Kolarz

A mountain race in southern France, more than 130 kilometres of effort and a constant battle not only with rivals, but also with one's own body. In „The Rider”, Tim Krabbé takes the reader on an intense journey along the route of the iconic Tour de Mont Aigoual, showing the race from the perspective of a rider right in the heart of the peloton.

The author combines the strategic thinking of a chess player with a reporter's eye and his distinctive sense of humour. He analyses race tactics, temporary alliances, rivalry, pacing and the pain that grows with each successive climb. „The Rider” is therefore not merely a record of a sporting event, but also a precise look at the limits of human endurance and the tension between body and mind.

„People consist of two parts: the body and the mind. Of the two, it is of course the mind that is the cyclist.”

Psychology plays a key role here. The outcome can be decided by fractions of a second, the right distribution of effort and a mental advantage over a rival. Krabbé presents cycling as a sport in which physical exertion is inseparably linked with concentration, calculation and the ability to push beyond one's own limits.

The novel was originally written in 1978 and has sold more than 300,000 copies worldwide. To this day, it remains one of the most recognisable titles in sports literature. Whether you know the atmosphere of local races or are simply looking for a powerful and compelling book about cycling, Tim Krabbé's „The Rider” lets you experience a race from the inside - from a place where every decision, every climb and every second matters.