As a sports journalist for 20 years, James Witts’ Rolodex is one of the cycling industry’s biggest, and he’s utilised it to the full in his latest (and often amusing) book, Riding with the Rocketmen, securing interviews with pro cyclists, as well as bike fits, psychology sessions and wind-tunnel visits with cycling’s leading minds on his journey to the Étape du Tour de France 2022 start line.
Driving the narrative of Rocketmen is Witts’ aim of completing the Étape in style, with 167km of cycling in a French heatwave, the iconic ascents of the Col du Galibier, Croix de Fer and Alpe d’Huez and 4,700m of elevation gain standing in his way of success.
As a 90kg rider with a fondness for ale over riding in the heat, Witts hatches a cunning plan to cut down on the booze (mostly) and pasties (slightly) while upping the beetroot juice intake. This Everyman also mimics the riding calendar of a pro for a year, battling cyclocross, time-trials and the cobbles of Flanders in the spring, before joining
