THE idea of racing to come last goes against most common notions of sportsmanship, but in his book Lanterne Rouge Max Leonard, who will be at Rossiter Books in Ross on July 8, tells the fascinating stories behind the men who made it their mission to finish last at the Tour de France.
Froome, Wiggins, Merckx – we know the winners of the Tour, but Lanterne Rouge tells the forgotten, often inspirational and occasionally absurd stories of the last-placed rider. We learn of stage winners and former yellow jerseys who tasted life at the other end of the bunch; the breakaway leader who stopped for a bottle of wine and then took a wrong turn; the doper whose drug cocktail accidentally slowed him down and the rider who was recognised as the most combative despite finishing at the back.
Max Leonard is a writer and amateur cyclist. He has written about bicycles for Esquire, Monocle, Rouleur, Daily Telegraph, Guardian blogs, Rapha and others. He has never knowingly come first – or last – in anything. He will be at Rossiter Books, Ross-on-Wye on Wednesday, July 8 at 7pm.
Tickets available from Rossiter Books in Ross 01989 564464 or Monmouth 01600 775572 or online at rossiterbooks.co.uk.
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