Lanterne Rouge

Froome, Wiggins, Merckx, LeMond - we know the winners but what about the men who finish last?lanterne rouge (French | noun)- The competitor who finishes last in the Tour de FranceFroome, Wiggins, Merckx - we know the winners of the Tour de France, but what about the men who finish last?Lanterne Rouge tells the forgotten, often inspirational and occasionally absurd stories of the last-placed rider. We learn of stage winners and former yellow jerseys who tasted life at the other end of the bunch; the breakaway leader who stopped for a bottle of wine and then took a wrong turn; the doper whose drug cocktail accidently slowed him down and the rider who was recognised as the most combative despite finishing at the back.Flipping the Tour de France on its head and examines what these stories tell us about ourselves, the 99% who don't win the trophy, Lantern Rouge forces us to re-examine the meaning of success, failure and the very nature of sport.'A lively account of largely forgotten men... It's not easy to come up with an original angle on Le Tour, but with this rear view Leonard has managed the feat in style' Independent on Sunday

“Excellent ... compulsive reading...redresses the balance with considerable literary style and panache.”

The Washing Machine Post
Don't be surprised if you fall in love with Max Leonard's book. A glorious celebration of coming last. -- Brendan Gallagher thetour.co.uk
Thoughtful, properly researched and consistently entertaining -- Tim Moore
[A] lively account of largely forgotten men... It’s not easy to come up with an original angle on Le Tour, but with this rear view Leonard has managed the feat in style -- Simon Redfern Independent on Sunday
Brilliant... The stories of the lanternes rouges that Leonard picks out have real value, because the race's rear view can tell you much more than the angle we're all familiar with -- Michael Hutchinson Independent
Makes for oddly inspiring reading. There is an art to losing -- Jon Day London Review of Books
An elegant book... Surprising and illuminating -- Ian Bell Herald
This is a valuable book with some great stories. Deeply-researched and well-written, it’s an enjoyable read that shouldn’t be rushed The Inner Ring
Fascinating… Without losers, there are no winners London Cyclist
Thoughtful, witty Times Literary Supplement

Max Leonard's previous books include Lanterne Rouge- the Last Man in the Tour de France and Bunker Research. He has also written about cycling, travel and adventure for Esquire, Monocle, Rouleur, Strava, Rapha and others.

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