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Angel of the Mountains

The Curious Life of Charly Gaul, Cycling's Forgotten Superstar

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Angel of the Mountains

By: Paul Maunder
Narrated by: Michael Chance
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About this listen

 'Maunder's book is more than just a biography of the rise and fall of a complicated man . . . It is also a critique of the damage that myth-making and the media can do to an athlete; a study of what happens to a demigod when thrown from Mount Olympus' The Times

Charly Gaul is a forgotten cycling legend. Once a household name across Europe, the diminutive Luxembourger won the 1958 Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia twice. A unique rider, Gaul was supremely gifted at climbing and resilient even in the foulest weather. His pedalling style was smooth and swift, and he could set an unmatchable metronome rhythm on a mountain climb. 'Mozart on two wheels,' was how one contemporary writer described him; another dubbed him 'The Angel of the Mountains'.

At the end of his cycling career Gaul disappeared, becoming a hermit living in a forest in Luxembourg. What drove Charly Gaul into a recluse's life? In Angel of the Mountains, Paul Maunder seeks to uncover the truth about Gaul, his psychology and the circumstances of his withdrawal from society. In rediscovering Gaul's enigmatic life, we find not only an unlikely hero but also a larger truth about the nature of sporting success.©2024 Paul Maunder Cycling Sports

Critic reviews

Maunder's book is more than just a biography of the rise and fall of a complicated man who was described as both generous and arrogant by those who knew him. It is also a critique of the damage that myth-making and the media can do to an athlete; a study of what happens to a demigod when thrown from Mount Olympus (The Times)
All stars
Most relevant
I’d never heard of Charly Gaul as a more modern cyclist and cycling fan based in the UK (I’ve just turned 43) so this was a fantastic listen and story - what a career and man and life… but what I really enjoyed was the considered approach and look back at his personality traits, mental issues through a modern lens with what we now know about psychology and mental health in the modern world. I wonder how many cyclist and sports men and women would be remembered differently if the public only knew what they were suffering through (Bradley Wiggins being so open for example is a more modern example). Great job by the author, thoroughly recommended for all cycling fans and even someone wanting to understand more about psychology

Brilliant book

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Really good biography of another cycling legend.
It is refreshing to hear that the author assumed deep knowledge of the sport from his readers and uses appropriate language and terminology.
In the middle of the recording there is a hilarious nose whistle for a couple of hours which made me laugh many times.
The story is presented in a wonderful way and listens to easily.
Donkey would approve.

Wonderful piece of work

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