Starting with a historical overview of the first cycling races, the author focuses on some of the most heroic moments in competitive cycling. In the first part, he presents the tough one-day races, also known as "Monuments," conveying events and performances that made history. The second part refers to the major epic climbs of the Grand Tours, which ascend well-known passes in the Alps, the Pyrenees, and other European mountains. An exciting text on the cycling legacy of the Old Continent, embellished with historical images of the sport's "legends."