Saturday 23 February 2013

Book Review - My Time by Bradley Wiggins

 
 
Bradley Wiggins latest book concentrates on his successful 2012 season. The book is co written with Guardian sports writer William Fotheringham, and takes you through a brief background of his past but mainly concentrates on his successful races at the Tour of Romandie, Paris-Nice, the Tour de France and Olympics.

Bradley Wiggins is now by far the most famous and successful British cyclist of our time moving out of Mark Cavendish's shadow and become a icon in his right.  This book is real thoughts to pages stuff.  He lays down exactly what he thinks giving you very detailed accounts of his emotions, his relationships with staff and team members.

From this book, you learn what it takes to make a great champion and he takes you back a few years from his earlier days on the track to his rise in road racing, where even in his own submission he lacked the right attitude as a team leader.  The death of his grandfather and his only male role model, and the tough love from the team senior management bring forward a change in Wiggins that allowed him to reach his true potential.  Certainly his relationships with members of the team are interesting and how he views them particularly with David Brailsford and Mark Cavendish, but its what you learn about the teams approach to training and why team Sky has become so dominant that interested me the most.

The book isn't overly scientific or even aimed at just cyclists which should help with a broad range of readers wanting to know a little more about the recent Sports Personality of the Year.  It covers all areas too from doping and Wiggins and the teams stance on it as well as the relationship between himself and Chris Froome during the tough stages in the mountains of the Tour de France.  The book also gives a glimpse into what he plans for his future in the sport, and the reasons for not contesting for another Tour title.

Sometimes the book lacks solid structure flipping backwards and forwards at time.  It reads like Wiggins speaking his mind whilst the writer takes notes, but doesn't really edit it.  This is the only criticism I could find from the book in what is overall a good read and a worthy buy. 

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