The first edition of a landmark publication has recently been published which provides a comprehensive review of the year’s bike racing.
The Road Book 2018 – Cycling Almanack which was launched at The Rouleur Classic in London, reviews and reflects on the 2018 season in its entirety, with nearly 900 pages of reports, stats, comment and analysis from the first World Tour race of the year (the Tour Down Under) to the last (the Tour of Guangxi).
The book was edited by the ITV Sport Tour de France commentator Ned Boulting who is also a best selling author, having penned four cycling titles and he is currently embarking on the first-ever one-man theatrical show about cycling – the Tour de Ned.
Well-known cycling statistician Cillian Kelly, who co-hosts a podcast called This Week in Cycling History and also manages the website Irishpeloton.com, took on the role of Research Director.
Many other well-known names from the sport also contributed to the book including Jeremy Whittle, Matt Rendell, Pete Cossins, Philippa York, Rob Hayles and Tom Southam.
The three Grand Tours, five Monuments and the World Championships are all extensively covered, as are the UCI Women’s World Tour events. Other major races are also covered with an impressive array of data.
In his introduction, Boulting addresses the key issues facing this “beautiful and chaotic, captivating and maddening, thrilling and stultifying” sport, and there is a wealth of exclusive essays from the cream of cycling writing including:
– Chad Haga on his Giro d’Italia
– Harry Pearson on the mystery of Niki Terpstra
– Philippa York on Geraint Thomas’ Cinderella Story
– Morten Okbo on British dominance
– Marianne Vos and Helen Pidd on Vos’ spectacular return to winning ways.
– Tom Southam on the life of a directeur sportif
The Road Book is not available from mainstream bookshops or websites but can be ordered through the following link:
https://www.theroadbook.co.uk/new-products-1/pre-order-the-road-book-2018
