loved it and a few who abhorred it. Collectively their testimonies represent a journey to the heart of the race, and to Italian cycling identity. This, however, is a cycling journey with a difference. In a departure from recent cycling convention, they were invited to open not only their hearts, but also their scrapbooks, photo albums and old cupboard drawers. There's no anodyne photographic agency fodder here, no cliched Dolomite vistas and no hackneyed portraits of Coppi, Merckx or Pantani. Rather the images conjure the spirit, pathos and beauty of the greatest race on earth and, more poignantly still, of 100 lives conditioned by it.

About the Author
Award-winning author Herbie Sykes ("Coppi"; "Maglia Rosa"; "The Race Against the Stasi"; "The Eagle of the Canavese") marked the centenary of the Giro d'Italia with "Giro 100", his unique - and uniquely personal - evocation of the corsa rosa.


Book Information
ISBN 9781912164004
Author Herbie Sykes
Format Paperback
Page Count 224
Imprint Rapha Racing Ltd
Publisher Rapha Racing Ltd