{"product_id":"maunder-paul-rainbows-in-the-mud-9781472925954","title":"Rainbows in the Mud","description":"Cyclocross is no longer cycling's hidden gem. Its rapid growth in the USA and UK means this intense and dramatic sport is exploding into the mainstream. With a season running from September to February, cyclocross is cycling's only purely winter discipline, demanding a combination of athleticism, supreme technical skill and ruthless tactics for the muddy conditions. In the sport's heartland of Belgium, major races attract crowds of thousands and have a carnival atmosphere fuelled by heavy drinking, ringing cowbells and pumping airhorns. Many top riders have enthusiastic fan­clubs and are national celebrities - one even had his own reality TV show. On race day, Belgian and Dutch television coverage is akin to a major football match in the UK, stretching for hours with pre­race interviews, pundits and behind-the-scenes films. In Rainbows in the Mud, Paul Maunder spends a season soaking up the sport's rich culture and history, and mixing with the obsessive fans, celebrity riders, and old-fashioned patriarchs of the sport. Following the riders - novices, veterans, American, British - as they slog their way through the season, he captures the spirit of this flamboyant cult sport, and paints a picture so vibrant you can almost feel the mud under your feet and taste the beer, mulled wine and frites.","brand":"Bloomsbury Publishing PLC","offers":[{"title":"Used - good","offer_id":53518012186966,"sku":"9781472925954-G","price":12.79,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0925\/5829\/5382\/files\/product_image_9781472925954_1.jpg?v=1778206316","url":"https:\/\/www.momoxbooks.com\/products\/maunder-paul-rainbows-in-the-mud-9781472925954","provider":"momoxbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}