In this regard, feuilleton and sports fans in the Netherlands have shown rare unity for years: With "The Sweat of the Gods," renowned sociologist Benjo Maso has created the standard work on the history of road cycling. It is a highly intelligent, incredibly fact-rich, and multifaceted analysis, particularly of the Tour de France, which is now finally available in a German translation that has been updated and expanded by the author specifically for this edition. In Maso's interpretation, professional cycling has been shaped since its inception by the power struggles of three players: the media, which often acted as both race organizers and reporters; the manufacturers and sponsors; and, of course, the riders themselves. However, despite their conflicting interests, they all pulled together in one respect: they had to deliver what the audience demanded.