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May 20, 2011

Chris rated it:

Everything I knew about cycling, and about the Tour, was telling me something about Lance, this kid who'd been a spectacular one-day racer but had never even finished a complete Tour de France, and who was trying the most improbable comeback in all of cycling, if not sport. I turned off my brain and listened to my heart.

I accepted the job. Then I told Lance something shocking.

"I think we should focus on the Tour de France," I said.

"Okay," More...

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Jul 14, 2009

McKay rated it:

What do you say about the man who helped coach Lance to achieve what no other human in history ever had - seven consecutive victories in the most chaotic and unpredictable sporting event on earth? I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have to admit that I picked it up at Costco simply because Lance was on the cover and I have read every other book about or written by Lance. I also loved the title. This book takes what Bruyneel has learned about winning the Tour de France and applying those lesso More...

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Aug 21, 2009

Michael rated it:

No one who doesn't care about bike racing would find this interesting, but for those who do, this is a pleasing and for me anyway informative read.

There is a later edition now out, I noticed (after I bought this one used) with additional info covering his time with Astana. Oh well.

There is some level of "this is my philosophy on winning; maybe it works for you" but it isn't preachy. Mostly it is an description of how he won with Lance and then Contador. He al More...

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Jun 15, 2010

Steve rated it:

Quick, fun, entertaining, informative, somewhat thought-provoking, and surprisingly well written. I'm guessing this book was marketed not only to the bike-riding/racing/reading community, but also to the leadership and management types. I read it through the lens of the former, and I found it a worthy addition to the surprisingly limited US-centric non-fiction library on the sport. With that perspective, it's a fun read, because almost all of the anecdotes and examples are well-known events ( More...

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Jan 01, 2010

Drew rated it:

Wisdom from Johan: 1. If failure is inevitable limit your losses. While losing badly to Jan in a stage, Lance actually slowed down to preserve himself for the next stage. 2. If you are going to try something, if you expend the first big block of effort to participate, you might as well give what it takes to win. 3. Ride so that if you don't win you will lose. To take a chance at the top spot you must be willing to not step onto the podium. 4. you never know which moment of success will b More...

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Apr 04, 2010

Mike rated it:

Former pro turned team director tells an inspiring story.As a rider he became great by analyzing other riders and the race.While other riders chased down the wrong breaks,attacked at the wrong time,or faded with 20 miles to go from doing all of the above(that would be me)he plotted like Patton.
After racing he became a director and took Armstrong to seven Tour victories and Contador to one.Eight Tours!He gives great insight into what it takes to run a world class pro team.He organizes 20+ r More...

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Jul 20, 2009

Jan rated it:

Love to read books by people @ the top of their game to better understand how they got there. Gave an amazing look inside the Tour de France plus the synergy between Johan & Lance Armstrong.
Bruyneel understands the need of the riders plus the strategy to win races. He has an amazing ability to understand the opponents as well as the course tactics which Johan is able to flex in a moment.
Read Bruyneel's take on Armstrong:
"Lance is one of the purest winners I have ever More...

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Aug 27, 2009

Cindy rated it:

A great look into what it takes to succeed as director of cycling's elite. I think the title is ridiculous, since it suggests some nonchalant, arrogant shoulder shrug approach to winning, when Bruyneel actually has clearly formed, unconventional win-oriented goals about training, winning, and life. Though there is some sports hyperbole sprinkled throughout, the book reads at a good clip and is written in an engaging, thought-provoking way that I believe would appeal to anyone interested in succ More...

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Jan 29, 2012

Jeff rated it:

Johan Bruyneel found a way to succeed in life and is excited to help others succeed as well. By any measure he is one of the greatest team directors in the history of cycling. I think (although I am probably not a good person to judge this) that even people uninterested in cycling would enjoy the book. It talks about leadership, motivation, and life. What makes a person successful? Why do we strive for greatness and what happens when it has been achieved? Such questions are explored using More...

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Jun 27, 2008

CJ rated it:

A friend gave me this book because, well, I'm a big Lance Armstrong fan. She looked at the cover and said, "Why is Lance on this book and who's that other guy?" I figured it would be a 'this is how I did it' type of book - and it is, but it's more than that.

Essentially, it's a management book set in the context of the Tour de France - the ultimate sports metaphor. If you manage a company, an office, three people, your family there's something for you in this book. Bru More...

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Sep 29, 2011

Ashton Dene' rated it:

As a huge Lance Armstrong fan I have become a fan of Johan and his philosophy as a coach. This book was funny and insightful ... with the serious undertones of a winning coach included. Since I didn't know of JB when he was a rider, I enjoyed getting that background on him as well. I think any fan of cycling will enjoy this behind the scenes view of how to win bike races.

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Apr 23, 2010

Dawn rated it:

This was a really quick and very interesting read. It's not a biography of Bruyneel or even a chronology of his time as Lance Armstrong's team director. It's more a collection of anecdotes - both from his career as a cyclist and as Lance's director - that piece together Johan's story. Lance appears in some of the stories in the book, but he's certainly not the focus of it. A very engaging and enjoyable read.

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Apr 10, 2009

Karen rated it:

I love cycling and this book is that and so much more. Johan takes you inside not only his time with Lance and the 7 Tour de France wins, but into his own cycling career and what makes him the best coach in ALL of sports. Excellent read - I highly recommend even if you aren't a cycling fan. This is about life.

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Jun 11, 2011

Christy'Raine rated it:

Got this for Dave, the Kindle version, to read on the plane & road, but ended up reading it first and then reading it aloud to him on our long driving days in Germany. I had been looking for a book explaning the rules and strategies of the Tour de France when this one came up during a search. Fascinating and well written. I liked that Bruyneel did not link the races consecutively but by story connections. One incident would lead to a story from a race much earlier (or later) and off he'd go More...

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Jul 24, 2010

Martin rated it:

If you have given all that effort and sacrifice to train, compete and be beaten again and again, why just not push it a little bit further and win?

Amazing book on motivation, discipline, tactics and racing with heart & brain and not only with legs & lungs.

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Jan 28, 2010

Charlie rated it:

A detailed, behind-the-scenes look at the Tour de France, taking you inside the Team Director's car on the mountainous roads during many of Lance Armstrong's iconic moments; but my favorite selections were the stories of the author's own experience as a cyclist.

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Oct 29, 2009

Cindy rated it:

Thank you Evan for getting me this book! It was great fun to read. You don't have to be a bicycling fan to enjoy it. Technical terms are explained and it's written in small chapters so it's easy to put down and not be lost in a long detailed story. I learned a lot and got to experience some of the excitement of racing in Europe!

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Apr 30, 2009

Rob added it

Pretty much what I expected. Lance this, blah, blah, blah. Me and Lance, blah, blah, blah. Remember that one time at band camp with Lance, blah, blah, blah. Do not read it if you are looking at any insight into business or personal success. If you are an avid cyclist the strategy piece is fun to read.

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Apr 23, 2010

Jayme rated it:

This was a very enjoyable book with great stories about cycling and it's most successful personalities. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the sport.

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Feb 10, 2012

Plainfield Public Library District marked it as to-read

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10438299

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Feb 01, 2009

David rated it:

Does the coach make the rider or does the rider make the coach? Somewhere in between in the autobiography of former average tour rider who became the coach of 7-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. A good read for those interested in knowing more about the professional cycling circuit and particularly the TdF.

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Mar 12, 2009

Purlewe marked it as to-read

tried to read this once.. will likely try again.

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Jul 31, 2008

Amanda rated it:

I don't know much about Lance Armstrong, nor about professional cycling besides the glimpses of the Tour de France that I'd seen on tv, but that doesn't matter. This book was really enjoyable. As the former team director for Lance as well as many other successful top cyclists, Johan Bruyneel tells tales of successes and failures, triumphs and sadness. It is exciting, funny and even at points emotional. It is about working hard with a given talent, and succeeding despite any shortcomings.
More...

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Sep 24, 2008

Adam rated it:

A decent look at the guy who helped Lance win 7 Tour de France victories. Not a comprehensive history but more taking key aspects of why they won and elaborating on them with stories from Johan's life and his time as team Director for Postal Service and Discovery.

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Jan 03, 2009

Dad rated it:

Fun book from the Red Auerbach of cycling. Not a deep analysis, more at the Paul Sherwin and Phil Liggett level, but still enjoyable.
One quibble. I got really tired of the compound subject "Lance and I" that appears far more often than necessary.

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Mar 05, 2009

Michael rated it:

I liked this more than the lance armstrong books, actually. Not chronological and not a comprehensive day-by-day review -- so not like those OLN/versus TDF blogs

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Aug 03, 2008

Peggy rated it:

really fun to read about the behind the scenes strategy and the planning that goes into win 8 grand tours

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Dec 08, 2009

Debbie rated it:

A very humorous and inspiring memoir about Lance Armstrong's Tour director, Belgian native Johan Bruyneel.

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Jul 20, 2008

Kathy rated it:

Really interesting look at competitiveness, motivation and determination. Elucidating and inspiring.

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Jan 29, 2012

Davidheatley rated it:

Ok read, some light insight to behind the scenes of Lance Armstrong

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