The Climb by Chris Froome - the inspirational memoir from the British winner of the 100th edition of the Tour de France. The Climb tells the extraordinary story of Chris Froome's journey from a young boy in Kenya, riding through townships and past wild animals, and with few opportunities for an aspiring cyclist, to his unforgettable yellow jersey victory in the 2013 Tour de France. A journey unlike any other in the history of cycling, Froome has crossed continents, overcome the death of his mother and conquered debilitating illness to follow his dreams and represent Team GB and Team Sky. He has experienced soaring triumphs, humbling defeats, a public rivalry with Bradley Wiggins and, most recently, the pressures of Lance Armstrong's legacy. Extraordinary, revealing and life-affirming, The Climb is a story of determination, hardship and unimaginable success. Chris Froome was born in Nairobi in 1985 to British parents. He was educated and raised in South Africa and now races for Team GB and Team Sky. In 2011 he finished second overall in the Vuelta a Espana. In 2012 he finished runner-up to Bradley Wiggins in the Tour de France and won the Bronze medal in the Time Trial at the Olympic Games. Froome amassed five stage-race victories in 2013, with triumphs at the Tour of Oman, Criterium International, Tour de Romandie and Criterium du Dauphine leading into a dominant win at the 100th Tour de France. He won the prestigious Velo d'Or award for best rider of 2013 and was shortlisted for the 2013 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award. In February 2014 he won the Tour of Oman and is the favourite to take the yellow jersey yet again at the 2014 Tour de France.
I think it's brilliant that we'll go to a Tour de France starting in our home country with the reigning champion ... The key to (Chris's) success is his mental resilience. He might look like an unlikely strong man at first glance, but I wouldn't let that fool you. Beneath the surface there is a real fighter. He's a tough guy -- Sir Dave Brailsford
Chris Froome is an absolutely phenominal athlete. It blows my mind how incredible his performances have been -- Victoria Pendleton
Even though we don't see each other so much anymore he has lived in my dreams. He (was) wearing the yellow jersey every day and I almost felt I was wearing it myself -- David Kinjah, Chris Froome's former cycling mentor and coach, Safari Simbaz
Just a few years ago we did not have anyone who could podium, but now we have two cyclists who can win the Tour in consecutive years. It is a phenomenal achievement and what Chris has done is phenomenal -- Sir Chris Hoy
Author
About Chris Froome
Chris Froome, born in Nairobi on the 20th of May 1985, is a professional cyclist who rides for UCI ProTour team, Team Sky.
Froome’s journey into road cycling started when he moved to South Africa for schooling as a teenager. However, back home in Kenya he had only ever ridden a mountain bike, guided into the sport by The Safari Simbaz founder David Kinjah. Kinjah was an inspiration to Froome and training together in the rural highlands north of Nairobi is what ignited the passion for cycling which Froome has today.
When Froome began his career he was registered with the Kenyan cycling federation but since the spring of 2008, has ridden under a British license, having been born of British descent.
