The Cycling Anthology: Volume Five

Professional cycling is a rich, dynamic, and often controversial sport that lends itself to great writing. Some of the most famous and illustrious races were founded by newspapermen and The Cycling Anthology continues this tradition by bringing together the best in the business in collections of amazing and original writing about cycling.

Brendan Gallagher looks at cycling's war heroes and the role the bicycle played in World War I. Jeremy Whittle goes in search of panache—why you don't always have to be a winner to be a winner in the public's eyes. Francois Thomazeau examines how the Tour de France became the international event it is today. The 2014 Tour de France is relived in the form of poetry, by Ellis Bacon. Lionel Birnie tells the story behind the Linda McCartney cycling team, the great British team that could have been. Joey McLoughlin was a shining star of the British cycling scene in the 1980s and 1990s—Andy McGrath finds out what happened to him. Edward Pickering returns to one of cycling's great Pyrenean climbs—Superbagneres. As Matt Beaudin finds out, the Tour de France is a treat for the senses—albeit a loud one. Matt McGeehan sends a postcard from the 2014 World Track Championships in Colombia. And lastly, Daniel Friebe introduces us to Jean Francois Naquet-Radiguet: Tour de France pioneer.

Ellis Bacon is the former deputy editor of Procycling magazine, and has written extensively for Cycle Sport and Cycling Weekly. He is also the author of Mapping Le Tour and  World's Ultimate Cycling Races. Lionel Birnie is a journalist, author, and publisher who specialized in cycling. He is a cohost of the Telegraph Cycling Podcast.