Anyone jetting off to the sun for their annual week-long lobster impression could do a lot worse on the literary front than William Fotheringham’s new book, ‘A Century of Cycling’. Published to coincide with the centenary of the Tour de France, A Century of Cycling provides the definitive history of the world’s greatest cycle races, and the stars that have competed in them. All the major races are covered, with accounts of the most heroic, dramatic and despicable performances in each event. Photographs and maps bring to life the text and capture the excitement. The author, William Fotheringham is the cycling correspondent for the Guardian, the Observer and writes for Cycling Weekly among others.

A Century of Cycling is available in hardback, priced £20, and published by Mitchell Beazley.