“Like Laura Hillenbrand’s Seabiscuit before it, Road to Valor is about an unlikely, headstrong champion who transcended his sport to make a deep impact on the broader world.”—Sports Illustrated
“Gino Bartali was a hero. . . . He was a cyclist who saved lives by riding throughout Italy during the Second World War for a purpose higher than money or glory.”—Bill Littlefield, NPR
“‘Thou shall not stand idly by’ is a powerful biblical command. In Aili and Andres McConnon’s book it offers a moving example of moral courage. A simple citizen and great athlete chose to oppose a cruel and racist political dictatorship by saving Jewish victims in Italy. Was it so hard to become a hero then? It was enough—enough to remain human. And yet.”—Elie Wiesel, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and bestselling author of Night
“The McConnons have told the story of [Bartali’s] great and greater victories powerfully and well.”—The Boston Globe
“Impeccably researched and thrillingly told . . . This is truly an amazing tale of a poor Tuscan boy who pedaled his way not only to sports immortality, but into true heroism.”—Globe and Mail
“This thoroughly documented biography is both inspiring and immensely enjoyable.”—Publishers Weekly
“A dramatic and moving story that is virtually unknown to most readers. . . . An important addition to World War II biography and also to the history of twentieth-century cycling.”—Booklist
“The two Tours de France won by Bartali are more than mere entries in the record book of winners. The fact that they were won many years apart proves what an exceptional champion he really was. Above all, the war years separating these victories now reveal Gino to have been a true hero.”—Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France
“Whether you are a Tour de France fan, a history buff, or looking for an entertaining way to learn about both, Road to Valor will have you turning the pages with more conviction and speed than Bartali could turn the pedals! An engaging and mesmerizing read.”—Craig Hummer, Tour de France broadcaster for NBC Sports
“A gritty, scary story of endurance, Road to Valor traces one man’s harrowing journey from the resistance movement in Nazi-occupied Italy to a comeback triumph in the Tour de France—told with verve and an affecting appreciation of the human spirit.”—Bruce Porter, New York Times bestselling author of Blow
“A magnificent ride through the uphill-downhill-uphill story of Gino Bartali. It inspires anyone who tenaciously holds to doing what is just, no matter how difficult, in the face of ignorance and terror. Bartali is a hero for all times.”—Fred Plotkin, author of Italy for the Gourmet Traveler
“Many cycling fans recognize the name Gino Bartali, and up until now most people only knew him for the races he won. But during some of the most tumultuous years of the twentieth century he leveraged his fame and risked his life for those being persecuted. With this complete look at Bartali’s life, his legacy as one of cycling’s greatest heroes grows even stronger.”—Chris Carmichael, legendary coach and former Giro d’Italia and Tour de France racer
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