The Full Cycle

Vin Denson was a racing cyclist for almost half a century, and his career ran the full cycle. He began as he ended - as a typical English clubman, riding the weekly club time trial and strapping on a saddlebag for the weekend hostel tour. In between were eight glorious years spent as a professional on the Continent when he rode with and against the very best riders of his era. During that period he worked selflessly in the engine room of the peloton; he was the original 'super domestique', and Jacques Anquetil and Rik Van Looy thought the world of him, even if they showed their gratitude in totally different ways. But he was also capable of winning on his own account. In addition to many other successes, Vin was the first Briton to win a stage of the Tour of Italy, and stages in the tough Dunkirk 4-Days race. His victory in the Tour of Luxemburg made him the first British winner of a national European tour. The Full Cycle is a long overdue account of the splendid career of a 'Gentle Giant' of the road whose passion for cycling has never died; it is also a story of loyalty, courage and friendship. To this day he remains one of the most popular and easily recognised of British ex-professional riders and is frequently in demand as guest of honour at club dinners up and down the country.