‘Entertaining, quirky and an enjoyable read’ – Phil Liggett MBE 'A genuine one-off with a ready wit and a killer anecdote to hand at all times' – Rouleur 'Entertaining... Carlton hows no sign of running out of amusing anecdotes... A worthy sequel that will give his fans more of what they like' – Road.cc Legendary commentator Carlton Kirby’s professional cycling race year takes us from the magnificent Grand Tours and iconic Spring Classics to the sport’s more bizarre corners with plenty of his inimitable and irreverent diversions en route. A true cycling nut would be hard pushed to even name all 36 races on the UCI World Tour, but there is much more to professional racing than national tours and monuments. It’s a year-long global schedule venturing as far afield as Burkina Faso and Gabon. So why not take some of these roads less travelled in the company of Carlton Kirby, a real commentary nomad, cycling expert and hilarious raconteur. Carlton’s year follows the cycling seasons through the Spring Classics to the Grand Tours and on to the World Championships and Six Day track racing. In between he’s visiting the lesser known, bizarre and challenging races such as Tour de Langkawi, Flanders‘ Scheldeprijs, The Red Hook Crit in New Jersey and UK’s National Hill Climb Championships. Along the way we hear great cycling stories from the past as well as how he appeared in a blockbuster action movie, bought an octopus in an auction, got lost in a storm on a sacred Catalonian mountain and faced near death in a biscuit factory. And that’s just some of the anecdotes that don’t involve Sean Kelly.

Prepare to be entertained as legendary Eurosport cycling commentator Carlton Kirby shares his tales from the road, taking you behind the scenes of the world's greatest cycle races. 'A genuine one-off with a ready wit and a killer anecdote to hand at all times' Ian Cleverly, Rouleur 'Carlton Kirby is no ordinary cycling commentator, so it is not surprising that this very entertaining book is no ordinary Grand Tour on a bicycle. A very enjoyable journey for everyone' Phil Liggett MBE, NBC Tour de France commentator 'Carlton Kirby's infectious enthusiasm, wine tips and Shakespearean joy for inventing words makes every stage of a bike race a must-watch event' Matt Butler, i newspaper With a candid authority that comes from over 25 years commentating on the world's biggest cycling races, legendary Eurosport commentator Carlton Kirby isn't afraid to tell it like it really is. Witty, outrageous and often outspoken, Magic Spanner is an insider's view of life on cycling's Grand Tours, including the Tour de France, Giro D'Italia, Vuelta a Espana and the classics, all delivered in the inimitable style for which Carlton has become globally famous. Peppered with hilarious anecdotes of life on the road with Tour legend Sean Kelly, Carlton gives us an expert, behind-the-scenes view - one that the average fan rarely gets to see or hear about. As well as sharing his various bugbears (including crazy spectators in mankinis to the more serious issues of rider safety), Carlton also lifts the lid on team strategies, and delves into some of cycling's more questionable ethics. Delivering a mix of expert opinion and trademark wit, Carlton covers the funny, the serious and the more bizarre moments on the professional cycling caravan. This edition also includes Carlton's guide to watching bike racing - live at the roadside.