“Has someone written a romance about pro cycling?” was something I wondered last week. And voila, this book.
It actually:
- Has some legit knowledge of cycling!
- Addresses doping as a plot point
- Addresses the extremely monastic and high-pressure lifestyle
- Gets the team dynamic!
- Has real races like Paris-Nice!
However, it also:
- Has its hero winning races in a way that kind of rider wouldn’t win races… unless he’s Peter Sagan
- Makes the hero basically Peter Sagan
- Except he’s American and has none of the qualities of Peter Sagan, superstar of the cycling
Overall, I did:
- Laugh at the name of our hero’s team, which is all-too-realistic in the wacky world of pro sponsors
- Like the way it tossed in a to-be-continued at the end
Although:
- It to-be-continued before the Giro. I want the Giro!
Although:
- Why a sprinter is racing the Giro when his target is the Tour, I have no idea
Although:
- Maybe this is one of those series that switches protagonists, and the sequel is Tom Dumoulin at the Giro. If not, can I pitch that?
Final verdict:
- Kinda like real cycling, but not like real cycling, just like it’s kinda Peter Sagan but not Peter Sagan
- I was entertained, and could nitpick, and really, that’s all a cycling fan wants
Edited to add: the origin of my curiosity was how one might handle the sexy hunk aspect when in reality, you do not want a cyclist to take off their kit. She does mention the tan lines! That’s a start!