Tour de France: Au cœur du peloton

After the succes of Drive to Survive, Netflix decided to create a similar series about the worlds biggest bike race: Le Tour de France.

Just like Drive to Survive, Tour de France, au coeur du peleton (In the heart of the peleton) relies heavily on great images and exciting footage and music and supposed conflicts between riders and teams. The creators also tried to bring across the horrific effort the riders have to make each day. The just in time finish of Fabio Jakobsen was a good addition but in the end, eight episodes with a lot of other stories is a bit short for this.

In future years In hope they will extend the series to 10 episodes or more and that more teams will participate. I also hope they will not make the same mistake as the creators of with Drive to Survive did by focusing to much on conflicts and pulling comments out of context.

I did enjoy this first season though and rate it 7/10 plus one point extra for encouraging the makers to make another season.

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).

This documentary series is absolutely fantastic, terrific, thrilling, more than any movie or fiction stuff. It is incredible to watch, even for a sport buff as I am, and cycling in particular. Cycling is the most difficult and the most dangerous sport in the world. Skiing is dangerous too of course, especially in downhill - ha ha ha - as cycling, but admit there is less suffering too. Because in cycling you suffer during endless training, BUT ALSO DURING THE event - in uphill this time ha ha ha- especially TOUR DE FRANCE, three damn, f...weeks of suffering, with only two days rest- mondays - during those three weeks. You suffer on the competition even more than during the training period, which is exceptional, with marathon too. For any other sport, you suffer far less the day of the contest than BEFORE the contest. To win swimming 200 meters freestyle race for instance, you swim twenty kilometers per day, but on D Day, you don't swim twenty kilometers... On TOUR DE FRANCE or any big tour, you suffer hell, AND ALSO RISK YOUR LIFE in downhill runs at more than 90 kilometers per hour speed. So, to summarize, you have to fight against pain, endless torturous pain for UPHILL, but also against fear in DOWNHILL, fear to fall and kill yourself, or being paralyzed, or being unable to come back before months, months, without any compensation and the risk to lose everything you obtained over the years with your guts, your endless pain, your sweat. Your mind, your blood, your dedication, your endless sacrifices for yourself and your family and relatives. And you also have to endure pain whatever the temperature, one degree or on the contrary thirty degrees above zero, or rain, rain, with all the risks of falls that means. So, if you watch this awesome series, you'll understand what I mean. You will also sweat, weep, and maybe also feel the inhuman strength, rage that lead those gladiators to fight against the impossible, against themselves at the risk of their lives. They explain here so many things, including strategies, inner feelings, the fantastic pressure on those men. It is not only focused on favourites, the expected champions, but also the supporting cyclists, the "servants" in charge to carry water, bring trouble to the opponents. I hope I have been understood. I would have expected something related to doping, but it would have been a too delicate, sensitive subject to talk about anyway. For me, there is much much hypocrisy around it, so much. Authorities, federations, claim to fight against but without doping, ninety percent of those gladiators would never make it till the end, and in times.... From time to time, to give the illusion to do "something" against, they - authorities - find a scapegoat who pays for the others. Lance Armstrong affair is the best example. This is an ALIEN and INSANE sport, if you watch this series very carefully and then try to make the good analysis.

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.

"Pedal Power" catapults you into the heart-thumping, tire-pounding world of the iconic Tour de France. Eight teams, one goal - this riveting documentary is an exhilarating ride. Strap in for a multi-dimensional exploration of passion, endurance, and the human spirit. It's a visceral symphony of sweat and gears that will leave you gasping for breath. With exquisite cinematography, an authentic voice, and an engaging narrative that will hook you from the start line, "Pedal Power" leaves other sports documentaries in its dust. A must-see that reminds us - the steepest climbs often lead to the most breathtaking views. "Pedal Power" - it's not just about the bike. It's a testament to the power of human will. Don't miss it!