5 essential books on Cycling for a dream gift from the Three Kings

With the Cycling season ending (at least for those who prefer the road and have not yet succumbed to cyclocross), it is the ideal opportunity to continue to appreciate this sport through its most beautiful stories. Today we want to recommend several readily available books (all of which can be found on Amazon and in most major bookstores).

There are obviously a variety of themes relating to various competitions. Although we did not include it in our selection, a work like *Landismo* is a perfect example of the diversity of subjects covered today, notably the phenomenon surrounding the great Mikel Landa. Needless to say, the Tour de France remains the benchmark for exciting stories.

We have selected biographies, race stories, books on cyclists, as well as guides for better physical preparation or adapted nutrition. This mix highlights iconic figures of Spanish cycling such as Perico Delgado and Luis Ocaña, while revealing other stories that are sure to captivate you.

Perico's solitude

We start with *The Solitude of Perico*, the latest work published to date, signed by journalist Ainara Hernando. This book offers an in-depth exchange with Perico Delgado, who freely confides in the major stages of his exceptional career, from his insane Vuelta d'Espagne in 1985 to his Tour de France in 1988, including his moments of doubt and its failures. Essential reading.

Monuments

The Monuments are experiencing an unprecedented resurgence of interest, while runners like Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel are giving them a dimension they probably never had before. This work by Peter Cossins is an essential reference for discovering “the passion and glory of the great one-day races” such as Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Il Lombardía.

Ocaña

Eddy Merckx is often considered the best cyclist in history, regardless of what Tadej Pogacar will achieve in 2024. However, a Spaniard in the seventies was his nightmare. Carlos Arribas, cycling expert for El País, delves into the life of one of the greatest riders who ever lived and one of cycling's most complex and tormented characters. If you don't know Ocaña's story, it's time to discover this captivating work.

Lead in the pockets

I admit it, it's my favorite book. *Lead in the pockets*, by Ander Izagirre, brings together some of the best stories from the Tour de France in 229 pages that can be read in one breath. To illustrate this, an example from the book: Pélissier, winner of the Tour in 1923, argued against the rigor of the regulations: “Soon, they will put lead in our pockets”. Little Robic, winner in 1947, also loaded himself with lead to go down faster. The suffering imposed by the Tour weighs heavily, but so does the dedication of the cyclists.

Cycling dictionary: A sentimental glossary

We end with Juanma Trueba, in my opinion one of the journalists who wrote the best chronicles on the Vuelta and the Tour. In this *Cycling Dictionary*, he manages to explore the history of this sport in a masterful way.