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The Racer
- Life on the Road as a Pro Cyclist
- Narrated by: John Sackville
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
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The Racer
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Summary
What is it really like to be a racer?
What is it like to be swept along at 60kmh in the middle of the pack? How does it feel to be reeled in from a solo breakaway metres from the line? What happens to the body during a high-speed chute? What tactics must teams employ to win the day, the jersey, the grand tour? How does a domestique keep going to the end of a stage once his job is done and his body exhausted? How does a time trialist maintain his form when every muscle and sinew is screaming at him to stop? What sacrifices must a cyclist make to reach the highest levels? What is it like on the bus? In the hotels? What camaraderie is built in the confines of a team? What rivalries? How does it feel to be constantly on the road, away from loved ones, tasting one more calorie-counted hotel breakfast?
David Millar offers us a unique insight into the mind of a professional cyclist during his last year before retirement. Over the course of a season on the World Tour, Millar puts us in touch with the sights, smells and sounds of the sport - the barked instructions of a road captain in a sprint chain, the silence of a solo training ride.
This is a book about youth and age, fresh-faced excitement and hard-earned experience. It is a love letter to cycling.
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What listeners say about The Racer
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- T
- 20-04-17
Interesting insight once again
Didn't have a problem with the narration. Agreed Racing through the Dark is a better book but that isn't to say this was bad. I enjoyed it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Ray
- 11-02-16
An extremely well written book.
If you could sum up The Racer in three words, what would they be?
Well written, a good match of narrator and story. One of the best audiobooks i have listened to - I will certainly play it a second time.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Andrew
- 09-08-16
Wonderful, insightful and beautifully read.
The narrator was excellent, the stories exciting; perfect for any cycling fan. Comes highly recommended.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Chalkie
- 29-08-17
Fantastic
Liked David Millar's first book, this was also great. Interesting perspective on the sport and not the usual fairy tales associated with sports biographies.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Nigel
- 21-11-18
compelling, entertaining, personal, fascinating,.
the subject line says it all. I learnt so much that I could never glean by watching this sport....and I learnt the flavour of the man through the witty and touching content. Great reading....speech patterns and tone close enough to David Millar's voice that I forgot it wasn't him. I'll be listening again.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- RG
- 26-09-19
Moved to tears. A brilliant story.
Ok, I'm a cycling fan.. The Grand Tours of 2019 have kept me together during a period of intense retraining for a shift in career, and of course, David is a big part of the coverage. I wanted to know more about his life prior to entertaining us with Ned etc.
John Sackville makes a great job of narration - his voice and intonation is such that I thought it was David speaking at points.
I'd recommend this to anyone, not necessarily just cycling fans, but anyone who wants to hear more about human performance, limitations, self-belief and the general ups and downs of an athletes journey.
This afternoon, listening to the final few chapters, I had tears welling up, such was the power of the story. That wasn't ideal, because I was near Birmingham on a busy M42...
My favourite audiobook for a collection of 30+ mainly in sports, psychology and human behaviour.
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- Ken
- 13-02-18
The best cycling book I’ve ever read...
Don’t know what to say beyond...wow
I was in mourning when I couldn’t listen to this anymore.
I’ve learnt so much about a sport I thought I knew so much as it’s from a unique perspective.
Chapeau
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- Appstore
- 28-01-18
Brilliant!!
What made the experience of listening to The Racer the most enjoyable?
Being a racing cyclist, i can understand what David is trying to convey...
What does John Sackville bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
He actually sounds like David lol
Any additional comments?
A brilliant book hope he does more..
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Paski
- 20-03-18
Good book.
Good book -great story .don't expect much about training but expect amazing inside view .
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- Stevie Mac
- 07-07-19
Honest and fun
Lovely this book. A true honest account told in a witty way, found myself bursting into random laughter.
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