RAPHA PRESS RELEASE BOOK AWARD WINNER Tom Simpson: Bird on the Wire by Andy McGrath wins William Hill Sports Book of the Year FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RAPHA.CC READ THE FEATURE 4.5 / 5 Road.cc 5 / 5 Amazon 4 / 5 Goodreads Tom Simpson: Bird on the Wire, published by Rapha Editions, has won the 2017 William Hill Sports Book of the Year award. The book’s author Andy McGrath was presented with the award during a ceremony at Bafta in Picadilly, London, today (Tuesday, 28th N0vember). The story of Tom Simpson has gone down in cycling folklore. A beloved yet flawed hero, whose death on Mont Ventoux during the 1967 Tour de France has become part of the history of cycling. For all the wrong reasons. With Bird on the Wire, author Andy McGrath endeavours to set the record straight on Tom Simpson and tell the whole story, of an endearing sportsman who achieved incredible feats during his cycling career. “Simpson’s death, with drugs found in his system, is inextricably, yet excessively, linked to him. Those dark connotations have grown over the rest of his life’s story like ivy over a beautiful building,” said McGrath. The biography has received glowing reviews. The beautiful 200-page edition is fully illustrated throughout with photographs of the cyclist, many published for the first time. ABOUT TOM SIMPSON Fifty years after Britain’s greatest cycling icon conquered the continental sporting scene, he still captivates people around the world. After his dramatic death on Mont Ventoux during the 1967 Tour de France, amphetamines and alcohol were found in his system, a fact which often dwarfs his pioneering achievements. From a humble upbringing in a Nottinghamshire mining town, Simpson became the first Briton to win the elite men’s World Championships and to wear the yellow jersey of the Tour de France. He also took victory at Milan-Sanremo, the Tour of Flanders and the Tour of Lombardy, three of cycling’s most prestigious races. A charismatic and impulsive character, Simpson lived fast, with a penchant for spectacular racing, sports cars and fanciful dreams. A man of contradictions, he was both people’s champion and pariah, a gentleman and a rogue. Guided by rare photography, this book explores the Briton’s feats and complexities through previously untold Brian Robinson, Vin Denson, Helen Cycling Weekly and Cycle Sport, he has stories from those closest to him. Hoban, Joanne Simpson, Henri Duez, also written on cycling for The Guardian Charly Wegelius, Dave Bonner, Billy and Financial Times. He is the co- ABOUT THE BOOK Holmes, Keith Butler, Pete Ryalls and author of Official Treasures of the Tour Professor Greg Whyte OBE. de France and has contributed chapters In researching Bird on the Wire, the to several volumes of The Cycling author interviewed some legendary ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anthology. names within cycling including Jan Janssen, Raymond Poulidor, Gianni Andy McGrath is the editor of Rouleur Bird on the Wire is available at the Motta, Barry Hoban, Emile Daems, magazine. Having previously worked at Rapha bookstore, rapha.cc, priced £36. (ENDS) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT US: [email protected] UK: Marta Gut – [email protected] BENELUX: Marit Huisman – [email protected] ITALY: Marianna Peciscavagna – [email protected] GERMANY/SWITZERLAND: Dirk Kaufmann – [email protected] FRANCE: Franziska Stenke – [email protected] KOREA: Jeremy Moon – [email protected] SINGAPORE/SOUTHEAST ASIA: Christopher Chen – [email protected] JAPAN: Daisuke Yano – [email protected] TAIWAIN: Ahsien Yen – [email protected] AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND: Adam Taylor-Campbell - [email protected] ABOUT RAPHA Rapha was established in 2004 to address a need for stylish, high performance cycling clothing. It now provides products for every road cyclist, from urban commuters to world class professional teams and continues to push the boundaries of innovation in cyclewear. Alongside this, Rapha has cultivated a global community of passionate cyclists who come together as members of the Rapha Cycling Club (RCC), the largest club of its kind in the World. Rapha’s direct to consumer model and unique brand values come to life in its travel offering and in the global network of Clubhouses that combine retail, a cafe and cycling culture under the same roof. .