In Pursuit of David Millar

In Pursuit of David Millar follows the cycling prodigy as he trains and races in preparation for both competitions. It uncovers the conflict between the urbane, savvy, fashion-conscious Millar and his chosen career in a gruelling, unglamorous sport which demands total dedication and requires its gladiators to pay a high price in pain and sacrifice.Millar himself is aware his apprenticeship is over and that he is in danger of squandering his undoubted natural talent. Having decided to stay with the Cofidis team that has nurtured him since he turned professional instead of seeking a fresh start elsewhere, he knows that now is the time to repay his manager's faith. Millar's is not a tale of a working class boy trying to find a way out of the factories or off the farm like so many of the riders who make up Europe's professional peloton. He comes from a middle-class background and has other strong interests outside the sport. Constantly beating back his other ambitions to enable him to focus on the sport means that cracks occasionally appear and he has to blow off steam. Some say Millar lacks the drive, aggression and single-mindedness to get to the very top; a criticism he resents. But even Millar agrees he will have to make more sacrifices if he is to reach the upper echelons.