BREVE HISTORIA DEL TOUR DE FRANCIA

Jon Rivas describes the Tour de France as an addiction, a race you either fall in love with or begin to hate at first sight. After seventeen years as a special correspondent and having covered the race for prestigious publications such as El Mundo, El País, and El Correo, Rivas possesses a privileged perspective that comes only from having experienced the competition from the inside, amid endless kilometers, traffic jams, and sometimes infamous hotels. This book is the fruit of that vast professional career, a collection of chronicles that capture the essence of an event that has no parallel in the world of sports. The book immerses us in the "history with capital and lowercase letters" of the Grande Boucle, unearthing stories buried beneath the official standings. From the chaotic 1904 edition, marked by nighttime sabotage and mass disqualifications, to the heartbreaking death of Francisco Cepeda or the epic and turbulent lives of figures like Henri Pélissier. But this book isn't just about stars; these pages pay a sincere tribute to the unsung heroes -- such as mechanics and masseurs -- whose hardships, lack of sleep, and sacrifices are essential to keeping the race rolling every July. Through a lively and passionate narrative, fans will rediscover the great legends of cycling: the insatiable dominance of Eddy Merckx, the elegance of Miguel Induráin, and the one-of-a-kind personality of Federico Bahamontes. There is no shortage of the curiosities that have forged the modern legend, such as Chris Froome's extraordinary walk up Mont Ventoux, Mark Cavendish's historic record for stage wins, or the genius of Tadej Pogačar.