Road to Valor: A True Story of WWII Italy, the Nazis, and the Cyclist Who Inspired a Nation

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Road to Valor: A True Story of WWII Italy, the Nazis, and the Cyclist Who Inspired a Nation

3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 · rating details · 212 ratings · 66 reviews

Road to Valor is the inspiring, against-the-odds story of Gino Bartali, the cyclist who made the greatest comeback in Tour de France history and secretly aided the Italian resistance during World War II.

Gino Bartali is best known as an Italian cycling legend: the man who not only won the Tour de France twice, but also holds the record for the longest time span between vict...more Road to Valor is the inspiring, against-the-odds story of Gino Bartali, the cyclist who made the greatest comeback in Tour de France history and secretly aided the Italian resistance during World War II.

   Gino Bartali is best known as an Italian cycling legend: the man who not only won the Tour de France twice, but also holds the record for the longest time span between victories. During the ten years that separated his hard-won triumphs, his actions, both on and off the racecourse, ensured him a permanent place in Italian hearts and minds.

   In Road to Valor, Aili and Andres McConnon chronicle Bartali’s journey, starting in impoverished rural Tuscany where a scrawny, mischievous boy painstakingly saves his money to buy a bicycle and before long, is racking up wins throughout the country. At the age of 24, he stuns the world by winning the Tour de France and becomes an international sports icon.

   But Mussolini’s Fascists try to hijack his victory for propaganda purposes, derailing Bartali’s career, and as the Nazis occupy Italy, Bartali undertakes secret and dangerous activities to help those being targeted. He shelters a family of Jews in an apartment he financed with his cycling winnings and is able to smuggle counterfeit identity documents hidden in his bicycle past Fascist and Nazi checkpoints because the soldiers recognize him as a national hero in training.

   After the grueling wartime years, Bartali fights to rebuild his career as Italy emerges from the rubble. In 1948, the stakes are raised when midway through the Tour de France, an assassination attempt in Rome sparks nationwide political protests and riots. Despite numerous setbacks and a legendary snowstorm in the Alps, the chain-smoking, Chianti-loving, 34-year-old underdog comes back and wins the most difficult endurance competition on earth. Bartali’s inspiring performance helps unite his fractured homeland and restore pride and spirit to a country still reeling from war and despair.

   Set in Italy and France against the turbulent backdrop of an unforgiving sport and threatening politics, Road to Valor is the breathtaking account of one man’s unsung heroism and his resilience in the face of adversity. Based on nearly ten years of research in Italy, France, and Israel, including interviews with Bartali’s family, former teammates, a Holocaust survivor Bartali saved, and many others, Road to Valor is the first book ever written about Bartali in English and the only book written in any language to fully explore the scope of Bartali’s wartime work. An epic tale of courage, comeback, and redemption, it is the untold story of one of the greatest athletes of the twentieth century.(less)

ebook, 336 pages

Published June 12th 2012 by Crown (first published 2012)

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Aug 11, 2012 Cynthia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-in-2012

Well Researched, Inspiring

“Road to Valor” is a heartwarming story. I’m not someone who’s interested in bicycle racing but I love history. This book has both. Gino Bartali was born at a time, 1911, when the bicycle craze was at its peak. Even as a small boy all he seemed to think about was riding a bicycle as fast and for as long as possible and he was good at it. Of course so were many other Italian boys but not all of them had Gino’s discipline and drive. Prior to World War II he began making h...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Megan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ww2, planes-trains-automobiles, first-reads, own

Firstreads giveaway: The title definitely intrigued me as I am bound to read anything to do with WWII. It's interesting to learn about other aspects of that particular time period, especially since my knowledge of Italy's involvement is limited. All in all, I found this account of Bartali's life to be very thorough and quite engaging at times. Will I read more about Bartali specifically? Probably not. However, it was eye-opening and I recommend it to anyone wanting a new perspective on Italy dur...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Beatnik Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

http://www.cozylittlebookjournal.com/...
If there's one thing I learned from watching the 2012 Olympic Games it's that every athlete has a story. Some have overcome personal tragedies to train for their sport. Others come from war torn countries to which it may not be safe for them to return. Still others have no country at all but have come to the Olympics in the spirit of international competition.

For Gino Bartali, the international competition was not the Olympics but the Tour de France. And t...more

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Mar 31, 2013 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars

Gino Bartali was a hero in many ways. He won the Tour de France in 1938, during the war he used his fame to carry messages and identification materials for the archbishop of Florence, Cardinal Elia Dalla Costa to a secret network that saved Jews. He also saved a family of Jews who were friends in a cellar in Florence.

Truth is stranger than fiction. In the 1948 Tour de France, all think Gino is too old and will lose. Then, there is an assassination attempt on the head of the Communist party (Tog...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Diane rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction, book-club-reads

I don't believe that athleticism creates heroes. It creates celebrities, warts and all. If you were among the folks who enjoyed a dose of ripe, self-righteousness at Lance Armstrong's troubles writ large, this book is a great read. Gino Bartoli, in the Road to Valor, wins the Tour de France twice- separated by 10 years that include WWII. I believe Bartoli is a genuine hero and this book tells his story. During the war, Bartoli helped to thwart the Nazis in Italy. He rode his bicycle between citi...more I don't believe that athleticism creates heroes. It creates celebrities, warts and all. If you were among the folks who enjoyed a dose of ripe, self-righteousness at Lance Armstrong's troubles writ large, this book is a great read. Gino Bartoli, in the Road to Valor, wins the Tour de France twice- separated by 10 years that include WWII. I believe Bartoli is a genuine hero and this book tells his story. During the war, Bartoli helped to thwart the Nazis in Italy. He rode his bicycle between cities with vital documents stored within the bike frame to help supply individuals with necessary papers to elude the Nazis. Although the Nazis succeeded in creating havoc in Italy and were especially effective in reigning terror on Italian Jews, there was an active network to limit the scale of their crimes against people. Bartali was a vital part of this network. I was equally enthralled by the descriptions of legs of the Tour and its riders. The fantastic sports event has proven its ability to endure. As someone who fantasizes each July of days of yore when the event was a kinder, and gentler ride, this book is a great reality check. Each summer I grimace when spectators throw themselves into the path of a cyclist. Or when some lunatic fringe drops tacks on the roadway, I tell myself people were more civilized in years gone by. Not so.
And this book also tells the story of Bartoli as a very flawed human being. His treatment of his fellow cyclists and his fans was often rude or downright mean. His family relations also suffered frequently. This book tells a vivid and very effective story which shows the complexity of a human life fully lived. And very persuasively gives the reader a lively tale which embodies Bartoli's ups and down, his joys and meanness, and is not afraid to gaze long and fully at this man.
Now, if the Anti-Doping Agency will just stop trying to make people believe that Armstrong's actions made him the head of the Medellin cartel, perhaps we can all get back to the business of enjoying sports for what they are. This book will give you a friendly push in that direction.(less)

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May 29, 2012 Kevin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Judging by the picture on the front cover and the synopsis on the back cover of this book I was expecting a story about a beloved athlete and true World War Two Hero. As a result I was a bit disappointed after reading it. As as an athlete, yes, winning The Tour de France 10 years apart was a great accomplishment. But for me, Bartlai came off as a prima donna and a bad sportsman. If the Italian people weren't in such depurate need of a hero, they provably would have seen him for the sore looser h...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Stephen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An interesting look at an elite cyclist in the 1930s and 1940s who resisted the Nazis in Italy and helped protect Italian Jews. The book was well-researched and held my interest, but the writing wasn't great. In an attempt to make it seem more real, the authors were heavy handed with the descriptions, and sometimes I wished they would just shut up and tell me what happened.

I learned a couple of interesting things from this book. First, was the role the Catholic priests and nuns played in protec...more

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Nov 25, 2012 Lorri rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: personally-own, inspiration, holocaust, italy-non-fiction, jewish-history, jewish-non-fiction

Road to Valor: A True Story of WWII Italy,the Nazis, and the Cyclist Who Inspired a Nation, by Aili and Andres McConnon was a page-turner for me. Once I began it, I couldn’t put it down. I was mesmerized and captivated by the compelling, intense, and true story of Gino Bartali, an Italian cyclist. But, he was much more than that, as it turned out, as I read with hardly a break between pages.

Born of poverty, in the small town of Ponte a Ema, in 1914, he would eventually become larger than life, a...more Road to Valor: A True Story of WWII Italy,the Nazis, and the Cyclist Who Inspired a Nation, by Aili and Andres McConnon was a page-turner for me. Once I began it, I couldn’t put it down. I was mesmerized and captivated by the compelling, intense, and true story of Gino Bartali, an Italian cyclist. But, he was much more than that, as it turned out, as I read with hardly a break between pages.

Born of poverty, in the small town of Ponte a Ema, in 1914, he would eventually become larger than life, a legend in his own time. Yet, little was known about his other passion, helping to save Jews during World War II. He was a silent hero.

From the moment he saved up enough money to buy his first bicycle, along with a bit of family financial help, cycling became the love of his life. He would cycle the mountainsides, the hillsides, the winding roads, inhaling the countryside, becoming one with the landscape. He dreamed of cycling, and was determined to win the Tour de France. Not only did he accomplish that goal, he did it twice, ten years apart, first in 1938 and again in 1948!

The lapse in winning was due to World War II, when cycling took a back stage to the events of war, and due to the fascist situation in Italy. When he did cycle, it became political motivation, which was not his intention. He did not side with fascism or with the Nazis. In fact, as the story unfolds we read otherwise.

Bartali risked his life during the war to shelter Jews and to save them by helping pass false identity cards that he hid in his bicycle. He not only incurred risk for his own life and their lives, but also for his family. He would meet various individuals in secret locations and pass the identity cards to them. Often times, he would not see their faces, which was intentional, so nobody could be identified if ever questioned by the authorities.

Within the pages, the reader also gets glimpses of how cycling overtook Italy as a form of transportation, due to the economic situation and political pressures. The reader is given insight into Italian World War II history, including fascism, Mussolini, the horrific hardships that the nation, as a whole, faced during this tumultuous time period. It depicts the horrendous treatment of the Jews of Italy by the ruling factions. It also evokes the integrity and humanity of every day individuals under extreme duress.

The war cost him chances to engage in varied cycling events, but he never gave up hope of winning the Tour de France a second time. He persevered, and in it he did, with ferocious strength, which at the time was thought impossible due to his age. In his eyes, though, that win was the lesser of his accomplishments.

He would eventually tell his son, “If you’re good at a sport, they attach medals to your shirts and then they shine in some museum. That which is earned by doing good deeds is attached to the soul and shines elsewhere.“

Those words encompass Bartali’s train of thought, and the reader feels it reign supreme throughout the story. His cycling journey took him to journeys of the soul, of the spirit of mankind. His life was one of humaneness and goodness, within his often boisterous presentation to those in the cycling world. Little did they know of his kindness and risk taking in order to rescue Jews.

I have been enriched, emotionally and historically speaking through reading Road to Valor, by Aili and Andres McConnon. Their contribution to Italian history during prewar and the war itself, is immeasurable. Their research was more than thorough, and their interviews and other factors of information gathering was an endeavor of high accomplishment.

I highly recommend Road to Valor: A True Story of WWII Italy,the Nazis, and(less)

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May 14, 2012 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had not heard of Gino Bartali before reading this book, I do not follow the Tour de France and know very little about the sport. I read this because I always enjoy books about WWII and I really enjoyed this one. I usually read historical fiction and was concerned that this book might be a boring but Bartali is a larger than life character that was so fascinating to read about that I was not bored once through the entire book.

The authors do a great job of beginning the story with Bartali's stru...more I had not heard of Gino Bartali before reading this book, I do not follow the Tour de France and know very little about the sport. I read this because I always enjoy books about WWII and I really enjoyed this one. I usually read historical fiction and was concerned that this book might be a boring but Bartali is a larger than life character that was so fascinating to read about that I was not bored once through the entire book.

The authors do a great job of beginning the story with Bartali's struggles in his early years and really showing his passion for bicycles. They also wrote about the importance of bicycles in Italy during this time in general and how many of the population used them for their main form of transportation. I love reading books about Italy and this book gave me a whole new look at the country. I usually read about the countryside and the food, in this one I read about the poor neighborhoods and what bicycle races meant to so many people in the country.

The actual races that are discussed were fun to read about. I had no idea that the races were as long and dangerous as they were described in the book, it made for an exciting read. I have so much more appreciation for the strength and endurance of the racers in this sport.

There is lots of information about the politics in Italy during this time. Since I do read a lot of WWII books I did know some of the things talked about but I got a much more in depth idea of the different political problems facing the country. Mussolini is discussed often, he would hinder Bartali a few times in his quest for winning races. The parts about Italy during the war are at times heartbreaking, the people suffered to much. It was really inspiring to see men like Bartali risk their lives to help others that had little hope.

The heart of this story is of course, Gino Bartali. I must admit that I am now a huge fan after reading this book. He was a good man- a determined athlete, a war hero, devoted husband and father, and faithful to his religion. I loved reading about him and think that anyone who likes a good story about a great athlete and man would love to read Road to Valor.(less)

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Mar 03, 2013 John rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An amazing story of a tough as nails professional bicycle racer, circa WWII Italy. Gino Bartali was a devout Catholic who triumphed athletically before and after WWII, but the most amazing part of this story is how valiantly he behaved during the war, but out of competition. His sports accomplishments were great — a two time TdF winner (separated by WWII and 10 years!) and a three time Giro d’ Italia winner — but his heroism first surfaced off the bike, during the war. Bartali risked his own lif...more An amazing story of a tough as nails professional bicycle racer, circa WWII Italy. Gino Bartali was a devout Catholic who triumphed athletically before and after WWII, but the most amazing part of this story is how valiantly he behaved during the war, but out of competition. His sports accomplishments were great — a two time TdF winner (separated by WWII and 10 years!) and a three time Giro d’ Italia winner — but his heroism first surfaced off the bike, during the war. Bartali risked his own life, and that of his family, by covertly transporting forged identity documents inside his bicycle frame, all for the benefit of many Jewish Italians and Jewish immigrants. This is an inspiring true story: informative and captivating to the end.

Competitive cycling enthusiasts will be fascinated to read and learn about the TdF winner and Italian successor to Bartali, Fausto Coppi. Basic elements of Coppi are woven throughout. Coppi is the younger of the two and was groomed, somewhat, by Bartali. It’s fascinating to learn how the country chose sides and had a strong sense of favoritism for one of the cycling greats, but not both. Nobody loved both of them; arguments could divide the country. The two men were not friends but did share the commonality of being great cyclists. The authors weave Interesting aspects of political history and political party affiliation into the overall story.

FAVORITE QUOTES
p. 239: Bartali says, "Everyone in their life has his own particular way of expressing life's purpose -- the lawyer his eloquence, the painter his palette, and the man of letters his pen from which the quick words of his story flow. I have my bicycle."

p. 244: "The root of [Bartali's] reticence was a deeply felt concern that his celebrity as a cyclist would aggrandize his role in the network and overshadow the other participant's contributions, ordinary Italians and Catholic clergy who took extraordinary risks to save others." ... 'I don't want to appear to be a hero. Heroes are those who died, who were injured, who spent many months in prison.'(less)

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Aug 22, 2012 Naomi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Read the full review at A Book and A Review: http://bit.ly/OwEVHn

My opinion: AMAZING STORY! I read frequently on WWII. Lately, I have come across a large number of books that depict the personal stories of some of the civilian heroes of that war, which I have been sucking up like there is no tomorrow! This book was incredibly well research and painting a vivid picture of the characters involved.

So, why 4 stars out of 5? This book was 254 pages of "readable" material. A small bit told of Bartali...more

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Jun 10, 2013 Daniel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Incrível história de um grande ciclista italiano. Atleta tenaz e de grande talento, Gino Bartali venceu a maior e mais difícil prova do ciclismo internacional - o Tour de France - duas vezes; além de ter salvo a vida de centenas de pessoas perseguidas pelo regime fascista/nazista transportando identidades falsas para que famílias judias não fossem levadas para campos de concentração.

Um livro espetacular não só por contar uma grande história, mas também por apresentar um panorama do ciclismo pro...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Ken Brown rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is a biography about an Italian cycling hero of the 30s and 40s, Gino Bartali. However it is more than a biography because we learn a lot about conditions in Italy during the 1930s and 40s.

In 1943 Bartali was recruited by the Archbishop of Florence in a dangerous effort to help save Jews from the Nazis and Fascists. Given the failure of the Vatican to provide humanitarian assistance to Jews during the war (my opinion, but well documented) it is nice to know that a lot of individual cle...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What an fantastic story! It was absolutely inspirational and I was hoping for Bartali's sucess win of the Tour de France from the beginning! Being a true story made it a remarkable read! It was written in a very crisp concise manner, beautiful and descriptive. I enjoyed all the old photographs throughout the book that put you in Italy in the 1930's and 40's. It was packed with information on the origin of the Tour de France, WW2 and its impact on the church, politics and lifestyle of Florence, a...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Dachokie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: world-war-ii

Much More Than an Athlete's Tale ...

This book was reviewed as part of Amazon's Vine program.

The stories just keep coming. As time keeps distancing World War II to the point in which younger generations barely understand its staggering significance to the history of mankind, more and more fresh stories of extraordinary human endeavor during those dark years assures me that that period of time will never fade completely. ROAD TO VALOR deviates from the common military fare of World War II and delv...more Much More Than an Athlete's Tale ...

This book was reviewed as part of Amazon's Vine program.

The stories just keep coming. As time keeps distancing World War II to the point in which younger generations barely understand its staggering significance to the history of mankind, more and more fresh stories of extraordinary human endeavor during those dark years assures me that that period of time will never fade completely. ROAD TO VALOR deviates from the common military fare of World War II and delves into the life of an Italian sports hero who selflessly and perilously put his athletic skills to use in order to save countless lives during the war.

ROAD TO VALOR focuses on the life of Italian cyclist Gino Bartali, probably unknown to most outside of Italy other than cycling enthusiasts. Bartali is no different from most elite athletes in that his athletic prowess was discovered early and matured fast enough to separate him from other cyclists when he was young. Spurred on by the untimely death of a brother and the stranglehold of a fascist government that exalted elite athletes, Bartali wins the Tour de France, cycling's biggest event, in 1938 to become a national hero. With national and personal expectations dictating more Tour wins, the cyclist's career is indefinitely interrupted by the war; an event that dangerously puts life in perspective.

I found this book to be as educational as it was interesting. ROAD TO VALOR not only introduced me to the heroic deeds of a renowned Italian athlete, but allowed me to discover the raw beginnings of the sport of professional cycling itself. By today's standards the bicycles used in the 1930s were primitive at best and arguably, individual skill and endurance were the most important factors in racing. The authors (Aili and Andres McConnon) present a vivid story in which the reader often feels being on the seat of a bike, grinding up a steep Italian mountain in the scorching summer heat or the thrill of separating oneself from the peloton on a straight-a-way. On more than one occasion, I found myself thinking how much easier it must be to climb a mountain on a bike nowadays upon understanding how basic the bicycles were back then. It was also refreshing to see a sport that rarely makes the news these days (unless it's about doping) be such a huge deal back then and a man of Bartali's small physical stare being hailed as a national hero.

While the book's start and finish focus on Bartali's success as a cyclist, the dark clouds of war start making their presence almost from the start ... first with the Fascist exploitation of his athletic performance and second with the anti-Semitism brought on by Italy's alliance with Germany. It becomes apparent that regardless of his hero status, his anti-fascist beliefs could threaten both his and his family's lives. When all out war finally does reach Italy's frontiers and Germany turns from ally to occupier, Bartali sees first-hand the dangers facing Jewish friends and families. Refusing to do nothing, Bartali puts his athletic skill to purpose as a courier in a false-document ring organized through the Catholic Church to save Jewish lives. It is very clear that Bartali's motives are purely personal as his extensive role (which would mean certain death if caught) in saving hundreds (if not thousands) is only revealed by others. The fragile nature of the counterfeit document ring gives readers a glimpse into what life was like in Italy during the war and the sacrifices made by Italians during that time; something that is rarely revealed. Following the war, an older and more cynical Gino Bartali again focuses on his goal of winning the Giro and Tour de France in the same year. The lead up races and the 1948 Tour de France provide a thrilling and cathartic experience to the reader as the authors generate a vivid sense of the raw, competitive nature of the races. It becomes easy to root for Bartali, not only because of tragic loss of his brother or his selfless wartime activity, but because he is portrayed as an aging "has been" that is not up to the task of competing with the younger generation of cyclists he is facing.

I feel ROAD TO VALOR should appeal to a wide variety of readers ranging from sports enthusiasts to those who enjoy historical non-fiction. The book covers a multitude of angles and provides a clear contrast to the media generated selfish and spoiled professional athletes we see today. Gino Bartali had an amazing life that included both exaltation and tragedy, but it was his quiet selflessness that defined him more than any Tour de France win.(less)

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Oct 22, 2012 Lacey Galicia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I won this from a first reads giveaway. I enjoy reading anything to do with WW2 and looked forward to reading this. In the end I realized Bartali was not how I first imagined he would be. While winning ten years apart is amazing, he was more of an errand boy; he did not actually fight. The Cardinal was the mastermind who sent Bartali on these quests and in my mind is the real hero. Yes, Bartali was risking is life doing so, but so was the Cardinal, who could have chosen anyone to deliver the mes...more

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Jun 22, 2012 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really, really liked this book. I am a big fan of historical fiction, and Bartali's successes as a racer and national hero amidst the backdrop of WWII and Italy's instability after the war was very interesting. The McConnons write the story exceptionally well - providing enough insight into Bartali's world to show the true strength of his character and the full danger of his choices. I was a bit worried that I would find the story dull since I am not a cycling fan; however, I was completely dr...more

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Jul 16, 2012 Cheryl rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have never heard of Gino Bartali until I read this book. What I found more fascinating then Gino was about the Tour de France and the job he had as a bike messenger during the war to help the Jews. Gino was alright but at times his competitive nature overshadowed him and made him have a bit of a bad attitude. Not that I am saying that competition is a bad thing as I can get really competitive when it comes to certain things but there is a line to draw and you have to know when to turn it off a...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Carmen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: giveaway

This is a good biography of a man who one the Tour de France twice with a 10 year gap between wins. The McConnon's portrayal of Gino Bartali is sympathetic and knowledgeable. It seems, by all accounts, that he was known for his grouchiness by the press, but this brother and sister team got past the official records of him and delved into his life, where he was well-loved and revered by many. In fact, Bartali became part of an underground system in Italy during WWII that was able to help many Jew...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Holly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a great story but not a truly exciting read. The story itself is very interesting...the true story of Gino Bartali, Italian cycling champion who helped the Jews during WWII. He was an inspiring athlete and a true underground help to the Jewish people who were being persecuted. The book itself is very insightful and does a great job of presenting facts and color about Gino, but it lacks enthusiasm which the reviews had seemed to indicate. Very worthwhile book though from an historical per...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Simon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A captivating read, simply written, about Italian cyclist Gino Bartali's uphill struggle (hee hee). Transporting fake identity papers (in the tube of his bicycle) for Jews hiding in Italy during the German and Fascist crackdown during WWII, the reader gets little bits of history on Italian politics, the Tour de France, and the Catholic church's role in aiding persecuted Jews. The lite history lessons frame tales of Bartali's tumultuous cycling career.

An unexpected lesson here is the extreme fic...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Albert Lusnia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A bio of Gino Bartali, an important cyclist from the first half of the 20th century. It's an interesting overview of cycling history, especially from the Italian perspective, some back ground on the Tour de France, life in Florence during WW2 and the precarious position of Jews in Fascist and German-occupied Italy. I did not find the story to be as compelling as the title might lead one to believe it might be, but it does provide insight into life in Fascist Italy, the price paid by its people,...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Gordon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history, philosophy

A powerful story of a world class cyclist whose character moved political and religious leaders alike and touched millions of Italiians during a difficult time in Italian history. I have gained much more respect for Gino Bartali the man, although I had already held him in highest regard for his cycling prowess. Had he been alive in the 1990s, I doubt Lance Armstrong would have been able to sustain is 7-year streak. I look forward to visiting Ponte a Ema to see his museum.

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Jul 09, 2012 Cathy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book would make a great movie. I think I will amuse myself by dreaming up movie titles and replaying the race scenes in my head: over the Alps through snow and sleet, with descents down hairpin turns through mud and gravel. Imagine the impact of seeing Bartali's closest rival in the 1948 tour, Louis Bobet, crossing the finish line "utterly defeated, his face... covered in mud, except for the tiny furrows where tears had fallen down his cheeks."

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Jan 31, 2013 Mom rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: all

Recommended to Mom by: Nicole Lawson

While perhaps not quite as compelling an account as some of the other WWII "survivor" stories, it is nonetheless a highly readable account of an unlikely champion whose amazing feats united his countrymen. It also tells of Bartali's quiet courage in helping save many Jewish lives during the war, details of which are sketchy, largely because the man himself never spoke of his own heroics.

As a cyclist, I found the descriptions of the early days of cycling, with its rudimentary technology, fascinat...more

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Jun 12, 2012 J.C. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, sports

3 1/2 stars. An easy read for a variety of reasons. First the story is great, quick paced, interesting, engaging and not a great deal of tangents into subjects that have little relevance on the main subject. Second its got the drama of a sports story and the drama of a war story. Third its short and although it took me a long time to read it, it wouldn't have if I had been more motivated to read in general. Finally its a story of an interesting person who did amazing things both in sport and in...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Caitlin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Cyclists, WWII buffs

Recommended to Caitlin by: Sports Basement

Shelves: history, cycling

When I heard about this book it was as "the story of a pro-cyclist who worked for the Italian resistance, smuggling documents in his bike frame to help the Jews during WWII." In reality, that is a very small aspect of the book. On the whole, it's the story of a cyclists' life and career, the history of competitive cycling, and Fascist Italy during WWII. These elements were all woven together skillfully, but the real tempting nugget of Bartali's work with the resistance was brief and there was li...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Charles Lewis rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I interviewed the author for my newspaper, National Post. I have to read a lot of books for work and many are just a chore to get through. But this book was a complete delight. The is very inspiring. I made be appreciate once again the courage it takes just to follow one's conscience. This is the kind of story you'll recall for years to come.

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Jun 24, 2012 Karyn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I received this book through the Goodreads First Reads program... and really enjoyed reading about the heroism of Italian cyclist, Gino Bartali, during the Holocaust. However, I think the most important point this story makes is how an athlete can carry the hopes and dreams of a community and/or a country on his or her shoulders.

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Aug 16, 2012 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: world-war-ii

I've been reading lots of World War II nonfiction and this one is my favorite so far. The genre tends to have relentless stories of human suffering (like Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand) but Road to Valor had small victories throughout to go along with the realities of this horrible war. I thought Bartali was a noble character who answered the call to help when he was asked.

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title link	preview: Road to Valor: A True Story of WWII Italy, the Nazis, and the Cyclist Who Inspired a Nation
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13531745-road-to-valor?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1360570272l/13531745.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13531745-road-to-valor?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Road to Valor: A True Story of WWII Italy, the Nazis, and the Cyclist Who Inspired a Nation by Andres McConnon[/url]

Road to Valor: A True Story of WWII Italy, the Nazis, and the Cyclist Who Inspired a Nation

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