Professional cyclists pedal to exhaustion at top speed in rain, storms or extreme heat. They engage in fierce battles for victory, while at the same time their fiercest rivals help each other through breakdowns and dry spells. They often drag themselves to the finish line with their last ounce of strength, and yet they rarely really run out of breath.
This almost inhuman performance of the "heroes of the road" has been the subject of doping discussions since the beginning of its more than 100-year history. But in a cycling race, the personal strength of an individual athlete is rarely the decisive factor: route profiles, weather conditions, the team composition, tactical skill and the daily form of the respective winning candidates determine the course of each race and are what make it so fascinating for spectators.
In the easy-to-understand handbook "Top Groups, Breakaways and Water Carriers", sports journalist Petzi Maluga explains the most important strategies for the various competitions, uses examples to show what distinguishes a mountain flea from a water carrier and why a sprinter will never win the Tour de France. In addition, cycling photographers Hans A. Roth and Jürgen Griese provide impressive images of the various racing situations.
Sports journalist Petzi Maluga answers these and many other questions using numerous examples from international cycling. A must-read for anyone who has succumbed to the fascination of cycling and wants to know more about its basic concepts, rules and processes.
Petzi Maluga
Leading groups, breakaways and water carriers
Terms and rules of cycling
ISBN: 978-3-7688-5233-3
EUR: 12.90
