About this book:

From a desperate newspaper stunt to a global obsession, *Yellow Jerseys and Mountain Passes* is the definitive, century-spanning saga of the Tour de France—a race that forged heroes, shattered limits, and confronted its own darkest shadows. This book takes you from the brutal, 1903 roads where iron men rode through the night on rudimentary bikes, to the aerodynamic marvels and scientific rigor of today’s peloton. Witness the genesis of a legend, the resilience through world wars, the rise of titans like Merckx and Pogačar, and the unflinching story of doping’s tarnished legacy—from early whispers to the Armstrong era and the fight for a clean sport.

But the Tour is more than a race; it’s a mirror of humanity’s relentless will. Here, you’ll conquer iconic climbs, decode the art of team tactics, and explore the technology, culture, and economics that make the yellow jersey the most coveted symbol in sport. With a new chapter on the Women’s Tour and a look toward sustainable futures, this is the complete, thrilling, and unvarnished chronicle of a century of sweat, speed, and spectacle. If you’ve ever cheered from the roadside or dreamed of the mountains, this is the book you’ve been waiting for.