Inside the Tour de France: The Pictures, the Legends, and the Untold Stories of the World's Most Beloved Bicycle Race »

ERIC DELANZY is a French sports journalist who contributes to various daily newspapers and national weekly magazines.

With rare access to the remarkable photo archive of the Tour de France, this volume captures the breathtaking drama, heartbreak, and joy of the world's most captivating cycling event.

Few sporting events can match splendor and spectacle of the Tour de France - as teams of cyclists gather each July in quest of the coveted yellow jersey, ready to take on the 23-day chase through the French countryside lined with millions of spectators and the winding, steep climbs and harrowing descents of the Pyrenees and Alps.

Created with the endorsement of the Tour organization and carrying the offical Tour de France logo, this rich anecdotal and photographic history depicts both the classic, almost mythic tales that have defined the event of the years as well as rare, untold glimpses from behind the scenes.