The Tour de France needs little introduction. Whether you follow the action on television or travel abroad to tackle its famous climbs, the iconic event has continued to captivate fans since the very first edition in 1903. For some it is more than a bike race but a chance to experience the beauty and wonder of an incredible country and its joie de vivre.Have you ever considered riding a full stage of the demanding course? How about twenty-one? Each year, an array of cyclists from all corners of the world descend on the roads of France in July to test their will and determination by attempting to ride every mile and every mountain of the dynamic route over a three week span. While most riders are men, a few courageous women also decide to put their safety and sanity on the line to see if they can pilot their bicycles from the Grand Départ to the Champs-Élysées. This is the diary of one of those women, who set out to discover more about a country and sport that she loves and ended up discovering more about herself in the process. Equal parts journal, history lesson, narrative and travelogue, discover how a case of ordinary wanderlust turned into an extraordinary adventure. Read this first-hand account, through the eyes and words and experiences of an every-day cyclist, as she rides almost 2,200 miles in 23 days along the same course as the professional peloton. The course covers four countries, countless mountains, all kinds of weather plus plenty of memories and mishaps. The proceeds for the sale of each book will help meet fundraising goals for the next Tour de France adventure. 2019 UPDATES: Thank you to the Independent Publisher Book Awards for awarding Under The French Blue sky a Bronze Medal in the Regional:Europe category. Also, congratulations to designer Nathaniel Navratil for winning a gold medal from the American Advertising Awards for the cover of Under The French Blue Sky.