The frankness of the book can be seen in two distinct parts. It is unusually frank for a cycling book and is also unusual in that Kimmage – who is now a successful journalist – wrote it himself while most pro cyclist's autobiographies are ghost written. He rode first for RMO and then Fagor, never with outstanding personal success but often as the man who set up victories for his team-mates. It tells of Kimmage's youth as an amateur in Ireland before turning pro after finishing sixth in the World Championship. Rough Ride is the tale of Paul Kimmage's career in the pro peloton and his life as a domestique in both the Tour de France and the Giro, the Classics as well as numerous less glamorous races across Europe. It seems a bit strange to be reviewing a book first published nearly 25 years ago but Rough Ride definitely deserves a wider audience and it particularly relevant given the debate about doping in pro cycling today.
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