Racing to You

by Robin Lovett

[jamiereadthis]

“Has someone written a romance about pro cycling?” was something I wondered last week. And voila, this book.

It actually:
• Has some legit knowledge of cycling!
• Addresses doping as a plot point
• Addresses the extremely monastic and high-pressure lifestyle
• Gets the team dynamic!
• Has real races like Paris-Nice!

However, it also:
• Has its hero winning races in a way that kind of rider wouldn’t win races… unless he’s Peter Sagan
• Makes the hero basically Peter Sagan
• Except he’s American and has none of the qualities of Peter Sagan, superstar of the cycling

Overall, I did:
• Laugh at the name of our hero’s team, which is all-too-realistic in the wacky world of pro sponsors
• Like the way it tossed in a to-be-continued at the end

Although:
• It to-be-continued before the Giro. I want the Giro!

Although:
• Why a sprinter is racing the Giro when his target is the Tour, I have no idea

Although:
• Maybe this is one of those series that switches protagonists, and the sequel is Tom Dumoulin at the Giro. If not, can I pitch that?

Final verdict:
• Kinda like real cycling, but not like real cycling, just like it’s kinda Peter Sagan but not Peter Sagan
• I was entertained, and could nitpick, and really, that’s all a cycling fan wants

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Edited to add:
The origin of my curiosity was how one might handle the sexy hunk aspect when in reality, you do not want a cyclist to take off their kit. She does mention the tan lines! That’s a start!