And the Cyclist Who Inspired a Nation - A True Story of WWII Italy

Fabulous ... A must read for anyone interested in cycling legends, interested in WW II history, the work of resistance fighters against the Nazis, and for those looking for a true definition of heroism.

As books about/having to do with cycling, this is one of the better one's I've read. Had the entire book been as cycling and Gino focused as the first half of the book, it would have easily been 4 stars, About mid-way through there was a lot of historical "filler" that had little to do with cycling or Gino. The story kept coming back to cycling and Gino, but the departures from both were a mildly irritating. I would still place it at the top of required reading for all cyclist.

A few thoughts after finishing this book today:

The authors' anti-American bias and sympathetic treatment of Communism: The authors are Canadian, and it shows. They express horror that in the early days of the Cold War, the new Central Intelligence Agency actually committed the crime of (gasp!) financially supporting non-Communist political parties in Italy. They find this horrendous, an awful affront to their tender liberal sensibilities.

Are the authors even remotely aware of what the Soviet Union's KGB was doing at the same time, worldwide- before they begin casting stones at the Yanks who saved Italy from Communist domination? They turn their noses up in righteous liberal indignation that the Americans would dare to attempt to fight back against Soviet expansionism. They need to look at a map of Europe in 1948 and view things in that context, not one of today.

Another kiss blown at Communism by the authors: they ridicule the suggestion of the non-Communist parties in Italy that if the Communists came to power there, they might oppress and/or commit atrocities against Christians, Catholics, the clergy, etc...the authors, being the fine liberal Ivy League types they are, find this an occasion for ridicule and scorn- we are supposed to laugh at the the silly local yokels crying wolf; why would Communists ever persecute Christians?

Clearly these authors are unaware of Communist atrocities against the clergy and anyone religious during the Spanish Civil War less than a decade before. The authors mock fears of brutal realities that had taken place as if they were far-fetched, hypothetical fantasies....once again, they pass judgement while ignoring the context of the story.

Virtually every mention or depiction of Communism or Communists in this book is sympathetic. Have these authors, in between their CNN appearances, and the brother's powdering his face with rouge (as seen on the dust jacket) heard of Josef Stalin, his goals and crimes? They can't find a word to condemn Soviet or Italian Communist atrocities, but we are supposed to be outraged at the very idea that the CIA supported non-Communist parties in Italy in a crucial election for the future of Europe, even while the KGB pumped millions into swaying the election in favor of the Italian Communist Party. Again, the authors ignore the historical context of the story.

Next, treatment of Christianity/ Catholicism in the book: This is a true story and the main character, Gino Bartali, was a devout Catholic- yet almost every mention of Catholicism in the book is disrespectful, ridiculing, minimizing or poking fun at Catholics and the Catholic church....even as the authors they bend over backwards to portray Communism and Communists in a flattering, sympathetic light. Despicable.

Lastly, any/ all reference to all things military in this book are handled stupidly. The authors needed to have someone with at least a nodding acquaintance with the military look it over, because their sloppy mistakes are embarrasing- tanks in WW Two are referred to as "artillery," and we learn of American bombers out on "bombing expeditions." This is why Ivy League liberals (Canadian, no less) should not be writing history.

The authors' petty bias and sloppy mistakes are a shame because Bartali's story is very inspiring, but the authors' fawning treatment of Communism, ridicule of Catholics when the central figure was a devout Catholic who was motivated by his faith to save Jews- and mind-numbing mistakes when discussing all things military in WW Two spoil it.

And as to the title- what part of the book mentions "the Nazis?" there are a few brief references to Hitler, but the editors should have chosen a title that...wait for it...actually reflected the contents of the book.

Another five-star vote. I first heard about Gino Bartali after seeing a film about WWII Assisi showing how Bartali risked his life to help others, thought this book would be worth reading, and wasn't disappointed. The Prologue, and the final pages, were outstanding, and this excellent and spirited writing continues enough for me to re-read some sections several times. Bartali, for all his quirks and temper, was an inspiration. What a guy, what a character, and what a difference from the disreputable modern sports industry. The authors have also documented their story well so this seems to be a credible work.

I can't tell you who won the world series in any sport in any year over the past decade, but I thought this book was fantastic.

"Everyone in their life has his own particular way of expressing life's purpose - the lawyer his eloquence, the painter his palette, and the man of letters his pen from which the quick words of his story flow. I have my bicycle." -- Gino Bartali

It might be difficult to imagine a time before cars and airplanes made travel quick and easy, but in the earlier part of the century the bicycle was about the best many could hope for. It not only enabled them to go from place to place quickly but sometimes became necessary if you wanted a job. And with the rise of bicycles in Europe came cycling clubs and eventually races. One dominant Italian racer in the 1930s was Gino Bartali, whose incredible endurance on mountain slopes made him a formidable opponent and led to a 1938 victory in the Tour de France. But his racing career sputtered to an halt when war came, and he was put to use delivering messages on his bicycle... and later secretly transporting forged documents for Jewish families hiding from the police. That continued "training" helped when he later won the Tour de France again in 1948 at a time when he was thought "too old" (at 34!) and when his country was rocked by an assassination attempt and riots, and Bartali continues to hold the record for the most years between Tour victories.

Fans of Laura Hillenbrand's Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption will enjoy a similar story of heroism in the face of great danger and great odds in Road to Valor: A True Story of WWII Italy, the Nazis, and the Cyclist Who Inspired a Nation by Aili and Andres McConnon. From the early history of European cycling and the tragedies Bartali faced, to his quiet anti-fascism and secret work with Cardinal Elia Dalla Costa to protect Jews, to his racing struggles in the Alps, this is an inspiring story of courage in the face of real and personal danger.

I am not a cycling fan and had never heard of Bartali before, but I found the story to be well-written and a compelling read. I wish there had been a little more detail about the Tour itself (for those of us who know so little about it) but the rest of the story more than makes up for any missing information. Photographs of Bartali and elevation maps of the courses help as well, but the real highlight for me was the wartime experiences and how he risked his life for Jews. But the authors also bring the world of cycling alive, and the human element is combined excellently with the sports world here. A very inspiring read.

I had not heard of Gino Bartali before reading this book, I do not follow the Tour de France and know very little about the sport. I read this because I always enjoy books about WWII and I really enjoyed this one. I usually read historical fiction and was concerned that this book might be a boring but Bartali is a larger than life character that was so fascinating to read about that I was not bored once through the entire book.

The authors do a great job of beginning the story with Bartali's struggles in his early years and really showing his passion for bicycles. They also wrote about the importance of bicycles in Italy during this time in general and how many of the population used them for their main form of transportation. I love reading books about Italy and this book gave me a whole new look at the country. I usually read about the countryside and the food, in this one I read about the poor neighborhoods and what bicycle races meant to so many people in the country.

The actual races that are discussed were fun to read about. I had no idea that the races were as long and dangerous as they were described in the book, it made for an exciting read. I have so much more appreciation for the strength and endurance of the racers in this sport.

There is lots of information about the politics in Italy during this time. Since I do read a lot of WWII books I did know some of the things talked about but I got a much more in depth idea of the different political problems facing the country. Mussolini is discussed often, he would hinder Bartali a few times in his quest for winning races. The parts about Italy during the war are at times heartbreaking, the people suffered to much. It was really inspiring to see men like Bartali risk their lives to help others that had little hope.

The heart of this story is of course, Gino Bartali. I must admit that I am now a huge fan after reading this book. He was a good man- a determined athlete, a war hero, devoted husband and father, and faithful to his religion. I loved reading about him and think that anyone who likes a good story about a great athlete and man would love to read Road to Valor.

This is a wonderfully satisfying book, full of extreme contrasts.

First, we experience the exuberance and exhilaration of Gino Bartali's early victories, backed up by colorful descriptions of the bicycling craze that swept across Europe as well as the US.

All of this contrasts sharply with the middle section of the book which deals with the horrors and deprivations of war, and the formidable challenges of living with fascism, poverty and famine, and so on. I found it so inspiring to read about the risks that people like Gino Bartali took to help those who were enduring such terrible suffering.

Finally, the joy and relief as the war finally ended contrast with the challenges and frustrations of rebuilding and revisiting goals which had been abandoned. Bartali's phenomenal victories at this time are all the more astounding because of his age and the sacrifices of the wartime years.

This is such a satisfying book. The tone is simple and straightforward. The advance reader copy that I read has some wonderful photographs and illustrations. I especially enjoyed the propaganda photo of Mussolini on a bicycle. The authors' descriptions are so vivid and captivating that I often stopped reading to close my eyes and picture in detail the scenes they were describing. There is just enough history, simply recounted, to make sense of what was happening at the time.

I only wish that there were more detail about Bartali's aid to Jewish people who were so much in need. Apparently there is very little documented evidence about that subject, and for various reasons, Bartali himself kept very quiet about it. It is clear that hundreds of people were helped, and hundreds of lives were saved.

All in all, this is such an inspiring book that I was very sad to reach the last page. Highly recommended.

I admit, reading about World War II doesn't excite me, but this book isn't about World War II alone, it's about life in Italy before and after the war. It's also about racing talent Gino Bartali and how he rose to fame just before the outbreak of the war, how he persevered hardships, danger and discrimination to rise up once again, in his 30s, to win glory for his native Italy after the war.

The book starts out slow, but toward the end of Part I the tenseness in Bartali's world becomes visible. His future will soon be dictated by policies in Italy and Germany in the late 1930s.

The incredible research into this interesting read alone is commendable. Normally works like this that rely exclusively on primary sources get rather dull in the prose, since any dialogue is etched from surviving letters, documents or witness testimony. Not this book. Aili and Andres McConnon's description of Bartali and war-torn Italy come back to life as so many other lives at the time. There is something thrilling in each chapter, from rounding up friends and family, to Nazi troops approaching the town, to Bartali being interrogated and tortured by Major Mario Carita, to the effects of the attempted Togliatti assassination, and to regaining his status as a cycling sensation in 1947 and 1948. This shows a skill in organizing the flow of the narrative in logical sections without being overdrawn with trivia.

The narrative wins because it's not just a war story. World War II is about a fourth of this narrative. There is more to this. It's also a post-war story of Italy, the Europeans and even the USA (through the CIA,) because of Soviet threats to western Europe. It's about the determination of a man to reclaim his glory one last time, despite mounting odds as a fading athlete in a country struggling to rebuild itself. The McConnons describe all this without glorifying Bartali; his growing animosity toward the younger Fausto Coppi, another Italian racing sensation, is clearly present in the post-war years. His post-cycling days after 1948 were less heroic, as Bartali tried new ventures but failed at most.

The authors also do an impressive job describing the changes in Bartali after the war. Before the war he was a racing talent without much of an education. He wasn't very political. Cycling was his life and he was born to win. But after the war he had become a man more obsessed with winning, perhaps to make up for the war years. He was in his 30s now, and on doctor's orders began smoking cigarettes and drinking up to 20 espressos a day to maintain a steady heart rate.

It is this life in prose that kept me from putting the book down once I started Part II. I had never heard of Bartali, but this man was a true hero not only for Florentines, but for Italians and the Jewish families hiding there. He defied the stereotype of an older athlete. He was made of steel courage, not only to win brutal races in France and Italy, but to face his adversaries in the war. He had lost a brother and later a son and yet he marched on. This book tells the story of a man who had reasons for being bitter at losing the best years of his life to Faschism and the war, and it delivers succintly without wasting chapters on trivialities.

Highly recommended for cycling and history fans.

In life, some of the best moments are the surprises. I heard about Bartoli on a story aired on NPR and thought, "This story would make a great book!" A quick search brought up the McConnon's. Knowing nothing about their writing style, I requested the book as a Father's Day gift and less than two weeks later I turned the final page. Like Bartoli, it's an absolute winner, providing the reader with a real sense of Bartoli, with all his tenacity, love for his sport and his flaws, and injecting into the story just the right amount of cycling and political history. The writing is direct and at times even elegant, and fully captures the heroics, drama, heartbreak and triumph that Bartoli experienced, whether in the company of his fellow cyclists or while operating behind the lines of a Fascist regime. The surprise here is that so few people know about the book or its subject matter. Bravo to the McConnons, who have told Bartoli's story with journalistic know-how, passion and insight!

This non-fiction work, blending WWII events with one of Italy's most famous cyclists, Gino Bartali, is fascinating. It it is a small slice of unknown history about a man who became a national hero in Italy, but for more than his cycling feats.

The book begins with the history of cycling and how Gino as a boy, living in the Italian countryside, started cycling. (He needed a bicycle to attend 6th grade as the school was too far to walk) The story evolves with him and his brother competing professionally, but how this changed with the rise of Mussolini and facism. Professional cycling then got caught up in politics, and Italy's national heroes had to be facists to truly succeed. The book details out some of the larger races including a few Tour De France races. I found this level of detail exciting as I am a sports' fan, but others may find that this bogs down the story. The overall story flips back and forth between Gino the professional cyclist and Gino 's secret involvement in the War. These two lives converge about half way through the book and make for an engaging bio.
While Gino was growing up and as a young adult, he comes in contact with Italy's Jews. They were friends and neighbors. During the war, Gino becomes part of the resistance and uses his skills as a cyclist to help Italy's Jews hide from Mussolini's regime. He accomplishes this well, but not without risk of being caught and executed himself, because as a profesional cyclist he appears to be apolitical, and as a result, Gino's work goes largely undetected by the government. This part of his bio is a page turner. The narrative keeps us fully engaged so we want to know what happens next. And what is truly amazing about this part of Bartali's life is that he was among a small number of selfless people who helped Jews escape certain death, knowing he was risking his own life.

The book did an admirable job of combining Italy's cycling history and its involvement in WWII with Gino's courageous story. He truly was a national and international hero, deserving of his place on The Avenue of the Righteous in Israel. The unique combination of sports history, how the Holocaust affected Italy's Jews, and how Barteli's lfe encompasses these two worlds make this a must read for those interested in these seemingly disparate subjects.

Road to Valor touches on two subjects that I have interest in, WWII and Tour de France. Admittedly I know quite a bit more about WWII than I do the Tour de France, but it is a nice addition when you can read about both of them. That being said both subjects are light, for different reasons. WWII because Bartali didn't really have any direct interaction in the war, rather more of a behind the scenes feel. Tour de France is, of course, where the meat of this bio falls as the bulk of Bartali's life was devoted to biking, but I still felt that there could have been more meat added to his biking sections.

The early parts of Bartali's life gives an interesting account of the importance of biking before WWII. What baseball was to Americans, biking was to Europeans. You can't help but be fascinated by Bartali being immersed in this type of culture, shooting to be the best biker in the field. And he was, pushing up the mountain passes better than anyone else could. Where many a biker couldn't push past the pain of the hills, Bartali excelled. This is something to admire, knowing that he could persevere despite what his body is going through. Winning the Tour de France of course crowned his biking achievements. What makes it all the more interesting was how Mussolini and his government would then try to use that to foster the image they wanted. Strange to see a government usurp an individual's achievements, but it happened none the less.

His wartime experience is fascinating in it's own right, if a little light on material. Facilitating the transfer of documents to help hide/assist Jewish people to escape Nazi persecution, something Bartali did at great risk to himself and his family. It is admirable the sacrifice that he and others made. After the war Bartali returned to cycling, returned to the Tour de France and won a momentous victory, more so in the amount of years that had passed since he last won. Winning in and of itself isn't necessarily a compelling achievement, aside from pushing through so many miles and hills to come out ahead. The problem is that the war so depleted the pool of talented cyclists that Bartali, already an accomplished biker, was able to step in, even at an older age, and beat cyclists with less experience.

That being said the McConnon's did an admirable job in bringing to light the accomplishments of a great cyclist and resistance fighter, showing the kind of person he was. Their writing was fluid and easy to read, and could make for a light reading one evening with a different angle on WWII and how the Nazi's and Mussolini affected Italy. A recommend.

3.5 stars.

My father grew up during WWII in Holland often talks about the the importance of bicycles to the Europeans during that time. When growing up I listened to a great deal of complaining about how the "Germans stole our bikes" spoken with true bitterness. My grandfather told stories of sneaking out at night on the one remaining bike to steal food to feed his family. I never truly understood what bicycles meant during that time until I read this book.

I chose this book in order expand my understanding of WWII and did not expect to find it so entertaining. In spite of being informative and covering a lot of ground, Road to Valor is also the kind of book you end up reading when you ought to be doing something else.

Bartali is a real hero, doing terrifying and critical tasks in the face of terror and fear. He is the defition of the word perseverance. Other reveiwers have described the plot very well, so I will not delve into details.

The epilogue is also very informative and continues the well researched presentation of information. Opposing viewpoints are explained (about the magnitude of the impact of his win on Italy and other factors) and the current situation of the lives of those impacted by Bartali are presented.

This is not just a book for cyclists or WWII buffs. This is a book for those who enjoy reading about real life heroes, with all their frailties, doubts and mistakes.

This is a well-researched book that tells the little known, outside of Italy, story of Gino Bartali. He was a 2 time winner of the Tour de France - 10 years apart, when many thought he was too old. More than that he was an unsung hero in WWII - transporting fake identity documents that saved many Jewish lives inside his bicycle frame.
It is well researched, illustrated with a photo before every chapter with some maps and diagrams that really add to understanding of the story. Included is an always appreciated `where are they now' section in the back of the book.

The story begins with Gino's childhood and is able to impart to the reader the importance of the bicycle in everyday life. Interspersed are bits of history and explanations on bicycles and the Tour de France that add to a reader's insight. The part athletics played in the political goals of the governments in Italy pre WWII is well explained as are the dreadful conditions of a Tour de France race.

This gives you an excellent understanding of life in war torn Italy, but more than that it is the life of a man determined to accomplish his goals and one who became a hero in the process. After the war he arranged to be paid in gas pipes to help rebuild the destroyed gas lines in Florence. His 1948 Tour de France victory literally stopped rioting in the streets from the civil unrest after an attempted assassination of the communist party leader. The mobs changed to ones of joyful pride and celebration of their country. It's quite a story and one of interest to bicycle aficionados, history lovers and those who appreciate the human spirit.

For casual fans of the Tour de France, Gino Bartali's name is the answer to trivia questions: Who holds the record for longest time span between Tour victories? Who is one of the oldest riders to win the Tour? What's largely unknown is the story of Bartali's life between those victories and what made him not just a champion, but a hero.

Road to Valor chronicles Bartali's early life as a gifted cyclist and the son of an impoverished Tuscan family. Bartali's 1938 Tour de France win comes on the verge of WWII and his heroic victory and promising career are overshadowed by the rise of Fascism and Italy's entry into the war on the side of Hitler.

During the war, Bartali, a devout Christian and Catholic activist, becomes involved in a network of smugglers who risk their lives and families to help Italian Jews obtain identity papers, food, and housing during the German occupation.

After the war, Bartali resumes his cycling career. Ridiculed for being too old and dismissed by all but his most ardent fans, Bartali summons the courage and strength to conquer the mountains again and emerges victorious in the 1948 Tour de France.

The McConnons have produced a well-researched, fascinating story of a true hero. Bartali's talent, faith, and independent streak inspired a nation and saved hundreds of lives. I found myself unable to put this story down--both physically and mentally as I reflected on Bartali's life, his choices, and how a simple man of conviction becomes a hero in the face of extreme adversity.

Highly recommended for fans of cycling, readers of WWII books, or anyone looking for an inspiring story. This is a great story that will have you cheering.

Just when you think every possible story about WWII has already been captured in a book, along comes this story -- a story of compassion, of valor, of Italy, and of cycling featuring Gino Bartali a great athlete, a plucky dude, and a resistance fighter against fascism!

(The publicity for this book makes the claim that Bartali made the "greatest comeback" in the history of the Tour de France. Well, cycling historians can certainly quibble about that one. But no matter! The book remains fascinating.)

This thing reads like a novel and it is helped by the fact that Bartali is such a character. This chain-smoking, bullheaded, devout, plucky fellow did whatever he could to help out oppressed Jews in World War II.

As you can probably tell, the McConnons' book was highly satisfying -- a story of an athlete and a great man functioning to the best of his abilities in several arenas. This is a fast read, but still a well-written and very well-researched book which is willing to take its time to tell its tale. Never did I feel that the facts were being massaged into place to create a narrative!

This book would be a fabulous gift for your favorite crazy cyclist, proud person of Italian descent, or World War II buff.

_Road to Valor_ describes the times and trials of Gino Bartali during his racing career and World War II, which intersected greatly. The raw material for the story is inherently compelling, noteworthy, inspiring. The tale is told ably enough-- not precisely a page-turner, but still pretty difficult to put down. The authors are an interesting sibling journalist/historian duo; the work shows some signs of an early effort-- I hope they will continue to write. I expect they will get better.

These days war is something that happens to someone else-- we may possibly have a relative or friend that is harmed, but for the past many engagements, our involvement is chiefly following it in the news. This book spends quite a lot of time developing the WWII experience in Italy-- it is good, if painful, to re-examine the sacrifices and hardships born by the whole citizenry at that time.

Bartali emerges as a Schindler-like character in his wartime pursuits, albeit on a smaller scale (but each life is priceless). How his cycling became political and the pulse of the nation is, again, a story well worth knowing. His riding became a captive of politics he wanted no part of. A well-developed theme of the book is the what-might-have-been aspect of Gino's career, brought full circle as Gino comforts a similarly affected competitor at the end of the '49 tour. Very well done. How can anyone love Coppi more than Bartali??

I think the title and subtitle were poor choices, though I have yet to come up with a satisfactory substitute. I would have enjoyed more photos (there is a website with additional content, but the website has programming issues).

This captivating book told the thrilling story of a real "sports hero". Gino Bartali, the Italian cycling legend, rose to fame during Mussolini's early years. In this book, the authors bring Bartali's inner strength to life for the reader. Despite having achieved stardom with the fascist powers for his amazing athletic ability, Bartali remained a staunch agitator against totalitarianism. When the Nazi's demanded that Italy turn over its Jews, Baroli devoted himself to rescuing Jews from the German extermination.

The work is written by a sister and brother writing team who bring the time period to life in an amazing manner. Minute details of the Tour de France and the life of an Italian during that time period come to life, along with the driving Catholic faith that inspired Bartoli to help save Jews during the war.

This book is an important work as it depicts a truly heroic figure, a sports hero who has a strong inner strength to match his outer strength. In today's world, we often idolize sports "heroes" like Tiger Woods and Mike Tyson who succeed in sports, but have nothing apart from athletic ability for us to admire. This book certainly doesn't make Bartoli out to be perfect, but the story is an important one to read and one that even students of history may not know about yet.

Siblings Aili and Andres McConnon, both graduates from Princeton have written a fascinating biography of Gino Bartali the Italian cyclist who won the Tour de France in 1938 and again in 1948. This feat of skill and determination would have been enough to justify their efforts. They also added the incredible story of his biking heroism during World War II as he transported fake documents in the hollow tube of his bike from Assisi to Florence on many occasions. He did not speak of it and without their research and perseverance his heroism would have gone unrecognized. Others who led this effort were included in Yad Vashem's the Righteous Among the Nations - Luigi and Trento Brizi and Father Rufino Niccacci.

As interesting as this chapter is in Gino's life the stories surrounding his cycling especially the Tour de France are the most engaging parts of the book.

His victory in 1948 is recounted with great detail and verve. The 4 peaks that are traversed outside of Cannes and beyond human capacity to grasp. Yet he and others conquered them and eventually wore the yellow jersey as they rode into Paris. Somehow this tale takes on greater relevance with the Lance Armstrong imbroglio that swirls around. The details of the Tour then and now are remarkable. How "heroes" are made, their effect within society and how they fade.

Excellent read.

Road to Valor is about Italian cycling great Gino Bartali and much more; it is about the state of Italy during the WWII era when fascists and Nazi's teamed up to terrorize the freedom loving Italians. In the midst of a passionate and successful cycling career that included wins at the Tour of Italy and Tour de France, Bartelli's career is interupted in its prime by the war.

Bartali turns his cycling abilities toward helping Jews escape imprisonment and death. He teams up with the Catholic Church and others in an underground operation that leads to saving perhaps hundreds of lives during the war. He does this quietly, and the truth of his heroism only came out years after the war.

After the war, Bartali does the impossible...returning to the Tour de France and lifting the spirits of an entire country with the unlikeliest of victories. Readers see in the stories of his cycling the utter sacrifice and suffering the cyclist endure to be victorious in these marathon cycling events.

We see in this historical narrative and biography the terrors of war and fascism in contrast to the passions and drive for victory of a man who represented a nation. Bartali lived as a devoted Roman Catholic Christian who would not let political pressures or danger dampen his faith and his service in the Name of his God.

Not a fan of cycling (nor an enemy, just uninformed) I came to this book because of an interest in WWII and a general appreciation for heroic people. Bartali is a larger than life figure, completely enthralling. A sports hero before the outbreak of the war, Bartali moved to prove that he was a hero in every way that counts. Admittedly, I'm a bit of a sap, but his story moved me to tears more than once.

Not only is the story moving and exciting, but it is well told and thoroughly documented. The authors feel knowledgeable and trustworthy, and I'm impressed by their scholarly apparatus. I like how effortlessly and unobtrusively they move the story forward. The language is straightforward and direct and does not call attention to itself at the expense of what it contains.

I think this book has a chance to become a classic in its genre. I cannot wait to recommend it to friends and family.

Written by a Canadian born brother and sister the true story ROAD TO VALOR has much to offer. It is the story of Italian cyclist Gino Bartali who won the Tour de France in 1938. Mussolini tried to turn his victory in to propaganda for Italy's fascist state but Bartali would have none of that. Instead of promoting racism he joined the Italian Resistance and rescued Jews. Not exactly a role model in some habits for cycling stars (he chain smoked and loved his wine) he is much more of a hero for the cycling world than the disgraced Lance Armstrong. And unbelivably Bartali came back and won the Tour de France again in 1948. Illustrated with black and white photos and maps and complete with well researched notes this is an inspiring story for both the World War II buff and the cycling enthusiast.

American audiences have never been properly introduced to the world of professional cycling, this might be their chance. In Road to Valor, Gino Bartali's life has become the stuff of legend. His enthusiasm for the sport, his celebrity, his years secretly working to smuggle documents during World War two, all of it paints an amazing picture suited for the big screen. At each step along the way I could feel the pain of his pedal strokes, his anguish over his brother, his struggle against age along with the compromises of fame. This book was well documented from Gino's own writings and the eyewitness evidence of so many who knew and loved him. What better way to honor his memory than with a book that recognizes his valor.

Anybody who cares about the history of cycling or of individual acts of defiance against the ravages of war needs to read this book. Gino Bartali was an amazing guy in numerous ways, and this book brings them fully to life. Imagine riding 10-hour mountain stages in the Tour de France on a bike that probably weighed 25-30 pounds, through horrendous weather on appalling roads, and without the benefit of the modern tech we all take for granted, then doing it again the next day. But even these superhuman feats of endurance pale against the risks Bartali took to save the lives of Italian Jews who were at risk of deportation and much worse. You'll never look at a bike the same way when you think of Bartali risking his life - and his family's lives - doing what he did to save both friends and strangers. And he stayed pathologically modest to the very end, in spite of the demands and acclaim he had to cope with. The guy was unbelievable.

Cycling has had a rough ride lately, but Bartali's story, so well told here, will resonate with anyone who cares about the sport and the amazing athletes who come along every once in a while to show the world what courage and endurance really look like.

The story of Gino Bartali will inspire you like few stories can. If you think that Lance Armstrong is the biggest hero ever of the Tour de France, than you would be wrong. Bartali, while he has great success in his cycling, proved to be a hero while helping the Jewish people during WWII. His life is full of tragedy and triumph and the authors Aili and Andres McConnon present a beautifully-written book that will not allow you to put it down. I'm not a huge sports fan and I rarely read sports writing or biographies, but this is honestly one of the best books that I've ever read. Recommended with the highest enthusiasm!

An amateur cyclist from a poor district of Florence becomes Tour de France champion in 1938. WWII hits during the prime of his career, canceling the major cycling races that he could have dominated. A man of faith, the cyclist determines to use his phenomenal athletic prowess in support of the Italian resistance. At great personal risk, he carries falsified identification documents hidden in the frame of his bicycle to assist jews in leaving occupied territory. Following the war, when he is considered an "old man" with no chance of competing against younger, fitter cyclists, he wins the Tour again in 1948 - ten years after his first victory; a record that still stands.

This narrative is solid gold -- the true story of Gino Bartali could not be more cinematic. Yet, somehow, the authors manage to set it out as boringly as possible in stupendously dull prose. The other reviews here are being extremely charitable. It IS a great story and Bartali's exploits WERE tremendous and inspiring. For that reason, I'd recommend reading one of his autobiographies or one of the many other books about him. I don't know how the McConnons could have produced such an unexciting book given the material at their disposal. Three stars based solely on the facts; drop one if you like your books well-written. An incredible story that is sadly dulled by poor writing.

My opinion: AMAZING STORY! I read frequently on WWII. Lately, I have come across a large number of books that depict the personal stories of some of the civilian heroes of that war, which I have been sucking up like there is no tomorrow! This book was incredibly well research and painting a vivid picture of the characters involved.

So, why 4 stars out of 5? This book was 254 pages of "readable" material. A small bit told of Bartali's childhood and probably 100 pages was reserved for his actually work with the Resistance, which was FASCINATING. The last chunk of the book...another 100 pages was his life following WWII. I would have liked to have seen more detail written about his work during WWII versus his life post WWII.

Special Note: I had originally been sent this book as an ebook by the publisher. I didn't think that this book transferred to an ebook version well. There are a number of pictures that I think didn't do as well in the ebook vs. the print version. Also, it just seemed like the formatting was "off" in the ebook version. I decided to wait until the print version was released to finish this book and I am thrilled I did.

This book is a wonderfully written story that tells both the story of Gino Bartali, the epic cyclist of the old guard, who famously won the Tour de France twice, TEN YEARS APART!, as well as the less known story of Gino's secret efforts to protect and save Jews persecuted during Italy during the era of WW II Nazi occupation. To read this book is pure delight as it lays the background magnificantly - explaining the importance of the bicyle in the 1930s and the gritty details of the early Tour de France and also setting the scene for Gino's heroism by providing the backdrop of Italian Fascism, Nazi persecution of Jews, and the post-war rebuilding effort.

This quick and easy read is the best book of the year.

This is a great story. The research is excellent. The writing is unfortunately not compelling. The middle slows down and could have been riveting. I do recommend the book and reckoned staying with it through the slow parts.

Road to Valor is an inspiring look at Gino Bartali, a two time Tour de France winner who used his fame and privilege to operate right under the Axis nose, rescuing Jews and smuggling documents. A beautiful story with a lot of detailed background about Italy during WWII.