December 18/09 8:55 am - Comeback 2.0 – Up Close and Personal by Lance Armstrong

Posted by Editor on 12/18/09
 

The latest Lance Armstrong book has hit the shelves - Comeback 2.0 - which chronicles Armstrong's return to professional cycling in 2009 after retiring in 2005 when he won his record setting seventh Tour de France.

Unlike his previous books, which have been primarily words with some photos, this one is a hardcover photo journal documenting his preparation to return to the pro peloton and the 2009 race season, where he astounded a lot of naysayers by finishing third at the Tour. Arranged chronologically, each page has 1-3 photos with commentary on each image by Armstrong providing context.

The photos are by Liz Kreutz, whose long relationship with the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) and Armstrong have afforded her unprecedented access to the most famous cyclist in the world.

I've known Liz for a number of years and, while she does enjoy a unique relationship with Lance Armstrong, she works just as hard (and in all weather conditions) as any other photographer.

While the book has all the obligatory race photos, it is the behind the scenes material that makes this a fascinating read for any cycling (or Lance) enthusiast. No one but Liz would have gotten the access to show us images of Armstrong (literally) providing a urine sample, or on the x-ray table after his crash at the Vuelta a Castilla y León, where he broke his collarbone. Armstrong's succinct commentary gives us a glimpse of his day-to-day life, which includes racing, picking his kids up from school and meeting with dignitaries to discuss his global cancer awareness initiative.

In a lot of ways, Comeback 2.0 provides a more honest picture of Lance Armstrong than do any of his ghostwritten autobiographies. Highly recommended.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 978-1-4391-7314-5

Available at most book stores.

Review by Rob Jones