Blog Archives
Celebrating the 100th race of the Tour de France
Hot off the press: Tour de France 100: A Photographic History of Cycling’s Most Iconic Race publishes … today
All I can say is this is one sexy book! I could go on about the superb imagery, exquisite photography, and insightful commentary from sports journalist Richard Moore, but the book speaks for itself.
If you’d like a quick peruse of the inside of this gorgeous book, just click here.
If you’re a cycling enthusiast and don’t have a copy, well…
Triumph and Tragedy at the Giro d’Italia
Triumph and tragedy? Surely I’m not prophesising the results of the Giro d’Italia already? Nah, if I was, I wouldn’t be so worried about my Fantasy Cycling team*.
As much as I’d love to tell the future and know if Wiggo will beat Nabali to win the pink jersey or whether the Manx Missile, Mark Cavendish, will come home in the red, I think I’m just going to have to sit back and watch the drama unravel on TV like the rest of you other cyclist enthusiasts.
However, I just thought I’d give you tifosi out there the heads-up about the smashing new edition of Maglia Rosa, by Herbie Sykes and published in partnership with Rouleur. A stunning photographic book offering a definitive history of the Italy’s Grand Tour, it takes you all the way from its beginnings in 1909 right up to the present day. And if you fancy checking out some of the gorgeous images, just click on the cover below…
Essential reading for all ‘tifosi’
*L’Equipe Kirsty
3 Bloomsbury Books Shortlisted for the British Sports Book Awards
Bloomsbury are proud to announce that we have three books on the shortlist for the British Sport Book Awards. The three books to be shortlisted are:
Best Illustrated Book
Coppi by Herbie Sykes
Best New Writer
Sit Down and Cheer by Martin Kelner
Best Cricket Book
We’ll Get ’Em in Sequins by Max Davidson
The winner for each category will be announced on Tuesday 21st May 2013 – fingers crossed!
Smashing Cycling Bash – Rouleur style
The wine (and more crucially, beer) is chilled, the books are artfully arranged, and the doorman is in position. It must be time for another super-glamorous Bloomsbury launch party.
Having persuaded Rouleur to allow us to publish their supremely gorgeous cycling books, this Wednesday we opened our doors to the great and the good of the cycling fraternity to celebrate our new Rouleur Books imprint and the first offspring, Coppi and Le Metier.
Rouleur’s Bruce Sandell and Guy Andrews with Bloomsbury Head of Sport Charlotte Croft – A class act
Slightly overwhelmed by the rabid RSVPing which followed the invites being sent out, we’d been forced to emergency-order more booze, so the signs were good, and we weren’t disappointed. A jolly crowd, many sporting an assortment of slightly troubling Movembers, mingled, caught up with old friends and suffered through the obligatory speeches.
Bloomsbury author Richard Moore and his agent enjoying the party
British cyclist and Team Manager of the newly-formed Madison Genesis team, Roger Hammond enjoys a bevvy with some cycling chums
Journo Rob Penn and Jasper Sutcliffe, Senior Buyer at Foyles, brought together through the love of all-things bike
As a Bloomsbury someone who shall remain nameless whispered to me half way through – ‘one of the best launch parties we’ve had’ – a resounding success full of strange but enjoyable conversations (sample facts unearthed: 1. Never fall asleep in a 
field in the Cotswolds on a cycling trip – you will wake to find red kites circling above, assuming you are dead 2. The roof of Number 50 was the perfect place to do a tab of acid in the 60s), which was only broken up by the rather flashback end-of-school-disco switching on and off of lights to encourage the last few stragglers to stick on their helmets, rev up their Bromptons, and weave their merry way home…
Musings by Charlotte Croft, Head of Team Sport at Bloomsbury
Coppi: Inside the Legend of Il Campionissimo
Fausto Coppi remains the most iconic cyclist in the history of the sport. For twenty years either side of the war his extravagant talent, combined with a unique charisma and human frailty, captivated fans across Europe. Moreover, he revolutionised the sport of bike racing itself, laying the foundations for the generations who would follow.
Coppi was Il Campionissimo; his greatness so unequivocal that his celebrity transcended mere sport. As such, both his professional and private lives were endlessly pawed over by his country’s insatiable post-war media. In deserting his wife and daughter for a divorcée in 1954, he traumatised Catholic Italy. Thereafter his life became a soap opera from which he was unable to escape until his dramatic death in 1960.
Herbie Sykes’s new book Coppi is a beautiful and unique depiction of this legendary cyclist, built around an extraordinary collection of hand-picked, rarely seen images and testimonies from those who knew him intimately. These images, some genuine masterpieces, were unearthed through hours of painstaking research. Allied to the personal truths of those closest to him, they reveal the man behind the Fausto Coppi myth.
This book strips away many of the half-truths and downright lies which have been grafted onto his legend over the decades, making it a very different kind of sports biography, and a must-have for all genuine cycling fans.
The Fastest Mod on Two Wheels
Team Sport at Bloomsbury are delighted to say that on Thursday they will be publishing a stunning photographic book on ‘The Modfather’ himself, Bradley Wiggins.
The Modfather
The book covers his Yellow Jersey success in the Tour de France as well as his London 2012 Olympic glory. Brilliantly narrated by the cycling journalist, Daniel Friebe, this is the ideal Christmas gift for any cycling fan. (Yes, this is a shameless plug, but it’s worth it!)
Fancy having a sneaky peak now, then check out these sample pages here.
Le Metier Michael Barry retires
Canadian cycling star Michael Barry has announced that he is calling time on his professional cycling career at the end of the season. Having ridden for US Postal, Discovery Channel and Columbia-HTC, Barry will end his successful career at Team Sky and will no doubt be missed by his team mates and everyone on the professional cycling circuit.
Team Sky’s website said:
In a career spanning 14 years, Michael has earned a reputation as one of the hardest working domestiques in the peloton and has captivated many cycling fans through his way with words and an infectious love for the sport
[...]
He was a founding member of Team Sky when he signed at the end of 2009, and over the last three seasons has set an example to the rest of the squad with his positive attitude, unwavering commitment to the cause, and wealth of cycling knowledge.
If you’d like to read about life as a cycling domestique, the third edition of Michael Barry’s book Le Metier: The Seasons of a Professional Cyclist (including photos from the 2012 season) is available to pre-order on Amazon here.
Out November 2012. Pre-order on Amazon
Triathlon Triumph
Feeling inspired by the success of the Brownlee brothers? Thinking of taking up Triathlon or just want to improve your current sporting performance?
Pick up a copy, pick up the pace.
Why not check out our Triathlon titles for guidance of avoiding injury, techniques and training tips for the swim, run and cycle. We even have a book on ultimate triathlons for those who think the traditional triathlon is a walk in the park…
Also coming later next year is a book on Triathlon for the over 50 by Ian Stokell – Triathlon for Masters and Beyond. Ian is one of the Guardian’s triathlon correspondents during the Olympics, but you can find more information on triathlon on his website: http://www.over50triathlon.com/
Do you fancy being the next Bradley Wiggins?
Yesterday Bradley Wiggins became the first British rider to win the Tour de France. Dust off that cycling helmet and discover your inner cyclist, with our range of cycling books from Bloomsbury.
Train with the experts from start to finish and discover how to ride each and every legendary climb.
Rouleur Books – the World’s Finest Cycling Reportage
Team Sport are delighted to announce that Bloomsbury has launched a new cycling imprint with Rouleur – producers of the cult road cycling magazine and of beautiful, high quality cycling books.
Charlotte Croft, Head of the Bloomsbury Team Sport said:
“Rouleur represents the best in cycling publishing—and we are proud to be working in partnership with such a highly distinguished and respected brand to ensure these books reach the widest possible audience.
Stunning photography and gripping accounts mark Rouleur books out from the pack, and they have long been much admired and sought-after purchases for competitive athletes, keen amateur cyclists and armchair observers alike, making Rouleur books a must-have for any cycling fan.”
Rouleur Books – A must for any serious cycling fan
Rouleur Books will be produced and designed by Rouleur founder Guy Andrews and his team, with Bloomsbury providing the sales and marketing. The imprint, dedicated to publishing the best in cycling journalism and photography, will publish approximately six titles each year. The first titles, Coppi by Herbie Sykes, a lavish hardback examining the life of Fausto Coppi, who won the Tour de France in 1949 and 1952, and an updated edition of photography book Le Metier: The Seasons of a Professional Cyclist by Team Sky rider, Michael Barry, will be published in November 2012.
Coppi
As Wired magazine recently commented: ‘Rouleur is to bike magazines what National Geographic is to nature photography. Instead of glossy, well-lit portraits and fancy racing shots, its pages are filled with long, thoughtful photo spreads that drive deep narratives.‘
Nick in Nets
Kirsty
Naomi
Sarah
