Land of Second Chances: The Impossible Rise of Rwanda's Cycling Team - Hardcover

The incredible story of road cycling in Rwanda, "Land of Second Chances" is a tale that quite brilliantly portrays the power of sport to effect change. Superb, a must-read. "Huffington Post"

Lewis is a reporter of rare skill and he writes with wit and verve. "Land of Second Chances" is by turns horrifying, moving and unexpectedly funny. It s also the sports book of the year by a backcountry mile. "Esquire UK"

Tim Lewis's "Land of Second Chances" is, arguably, not just the best cycling book released this year, but the best sports book of the year. "Podium Cafe"

Tim Lewis's fascinating story of Rwandan cycling isn't a typical rags to riches, triumph against adversity tale This is also a story about the potential of African cycling and its undoubted capacity to change lives. "The Guardian"

"Land of Second Chances" transcends most sports books It is about the unlikely development of a competitive cycling team in Rwanda. But Lewis is not satisfied to tell only that story, intriguing and entertaining as it is. He explores what happens when well-meaning people from places like the United States attempt to impose their technology, their training techniques, and their values on a population they understand imperfectly "Boston Globe"

Well sourced, with encyclopedic references to those in the cycling world, "Land of Second Chances" is set on the cusp of an extraordinary moment in the sport, with Africa poised to start producing contenders. Lewis avoids falling into the trap of making this a Hollywood-friendly sportscomeback tale. It s infinitely more interesting than that, with its many setbacks, personality clashes, and disappointments. Like Rwanda itself, it s complex, and the story is not over yet. "Booklist" of the American Library Association

Lewis places cycling at the heart of Rwanda s changing fortunes by stitching together various stories and providing excellent, cogent synopses of the political and social history of the country [An] intelligent, thoughtful social history "Library Journal Books for Dudes"

Journalist Tim Lewis s "Land of Second Chances" is not a story simply of personal dedication overcoming the odds Team Rwanda s story could have been edited into an uplifting tale of unlikely success, with Niyonshuti s Olympic appearance as the rousing finale. Instead this is a more complicated, darker, account. "Financial Times""

"The incredible story of road cycling in Rwanda, Land of Second Chances is a tale that quite brilliantly portrays the power of sport to effect change. Superb, a must-read." -- Huffington Post

"Lewis is a reporter of rare skill and he writes with wit and verve. Land of Second Chances is by turns horrifying, moving and unexpectedly funny. It's also the sports book of the year by a backcountry mile." -- Esquire UK

"Tim Lewis's Land of Second Chances is, arguably, not just the best cycling book released this year, but the best sports book of the year." -- Podium CafAƒ (c)

"Tim Lewis's fascinating story of Rwandan cycling isn't a typical rags to riches, triumph against adversity tale" ] This is also a story about the potential of African cycling and its undoubted capacity to change lives." -- The Guardian

"Land of Second Chances transcends most sports books" ]It is about the unlikely development of a competitive cycling team in Rwanda. But Lewis is not satisfied to tell only that story, intriguing and entertaining as it is. He explores what happens when well-meaning people from places like the United States attempt to impose their technology, their training techniques, and their values on a population they understand imperfectly" ]" -- Boston Globe

"Well sourced, with encyclopedic references to those in the cycling world, Land of Second Chances is set on the cusp of an extraordinary moment in the sport, with Africa poised to start producing contenders. Lewis avoids falling into the trap of making this a Hollywood-friendly sportscomeback tale. It's infinitely more interesting than that, with its many setbacks, personality clashes, and disappointments. Like Rwanda itself, it's complex, and the story is not over yet." --Booklist of the American Library Association

"Lewis places cycling at the heart of Rwanda's changing fortunes by stitching together various stories and providing excellent, cogent synopses of the political and social history of the country" ][An] intelligent, thoughtful social history" ]" -- Library Journal Books for Dudes

"Journalist Tim Lewis's Land of Second Chances is not a story simply of personal dedication overcoming the odds" ]Team Rwanda's story could have been edited into an uplifting tale of unlikely success, with Niyonshuti's Olympic appearance as the rousing finale. Instead this is a more complicated, darker, account." -- Financial Times

Hailed as “the sports book of the year,” Land of Second Chances is the inspiring true story of four men who found a new hope for Rwanda. Meet Adrien Niyonshuti, Tom Ritchey, Jonathan Boyer, and Paul Kagame. In a land clamoring for heroes, they confront impossible odds as they struggle to put an upstart cycling team on the map—and find redemption in the eyes of the world. Land of Second Chances is an inspirational story of hope and victory for Africa.

Though Rwanda is a tiny, landlocked country dropped like a pebble on the equator, it is a lush and beautiful land fertile with hope and searching for a new identity. So when its best young bike racer, Adrien Niyonshuti, becomes obsessed with earning a slot to compete in the London Olympic Games, all eyes turn to him. Supporting Adrien is his coach, Jonathan Boyer, the first American to race in the Tour de France.

Also present: Tom Ritchey, an inventor of the mountain bike who comes to Rwanda with money and a vision to help coffee farmers raise their standard of living with a new breed of bike. And there is Paul Kagame, the president of Rwanda, a man piecing together an egalitarian future for his country but who is all too susceptible to the corruption of power.

Land of Second Chances is the incredible true story of struggle, hope, and the life-giving promise of redemption through the unifying power of sport.