Chased By Pandas: My life in the mysterious world of cycling

Dan Martin’s long‑awaited autobiography finally lifts the lid on the rider fans always sensed was different — one of road cycling’s true romantics, a man who raced with heart first and calculation second. Now retired and free from the silence demanded by the pro peloton, Dan tells his story with the same honesty and fire that defined his riding.

Chased by Pandas dives deep into the emotional reality of life in the bunch. Each chapter tackles a classic cyclist’s fear — the fear of losing, the fear of retirement, the fear of mountains, descents, doping scandals and, ultimately, the fear of death. Dan doesn’t sugar‑coat anything. He talks openly about pain, crashes, bad luck, money, discipline, dreams, friendships and betrayals. His approach echoes Mark Twain’s belief that courage isn’t the absence of fear, but the mastery of it.

Written with bestselling author Pierre Carrey, this is the portrait of a rider who refused to conform to modern cycling’s polished image — someone who embodied a wilder, more human era of the sport. It’s a celebration of a career built on passion, vulnerability and stubborn resilience, and it speaks to anyone who’s ever pushed through their own limits on a weekend ride while dreaming of the mountains.