Draft Animals

September 1, 2017
The odds of becoming a professional athlete in any sport are slim. For non-mainstream sports like cycling, the challenges of eking out a living are often insurmountable. In this follow-up to Pro Cycling on $10 a Day (2014), Gaimon shares his experiences as a professional from 2009 to 2016, competing on the WorldTour circuit, and wrestling to achieve personal goals while racing as a domestique (a role player charged with helping the team and leader cross the finish line first). Gaimon, who has a robust social-media following, is resolute about competing as a drug-free bike racer, even tattooing clean on his arm. Footnotes throughout the book reflect his sense of humor, and he does not shrink from his opinions on the dopers and haters (Lance Armstrong, George Hincapie). He shares the emotional roller coaster of long-distance relationships and the stresses of securing contracts with race teams. Highly recommended for anyone interested in cycling, this is a candid account from an outspoken cyclist who pursued his career with passion, a sense of humor, and integrity.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)