Andy McGrath - God is Dead: The Rise and Fall of Frank Vandenbroucke, Cyclings Great Wasted Talent

Tom Simpson: Bird on the Wire

The Official Treasures of the Tour de France

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First published by Bantam Press in 2022

Copyright Andy McGrath 2022

Cover design: Tony Maddock/TW
Cover images: Shutterstock and Getty Images

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ISBN: 978-1-473-56337-7

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The Hostellerie de la Place in Ploegsteert, where the Vandenbroucke family worked and lived. Frank, holding his younger sister Samantha, is flanked by parents Chantal and Jean-Jacques before flying to the 1992 World Championships. Racing against the clock at the 1994 Critrium International. The Vandenbroucke cycling dynasty: (left to right) Jean-Jacques, Frank, Jean-Denis and Jean-Luc. Not a hair out of place for the Mapei starlet. Narrowly denied a first World Cup victory at the 1998 Championship of Zurich by Michele Bartoli. Frank with Patrick Lefevere, the manager who oversaw many illustrious wins at Mapei. Making light work of the snow on the Col de la Rpublique, 1998 ParisNice. Parting the crowd on La Redoute on the way to a landmark LigeBastogneLige win, 1999. Return of the king at the Vuelta, wowing observers and winning in vila. Larking about with Bobby Julich (left) and Nico Mattan (right), 1999 Vuelta a Espaa. Return of the king at the Vuelta, wowing observers and winning in vila. Vandenbrouckes press conference at the Hostellerie de la Place about the SainzLavelot affair, May 1999. The wolf pack: Vandenbroucke and Cofidis team-mate Philippe Gaumont show off their tattoos. The Frenchman died in 2014, more collateral damage from the era. Frank and Sarah on their wedding day, 2000. Dropped, dirty and disgruntled, 2001 ParisRoubaix. Advisor, sorcerer, criminal, close friend: Bernard Sainz, aka Doctor Mabuse. Escaping with Peter Van Petegem on the Muur de Geraardsbergen, 2003 Tour of Flanders. Having a laugh on an old bike at the 2004 Tour of Qatar. Outside the court in Dendermonde with manager Paul De Geyter after another hearing, 2004. Frank with Sarah and daughters Margaux (left) and Cameron (right) at the Unibet.com team launch, 2006. Picked up from hospital by Palmiro Masciarelli after his suicide bid, 2007. Finding the going tough after the debut of his final season, 2009. The hotel room in Senegal where Frank was found dead.

They took me under the armpits and lifted me off the ground. They put a crown on my head and knelt before my throne. Everywhere I went, I was VDB, the super-talent, the young god. People