Chasing Lance by Martin Dugard

Last week at N's practice I finished reading Chasing Lance, by Martin Dugard.  Jeff had bought it for me, as he typically will when he finds running- or cycling-related things.  Since this book covers the 2005 Tour de France, it was an interesting follow-up to Armstrong's
It's Not About the Bike (about his battle with cancer, subsequent recovery, and if this is a spoiler alert!! you obviously don't follow cycling or current celebrity events eventual Tour De France win).

While Dugard may have chased along after Lance, he didn't really talk to him much at all, so this is really a book about the Tour...the teams, the fans, the behemoth road show required to put on the event, the officials, and of course the journalists...and about France itself.

The most interesting thing for me about this book wasn't Lance, though his athletic abilities are amazing.  I gained a real respect for the supporting riders, whose job is to more or less keep the team leader fresh so that he's able to break away when necessary to get/stay ahead.  And while I'd love to someday go and watch--who wouldn't want to test out four years of high school French in a three-week tailgate party?--the descriptions of the course left me no illusions that I'd ever want to ride anything like it!

It's Not About The Bike by Lance Armstrong/Sally Jenkins

It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life by Lance Armstrong

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Good read about Armstrong's early career, journey through cancer diagnosis and treatment, and subsequent Tour de France victory. I know the name, of course, but I didn't really follow cycling when this was all going on. It taught me a lot about cycling tactics and team dynamics.



I think this would be an inspirational book for anyone going through a cancer diagnosis, and the experience certainly seems to have made a huge impact on Armstrong's life and focus. In addition to being about him, though, later parts of the book are also a bit of a love letter to his ex-wife Kristin. Like in John Denver's Annie's Song, the book survives the relationship it celebrates, and it's interesting to read it after the fact.







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