The Yellow Jersey

by Ralph Hurne

Book Overview

A novel of the Tour de France, in which an average rider has a moment of glory and hope. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1558214526
• ISBN13: 9781558214521
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Breakaway Books
• Length: 285 Pages
• Weight: 2.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Unrequited love, Middle-age blues, and the Tour! Great Read For A Cyclist!

Ralph Hurne's novel The Yellow Jersey captures the inner world of a ready-to-retire professional cyclist. Terry Davenport, a moderately successful racer, spends his days in his girlfriend's antique shop, in between affairs with her daughter and training younger members of his team. Tasked to get Romaine Hendrickx, a young and promising climber, ready to compete in the Tour de France, Terry divides his time between training rides, womanizing, and considering his post-bicycling career options. One day he falls for a young woman in the antique shop. Desperate to impress, Terry enters a local race, wins, and suddenly finds himself on the Tour de France team in support on Romaine. Unfortunately for Terry, his new found love departs for England and he has to deal with the conflicting realities of obligations to his girlfriend, his affair with her daughter (who also happens to be Romaine's fiancee), his duty to train and mentor Romaine, and his own competetive drive. The book's last chapters fly by as Terry and Romaine take on the field in the Tour. Although the racings a little dated ("I tightened my toe clips" - some readers may not even know what these are...) , its a great read and sure to delight any cyclist.

A title!

i had read this over 20 years ago. I remembered it as being very good. I loaned the original copy I had to someone and never got it back. I was delighted to find that it was still in print. I enjoyed it every bit as much as I remembered when I reread it now. It is not for kids but it is an excellent novel on several levels. The descriptions of racing strategy have an authentic feel to them.

Excellent Despite...

2nd best cycling novel ever, despite flaws (best is Tim Krabbé's "The Rider"). 'Jersey' is extremely engrossing and realistic. You'll stand up flushed and sweaty cheering for this guy... out loud! Suffers 1970's era sexism, but, oh well.

Humorous, Truthful, A Cyclist Journal

Being a cyclist and an indoor cycling instructor, (Spinning), I found the author's description of mental focus, rhythm, pace, and,oh yes, the pain - so honest and truthful. And guess what, he captured all that as he grew older. I'm motivated to keep be cycling for a very long time! I found myself laughing out loud and catching his British accent and humor that sneaks in like Monty Python, Benny Hill and Ab Fab. So what if he was pining over some 'bird' - that's only human, especially to a cyclist. We clear a lot of things out of our heads when we're pedaling. Lance Armstrong even admitted he was a 'player' when racing and practicing in Europe. I'm buying this book as Christmas gifts for all my cycling buddies!

After I read it I had to get on by bike, and I just rode.

I have read very few books that I could not put down; this was one of them. I don't race, but I love to ride, especially long tours. I actually felt I was riding the tour, I felt tired, exhilerated, beaten, all at the appropriate times in the book. He was a little consumed with his sexual prowess, but maybe this is the real Ralph Hume! My only regret is that there is no apparent sequel, I am left wanting, sort of an empty feeling, like when you read the last Sherlock Holmes adventure! Please, Ralph, let us know what happened to the rest of your character's life!