Sprinting Through No Man's Land by Adin Dobkin - 3.5 stars

[Joy D]

Sprinting Through No Man's Land: Endurance, Tragedy, and Rebirth in the 1919 Tour de France by Adin Dobkin - 3.5* - My Review

This book seems to me to be two books woven together into one. It is both a story of the 1919 Tour de France and a history of France’s participation in World War I. As the racers ride through the regions, the devastation of the war is described. Many of the participants, as well as the organizer, had been fighting the war, and their experiences are recounted. The first few chapters set the tone and describe how the race got re-started after a hiatus necessitated by the war years. Several other chapters are inserted sporadically to provide more context and history about the war itself. For me, the race was detailed at a level that I found to be a bit tedious, but I very much enjoyed the parts about the war and the racers’ experiences in the war. Definitely a good read for those interested in endurance sports, WWI, or the history of the Tour de France.

3.5

[Booknblues]

This has been on my TBR for a while and I think it is on my subdue.