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Colombia Es Pasion!

The Generation of Racing Cyclists Who Changed Their Nation and the Tour de France

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Colombia Es Pasion!

By: Matt Rendell
Narrated by: Matt Rendell
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Summary

 By winning the 2019 Tour de France, Egan Bernal became the race's youngest champion in 110 years, and the first from the South American nation of Colombia. His victory brought decades of national yearning to fruition. Colombia has long been the only developing nation contending at cycling's highest level. Yet its cycling sons are not the products of a rigorous sports system that spots them in childhood and nurtures them through the ranks to the pinnacle of globalised sport. They come from harder backgrounds, that surprise, shock - even, at times, enchant.

Colombia Es Pasión! explores the lives and dreams of each of the nation's leading cyclists. Theirs are inspiring stories of overcoming poverty and violence, sickness and corruption, and achieving global sporting glory.

'Takes you into the heart of both a sport and a country. The journey is well worth the effort' Sunday Times
'Wonderful' Observer
'Remarkable, a masterpiece' Never Strays Far podcast©2020 Matt Rendell Cycling Sociology of Sports Sports Latin American
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Critic reviews

Matt Rendell's passion for Colombia is evident in this wonderful sequel to Kings of the Mountains - another of his cycling books about that country. Here, he explores a new generation who have beaten poverty, violence and corruption, and can now, via two wheels, tell a story of a more peaceful, happier nation
Matt Rendell's latest book Colombia Es Pasion! takes you into the heart of both a sport and a country. The journey is well worth the effort (David Walsh)
Enjoyable, authentic and thorough...this book will enrich your understanding of many of today's top riders and the long, arduous paths they've taken to reach the top of their sport
Remarkable, a masterpiece, one of the best books written about cycling... The result of decades of knowing and understanding Colombia. Meticulously researched, and written with a lightness of touch. In particular, the dialogue is outstanding. Matt's best book - and he's written some stonking books...his love for the subject matter and his deep understanding shine through the pages (Ned Boulting and David Millar)
The 'Mr Colombia' of the cycling press [has] an infectious enthusiasm for [his] subject that the army of online encyclopedia devotees could only hope to capture... the book covers the darker moments, including the harrowing story of the murder of Rigoberto Urán's father
These real-life stories are humbling and inspiring, and if reading them doesn't turn you into a fan of Colombian cycling it can only be because you already were a fan or because your heart is made of stone. It's safe to say that when the next Grand Tour rolls around I will be rooting for the Colombians, each and every one (Rolf Rae-Hansen)
No outsider could be better equipped to write about cycling in Colombia than Rendell... extraordinary access to the major players in Colombian cycling... knowledgeable and passionate (Richard Peploe)
All stars
Most relevant
Although not a cycling fan I got this title due to my interest in Colombia, and especially the experiences of its many indigenous groups.

This is a compelling book that I'm sure cycling enthusiasts will love. Rendell's prose is superb as is his research. I have been travelling in Colombia for over 10 years yet found this book engaging and informative in its quest to locate Colombian cyclists in their social, economic and cultural contexts alongside that of their sport.

Highly recommended.

A triumph.

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Excellent analysis of the sport and the nation. highly recommended to anyone interested in the sport or Latin America

Great

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I loved this book. I listened to it during the 1st week of 2020 TdF and started noticing Colombians more. And not just the ones I root for like Dani Martinez.
The only downside of the book for me was lack of flow. I was confused whether chapters were organised by rider or time or team... but this was a small price to pay for all that knowledge. And Matt's voice translates really well from the silver screen to the audio book.
Over all, a must have book!

So much passion

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No one can say Matt is not detailed but his enthusiasm and admiration for the Colombian cyclists comes through in this fascinating account of the country, the struggles riders faced with amazing determination. I couldn't put it down/ press pause.

Fascinating

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