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BURST: The only guide to the race that's fully endorsed by the organizers of the Tour de France, the only one with unrestricted access to the archives--and the only one with a foreword by Lance Armstrong! Celebrate a century in the life of the world's most thrilling sport The Tour de France is an event unrivalled in sports, filled with unparalleled passion, adventure, and sheer physical difficulty. Here is the definitive, official record of that thrilling sporting phenomenon, produced in collaboration with L'Equipe, France's premier sports daily and including a foreword by the four-time Tour de France winner and international sports celebrity, Lance Armstrong, who will be competing again this year. With access to the Tour de France's own archives, this huge, lushly photographed volume chronicles the race from its raw origins a century ago to its current position as the world's greatest sporting challenge. From Lance Armstrong's incredible comeback from cancer to Tommy Simpson's death on the slopes of Mont Ventoux, the event has been the stage for memorable triumphs and heartrending tragedies. Year by year, follow the grit and glory, the victory and defeat, the bravery and controversy, in the words of the players themselves. Through oversize photographs, track the race through the hundreds and hundreds of miles pedaled by competitors such as Maurice Garin, the first winner; Jacques Anquetil and Eddie Merckx, both four-time champions; Miguel Indurain and Bernard Hilault, who each won a breathtaking five times; and of course, Armstrong, the newest multiple victor. Every inch is filled with drama.