Etape: The Untold Stories of the Tour De France's Defining Stages

In short - buy this book! Entertaining, insightful, brings something new even to the stories you've heard a dozen times before. This book is a collection of short stories - each story being focused on a particular stage of the Tour de France. What really makes it though is the care that is taken to give the context to the reader - so while each chapter is nominally about one stage, it tells the story of that tour, or that riders career, adding a lot of depth to what might seem a shallow concept. Best book I've read all year.

I really enjoyed Richard’s writing style. It’s a lovely read and very well researched. I would recommend it for any avid cycling fan.

A really easy, enjoyable and interesting read. I have followed the Tour avidly for the last 5 years and felt I head a handle on it but the chapters in this book, while dealing with various individual stages, clarified and broadened my understanding of less well known aspects, such as the "Grupetto", appreciably and put flesh on the bones of many greats, many of whom I knew very little about. At the same time, Richard Moore revealed the failings and weaknesses of the big names while elevating the little known domestiques to new levels in my eyes. Perhaps dyed in the wool cycling enthusiasts know all the stories and characters involved and would think it a bit "light" but I would heartily recommend this book to anyone who has even a little knowledge about cycling or has an interest in finding out more about it.

Very enjoyable read. Familiar with quite a few of the events, but these add a bit to the knowledge bank. They're all good reading even if you do know or remember them. I've read a couple of books by this author and always look forward to picking them up.

I wasn't sure if an anthology of rider accounts of their experiences of isolated moments that changed the course of the Tour would make a compelling read. I was mistaken. This was a great book, providing some insights into the psychology of the riders, and the behaviour of the peloton.

A excellent book filled with fascinating information and stories of key moments. It is so easy to watch the Tour on TV and think you know what is going on but reading this book gives you a real insight of what actually happens with the riders, managers and strategy's of the Tour De France. Loved the fact that the author gave real depth to each chapter by telling you what happened to the characters after their careers finished. A really brilliant read and a must for anyone who enjoys cycling.

Really enjoyed this book, gave a great snapshot of the TDF through the generations. to begin with I was expecting this to be a bit of a disjointed read with each chapter skipping to a totally differnt era and stage. However this is what actually makes the book, the diversity of the writing is enthralling. I knew a fair bit about the modern era of the event, but some of the stories and history of the event are simply amazing. A must read for any cycling fan or even if you are just into sports literature in general. I am now looking to explore the author further as this is definitely one you won't want to put down.

Ok book - bit of a shallow read. Wanted more but didn't get it in this tome.

Compré este libro por leer algo más sobre ciclismo, pero sin grandes expectativas, y la verdad es que me ha sorprendido muy gratamente. El autor rememora algunas etapas del Tour de Francia, pero las cuenta de una manera muy ágil y con muchos detalles sobre los protagonistas. Es muy original el formato del libro, que empieza con una etapa prólogo y recoge a continuación etapas planas al sprint, escapadas y de montaña, finalizando con la crono final en París de 1989. Es decir, sigue el mismo esquema del Tour. Lógicamente algunas me han gustado más que otras y me servido para recordar cosas ya olvidadas, como la gran rivalidad entre los holandeses Panasonic y Kwantum. Otras veces ha recogido etapas ya muy conocidas, pero incluso en esos casos ha sabido aportar aspectos nuevos y relatarlas con un estilo personal. En suma, muy recomendable para cualquier seguidor del Tour.

In the year 1984 I fevered with "The gardiner" Lucho Herrera (because his green gloves), the young Columbian cyling star. That was really new that such a nation has so very fine bikers. Richard Moore described it so very well that I remember that at now. It was also my youth. And I high point was the winning of the stage in Alpe d'Huez. It will be unforgotten. Also the story with Berni Eisel, who helped Cavendish to survive. Thank you for this wonderful book.

The writer has a nice style and there are great pieces of interview with some iants of the sport. Also, the insights behind each stage creates a new aura in some parcours we see these days

Great page turner, well written.

Richard Moore is a fine cycling writer. Previously I had read Slaying the Badger, about Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault, and Tour de France 100, a photographic history of the Tour, both by the same author. Etape is a compilation of memorable, though not necessarily well known, stages of the Tour. Moore's writing, as always, is crisp, and his eye for detail shows the work of a real veteran journalist of the sport. Etape need not be read in a linear manner. I've skipped around quite a bit and enjoyed all the chapters. I have found this to be a perfect travel/airplane book. I think this will be a volume in my cycling library that I keep coming back to. If you love the sport, you'll love the episodes recounted herein. And even if you're familiar with some of the stages, many of the juicier details will be new.