Slaying the Badger

Greg LeMond, Bernard Hinault, and the Greatest Tour de France

By: Richard Moore

Narrated by: Shaun Grindell

Bernard Hinault is "Le Blaireau", the Badger. Tough as old boots, he is the old warrior of the French peloton, as revered as he is feared for his ferocious attacks. He has won five Tours de France, marking his name into the history books as a member of cycling's most exclusive club.

Yet as the 1986 Tour de France ascends into the mountains, a boyish and friendly young American named Greg LeMond threatens the Badger - and France's entire cycling heritage.

The stakes are high. Winning for Hinault means capping his long cycling career by becoming the first man to win the Tour six times. For LeMond, a win will bring America its first Tour de France victory. So why does their rivalry shock the world? LeMond and Hinault ride for the same team.

Asked by a reporter why he attacked his own teammate, the Badger replies, "Because I felt like it." and "If he doesn't buckle, that means he's a champion and deserves to win the race. I did it for his own good." LeMond becomes paranoid, taking other riders' feed bags in the feed zone and blaming crashes on sabotage. Through it all, with the help of his American teammate Andy Hampsten, LeMond becomes the first American to win the Tour de France.

©2012 Richard Moore (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"[ Slaying the Badger is] a gripping narrative of this psychological and physical three-week war." ( Wall Street Journal)

Great book about the Greatest Tour

Well researched, written, and formatted book about the Greatest Tour. What a race it was. This book has made me relive it all over.

Really a great story and cycling story, loved it.

So much to take in... all the high profile characters, all the interviews, back story... it was all woven together for a book that keeps you wanting more.

As a cycling enthusiast, it would be a must listen. Inspired because of it, Thanks.

A master telling of the greatest TDF ever

Great back story of this incredible rivalry between two teammate in most exciting edition of the Tour de France ever. It was the second race I ever watched as a kid. Brilliantly read by my favorite narrator Shaun Grindell,

Slaying the pronunciation

The reader is overzealous about pronunciation and exaggerates certain words again and again yet when he pronounces Porche he gets it wrong. His pronunciation of Köchli is especially annoying

Excellent detail!

This in depth analysis provides ample information to understand the conflicts that arise when you have to proven leaders on the same team. Especially interesting are the interview summaries of Lemond and Hinault.