It is the most well known cycling event. Even those who have no interest or even understanding of the sport will have heard of the Tour de France. A grueling multi-stage race, the champions will go down as the greats – while its controversies have spawned television documentaries of their own.
All the best online betting sites offer markets for the event and there have been plenty of TV shows and films covering the spectacle over the years. But now Netflix has entered the arena, with Tour de France: Unchained promising a no-holds-barred look at the race and the teams and cyclists involved.
The Greatest Cycling Event in the World
There is a reason why the Tour de France makes for great television. The greatest cyclists in the history of the sport have competed for the famous yellow jersey for almost 120 years. It is also an event that has not escaped its major controversial moments, as Lance Armstrong would know all about.
Following the Tour de France is nothing new, of course. Whether it is in the form of a documentary series, film, or just straight reporting, there is a drama that surrounds the event that cries out for telling. Netflix has seen how successful a limited series can be – and this could turn out to be the most successful of them all.
Unrivalled Access
How can you make a Tour de France television show or series stand out from those that have gone before? The production crew for Tour de France: Unchained has certainly given it a good go and provides unrivalled access to everyone involved. You simply won’t have been this up close and personal with the race before.
Cameras must have been everywhere at the 2022 Tour de France, by the look of this production. We see the action from the cyclists themselves, from the following pack, from the side of the course, and from just about everywhere along the 21 stages. Then there are the insightful and revealing talking head interviews.
Series Outline
But Tour de France: Unchained is not just an insightful way to report on the event. A real narrative runs through the series, as the producers aim to attract non-cycling fans as much as those who will already know all the personalities – and the final result itself.
The first episode begins, naturally enough, with the Grand Départ. But from there we follow a team in each episode. The arc of the race continues in the background, but we see how it affects the cyclists and officials of one particular team at a time. The format offers even more insight and helps the viewer understand the intricacies of the sport.
Netflix Sports Docs
This is not the first time that Netflix has embedded their filmmakers in the world of sports. The obvious one to compare this to is the Drive to Survive series that followed the F1 teams over a season. In fact, that show is credited with selling the sport to Americans who had previously been more interested in NASCAR.
But there is an entire section of sports shows to choose from on this streaming service. Some of the best have followed unheralded college teams, although there are others for top-level football in Europe and beyond. The natural drama of sports seems to be able to provide intense entertainment for a while yet.
Success Guaranteed
There are so many things going for this show that it feels like there is no way that it will not be a huge success. Netflix certainly thinks that its viewers will enjoy it. It has already covered the expense of the first series and has announced that the 2023 edition of the Tour de France will get the same treatment.
What will be interesting is whether viewers with little knowledge of cycling will tune in. The way that this series has been filmed suggests they will, as the event is covered in a non-specific way, allowing viewers to feel involved themselves – and interested in what happens next for the duration of the series.
