King of Sports

'There is no other book in the English language entirely devoted to describing this complex sport. I thought it was high time we had one.'

In 1967 Peter Ward crashed in a training ride. While recovering, he wrote the iconic King of Sports: Cycling Road Racing, which hasn't been republished since - until now.

Sixty years ago, King of Sports provided up-and-comers, trainers and veterans with a tried and tested methodology towards not just training and racing, but the lifestyle to go with it. Ward was ahead of his time - he preached the benefits of clean living, while breaking down exactly what that means; he urged his readers to seek out yoga, for 'you will discover much that will benefit you as a cyclist, and it will lead you to a fuller life.'

Ward's detailed graphs, diagrams and meticulous listings of equipment and nutrition offer today's tech-fiend cyclist a snapshot into the work ethic of a 1960s amateur cyclist. It demonstrates how far the sport has come, yet how much it has remained unchanged.

This new edition, reimagined for a twenty-first century audience, features a Foreword by former UCI and British Cycling president Brian Cookson, an extended biography of the author, and restored original hand-drawn artwork and photography.