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In his book "On The Road", Rick Zabel provides insights into the world of professional cycling. The hardcover book, published by Kiepenheuer & Witsch, comprises 220 pages (but no photos) and is available for 24 euros (e.g. here) is available. In it, Zabel describes his own career from young rider to professional and reflects on the fascination of cycling. He explores the question of why people ride up mountains with their own muscle power, even in the greatest agony and with moderate chances of success, and why they get back on their bikes the next day. The book addresses both the sunny side of cycling - such as discovering beautiful places and conquering high mountain passes - and the darker side, such as pressure, competition, doping and physical limits.
How is it?
"On the Road" is an autobiography. Well, not quite an "autobiography", because Rick got help from co-author Harald Braun (journalist & ghostwriter) to write it. For me, it's always a downer when a ghostwriter is involved. Because then I never know exactly how much Rick there really is in the Rick book. When I read the book, I didn't know anything about the "ghostwriter" - which was good. Because the writing seems very authentic, honest and very much like Rick Zabel. It's not contrived writing, but simple, clear sentences that tell what happened. From grandpa Manni, who smears vinegar on little Rick's racing bike tyres for extra grip or massages his boy's legs and makes him believe that he has particularly "good legs" for the race today.
Rick's enthusiasm for racing bikes is transferred to the reader, who is right there with him as little Rick celebrates his first tender successes or decides to move out of home at the age of 13 to go to a sports high school in Erfurt. The book is made particularly dramatic by the celebrity father Erik Zabel, like all life stories of people who are confronted with superhero parents. This emphasises Rick's life motto: "You can't buy freedom, but you can buy a racing bike. And that puts the brakes on it". Rick drops out of boarding school in Erfurt before his A-levels, moves back home and into the territory of his father Erik Zabel - and the problems begin!
Rick's descriptions are refreshingly self-critical and reflective, you get a good insight into the world of professional cycling and feel how far illusion and reality can diverge.
Editor Dimitri Lehner's conclusion
I like autobiographies, I like life stories. The more honest, the better. In cycling, for example, I've read books by Lance Armstrong, BMX legend Matt Hoffman and Danny MacAskill. Rick Zabel's book fits right in there. It's simple, enjoyable entertainment. Easy to read. Particularly interesting for those who are not yet so familiar with professional road racing. But it's not a real book tip. In other words: you can read it, but you don't have to.
Further information
Rick Zabel
- Born: 7 December 1993 in Unna
- Career: 2012-2024
- Teams: Rabobank Continental Team (2012-2013), BMC (2014-2016), Katusha Alpecin (2017-2019), Israel Start-Up Nation/Israel-Premier Tech (2020-2024)
- Grand Tour participations: 4x Tour de France, 4x Giro d'Italia
- Greatest successes: German U23 champion 2012, winner of the Tour of Flanders U23 2013, stage wins at the Tour of Austria 2015 and Tour de Yorkshire 2019
- Current place of residence: Cologne
"On the Road" (book)
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
