Review of 23 Days in July: Inside the Tour de France and Lance Armstrong's Record-Breaking Victory

23 Days in July: Inside the Tour de France and Lance Armstrong's Record-Breaking Victory
Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 27
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Disappointing

On: 2007-10-17

It seems my original review contravened the Conditions of Use. Too strong and then some I suppose.

Suffice it to say, I found 23 DAYS disappointing (an understatement). In short, and shorn of my stronger and more strongly-expressed opinions, if you read Lances BIKE and Daniel Coyles LANCE ARMSTRONGS WAR youll go farther and deeper than offered in 23 DAYS. You will leave the BIKE+WAR reading experience far more informed and more involved in the inner workings of professional cycling.

Dr. Kirtland Peterson

Inspirational

by: kikotl On: 2007-09-18

If you followed Lances incredible seven Tour de France victories than this book is a good compliment to what you saw. If you never watched any of it read this book anyway to better understand the significance of such an accomplishment. Having read several other books about Lance ArmstrongIts Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to LifeEvery Second Counts and the Tour de FranceFrom Lance to Landis: Inside the American Doping Controversy at the Tour de FranceI found this authors take different but a compliment to the Lance Armstrong saga. It is hard to capture the sheer magic and intensity of the Tour de France but this book does a good job of going behind the scenes and recreating the historical event. The interviews and personal touches author John Wilcockson gives to the book brings the event to life, especially if you dont watch the tour. The day by day account was pretty interesting with all kinds of information about waht goes on during a stage. One of the things I found very interesting was Wilcocksons ability to tie the contemporary race in with the historical events of the past. With nearly every chapter he gives an anecdote about the stage from the tours storied past; the colorful stories were a very cool touch indeed. He even gets into the plaque of professional cycling, doping, in all its ugly manifestations. He even brings Lance under the microscope by addressing his accusers allegations in the book and Lances rebuttal.In the end it was a great ride again reliving one of the most courageous and difficult accomplishments we have ever witnessed in sport. Recommended for cycling enthusiasts everywhere.

Solid

On: 2007-03-18

The author weaves a lot of different story lines and angles into one very solid narrative. The pictures by Graham Watson are always outstanding. His pictures are what took this book from a 4 star to a 5 star book

A good counter point to this book is the work done Daniel Coyle called Lance Armstrongs War

Care to join for a ride

On: 2007-01-19

This book is soo good, that it made me want to go for a long, long ride.

Very good historical perspective

On: 2006-12-31

Ive read almost all of the books on US Postal and Lances reign as the 7-time Tour champ: Lances 2 books, Daniel Coyles masterful portrait of the champ, Matthew Berrys "Inside the Postal Bus", Samuel Abts collections of cycling columns, and many others. The thing that stands out about this particular book, John Wilcocksons reflection on the 2004 Tour, is the historical perspective the author brings. Wilcockson has been covering the Tour since the mid-1960s, and that experience shows when he draws parallels between various events in the 2004 Tour and similar episodes in history. While I didnt find many new nuggets of information about Lance or the Postal team from this book, I did gain a much better appreciation for the history of the Tour and some of its past champions: Coppi, Merckxx, Hinault, et al. Wilcocksons writing is a welcome addition to the shelf of any serious cycling fan.

No original material, as far as I can tell.

by: bodro On: 2006-03-29

I agree with a previous reviewer who found fault with the way the story was told. There is no excitement in describing the stages. They are just wrapped up all of a sudden.

To me, it did not seem like the author did many interviews of his own. It seems like he just watched the Tour de France and retold what he saw on the broadcast. His supposed "back-stories" which should be really interesting, all seem like a recap of the mini segments during the Tour broadcast that let you know more about the participants.

There is just nothing that reaches out and grabs you, and makes you want to keep reading. I finally quit it after the poor description of the day in the Pyrenees. That is one of the most exciting stages of the race, and the narrative was so wooden.

Not bad, not great.

On: 2006-03-25

My review of 23 Days... would probably be more favorable had I not read Lance Armstrongs War first...well, maybe not. While 23 Days... doesnt bore there is most definately something lacking, something a little annoying. It becomes apparent early on that the author likes to tell his story in a particular way, and its a little annoying. Hell start by telling the happenings of a particular stage in a first person narrative telling what the atmosphere was like, how the racers were feeling and how the stage progressed through most of the day. Then, at the penultimate point of a stage, instead of saying "Basso did this and Armstrong did that,"-in keeping with a first person perspective-, he speedily sums up the stage by saying "in the end Armstrong won, like the true champion he is", as he switches to a third person POV like you would if you were retelling the days stage to your buddy at work.
This way of telling the story is a let down. And even now, just 24 hours after finishing the book there is nothing that stands out in my mind as being special or remarkable. Lets put it this way: there is nothing in this book that would make me recommend it to anyone. Lance Armstrongs War, which covers the same race and a whole lot more, is much more in depth and a much more engaging read.

Absolutely Amazing!!!!

On: 2005-09-20

Lance takes his sixth Tour de France and with authority. He wins two time trials that were not even close. This book does a great job of giving an inside perspective of the tour. The author goes day to day in a very compelling and gripping way. I like how he intertwines historical tour de france events with those of today. He evens gives some short history lessons of what took place at various starting and end points. He not only gives praise where it is due but he also points out the negative publicity that surrounds Lance as well. This is a must read if you have a passion for cycling.

Very enjoyable - Recommended

On: 2005-09-05

A very enjoyable book for Lance or Tour de France fans. Recommended.

Readable but not great

On: 2005-08-31

"23 Days in July" is a readable recounting of the action in last years (04) Tour, but does not do enough with regard to context, back story, or broader themes to rate high markings. As other reviewers have mentioned "Lance Armstrongs War" is much better book all-around, covering the 04 Tour and more.

Recommended only for true cycling enthusiasts who would enjoy any books on the subject.

Interesting, but there are better

On: 2005-07-22

I read this one then immediately read Coyles "Lance Armstrongs War" and there simply isnt any comparison. "23 Days in July" is "inside" only in the sense that the author was willing to jump some barriers and break some rules. Coyles book is *truly* inside with insights Wilcockson doesnt even seem to be aware of. That, combined with Wilcocksons incredibly overblown style (he doesnt seem to have ever seen an adjective he didnt use) and his inability to spell "Girona" correctly (he consistently spells it "Gerona"), left me sort of wishing I hadnt bothered.

Good worthwhile read

On: 2005-07-20

An insightful tour through The Tour. The best account of the tour from the inside out that Ive seen/read. I hope that Wilcockson or someone with equal skill will do the same for the 2005 Tour.... it would be a fitting tribute to a great athlete and a "class act" person.

A hard ride, grippingly told

On: 2005-05-14

An experienced cycle racing writer who has covered 36 Tours de France and written extesively for cycling magazines for many years (plus in his earlier days in the sixties also raced in France), John Wilcockson certainly possesses all the knowledge and experience to bring this book to life in covering the 2004 Tour when Lance Armstrong set the all time record of six consecutive Tour wins .

He does so very well by covering the race by a chapter on each day of the 2004 race (hence the title) but interspersing each days stage race with the origins of the Tour and its governing rules; historic tales about prior winners and tragedies; the tactics used by different teams and riders and along the way covering the impact of training techniques, the amazing terrain covered and its impact on how different riders perform and the influence of drugs in this very physically demanding sport. The story benefits greatly from behind the scenes coverage of each of the main contenders against Armstrong in 2004 as well as having good access to the man himself before and after the race. By the end of the book one certainly appreciates very fully the high mix of luck, excellent fitness and superb team effort needed to win the Tour and the magnitude of what Armstrong has achieved.

While I would have personally liked a bit more on the fundamentals of how the Tour has developed and operates at the team level (bikes, mechanics and sponsors), this is a small gripe for what is an excellently told story.

the tour rocks

On: 2005-02-22

and so does this book. The tour is not a bike race, it is not a circus, it is not a carnival...it is all that combined into a daily 100 mile traveling rock concert...this book does justice to the race, the event, and the experience like no other book that I have read.

A wonderful book, but a bit lacking in passion

On: 2005-01-23

As the other reviewers have so beautifully described, this is a wonderful book that anyone interesed in The Tour, or sports in general, should read. I must give it only 4 stars, however, because at the end I felt that the author did not quite manage to convey the emotional and physical intensity of The Tour. I guess the writting was a little less emotionally involving than I had hoped. Nonetheless, the book did hold my interest and I could not wait to get to the ending, despite knowing how it all turned out.

A great tale, and then some

by: kentboy On: 2005-01-18

I was expecting a blow-by-blow account of the 2004 Tour, and thats certainly in here, but there is much more here, as well. The behind-the-scenes stuff, the elaboration around major recent cycling events, the history seamlessly interweaving into the present, and the profiles of riders both famous and obscure combine to place this book at the HC level of cycling journalism. Wilcockson deserves a lot of credit for getting out something this good so quickly after the event. In book publishing, thats tough. Because hes reaching for a broad audience, there is a sentence here and there explaining things that most cyclists know. No problem. Its a great book. If youre a cycling fan, get it.

The Time Of Your Life

On: 2005-01-15

Lance Armstrong won his sixth Tour de France in "23 Days in July". John Wilcockson, well known cycle sports writer has given us the story of these days. Drawn up in yellow, red and purples, the colors of the Alps and Pyrenees. We are allowed a visit into the most famous cycle race in the world Le Tour De France.

John Wilcockson has written a masterly tale of life on the road, so to speak, of five of the most competitive cyclists in the business. There is Lance Armstrong, the American with the story of testicular cancer who becomes obsessed with cycling and goes on to win six yellow jerseys of the Le Tour. He overcomes all he needs to in his life to make this win. Jan Ulrich, the German, who has the best chance of anyone to overcome Armstrong and win Le Tour. Ivan Basso, who proves that He has what it takes and is the man to watch in the future. Tyler Hamilton, the young American, who is one of the better cyclists from the States- he has a young team, but he has a chance to win. And, Iban Mayo, who reaches out to try and make this Tour his to lose. These are the stories of the men and women and the people who make the race. There are interviews with Chris Carmichael, Lance Armstrongs coach, and the man who builds winners. An interview with the tour director, Jean-Marie Leblanc, who brings understanding to the role of the French. We feel the majesty of the Alps, the sameness of some of the hotels, the day to day crunching and moving on and the excitement of those days of Le Tour. The doping scandal is addressed and it is not glossed over. John Wilcockson takes to task everyone who has a questionable reputation. The pre-cycle preparation and the lives and loves of those who participate. I thought I had a fairly good knowledge of the Le Tour, but I really felt I have come to know the lives of those who participated in the tour by reading this book.

John Wilcockson has been writing about cycle life for over thirty years. He has written several books about cycling. He goes to the head of the class with this book. Highly recommended. prisrob

kudos to Da Capo Press and the best cycling writer around

On: 2004-12-15

This was a very enjoyable, well written account of an historic race. What was so enjoyable was learning so much about the tour along the way. It was brilliantly structured to tell not only the story of Armstrongs record win, but of the tours history and fascinating aspects too. It must have been a race against the clock to put this book out so soon and yet its production and quality are very high. No ripped from the headlines stuff here, just a master sports writer at his best. Great stuff.

A wonderful read!

On: 2004-12-02

Most sports writers report on the game at hand, but John Wilcockson goes much deeper in "23 Days in July." This book is not just about Lance Armstrongs sixth Tour de France win, as exciting as that is in and of itself. Its not about the sport of bicycle racing in general. Its about the Tour de Frances past thirty of its 100 years, its heros, its wild rides and tragic losses, and how a reporter so dedicated to the sport is moved by these intricacies. Armstrongs 23-day buildup to a sixth consecutive Tour win makes for a fantastic story, but the better story is Wilcocksons 30-year history with the Tour and how he puts Armstrongs victory into perspective.

A Great book on the Tour de France

On: 2004-11-18

If youre looking for a book about the Tour de France that will keep you engaged, this is it. I found myself reading this book till late at night. I enjoy all sorts of outdoor sports and love reading about them as well. This book does a wonderful job of not only covering each days race events but the personal side as well. It is a must read for anyone who enjoys biking. It will go on my bookshelf with all the outdoor classics.

The Tour de France Revealed

On: 2004-11-17

For all you people who have become fascinated by Lance Armstrong and the Tour de France but had trouble understanding the complexity of times, teamwork, individual winners vs. overall winners, road stages vs. time trials, the meaning of yellow jersies, green jersies, polka dot jersies, and most all want to grasp just how truly tremendous Lance Armstrongs feat of six wins actually is, this is the book for you. John Wilcockson, easily the most experienced English speaking cycling journalist in the world, and with 37 Tours de France under his belt, perhaps the most experienced in the world, has put his lifelong scrutiny of this supreme sporting endeavor to the best of uses, weaving a riveting web of insiders race reportage with all sorts of background material guaranteed to enlighten everyone from the cognoscenti to the neophyte. This book will remain the definitive work on this record breaking 1904 Tour de France.

Straight scoop from the best writer in the bike biz

On: 2004-11-09

No one knows the inner life of an American pro roadie better than John Wilcockson. He writes in clean athletic prose and has been at the last 30+ Tours de France. Lots of backstory and anecdotes. And even a glossary and tactical Q&A for those who love Lance but may not know the inner workings of the peloton.

Excellent, exciting book

On: 2004-11-06

Without knowing much about the Tour de France, but excited by the news about this summers tour and Lance Armstrongs accomplishments, I started reading this book and it captivated my interest right away. Bike racing is such an interesting sport, and I loved learning all the different nuances of the race, how teams work together, the politics, the different jerseys, etc. The book explains everything each step of the way, but the most interesting were all the stories within the story -- the history of the Tour, the past champions and their personal adventures or personal stories, the look at what it took for each rider to get where he is now. The descriptions of the country and each stage of the tour were also very beautifully written. The pictures are also great. I recommend this book to anyone interested in sports, competition, or stories of personal triumph, or anyone who likes good nonfiction.

The Race and So Much More

On: 2004-11-05

I was amazed to find myself immediately engrossed in this beautifully written book. I am not into cycling and I mostly prefer to read fiction, stories of people and places and life dramas, but since it was a gift I thought Id better read at least a chapter or two. I found that it is, in fact, about people and places and life dramas, and so many other things too, all centering around the Tour de France, of course. John Wilcockson patiently explains the ins and outs of this rather complicated race. He tells us stories of past races and personalities and then seamlessly brings us back to the 2004 sidelines so that we are following the action with much greater depth. Along the way we get the flavor of the landscape, the villages, the people, the history, and the architecture. The lyrical and informative descriptions are a pleasure to read and complete the context of the event, so that we feel we are right there. Then, with each chapter representing a day of he race, we get to know the stars of 2004 (especially Lance Armstrong). Their personal stories are compelling without being gossipy, with just enough inside scoop to keep our place in the know. And the more we know, the more exciting each day of the race becomes. It is remarkable how much information is in this book, and how skillfully it fits together into a smooth and highly engaging narrative. It satisfied my literary tastes, told me lots of stuff I didnt know, and got me interested in one of the greatest sports events in the world. Now I cant wait until next July! I highly recommend this book to anybody on the whole spectrum of interest in cycling, from almost none, like myself, to people who have followed this great race through the years. A sure bet for almost anybodys gift list.

Excellent, exciting book

On: 2004-11-05

Without knowing much about the Tour de France, but excited by the news about this summers tour and Lance Armstrongs accomplishments, I started reading this book and it captivated my interest right away. Bike racing is such an interesting sport, and I loved learning all the different nuances of the race, how teams work together, the politics, the different jerseys, etc. The book explains everything each step of the way, but the most interesting were all the stories within the story -- the history of the Tour, the past champions and their personal adventures or personal stories, the look at what it took for each rider to get where he is now. The descriptions of the country and each stage of the tour were also very beautifully written. The pictures are also great. I recommend this book to anyone interested in sports, competition, or stories of personal triumph, or anyone who likes good nonfiction.

The Race and So Much More

On: 2004-11-04

I was amazed to find myself immediately engrossed in this beautifully written book. I am not into cycling and I mostly prefer to read fiction, stories of people and places and life dramas, but since it was a gift I thought Id better read at least a chapter or two. I found that it is, in fact, about people and places and life dramas, and so many other things too, all centering around the Tour de France, of course. John Wilcockson patiently explains the ins and outs of this rather complicated race. He tells us stories of past races and personalities and then seamlessly brings us back to the 2004 sidelines so that we are following the action with much greater depth. Along the way we get the flavor of the landscape, the villages, the people, the history, and the architecture. The lyrical and informative descriptions are a pleasure to read and complete the context of the event, so that we feel we are right there. Then, with each chapter representing a day of he race, we get to know the stars of 2004 (especially Lance Armstrong). Their personal stories are compelling without being gossipy, with just enough inside scoop to keep our place in the know. And the more we know, the more exciting each day of the race becomes. It is remarkable how much information is in this book, and how skillfully it fits together into a smooth and highly engaging narrative. It satisfied my literary tastes, told me lots of stuff I didnt know, and got me interested in one of the greatest sports events in the world. Now I cant wait until next July! I highly recommend this book to anybody on the whole spectrum of interest in cycling, from almost none, like myself, to people who have followed this great race through the years. A sure bet for almost anybodys gift list.

The definitive tour of the Tour de France

On: 2004-10-27

Wow! I just finished reading John Wilcocksons book on the 2004 Tour de France and am still overwhelmed. This is the most complete coverage of the Tour that I have ever encountered. It is well written and exciting. It is devoted primarily to Lance Armstrong, but the other major contenders - Ullrich, Basso, Hamilton, Kloden, etc. - are covered in depth with information about their lives which adds depth of character to the entire race. The course is thoroughly explored and explained along with the strategy of how the teams intended to attack it. In an excellent appendix all the important terms, and jargon of the tour are explained in thorough detail. There are also moments in which we are taken into the world of the media representatives who cover the race and observe what they have to endure in a madcap race around Europe. The vivid detail and human interest angles in the book gave me a much better grasp of what the Tour is really about - an event much bigger than the individuals and teams who participate despite the momentary focus on the current participants. For any bicycle racing fan this is a must inclusion in your library, and for those with merely a passing interest in the sport this book is a brisk and incisive introduction. I guess its obvious that I liked it, and I enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who has ever sat on a bicycle and wondered just how fast you could get that thing going!

I couldn't put this book down!

On: 2004-10-27

What a great read!! I did not have a lot of prior knowledge of the sport, but none is needed to thoroughly enjoy this riveting, articulate, dramatic take on one of sports greatest achievments. Well written and well done.

Excellent Tour history, stages, local color, riders, teams.

On: 2004-10-27

Written by a cycling insider.

Great history, details of the Tour and all those questions a newcomer might have. Excellent index, glossary, and FAQ sections. Very helpful for those not connected to cycling.

I couldn't put this book down!

On: 2004-10-26

What a great read!! I did not have a lot of prior knowledge of the sport, but none is needed to thoroughly enjoy this riveting, articulate, dramatic take on one of sports greatest achievments. Well written and well done.