From Europe to Asia, via North America and Africa, choose your own adventure from among 300 of the world's greatest bike rides and best cycling races, featuring our pick of the must-ride sportives and gran fondos where you can really test your legs against both the terrain and your fellow riders. Cheer on the world's top professionals from the roadside as they take on the Tour Down Under, or head into the Alps to watch the sport's greatest riders tackle the Tour de France. Conquer the US yourself on the Race Across America, or mountain bike your way through South Africa on the Cape Epic. 300 of the greatest cycling events to watch or ride, from the Tour de France to the biggest and best sportives. * Pro stage race: Follow the world's best across the Dolomites at the Giro d'Italia. * Road: Take after the professionals on the Etape du Tour of the Tour de France. * Mountain bike: Watch the professionals fly through the air in Valparasiso, Chile. * Night: Don't forget your lights for the London Nocturne. * Pro one-day race: Cheer on your heroes as they take on the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix. * Cyclo-cross: Conquer Yorkshire's Three Peaks on two wheels. * Long distance: Cycle across Africa in one of the world's longest bike races. * Track: Race against international riders at Herne Hill Velodrome during the Good Friday Track Meet. This list of ultimate cycling races is compiled by cycling writer Ellis Bacon, with contributions from some of the world's leading cyclists, including 2012 Milan-San Remo winner Simon Gerrans, and 2012 Tour of Britain and Tour of the Mediterranean champion Jonathan Tiernan-Locke.

In 1996 Danish cycling legend Bjarne Riis won the Tour de France. Eleven years later he called a press conference and confessed to taking performance-enhancing drugs in order to achieve the ultimate cycling triumph. In Riis, his sensational autobiography - already an acclaimed bestseller in Denmark and Germany - the notoriously private Dane bares his soul. From the shy, young daydreamer who fell in love with cycling as an eight-year-old, to the hardened, regular user of banned blood booster EPO. While never shirking the seriousness of his actions Riis does attempt to explain the pressures and attitudes within cycling at the time that let him down a dark path that he now condemns. Brutally honest and as furiously fast-paced as one of his breakaways from the peleton, Riis is a powerful insight into the life and mind of one of the sport's key figures as well as a window into the world of professional road racing. There are not many people who have been involved in cycling to the extent that Riis has over the last 30 years and readers will be surprised by how open the normally taciturn Dane has been in his autobiography. If you liked Fignon's We Were Young and Carefree this book will certainly appeal to you.

Professional cycling is a rich, dynamic and often controversial sport that lends itself to great writing. Some of the most famous and illustrious races were founded by newspapermen and The Cycling Anthology continues this tradition by bringing together the best in the business. Volume Two is a Tour de France special edition and features original and exclusive pieces by leading cycling writers. ITV reporter Ned Boulting looks at how the Tour made it to our living rooms and into our hearts; pro rider Daniel Lloyd lifts the lid on actually riding a Tour in 'A Domestique's Tale'; Jeremy Whittle examines why, despite drug scandal and infamy, the Tour still intoxicates us; and many more. Between them, they've covered hundreds of Tours de France and written dozens of excellent books and some have even ridden the Tour. Here, their work is showcased together.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CYCLING IN FIVE VOLUMES Volume One of The Cycling Anthology, a collection of the best writing on cycling by some of the sport's leading writers. Between them, they've covered hundreds of Tours de France and written dozens of excellent books and some have even ridden the Tour. Now, their work is showcased together for the first time. Volume One features original and exclusive pieces by leading cycling writers, including: - William Fotheringham disects Bradley Wiggins' transformation from track superstar to becoming the first Briton to win the Tour de France - David Millar discusses retirement and dark secrets as his friends' careers start to fade - Daniel Friebe uncovers the fascinating role statistics has to play in cycling - Jeremy Whittle follows Team Sky to assess the Lance Armstrong's legacy to the sport

Professional cycling is a rich, dynamic and often controversial sport that lends itself to great writing. Some of the most famous and illustrious races were founded by newspapermen and The Cycling Anthology continues this tradition by bringing together the best in the business. Volume Four features original and exclusive pieces by leading cycling writers. William Fotheringham remembers the journalist who was instrumental in bringing road-racing to a British audience; Ellis Bacon looks beyond Queen to the link between bikes and beats; Richard Moore finds out what happened to that 'little punk' (Lance Armstrong's words), Iban Mayo, and asks if he really did become a long-distance lorry driver; Daniel Friebe re-examines the ups and downs of Marco Pantani; Tom Southam explains what it's like not to ride the Tour de France; and much more. Between them, these writers have covered hundreds of Tours de France and written dozens of excellent books and some have even ridden the Tour. Here, their work is showcased together.

Professional cycling is a rich, dynamic and often controversial sport that lends itself to great writing. Some of the most famous and illustrious races were founded by newspapermen and The Cycling Anthology continues this tradition by bringing together the best in the business. Volume Five is an eclectic mix of stories old and new: As World War One is commemorated acros the globe, Brendan Gallagher looks at cycling's war heroes and the role the bicycle played in WWI. Jeremy Whittle goes in search of panache - why you don't always have to be a winner to be a winner in the public's eyes. Francois Thomazeau examines how the Tour de France became the international event it is today. The 2014 Tour de France is relived in the form of poetry, by Ellis Bacon. Lionel Birnie tells the story behind the Linda McCartney cycling team, the great British team that could have been. Joey McLoughlin was a shining star of the British cycling scene in the 1980s and '90s - Andy McGrath finds out what happened to him. Edward Pickering returns to one of cycling's great Pyrenean climbs - Superbagneres. As Matt Beaudin finds out, the Tour de France is a treat for the senses - albeit a loud one. Matt McGeehan sends a postcard from the 2014 World Track Championships in Colombia. And Daniel Friebe introduces us to Jean Francois Naquet-Radiguet: Tour de France pioneer.