Tim Krabbé’s autobiographical fiction tries to convey his passion for the amateur bike racing. The novella, which has no chapters, is a pacey account of his participation in the Tour de Mont Aigoual race, from just before it begins to its bitter end, detailing his physical and mental journey. Described as an existentialist piece in the grand European tradition of Camus and Beckett it’s well worth trying to get hold of a copy.