Billed as the mastermind behind the U.S. Postal Service, Discovery Channel and now the Astana cycling teams, Johan Bruyneel has been in the thick of the European racing scene since his days as a pro in the early 1990s. After his own cycling career came to a close, he knew he was not finished with bikes, and accepted an offer to manage the U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team (U.S Postal) in 1999, eventually leading Lance Armstrong to a record seven victories in the Tour de France.
“We Might As Well Win” is not an autobiography, but an interesting literary combination of memoir, pep talk and reflection on Bruyneel’s formidable years as director sportif of the U.S. Postal and Discovery Channel teams. Each chapter starts with a mantra, such as “To earn confidence, confide” and “Trust people—not products,” and the accompanying text illustrates how Bruyneel arrived at his conclusions.
Bruyneel’s descriptions of frantic ascents on the Alpe d’Huez, of Armstrong bonking at a critical stage and his own frustrations involved in putting together the best possible team of racers are first-person accounts that only a true insider could provide. And Bruyneel is indeed an insider, being the driver of the team car as the Tour labored through the French Alps.
Although this book is marketed in the general sports/cycling genre and therefore certainly able to be enjoyed by everyone, I think to get maximum enjoyment the readers need at least a rudimentary knowledge of competitive road cycling. Everyone knows who Lance Armstrong is, but doing some research on recent happenings at the Tour will definitely increase the reader’s enjoyment of “We Might As Well Win.”
I enjoyed reading this book, although as a cycling enthusiast I am probably exactly who Bruyneel wrote the book for. However, athletes and sports fans in general who possess a competitive spirit and a drive to succeed in all aspects of their life will also enjoy this quick, engaging read.
—The Bicycle Paper
