Riding in the Zone Rouge: The Tour of the Battlefields 1919 - Cycling's Toughest-Ever Stage Race
(Hardback)
By Isitt, Tom
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The true story of the toughest bicycle race ever staged, the Circuit des Champs de Bataille (the Tour of the Battlefields) The Circuit des Champs de Bataille (the Tour of the Battlefields) was held in 1919, less than six months after the end of the First World War. It covered 2,0...00 kilometres and was raced in appalling conditions across the battlefields of the Western Front, otherwise known as the Zone Rouge. The race was so tough that only 21 riders finished, and it was never staged again. With one of the most demanding routes ever to feature in a bicycle race, and plagued by appalling weather conditions, the Circuit des Champs de Bataille was beyond gruelling, but today its extraordinary story is largely forgotten. Many of the riders came to the event straight from the army and had to ride 18-hour stages through sleet and snow across the battlefields on which they had fought, and lost friends and family, only a few months before. But in addition to the hellish conditions there were moments of high comedy, even farce. The rediscovered story of the Circuit des Champs de Bataille is an epic tale of human endurance, suffering and triumph over extreme adversity.
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ISBN |
9781409171140 |
Released NZ |
21 Mar 2019 |
Publisher |
Orion Publishing |
Format |
Hardback |
Alternate Format(s) |
View All (1 other possible title(s) available)
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Availability |
2 In stock at publisher; delivery usually 15-20 working days due to covid19 delays
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Full details for this title
Interest Age |
General Audience |
Reading Age |
General Audience |
Library of Congress |
Circuit des champs de bataille Bicycle race - 1919 - History, Bicycle racing - History - 20th century - France, Northern, Bicycle racing - History - 20th century - Belgium, Bicycle racing - History - 20th century - Luxembourg |
NBS Text |
Motor Sports & Cycling |
ONIX Text |
General/trade |
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Awards, Reviews & Star Ratings
NZ Review |
I loved the book, devouring it in a few nights' reading. As with so much to do with the war, the same page can often be funny and poignant. Tom has a good line in amusing stories and his tales of insufficient kit, hideous weather and a malfunctioning bike computer sat-nav raised plenty of chuckles from me. Also familiar to cyclists will be his daily check of his 'undercarriage'. He has also cleverly included well researched information on the war's battles, key events and individual's stories. It all blends together perfectly, offering enough 'nodding along' moments for current cyclists plus providing plenty of extraordinary information on early cycling, the race and the Western Front. Neither cycling fan or war nerd (and I count myself as falling into both camps) will be disappointed... Highly recommended -- Jeremy Banning * CYCLING THE BATTLEFIELDS blog * |
UK Review |
Bertrams Star Rating: 3 stars (out of 5) |
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Author's Bio
Tom Isitt is a photo journalist specialising in cycling, boating, adventure-sports and travel. He has been editor of various sporting magazines, including Motorcycle International, Sports Boat & RIB and Motor Boat & Yachting. He has written freelance for GQ, Rouleur magazine, and a host of motorcycle and boating magazines around the world.
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