A big disappointment - Rated 
Being a cycle racing fan, I was really looking forward to a 'complete guide' to all of the climbs used in the tdf. Sadly this book does not deliver on this claim. The previous reviews have mentioned the many pitfalls of the book - poor grammar and spelling (spelling Millar with an e is unforgiveable), useless maps, uninspiring photos and limited information.
Perhaps the author bit off more than he could chew with this one. I was hoping for more information: climb profiles, fastest ascent by a tour rider, lists of tour riders gaining points on the climbs in each tour (for the anorak in me) to name but a few.
Oh, and there's no mention of climbing the Col d'Aubisque from Laruns (note spelling - it's not Larruns).
Christmas sorted! - Rated 
This is the ideal present for all those armchair cyclists out there. Its a been a brilliant reference book during the TDF, detailing all the climbs the TDF has ever been over. As well as all the facts and figures about the individual climbs it provides details of the historic battles that have taken place on the slopes. Despite the errors highlighted by previous reviewers it wins the polka dot jersey for me. It`s a brilliant coffee table book to dip in and out of and use as a reference guide and to while away those long winter nights when the sunshine of the TDF seems so far away. This is the ideal Christmas present for any cycling fanatic.
Stumbling in the foothills - Rated 
The previous four reviwers have picked up about 20 major deficiencies and it's hard to contest any of them. Many sentences have to be re-read to extract the meaning intended - can the editor be blamed for all this? The squiggle "maps", the lack of profile and any aids to locate the climbs really mitigate against the usefulness of such a book. Average and maximum gradient do not characterise a climb. The Tour system of categories could have easily been provided. The photos are mostly good but the summits of climbs don't feature. Signs, buildings, plaques reveal much and is what you want to see when you get to the top. For the record the highest road in Europe (page 230) is "a road in Spain's Sierra Nevada", more specifically Pico Valeta. Height of at least 3402m (Michelin map of Spain) makes the book in error by 1000ft. Finally the sleave suggests that the book will help you to climb the roads yourself and fit them into itineraries. I feel this is outside the scope of a coffee table book, but any case there is not much help offered. Weather trends, best maps, support, the bike itself, feeding stations, escape routes are more useful than dangerous romantic notions.
The climb star ratings (where given) and index are both well done and useful.
No profiles, v.poor maps, v. poor tour history - Rated
Hmmmmm!!! Yes this book does list all of the Tour climbs and gives some nice anecdotes on each ones history and some nice pictures but it should have been so, so much more.
The "maps" advertised on the back of the book are no more than simple diagrams, the history of the climb is almost non-existent and worst of all there are no climb profiles!!
Bring out a book with decent maps, profiles, a list of stages/tours they featured in, their category and who won on them (mountain top finishes) and perhaps then you'd have a book work shelling £25 out for - disappointing....
Useful but could be a lot better - Rated 
I would have to agree with the earlier reviewer ... yes the book is littered with spelling mistakes and it's practicality is severely let down by the lack of maps. It's still a ressonably useful resource but could've been so much better. You can find better maps and photographs in a very similar french book "Grands Cols"
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