The Book
What Goes On Tour - Rob McIvor
In July 1977, Harry Chatham is on the brink of becoming the first British winner of the Tour de France when a crash on a twisting mountain descent ends his life and consigns him to a footnote in sporting history.
Decades later, Harry’s son, Jim — unaware of his true parentage until after his mother’s death — sets out to uncover who his father really was. As he digs into Harry’s past, long-hidden family secrets surface, fierce loyalties are revealed and he is drawn into the darker side of 1970s professional cycling, where he uncovers a shocking truth that has been concealed for nearly forty years. The evidence points to a revelation that could restore Harry’s reputation, but at what cost?
About The Author
Rob McIvor began his writing career at a music magazine before moving into business journalism and, later, corporate and political affairs. An experienced touring and long-distance cyclist, he has completed the prestigious Paris–Brest–Paris and London–Edinburgh–London endurance events several times. He has also served as a director of Audax UK, the governing body for endurance cycling in the UK. Originally from Lancashire, he lives in Blackheath, south-east London.
Why is this book for me
Rob explains: “At the heart of the novel is the question of whether some secrets are best kept that way. Both Harry, in 1977, and his son, Jim, decades later, face the dilemma of having to decide whether to expose wrongdoing, knowing that doing so could harm those very close to them.
“The idea came to me when I was riding up the Col de Tourmalet in the French Pyrenees. I was thinking about Wim Van Est, a Dutch rider who was leading the 1951 Tour de France when he went off the edge of the road into a 1,000-foot ravine, on a mountain descent. Everyone feared the worst but, amazingly, he managed to grab a small tree as he fell and clamber 200 feet back up to the road. Road cyclists really are the toughest sportspeople of all.
“There are very few novels set in the world of bike racing and I hope that, by using it as the setting for this story, I can also explain a bit about what goes on in a sport that could be described as ‘chess on wheels’.
“And if it encourages a reader to come out and watch the real Tour de France when it passes through Lancashire next year, even better.”
Interesting & fun facts about Robs cycling passion.
- Author Rob McIvor is a touring and long-distance cyclist, who has completed the prestigious Paris–Brest–Paris and London–Edinburgh–London endurance events several times.
- He has cycled most of the routes in his book whilst it was in development, including Mont Ventoux and the Col d'Izoard.
- There are references throughout the book to hills in Lancashire and the Lake District, some of which Rob used to ride as a teenager. The second stage of the 2027 Tour De France will actually be going through Lancashire where the book is set!
- Fun Fact: On one occasion when the Tour De France started in London, Rob was unable to go and watch because it was the day his son was born. His son came very close to being named Fabio, after that day’s winner!
What we thought.
A fatal accident during the Tour de France, a family secret revealed, and a sons investigation into his fathers death, all go to make up an intriquing puzzle that a son has to solve set against the background of a very competetive sport, how far will they go to win that is the question.
Natalie Key for Female First
RELEASE DATE: 28/05/2026 ISBN: 9781835744345 Price: £10.99
Tagged in Book releases