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Road Captain

My Life at the Heart of the Peloton
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( 109 ratings, 13 reviews)
Brief Description
Road Captain provides a rare insight into the heart of professional cycling and the inner workings of the peloton, authored by Team Sky and Ineos Grenadiers legend, Luke Rowe. Featuring a foreword from Mark Cavendish and contributions from Geraint Thomas, Chris Froome, and Rod Ellingworth, this... Read More
Format: Hardback
$9600

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Road Captain provides a rare insight into the heart of professional cycling and the inner workings of the peloton, authored by Team Sky and Ineos Grenadiers legend, Luke Rowe.

Featuring a foreword from Mark Cavendish and contributions from Geraint Thomas, Chris Froome, and Rod Ellingworth, this book offers unprecedented access to the world of pro cycling.

There's a well-established truth in professional cycling: the strongest always wins. Yet, in a sport of champions, victory is only possible as a team. At the core of that team effort, and unity, is the road captain.

After more than a decade as the pre-eminent road captain in professional bike racing, Luke Rowe reveals the intricacies of this crucial role for the first time. He provides the ultimate insider's view on racing tactics and strategy within the professional peloton, offering readers an unprecedented insight into the pulsing mass of athletic power and state-of-the-art machinery. All seen through the eyes of the rider tasked with leading his team to glory.

Including exhilarating stories from his years at Team Sky and Ineos Grenadiersโ€”where he played a fundamental role in the team's dominance at the Tour de France, leading Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, and Egan Bernal to their Tour victoriesโ€”Luke shows what it's like to manage a road race unfolding at 60 km/h. As he points out, it is 'like playing chess on wheels'.

Road Captain immerses readers in the team dynamics, tactical complexities, and split-second decisions vital to success in professional cycling. It discloses the mental and physical battles taking place within a group of riders, and reveals how the biggest bike races are won.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780857507822

Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 05 June 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Bantam Books (Transworld Publishers a division of the Random House Group)

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 159.0mm

Height: 240.0mm

Weight: 499g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Hailing from a cycling-mad family from Cardiff, Luke Rowe represented Great Britain at junior and under-23 level. He turned professional with Team Sky in 2012 and won a stage of the Tour of Britain that season. He quickly established himself as one of the British team's key riders in both the one-day Classics and the Grand Tours, including the Tour de France. Luke rode the Tour in every season between 2015 and 2022, playing a key role as the road captain as Sky won the yellow jersey in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, and when Ineos retained the title in 2019. After retiring in 2024, Luke co-presents the Watts Occurring podcast along with his teammate and long-time friend Geraint Thomas.

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