Losers with Wings

They told us winning would make us happy. But what if it didn’t?

It’s the 1949 Giro d’Italia and Carla and Marco haven’t met yet, although they are both following their uncles around the Italian cycle stage race. Flashing past them are both champion cyclists fighting for the pink jersey and, at the back of the pack, two rookies competing in a tragicomic race for the black jersey, the one that goes to the rider who comes in… last.

In 19 stages, 30 chapters and 183 pages, readers will reach the same conclusions as Carla and Marco: it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, the most important thing is to know what you want and do your best to achieve it.

• Winner of our talent-scouting contest A caccia di storie (“Story hunter”).

• A gripping story that celebrates sportsmanship and the value of participation, even when the challenge seems impossible.