The Tour De France Companion

Rating:
Summary: A kinder, gentler Bob Roll explains the Tour
Review: "The Tour de France Companion" is a concise and well written introduction to the Tour. As other reviewers have noted, Bob Roll appears to have been working with a strong editor and/or sedatives, and the manic Bobke style only occasionally appears (it's most evident in his comments about Jan Ullrich).

As a long-time cycling fan I can't say that I learned anything new about the organization or strategy of the Tour, but there are plenty of historical anecdotes to keep the reading interesting. There are also a few gems, like the 1994 photo of youngsters Armstrong, Pantani, and Virenque climbing together. Ten years and three tumultuous careers later, one wonders what they were thinking then. One might also wonder what Virenque was thinking with that haircut.

And, yes, the book is Lance-centric. Sort of like the last five Tours.

Rating:
Summary: BOB IS THE MAN
Review: (...) this is an arriving sport on the american scene and GOOD FOR BOB to stick some material out there that some people can digest. even if it isnt drive thru quality (according to 'them')
but i think it's brilliant and please let me know, is kirstin Gumm married?

Rating:
Summary: Excellent and not overdone
Review: Bob Roll is an American who understands not only the Tour, but also how to entice an American to understand the Tour. I have my share of elite cycling experience myself, and one thing that I have noticed is that Americans in elite cycling try to act "cool" whenever someone mentions the Tour and Lance in the same sentence. In other words, "oh, this book is all about Armstrong, this documentary is Lance-centric, the only thing Americans know about the Tour is Lance, and I'm so cool because I don't talk about Lance at all, bla bla bla." Believe me when I tell you, many Americans in elite cycling don't *want* Americans to understand better, because in their transparent insecurity, they enjoy the fact that they know more than the general population. Not so with Bob Roll, who has written a book that is the right amount of Armstrong with the right amount of inside tangential knowledge to entice a variety of readers. Is it a book for the world class touring elite cyclist? Uh, no. It wasn't meant to be. But it fits everyone else.

Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: I love cycling but I did not know alot about the TDF when it came to rules, history, etc. This book explains almost everything in terms everyone can understand. If you are a member of the peleton already this book may be too basic for you but for the rest of us it is a superb read!

Rating:
Summary: Readable and up-to-date
Review: I picked this book up on a whim, hesitating slightly as "Bobke" has a writing style that can veer wildly from sublime to psychedelic. In this companion book to the upcoming TDF, his writing style is very well disciplined, and the book is extremely readable. The book is designed to prep you for the upcoming event. The 2003 TDF is the launch point for this book, but the history of the tour suffuses the pages, as well. Sidebars are amusing and interesting, the data at the back is nice to have. Overall, a pleasant surprise, and a useful book if you want to get jazzed for the 2004 TDF.

Rating:
Summary: Good primer on TDF but I was expecting more
Review: Nothing particularly new if you have watched a few tours but explains a lot that can seem confusing if you are watching for first time or two. Should have maps and discussion of each 2004 stage - but has only a few brief descriptions of some of the climbs. Well written in plain English, hard to imagine this is the same gonzo who wrote Bobke II. What's the french word for ghost?