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A review by jesslolsen
The Secret Race by Tyler Hamilton
4.0
I don't think I have ever read a sports biography before, or even follow/watch that much sport to be honest, so this book was something totally different for me to read, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
Before starting this book I didn't really know too much about professional cycling - I had no idea it was such a team sport, that there were strategies to attack etc, I didn't have a clue what the different coloured jumpers meant in the Tour de France, and I definitely didn't realise how naive I was when it came to doping in professional sports!
I found this novel very enlightening. Not just about the sport itself (I did learn a lot but it was so well written that I never once got bored or lost in the sports jargon - it felt like it was written for both those that understood the sport or had no knowledge at all), but prior to reading this book I would definitely have judged an athlete (in any sport) for taking performance enhancing drugs, and while I still don't think it is the right thing to do, reading this book made me realise how hard it would have been to say no to it in that environment, and I found it very interesting how they justified it to themselves (if everyone is doing it, then it just makes it an even playing field).
This book came across genuine, and I still think Tyler Hamilton sounds like a good guy, and I am in awe of his strength and determination, as a cyclist and now speaking to against doping.
One things for sure though, I will never look at professional/competitive sports the same way again!
Before starting this book I didn't really know too much about professional cycling - I had no idea it was such a team sport, that there were strategies to attack etc, I didn't have a clue what the different coloured jumpers meant in the Tour de France, and I definitely didn't realise how naive I was when it came to doping in professional sports!
I found this novel very enlightening. Not just about the sport itself (I did learn a lot but it was so well written that I never once got bored or lost in the sports jargon - it felt like it was written for both those that understood the sport or had no knowledge at all), but prior to reading this book I would definitely have judged an athlete (in any sport) for taking performance enhancing drugs, and while I still don't think it is the right thing to do, reading this book made me realise how hard it would have been to say no to it in that environment, and I found it very interesting how they justified it to themselves (if everyone is doing it, then it just makes it an even playing field).
This book came across genuine, and I still think Tyler Hamilton sounds like a good guy, and I am in awe of his strength and determination, as a cyclist and now speaking to against doping.
One things for sure though, I will never look at professional/competitive sports the same way again!