For A Yellow Jersey : The Scandalous History of the Women's Tour de France

For a Yellow Jersey narrates the many remarkable lives of the women's Tour de France. A race which has, in its various incarnations, acted as a microcosm of the women's bike racing scene as a whole. Like the careers of many of its participants, the race itself represents an inspiring story of survival against the odds and in the harshest possible conditions.

Paul Maunder tells this chequered story which dates back to 1955 and features false starts, media indifference and financial mismanagement. Above all, however, this is the story of the phenomenal athletes who have competed in these races. From Marianne Martin's surprise win in the 1984 event, to the intense rivalry of Jeannie Longo and Maria Canins in the late 1980s, to the modern-day Dutch dominance, there are as many dramatic tales in the women's race as the men's. We meet the key personalities who have made women's racing so entertaining over the past forty years.

It's time to celebrate the history of the women's peloton. Women's racing has its own fascinating culture - tough, collaborative, political, maverick. Those who have campaigned for equality are driven, bloody-minded and above all, passionate about cycling. This is their story.