First published 2000
Lance Armstrong opens his memoir by racing through his childhood in Plano, Texas, where his determined single mother shaped his fierce competitive drive. By eighteen, he had turned professional as a triathlete and joined the U.S. Olympic cycling development program. Armstrong claimed his place among elite cyclists in 1993 by capturing the World Championship and claiming a Tour de France stage victory. Three years later, doctors delivered devastating news: testicular cancer had invaded his body. Armstrong approached this new opponent with the same tactical aggression he brought to mountain climbs and sprint finishes. The memoir focuses primarily on his cancer battle, detailing treatments and setbacks with the same blunt honesty he applies to his early years. After beating the disease, Armstrong shocked cycling experts by winning the 1999 Tour de France. His mother observed that her son had spent his entire life battling long odds. This recovery story inspires readers while providing insider perspectives on professional cycling.
Genres: biography, autobiography, biography-memoir, cycling
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: overcoming-adversity, personal-journey
Setting: Plano, Texas
Period: 1990s, 1999
Paperback · Allen & Unwin
Content warnings: medical-trauma