Book review – “How I Won the Yellow Jumper”

Ned Boulting, the cheeky chap from ITV, has always come across as the cool, brash, confident presenter, whether he was taking the micky out of the French or asking a pertinent question following yet another doping alegation. His book however, reveals quite the opposite. Ned’s Tour de France experience actually takes the reader on a journey that most cycling fans can relate to, he makes no secret of his absolute ignorance of the history of the race, it’s intricaties and tradition when he was initially told (there is no suggestion that he was asked) that he was reporting on his first Tour in 2003.

Boulting takes the reader behind the scenes, warts and all. Not many books can devote a whole chapter to the portable toilet facilities at the Tour de France and get away with it! There are several laugh-out-loud moments in the book, usually at the authors own expense but conversly some deeply moving passages, particularly the chapter dedicated to Glenn Wilkinson the cameraman that had covered the Tour as far back as the Channel 4 days and tragically died in 2005 aged just 44.

The beauty of the book for the cycling fan is that Boulting’s reminiscences bring back so many memories. I just knew, even before I read it that Boulting’s description of the reaction to London’s successful Olympic bid, announced during the 2005 Tour, would touch upon his interviews at the finish line and in particular with the bald-headed moustached Cochonou salami man who wasn’t particularly impressed..! Anyone who has been to a finishing stage at the Tour will instantly recognise this individual and as soon as I finished that chapter I just had to dig out the 2005 DVD and watch the encounter again. Priceless… Olympic Reaction

Whether or not it was the authors intention, the book leaves the reader in no doubt just how intense the Tour is and how much time and effort is required to bring the event to our TV screens. The camaraderie amongst the crew is quite evident and it is obvious that deep forged friendships are formed that I suppose is a must if you have to spend the best part of a month ensconced in a Renault Espace with three others and their dirty washing…

By his own admission in the introduction, or prologue, Boulting does not follow a particularly path and throughout the book he  jumps from year to year, subject to subject. Despite this it is clear that over time Boulting has began to understand the race, the culture, embrace the tradition and is now  a fully committed cycling fan and Tour enthusiast that cares deeply about the sport. In Chapter 20, ‘Blokes on Bikes’, Ned expands on why fans can associate more with cycling than most other sports,  a view that bears a striking resemblance to my own thoughts in my first ever blog ‘Why we love cycling’ published on this site back in January last year.

How I Won the Yellow Jumper is a first-class read that I thoroughly recommend. It’s funny, thought provoking and revealing. At times quite moving but above all an insight into the Tour de France that we don’t see. Ironically, if it wasn’t for the likes of Ned and his cohorts we wouldn’t see the Tour de France at all… This book is a must for all cycling enthusiasts. It’s just a shame that Dave B pulled the plug on the behind the scenes Sky documentary…