The fascinating and unknown story of the Tour de France's ever-changing relationship with money and power - and the enigmatic family behind it all.

It started with a cash drop by an English spy in occupied Paris in 1944. Reserved for Resistance groups during the war, the money reached Émilien Amaury, an advertising executive, who was tasked to help France return to a free press once liberated. He soon launched a newspaper empire that - unbeknown to him - would own the rights to run what would become one of the greatest sporting events in history.

Le Tour, once a struggling commercial phenomenon, began to rise in popularity across much of western Europe in the glum years after the Second World War, lifting the mood of the hungry and despondent French. But with the increased interest in the event, exacerbated by the creation of television and the internet, came several cultural threats to national heritage. Multiple attempts to wrest power and profits from the latest generation of the Amaury family - who still own the race and take tens of millions of euros home in dividends - have followed, but not without a fight.

Fast-paced and fastidiously researched, Le Fric illustrates how moments off the bike at the Tour de France are every bit as gripping as the battle for the yellow jersey.

For adventure-loving cyclists as well as anyone who has ever daydreamed of pedaling the open road or trail . . .
Imagine a bike trip through California wine country, a nature tour of Vermont in autumn, mountain biking the north rim of the Grand Canyon, climbing Mont Ventoux during the Tour de France! There's nothing quite like the exhilaration of a bike tour vacation if it is done right-not to mention the fitness benefits it provides. Backed by nearly two decades of experience from the most authoritative magazine on cycling, this book shows the way. Written in a quick, easy-to-absorb style, it tells you:
o How to buy the right touring bike and gear
o How to find a good touring company
o How to plan your own tour
o Training programs for any length of tour
o What clothing to choose for specific weather conditions
o How much and what to eat and drink
o Cycling Dream Trips-the 10 places you have to ride
Complete with maintenance tips and 12 emergency repairs you should know how to do, advice on riding in bad weather and in heavy traffic, and the ultimate packing checklist of what you need to take no matter where (or how long) you go, this handy, helpful guide is designed to make your bike tour an invigorating, rewarding experience you will never forget.