The Race Against Time by Edward Pickering review

The Scot suffered from depression but always hid it by playing the quirky inventor. Similarly, Boardman did nothing to change the public's perception of him as the emotionless robot. The Race Against Time goes in search of what was really going on behind the scenes.
-
+
Not much
-
-
Not much
You can trust Cycling Weekly.
It was an unwritten rule that only great champions could attempt the Hour record: Desgrange, Petit-Breton, Coppi, Anquetil and Merckx. But on July 17, 1993, an unknown Scot on a bike made out of bits of old washing machine broke that rule and the record.
Six days later, a Liverpudlian - better known for winning the Olympic pursuit - on a space-age carbon-fibre bike, stole it from him.
The mainstream media, unaccustomed to British success in cycling, fixated on the equipment.
Twenty years on, the time is right to tell the story of the men who rode the machines. Ex-Cycle Sport journalist Edward Pickering tracks down all the key figures, including Chris Boardman and Graeme Obree themselves, to examine the legendary rivalry. ?A very human tale emerges: ?two men apparently diametrically opposed in their approaches are in the end not so different in their desire to succeed.
Pickering traces current British success back to the innovative sports science-based coaching pioneered by Peter Keen, with Boardman the original lab rat. And if Boardman was the first of a new order of champions, Obree was the last of the old ones - a truly independent racer.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
-
'Five or six WorldTour teams asked for my data' - Interest grows around world record breaker without a road team
Josh Charlton says there's "definitely interest" in his signature
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I bet my age is equal to all three of theirs' - Olympic champion's mum competes at National Track Championships
Debbie Capewell, mother of Olympic gold medallist Sophie, rode the team sprint on Friday
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'At the workshop we jokingly refer to carbon frames as single use plastic:' Hobby cycling is far from a ‘green’ activity
With few hobby cyclists using bike rides to replace car journeys, how can we reduce the carbon footprint of our favourite activity?
By Undercover Mechanic Published