In Pursuit of Stardom

“In The Pursuit of Stardom – Les Nomades du Velo Anglais” is Tony Hewson’s frequently comic and moving memoir recalls professional cycling’s Golden Age, telling of four tumultuous years of British racers struggling to earn a living and the respect of the continental ‘peloton’.

For much of cycling’s “Fabulous Fifties” it was Brian Robinson alone who flew the flag for Britain abroad – that is until three young men, lodging in a converted ex-WD ambulance, set out to emulate his success, starting from ground zero. Variously mistaken for gypsies, terrorists, undertakers, even market traders, and going under the French nickname of “the three battling Brits”, Jock Andrews, Vic Sutton and Tony Hewson, overcame handicap, prejudice, disappointment and hardship to touch the heights of the sport.

These are our original cash-starved, have-a-go pioneers, whose inspiration prompted Tom Simpson and succeeding generations of would-be stars to cross the Channel.