Kilkenny journalist wins prestigious sports book prize

Esteemed sports journalist and Kilkenny native David Walsh, and former Tour de France cyclist Pippa York have won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2025 with York’s memoir, The Escape: The Tour, the Cyclist and Me.

The Escape details Scottish stage-race specialist York and Sunday Times chief sports writer Walsh’s travels at recent editions of the Tour de France, tackling topics of doping, gender and sports psychology, discussing York’s 11 appearances on the Tour as Robert Millar before her gender transition after retirement.

Glasgow-born York, one of Britain’s most successful road cyclists, wins the award with her debut release, becoming the fifth cycling book in the competition’s history to claim the famous trophy.

Walsh becomes the latest Irishman to pick up the prestigious award, following the success of Conor Niland, who won last year’s prize with The Racket, co-written with journalist Gavin Cooney.

The Escape was selected from a shortlist of seven books by a judging panel chaired by sports journalist Alyson Rudd that included former professional footballer Clarke Carlisle, broadcaster Gabby Logan and comedian Elis James, alongside Dame Heather Rabbats, Mark Lawson and Michelle Walder.

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“It feels amazing to win the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award,” Walsh said. “This is an important book because it shows that people in Pippa’s situation are human beings. And of all the human beings I travelled with on the Tour de France, she was maybe the single most wonderful.”

“The book was a labour of love in a way, because we had such a good time together. For the book to be awarded the greatest prize in the world of sports writing, it’s overwhelming,” he added.

Outlining the impact of the win, author York said: “I’m quite surprised to win the award, but very pleased. I have to thank David for his insight into my life, my situation and for his understanding”.

“It was good to spend time with David over those summers at The Tour de France. Writing this book was emotional and at times difficult”.

In addition to the trophy, York and Walsh also share the £30,000 prize. The award is dedicated to rewarding excellence in sports writing and was first presented in 1989.

Now in its 37th year, it is the world’s longest established and most valuable literary sports-writing prize.

Chair of the judging panel Alyson Rudd said: “It proved to be quite the task for the judging panel to settle on a winner, thanks to a heavyweight shortlist of candidates.”

“Pippa and David ultimately collected this year’s prize thanks to the engaging narrative of The Escape, a tour de force which explored both the troubled past of cycling and Pippa’s own personal journey, told through the lens of a travelogue style which emphasised the beauty and history of one of sport’s greatest spectacles”.

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