Chris Froome autobiography to come out before Tour de France

One of the more remarkable backstories in cycling forms the background to a book called The Climb that will be published ahead of next year’s Tour de France Grand Départ in Yorkshire – the autobiography of the man who will defend his title in that race, Chris Froome.

Described as “extraordinary, revealing and life-affirming,” it is being co-written by Sunday Times chief sports writer David Walsh, who has just published his book Inside Team Sky – suggesting he may have had a pretty impeccable source for that story about Sir Bradley Wiggins breaking with tradition and excluding Froome from the team mates with whom he shared his Tour de France winnings in 2012.

Froome finished runner-up to Wiggins in that race, and his account of his public rivalry with his team mate, downplayed by Sky and both riders at the time, is likely to be one of the more eagerly anticipated parts of the book.

Much of it will focus on the unique journey that took Froome from his birthplace Kenya, via South Africa, to the top step of the podium on the Champs-Elysées this July in the yellow jersey of Tour de France champion.

The 28-year-old says: “Many people have come to know my name through my achievements over the last year, but I feel that there are not many people who know who I really am.

“I hope that this book will give people a bit of insight into me and my obstacle-ridden journey to the top, and inspire them to push on despite any challenges they may face in achieving their own goals.”

The Climb will be published by Penguin imprint Viking as a hardback and in ebook format in June 2014.

Viking editor Ben Brusey comments: “Chris Froome is the future of cycling.

“His incredible victories this year have helped make cycling in Britain more popular than ever, and we are thrilled to be publishing his book in time for the start of the 2014 Tour in Yorkshire.

“His story is hugely inspirational and I know that it will be enjoyed by sports lovers as well as an even wider audience.”