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

Very Good and interesting book

I love cycling so I naturally gravitated to this book, but I did not anticipate the level of drama and interesting detail behind the doping years of cycling told by some of the best riders of that time. Tyler's character development throughout his story is something to witness. Highly recommend to cycling fanatics, super recommend to anybody else.

Great story, told honestly

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

Honest Reflection

One of the most unflinching look at an individual's wife caught up in one of the greatest crime rings of modern sport. I applaud this man's integrity and his honesty. Because like the truth honesty and integrity do not change regardless of the current climate or latest version of quote-unquote Truth.

Excellent and thanks for opening our eyes.

What did you love best about The Secret Race?

Showed the true side to Professional cycling, as far as us non-pro cyclists are able to understand. IF it is all true, then they aren't any different than body builders, baseball players, soccer players, and football players. Also makes me appreciate how much hard work actually goes into preparing for a race, doping aside.
Thanks

Excellent book and a great story.

Couldn't stop listening. Great if you want some good listen on commuting. Story about the cycling world in the era of Lance and the doping scandals. You learn a little, get a perspective from the riders viewpoint and truly understand what doping means.

Great book for anyone who has had a vague idea of this subject and always wanted to learn more about it in a fun and well written book.

A Crisis Of Conscience

This book shows how corruption can have a cascading effect and how difficult it can be to resist being compromised. The story is getting a little dated but the underlying issues will always remain.