Yellow Fever

Rating:
Summary: Thrills and pills!
Review: Until I read this book I didn't realise what a cut-throat and dangerous, no-limits sport cycling was. It's all about the 1998 Tour de France scandal that almost stopped France's biggest annual event in its tracks. But it's told by a race insider like a thriller; the author's eyes open wider and wider by the day as the scandal, fear and loathing gets worse and worse and everybody, Whittle included, reaches the point of breakdown. If you've been reading about the Festina trial in the papers and on the web, you'll love this.....

Rating:
Summary: continued
Review: Whittle's combination of Tour reporting and quality journalism bring out details and doubts that are not covered in other books written on this subject. The author comes across as torn between seeing a sport he loves brought to its knees, and anger at the apathy and constant denial from the sports governing bodies and the Tour organisers. You feel that he knows more than he's telling and I hope that following the recent (Nov 2000) Festina Affair trial, that Whittle will update the book - telling us what, at the time of writing, he could only hint at. A great look into professional sports tripping over its own arrogance. Will be appreciated by cycling and non-cycling fans alike.