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Breakaway, Samuel Abt (1985)
Random House 0-394-54679-2 178pp $16.95
The 1984 Tour de France recounted in reportage style by one of cycling's
best and most meticulous observers
 
Sameul Abt is a long-time follower of the Tour de France and the continential
racing scene, mostly in his capacity as deputy editor of the International
Herald Tribune. His books are year-long pieces of reportage that tell
the tale of the great French race through dozens of individual narratives
– of mechanics, riders, managers, sponsors and reporters. This book
takes as its subject the 1984 tour – the year that Laurent Fignon
got one over on Bernard Hinault. It was also Robert Millar’s best
ever tour – he came forth in the general classification and won the
King of the Mountains. Abt is a brilliant journalist, with a fine ear
for a story and an ability to pluck out telling details. There are really
no books to touch his for evoking the glamour, oddity and daily grind
of a great cycling tour. Indeed, the value of his books increases as time
goes by, as they allow the reader to reimmerse themselves – or immerse
themselves, in may cases, in a bygone age.
PS May 08
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