This is Dan Martins longawaited autobiography full of the warmth sharp insights and vivid colour of his 14year career GuardianKnown thanks to his racing style and attitude for being one of road cyclings last romantics Dan has always shied away from revealing too much about himself and his story. Now having retired at the end of the 2021 season aged 35 and no longer bound by the constraints of the racing circuit Dan feels the time is right to tell his story in the same forthright and honest manner that he rode his bike.This book reflects Dans generous and outspoken spirit his resilience to pain crashes bad luck and finally his acceptance of destiny. Each chapters title has a subtitle based on a typical cyclists fear the fear of losing a race the fear of retiring from the sport the fear of mountains or downhills the fear of doping and ultimately the fear of death. Dan also discusses every aspect of the professional cyclists life food discipline money dreams friendship and betrayal. Dan is unashamed when it comes to exposing these dark feelings his weaknesses and how he tried to deal with them his attitude exemplifying Mark Twains quote Courage is resistance to fear mastery of fear not absence of fear.Written with his longtime friend and bestselling author Pierre Carrey this is the story of a rider who never sought to conform to modern cyclings norms and someone who in many ways embodies an age in cycling which has long since disappeared.This is the celebration of a true cyclists career which will appeal to anyone whos embraced the weekend ride whilst dreaming of the mountains.Chased by Pandas is not a conventional study of wins losses and conquering mountains but overcoming the mental challenges of a sport into which he was seemingly born The TimesRecords the brave and tough journey of one of road cyclings last romantics Irish Independent Chronicles the former Irish road champions journey through the ranks of professional cycling Cycling Weekly