Rainbows in the Mud Inside the Intoxicating World of Cyclocross
Cyclocross is no longer cycling's hidden gem. Its rapid growth in the US--and its new popularity as off-season training--means this intense and dramatic sport is exploding into the mainstream. With a season running from September to February, cyclocross is cycling's only purely winter discipline, demanding a combination of athleticism, supreme technical skill, and ruthless tactics for the muddy conditions.
In the sport's heartland of Belgium, major races attract crowds of thousands and have a carnival atmosphere fueled by heavy drinking, ringing cowbells, and pumping airhorns. Many top riders have enthusiastic fan-clubs and are national celebrities--one even had his own reality TV show. On race day, Belgian and Dutch television coverage is akin to a major football game in the US, stretching for hours with pre--race interviews, pundits, and behind-the-scenes films.
In Rainbows in the Mud, Paul Maunder spends a season soaking up the sport's rich culture and history, and mixing with the obsessive fans, celebrity riders, and old-fashioned patriarchs of the sport. Following the riders--novices, veterans, American, British--as they slog their way through the season, he captures the spirit of this flamboyant cult sport, and paints a picture so vibrant you can almost feel the mud under your feet.
| Publisher Name | Bloomsbury Sport |
|---|---|
| Author Name | Hagendorf, Col |
| Format | Audio |
| Bisac Subject Major | SPO |
| Language | NG |
| Isbn 10 | 1472925955 |
| Isbn 13 | 9781472925954 |
| Target Age Group | min:NA, max:NA |
| Dimensions | 00.92" H x 00.06" L x 10.00" W |
| Page Count | 288 |
Paul Maunder has loved all aspects of cycle racing ever since seeing flickering coverage of the 1984 World Road Championships from Barcelona. He won his first race--an under-12s cyclocross around a farmyard near Oxford, for which he won three chocolate bars--but thereafter struggled to maintain such dominance. He has studied fiction with the former Poet Laureate, been awarded a fellowship by Faber, and is a regular feature contributor to Rouleur and Peloton magazines.
