Banii

Banii looks at money, family ties and power behind the Tour de France. Alex Duff turns from the riders to those who run the race. He traces the role of the Amaury family, which still owns it. The story starts with a boy who carries cash by bike. It follows fights over wealth, who inherits it, the press and control.

This true account joins the history of sport and business. It is for readers drawn to cycling and the business of major sports. Duff writes for Bloomberg, where he covers the economy, not races.

He traces how L’Equipe began and became a leading sports daily. He tells how close the Amaury family came to owning football’s Champions League. He shows how Bernie Ecclestone shaped Tour starts. He also looks at Silicon Valley billionaires’ failed efforts in the sport. Félix Lévitan appears too. His grand home stands in contrast to his modest public image.