In Search of Britain's Greatest Athlete, Beryl Burton (Hardback)

Beryl Burton wasn’t just a great cyclist — she was one of the greatest athletes of all time. While her male contemporary Eddy Merckx was dominating the men’s peloton, Beryl was doing the same in women’s racing, and for far longer. She was practically unbeatable in time trials, crowned Best All‑Rounder for an unbelievable 25 years in a row, and in 1967 she even set a 12‑hour distance record that beat the men.

But her story is far bigger than medals and records. Burton achieved all this while working on a farm, running a household, and racing strictly as an amateur — often against state‑sponsored Eastern Bloc riders. She faced discrimination from cycling authorities, juggled family life, and even lined up against her own daughter. Her drive came from surviving a traumatic childhood illness, and her determination shaped everything that followed.

In this deeply researched biography, award‑winning journalist Jeremy Wilson uncovers the real Beryl Burton through previously unseen letters, photographs, and interviews with family, friends, rivals and sporting legends. He reveals a complex, fiercely competitive, sometimes enigmatic woman whose achievements have been overlooked for far too long. And for the first time, he answers the irresistible question: just how fast would Beryl be on modern cycling tech?

Long celebrated by cyclists but ignored by mainstream sporting history, Burton finally gets the recognition she deserves — and her story is every bit as extraordinary as her results.