Tour de France: Unchained

For those, like me, who have never followed the TDF, or indeed really cares much for sport at all - this was an incredibly exhilarating series. The people and their inter-dynamics is practically Shakespearean, and the characters' arcs are as dramatic as any Oscar-worthy film. If you love documentary that is gripping and wildly engaging - dive in. I can't wait to watch the TDF in earnest this year and hope the series returns. I'm also pretty jazzed about the women's competition that follows immediately afterwards. Completely inspiring, I'm fully clipped in. My only criticism is I wish it was maybe two more episodes longer, I would have loved to get to know a few more riders and teams.

As Episode 1 of "Tour de France Unchained" (2023 release; 8 episodes ranging from 34 to 49 min each) opens, we are in "Copenhagen, June 29, 2022", a couple of days before the 2022 Tour de France opens, and all teams are officially introduces to the adoring (and massive) Danish crowd. We then go to "28 days before" as we follow the Quick Step team, training for the Tour. World Champion Julien Alaphilippe is not in top form and legendary team manager Patrick Lefevere has some tough decisions to make... At this point we are less than 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this mini-series is from the same production team that has brought the "Formula 1: Drive to Survive" documentary. In other words: the production team was given unfettered access, uses any and all camera work and in your face footage, and amps up the underlying tensions to the max, and then some more. I cannot speak for the "casual" pro cycling fan (if there is such a thing). I've been a pro-cycling fan my entire life (I grew up in Belgium, where it is almost a religion, frankly), and I watch the Tour de France every single year. This mini-series covers last year's Tour, and even though I know the overall outcome, this mini-series is nevertheless riveting and mesmerizing from start to finish. We have never witnessed the Tour as we see it in this mini-series. If it sounds like I am gushing, well, it's because I am!

"Tour de France Unchained" premiered on Netflix just last night, and I binge-watched 5 of the 8 episodes already (with the remaining 3 to follow tonight). This was one of the most anticipated releases for me so far in 2023. Even with that, my expectations were met, and then some! If you are a fan of pro-cycling in general, or of the Tour specifically, I'd suggest you drop everything right now, and head over to Netflix to see for yourself and draw your own conclusion.

*UPDATE* Tonight I saw the remaining 3 episodes. This is the best sports documentary that I have ever seen, period. I was so into it that I was sad to see it conclude. MUST SEE.

Great show, as good as Formula 1: Drive to Survive. But they left this out...

🚴 A CLASS ACT Tour de France, Stage 18 of 21 Lourdes to Hautacam (143km)

In Spandelles, Pogacar went wide and fell. By the time he got back on, Vingegaard - who had been wearing the yellow jersey since Stage 11 - had about 200m of daylight. Then an incredible gentlemanly act happened: when he realized his rival had fallen, Vingegaard refused to pull away. Instead, the yellow jersey on the line, he *waited* for the bruised Pogacar. When he caught up, Pogacar reached for Vingegaard's hand and the two competitors bumped hands. Sportscaster Phil Liggett commented, "In my 50 years in Tour de France, I have not seen anything like this."

At 5km, Vingegaard and Pogacar caught up with stage leader Van Aert (green jersey). Up for grabs were not only the stage win and yellow jersey but also green and polka dot points.

At 4.5km, Pogacar dropped! His green jersey points safe, Van Aert eventually left his team captain Vingegaard alone in front to win the stage. Vingegaard consolidated his supremacy by extending his lead over Pogacar by 1 minute 4 seconds to 3:26.

Three years ago, at 18 years old, Vingegaard was unknown, shoveling ice at a fish plant. This day, he is the leader at Le Tour, at the top of the Pyrenees. He might as well be at the top of the world.

NOTE: You can watch the above story on Peacock at the 30:34 mark of Stage 18 (each stage's highlights are still there as of June 2023).

Netflix has done to the Tour de France what they did to Formula One racing. This show shows what it's like to be on the ground with some of the best bike racers in the world. Focussing on the best teams in the race, this series shows the rivalry, the challenges, and the victories achieved by both individuals and teams as they go through the gruelling stages of the race. Beautifully shot, this series shows just how epic and beautiful this race is, and that's saying a lot coming from someone who doesn't even own a road bike! (To be honest, I'm an avid mountain biker so it's certainly a related sport). I would 100% watch another season of this show.

Cycling fan or not, this is a story about raw human emotions and the drive to conquer one's own fears. So much drama, passion, joy, heartbreak, and enthusiasm... and a great scenery of the beautiful French country-side, and Champs-Élysées in Paris, not to mention the super-human speed and skills of mere mortals. The story is very well scripted and filmed, makes you feel close with all the characters and the roller coster of emotions that they go through every day. The only other thing coming close to this is the Formula 1 series. Whereas there, a victory is 'cool' and highly dependent on the engine in your car, in the Tour de France, a victory is purely based on the raw physical and mental strength of the rider; equipment doesn't play a role. Here, victory is truly victory in every sense of the word.

A must watch!