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Home > Boy Racer: My Journey to Tour de France Record-Breaker
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Boy Racer: My Journey to Tour de France Record-Breaker
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By Mark Cavendish
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 (18 Reviews)
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List Price: $21.95
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Publisher:
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Velo Press
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Date:
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December 31, 1969 |
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Binding:
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Paperback
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Pages:
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320
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| Product Description: |
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Boy Racer unmasks the manic, brutal world of professional cycling from the candid viewpoint of the sport's brash young superstar, Mark Cavendish. Written off as fat and useless in his youth, Cavendish's hunger for success and his sheer natural ability has forged him into one of cycling's youngest phenoms ? and one of cycling's most accomplished sprinters.
Some have called him cocky, but to those who dislike his style, Cav will shrug his shoulders and reply, "Iknow I'm good. There's no point lying about it." Cav's fearlessness in the saddle and on the record has earned him controversy and the respect of his competitors and fans.
Boy Racer brings readers into Cav's head as he sprints into cycling's canon of larger-than-life riders.
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Customers' Reviews:
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 Felt like I was having a beer with an old buddy taking about cycling...., June 21, 2010
By Kristin M. Petersen (Heber City, UT)
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I bought this book out of my love of cycling and not in particular a love of Mark Cavendish. I have always admired Cavendish as an outstanding athlete and thought he might have some interesting stories to tell. I love his blunt way of speaking and story telling. I have to say, I am now a Cavendish fan.
As an avid fan of the Tour De France you can't help but notice Mark and his unbelievable ability to sprint. At the end of any race you hear him give all credit to his team when he wins or see the broken heart. He is a true sportsman.
While the stories jump around a bit, it is a great inside look of how a sprinter survives the Tour de France and even has the opportunity to win a stage or more. I found it inspiring to hear his stories of people telling him he was fat, and that his numbers indicated he would never make it to the pro tour and how he told the sports scientists to basically ""stick it"".
I encourage any fan of the pro tour to pick up this book and enjoy a few days of new stories and insight into the sport.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
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One of the best sports stories ever..., July 18, 2010
By Timone (Honolulu, HI)
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Mark Cavendish, one of today's greatest young sports prodigies at just 24, tells his coming of age story in a speed-readingly riveting style. His battles with his opponents, coaches and, most of all himself in a voice very much his own. The story is cleverly weaved through each chapter - which begins with his story of each stage of the 2008 Tour De France and then shifts to a relevant part of his efforts to take himself from youth on the tiny isle of Man to the top of a sport in less than ten years.
It might seem absurd for a 24 year old to write an autobiography - but when you read it, you realize that the immediacy and freshness of the experiences make this almost a sportscasting style of biography with a rawness that is not possible if written through the lens of someone at the end of their career.
It's a deeply personal story of massive ups and downs - of Cavendish's inner battles with his own volatility and learning how to channel his often dysfunctional almost manic / depressive energy in ways that could be useful. From winning a world championship to sitting alone in a room eating endless bags of chips to joining a pro team to losing when he was expected to win, to his scally(wagish) pranks on his team-mates to their punishment with hours riding.
Cavendish is, of course, the brash hero - but he is self deprecating and appreciative of the people that brought him to where he is. Those that didn't help, of course, get a bit of a Manx-style smack-down.
Hats off / chapeau, Mr. Cavendish - you can write nearly as well as you ride.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
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One of the best sports stories ever..., July 19, 2010
By Timone (Honolulu, HI)
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Mark Cavendish, one of today's greatest young sports prodigies at just 24, tells his coming of age story in a speed-readingly riveting style. His battles with his opponents, coaches and, most of all himself in a voice very much his own. The story is cleverly weaved through each chapter - which begins with his story of each stage of the 2008 Tour De France and then shifts to a relevant part of his efforts to take himself from youth on the tiny isle of Man to the top of a sport in less than ten years.
It might seem absurd for a 24 year old to write an autobiography - but when you read it, you realize that the immediacy and freshness of the experiences make this almost a sportscasting style of biography with a rawness that is not possible if written through the lens of someone at the end of their career.
It's a deeply personal story of massive ups and downs - of Cavendish's inner battles with his own volatility and learning how to channel his often dysfunctional almost manic / depressive energy in ways that could be useful. From winning a world championship to sitting alone in a room eating endless bags of chips to joining a pro team to losing when he was expected to win, to his scally(wagish) pranks on his team-mates to their punishment with hours riding.
Cavendish is, of course, the brash hero - but he is self deprecating and appreciative of the people that brought him to where he is. Those that didn't help, of course, get a bit of a Manx-style smack-down.
Hats off / chapeau, Mr. Cavendish - you can write nearly as well as you ride.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Read this book!, December 5, 2010
By Monty Montgomery (3rd planet from the sun.)
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A nice surprise. My opinion of Cavendish changes 100%. I previously thought he was a cocky sob, but I now understand where he is coming from.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Cavendish and cycling fans take note., November 3, 2010
By B. Lee (Monterey, CA)
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Mark Cavendish is definitely a colorful character in cycling with a mixed reputation. I really enjoyed this book and it brings perspective as to who Mark Cavendish is. I became a Cav fan after reading this book. Not only will you understand him better but it sheds light into the world of cycling. I recommend this book.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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amazing, August 28, 2010
By mason
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cav is an amazing writer. i was so impressed by his writing talent and the way he dragged you into each race. couldnt put this down
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Brash and honest, April 30, 2011
By valley rider
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Cavendish is forthright, you always know what he is thinking. His background is surprising, he tells it to you in the first person, it not glossed over by some ghost writer. He is a current racer, a young man of our times. Read it before this year's Tour. It will make the viewing more interesting.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Love To Cycle, December 30, 2010
By Randy Barts
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I Cycle as a way of maintaining some form of daily exercise. So when I found a book about a young man who wrote of his journey into the inner realm of professional cycling and his experience in the Tour De France I was intrigued. The book tells a very candid story of Mark Canvendish's journey into the elite world of professional cycling. Of what it takes to get to that level and more inportantly, what it takes to stay there. It is a story of personal sacrifice and just plain hard work. Of working through pain and injury when all your body does is scream stop! Of going beyond what you think is possible and proving all the nay-sayers wrong. This book strips away the glamour of what the average Joe sees while watching the tour on TV and tells it like it is. If you enjoy cycling or are just interested in the daily grinds of a professional athelete, I believe you will enjoy this book.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Very entertaining book!!, November 29, 2010
By deepak makkar
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This book is a must read, very entertaining and all the basic aspects of the life of a professional cyclist have been narrated in a funny and simple way.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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fantastic book, September 17, 2010
By chronic reader
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I first got interested in bike racing watching the tour de france and some other televised races and saw how great Mark Cavendish was in those races. I think he really wrote this book from his heart but he did not need to use the ""F"" word as much as he did. This book has really helped me understand this sport more and with all the doping tests made me realize currently it is very hard to full the lab. I hope ""Cav"" writes another book.
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Love this book, September 2, 2011
By KK
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The positive reviews are true, folks. This was a great read. Not very often nowadays that you read a book from a celebrity that is a) so well written and b) so honest. Cav is very open about his life, and honest about behind-the-scenes in pro cycling. To really understand why cycling is a team sport, read this book. If you're not a Cav fan now, you'll at least understand and respect the guy after reading it.
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Great Cycling Book and biography, August 19, 2011
By EOSmm (Yorktown, VA USA)
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I had admired Mark Cavindish's achievements before reading this book, but thanks to the media, I also looked at him with a smirk, believing him to be immature, self-centered, etc. I must say, however, during this year's (2011) Tour de France, I had begun to change my mind. This book simply completed the transformation. I believe him to be sincere and honest. I admire him for his attitudes about drugs and cycling. We need more like him. As for his emotional outbursts, it's part of his charm, and so entertaining. :-)
The book is well written and gripping at times. I've watched many of the races he described, and still found myself sitting on the edge of the seat while reading about them in this book. It's well worth the effort for anyone who enjoys professional cycling, and even for those who know little about it. I heartily recommend this as a book club suggestion. If nothing else, it'll open people's eyes to what goes on during some of the world's most popular bicycle races.
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Cavendish Tour de'France stage winner Columbia Highroad HTC, January 17, 2011
By Scott Edwards (Jacksonville.FL)
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Made a great gift for my son. He is into cycling and Mark Cavendish is setting the standard in the tour...Keep your eye on this cyclist in 2011. He is with the Columbia Highroad HTC team. They use Scott bikes....
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My first book about a cyclist, November 21, 2011
By SciFi Fan (Livermore, CA USA)
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This is the first book I've read about any cyclists, and I thoroughly enjoyed Mark's very open, unapologetically honest and often amusing way of talking about his life and career as a cyclist. It's a glimpse into his dedication to the sport, occasional immature behavior in life and career, his willingness to physically and mentally suffer for a sport he loves, and the integrity to compete without the use of ability enhancing drugs. It's amusing and eye opening, and I'm glad it was my first book of this sort.
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Refreshing, November 9, 2011
By P. Maich (New Zealand)
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An open and honest account of Marks journey but not to point of embarrassing detail. Really enjoyed this and before reading I picked him as a bricklayer if not a champion cyclist.... It is great read and exposes a great mind that in combination with a refusal to give up might just be his secret to success
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Boy Racer - book on Mark Cavendish, March 11, 2012
By MCFrazer
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Being a cycling fanatic and huge Mark Cavendish fan, I couldn't wait to read this. I'll admit I'm not a book worm but going on a cruise with my wife I thought it would be a good read during down time. How good is the book? Phenomenal! I had a hard time putting it down and my wife even laughed at me as she had never seen me with my nose in a book so much. The book takes you through the life of Cav, from his early years and how he got started to Tour De France superhero. I can't say enough. If you're a cycling fan you should definitely pick this book up. When I got home from the cruise I was hanging out with my cycling friends and spoke so highly of the story they couldn't wait to get their hands on it (and have loved the read). Order this now!
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I couldn't put the book down, February 7, 2012
By Kyle D. Spieles
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I really enjoyed the book. I got into cycling last year and was looking for something to read over the long winter in Ohio. This gave you an insiders look on the world of competitive cycling. I was so into the book that I couldn't put it down!!
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My first book about a cyclist, November 21, 2011
By Signor Francesco (Livermore, CA USA)
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This is the first book I've read about any cyclists, and I thoroughly enjoyed Mark's very open, unapologetically honest and often amusing way of talking about his life and career as a cyclist. It's a glimpse into his dedication to the sport, occasional immature behavior in life and career, his willingness to physically and mentally suffer for a sport he loves, and the integrity to compete without the use of ability enhancing drugs. It's amusing and eye opening, and I'm glad it was my first book of this sort.
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