X-Post from Fiction "A review of "The Yellow Jersey" by Ralph Hurne
The Yellow Jersey by Ralph Hurne Breakaway books 1997 originally published early 1970s. I give it 4 1/2 stars out of 5
This novel was written in an earlier time when the Sexual revolution was in full swing and before the doping scandals of the Tour de France. For those who are still angry at Lance Armstrong about doping and lying, it might be helpful to realize that doping, cheating and fouling has been a part of Le Tour since 1903.
Back to the The Yellow Jersey; The protagonist is Terry Davenport, an English expatriate living in Ghent, Belgium with his girl friend Paula who owns a high end antique boutique. Terry is not ever content with one woman and is also having an affair with the grown daughter, Susan.
Terry helps in the shop with sales and other odd things and when not doing that he is training Susan's boyfriend Romain. Romain is a great climber. Mountains are no challenge to him. If Le Tour were all mountain stages it would be no contest. He shines when alone on a climb. The problem is no bike race is all in the mountains. There are the flats, rolling hills, mad sprints for points and intentional fouls by other riders. Terry at 37 has all the skills necessary to win but he is feeling his age.
The Tour this year is made of national instead of corporate teams. France, Belgium, Spain and Italy have put together large teams and they work well together. Then there is the international team. This year it is made up of cyclists from countries that are unable to field 12 contenders. Romain is from Luxembourg a very small country, surprisingly England has 2 spots on the international team. This team is at a very deep disadvantage in racing as they don't work well together. It's sort of like the All Stars in Baseball, individually they are great but can they put it together as a team?
Terry's conflicts become more complicated, He meets the love of his life in Bobby, Get's talked into taking one of the English slots on the team. Bobby leaves Belgium for London. His life is a mess and here he is riding Le Tour at 37.
That's Part 2 of the book. All the racing is 5 star. Some might not get that far because of Terry's personality and arrogance, but that I think is necessary to build the character we find in what is arguably the most punishing athletic endeavor, Le Tour.
Join Terry and Romain as they fight against the odds. Terry has the usual challenges of the road but added to that is the treat of mechanical, food and water sabotage.
I give The Yellow Jersey 4 1/2 stars out of 5