The Secret Race

Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France: Doping, Cover-ups, and Winning at All Costs

By: Tyler Hamilton, Daniel Coyle

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

The Secret Race is a definitive look at the world of professional cycling—and the doping issue surrounding this sport and its most iconic rider, Lance Armstrong—by former Olympic gold medalist Tyler Hamilton and New York Times best-selling author Daniel Coyle.

Over the course of two years, Coyle conducted more than 200 hours of interviews with Hamilton and spoke candidly with numerous teammates, rivals, and friends. The result is an explosive book that takes us, for the first time, deep inside a shadowy, fascinating, and surreal world of unscrupulous doctors, anything-goes team directors, and athletes so relentlessly driven to succeed that they would do anything—and take any risk, physical, mental, or moral—to gain the edge they needed to win.

Tyler Hamilton was once one of the world’s best-liked and top-ranked cyclists—a fierce competitor renowned among his peers for his uncanny endurance and epic tolerance for pain. In the 2003 Tour de France, he finished fourth despite breaking his collarbone in the early stages—and grinding 11 of his teeth down to the nerves along the way. He started his career with the U.S. Postal Service team in the 1990s and quickly rose to become Lance Armstrong’s most trusted lieutenant and a member of his inner circle.

For the first three of Armstrong’s record seven Tour de France victories, Hamilton was by Armstrong’s side, clearing his way. But just weeks after Hamilton reached his own personal pinnacle—winning the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics—his career came to a sudden, ignominious end: He was found guilty of doping and exiled from the sport.

From the exhilaration of his early, naïve days in the peloton, Hamilton chronicles his ascent to the uppermost reaches of this unforgiving sport. In the mid-1990s, the advent of a powerful new blood-boosting drug called EPO reshaped the world of cycling, and a relentless, win-at-any-cost ethos took root. Its psychological toll would drive many of the sport’s top performers to substance abuse, depression, even suicide. For the first time ever, Hamilton recounts his own battle with clinical depression, speaks frankly about the agonizing choices that go along with the decision to compete at a world-class level, and tells the story of his complicated relationship with Lance Armstrong.

A journey into the heart of a never-before-seen world, The Secret Race is a riveting, courageous act of witness from a man who is as determined to reveal the hard truth about his sport as he once was to win the Tour de France.

©2012 Tyler Hamilton & Daniel Coyle (P)2012 Random House

Uncovering the Truth!

What did you love best about The Secret Race?

I knew there were dopers in professional cycling, but until I read this book I never knew it was basically all the professional cyclists that were doping. So glad Tyler had the courage to tell his story. This tell all story needed to come out so the sport can hopefully be cleaned up. Can't believe I supported and believed in Lance all those years. The truth hurts but it so desperately needed to come out. Thanks Tyler!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Tyler, obviously

Have you listened to any of Sean Runnette’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, his voice did not fit the main character in my opinion. Tyler was gritty and no nonsense. The reader was more formal and stuffy.

Very interesting look behind the curtain

I've never been a huge fan of cycling, but I've loosely followed it over the years. This look behind the curtains of cycling was fascinating, not just for the connection to the scandal that is currently unfolding in the public, but also for the details of what it is like to be at the top of a sport. The training, the stress, the traveling. The complete and utter dedication these athletes have to the sport.

I was glad to be able to experience the insight into this story as the public version was also unfolding. All of the players in the public scene are touched on in the book. However, it was obvious that editing of the book was skimped on in order to get it out in time. There were several repetitive passages and some less polished sections.

Overall, a very interesting and timely book. Recommended.

What a journey!

These guys deserved every penny they made and a good deal of respect. Not only did they have to train hard, constantly diet and all the things we would expect, they also had to take enormous legal risks, endure the stress of living a secretive life and trust their health to some very dubious characters. You can't help but feel some empathy for them. I was very pleasantly surprised by the level of detail. In fact, having seen most of races during those years, I had many questions stored up and this book pretty much answered them. A must listen or read if your a cycling fan and a great one even if your not one. Unlike some books, the audio version for this works particularly well. It's as though a friend is recounting the story to you.

began this right as the 2023 TDF began

fantastic listen right as i’m getting into the TDF for the first time. this book is a 10/10 and what a great look into the intricacies and personalities of that era and why everyone did what they did, right or wrong

Great story, told honestly

Fascinating and captivating story that needed to be told. It was honest and heart felt. Nice job, Tyler!

Couldn’t put down

It usually takes me a month to finish a book but this one was done in a week. I couldn’t put it down! Great! Emotional and heartbreaking story.

A must for cycling and sports fans

So we’ll written, it feels like you are experiencing every pedal stroke, it’s a eye opener for fans of all sports

Great Book to listen too!

Loved It! Unadulterated Truth for a great cyclist story. I sat thank you for Sharing!

fascinating story, but no fan of Sean Runnette

What did you love best about The Secret Race?

The detailed accounts of behind the scenes racing, and how they lined up with well known events.

What didn’t you like about Sean Runnette’s performance?

He sounds like an old man with a denture problem. Was hard to get used to, a bit distracting the entire book.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes I listened whenever I could.

An honest account of the world of cycling

What made the experience of listening to The Secret Race the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed how open Tyler Hamilton was in telling us about the secret world of professional cycling. He didn't space a single detail or a single name in telling us about his years on the tour.

What other book might you compare The Secret Race to and why?

It reminded me of Andre Agassi's "Open," another very honest, no-holds-barred sports autobiography. I thoroughly enjoyed both.

Which character – as performed by Sean Runnette – was your favorite?

Tyler, of course. You feel for him and understand the struggles that he had to go through.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It's pretty long to listen to all in one sitting, but I was always looking forward to getting back into my car to hear the next chapter.

Any additional comments?

If you're thinking of buying this book to get the inside scoop on Lance Armstrong, the book will not disappoint.