Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “The Ronde: Inside the World's Toughest Bike Race” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

The Ronde: Inside the World's Toughest Bike Race

Edward Pickering

4.04 · Rating details · 76 ratings · 8 reviews

'It wasn't a race but a war game' Bernard Hinault 'Without question, the hardest one-day bike race ever created' George Hincapie The Tour of Flanders - known to cycling fans as the Ronde - is the biggest one-day bike race in the world. It is a potent mix of grit, cobbles, steep climbs, narrow roads, national pride, beer, brutal weather and the maddest, most passionate fans ...more

Get A Copy

Paperback, 304 pages

Published April 1st 2018 by Simon & Schuster UK

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Ronde, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about The Ronde

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.04 ·

Rating details

· 76 ratings · 8 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of The Ronde: Inside the World's Toughest Bike Race

Apr 02, 2018 Gumble's Yard rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018

Ronde photo 4E754905-1FA6-47F7-91B1-7F48A1C9DEC6_zps5pt57qpq.png

A brilliantly written account of the world’s greatest cycling race - Het Ronde, Vlaanderens Mooiste, the Ronde van Vlaanderen - read by me en route to watching its 102th edition.

Pickering bases his account around the 2011 edition - certainly one of the most exciting and unpredictable editions of a Spring Classic I have seen in my 30 years of following the sport (even if I feel that Pickering does not quite convey what at the time was the drama of the sudden collapse of Cancellara and Chavanel’s lead in Geraardsebergen - particularly after his astonishing performance in the week in GPE3. The eventual winner - Nick Nuyens - received less acclaim than the race, other than for his canniness, as he was barely seen at the front of the race until the final few kilometres - however much of this was due to a run of bad luck earlier in the race, meaning he was typically behind the main action, and this adds hugely to Pickering’s account, as, clearly having discussed the race with Nuyens in almost forensic detail, he is able to add colour about the middle and back of the race to go alongside the more familiar account of attacks and breakaways at the front. Impressively Pickering while respecting and celebrating the history and traditions of the race, does not resort to cliché (for example Nuyens own experience rather contradicts the “have to be in the top 20 at this point to have any chance” believe and Pickering happily acknowledges that, while a Muur/Bosberg fan himself, this combination was a relatively recent invention).

The books structure basically follows the race route - with (other than two chapters on Flanders itself) chapters based around the start town, each climb and the finish town. Each chapter features insights into the history of the race, some based on interviews with past protagonists, as well as local colour, Pickering unashamedly visiting bars, houses and shops alongside the route and speaking to those he meets willing to discuss the race.

Pickering, a well known cycling journalist in England, and perhaps using his journalistic contacts manages to speak to 10 of the top 11 in the race - their insights being spread through out the book (as well as their current views on the race and on Nuyens’ victory being featured in a fascinating epilogue).

Highly recommended for cycling fans. If like Pickering himself for many years you consider the Tour de France the most interesting cycle race, then you really need to read this book. And for fans of other sports, you really don’t know what you are missing. ...more

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

Jun 07, 2020 John Plenderleith rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

For the anorak. Loved it.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Apr 25, 2018 Craig Warner rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A great insight into the Ronde, with a good mix of race history told alongside the 2011 race in great detail. The Bergs are cleverly used to tell the story, bringing them to life as much as the riders. The race itself is covered fantastically and, using interview from before and after, it adds unique insight to a race many of us watched unfold on the TV.

Time is used well in the book. Whilst it's the 2011 race that is the main thread, the book uses previous races to set the scene and even jumps ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 27, 2019 Lucian Stănescu rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

definitely one of the best cycling books I've read. can't recommend it enough if you're interested in spring classics. brilliant both on tactics and geography/history ...more

flag Like · see review

Apr 05, 2018 James rated it it was amazing

This will be another annual read in the spring.

flag Like · see review

Nov 16, 2020 Christy Fernando rated it did not like it · review of another edition

One of the best book.

flag Like · see review

Jun 23, 2018 Dirk Flach rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018

Voor de wielerliefhebber veel interessants in dit boek. Als totaal vind ik het echter wat minder geslaagd - het is op zich denk ik een goede keuze om het verhaal aan het verloop van de wedstrijd in een jaar te koppelen, de achtergrondverhalen - hoewel ook interessant - lijken er daardoor wat kunstmatig aan gekoppeld. En de soms wat wrakke stijl hinderde me.

flag Like · see review

Feb 01, 2019 Joost Schreurs rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Met de Ronde van 2011 als rode draad neemt de schrijver de lezer mee voor een zeer uitputtende beschouwing van het fenomeen Ronde van Vlaanderen. De geschiedenis van de Ronde en van Vlaanderen zelf komt aan bod en winnaars uit het recente en verre verleden komen aan het woord. Voer voor de echte wielerfans.

flag Like · see review