Netflix's Tour de France documentary, Tour de France: Unchained, is just hours away from release with the eight-episode series released on June 8.
The series will delve behind the scenes of last year's race just in time to whet appetites for a rematch between Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) this July.
While UAE didn't let Netflix's cameras into their team bus, Jumbo-Visma did, meaning viewers will get unprecedented access to their victorious campaign. Ineos Grenadiers, Groupama-FDJ, EF Education-EasyPost, Alpecin-Deceuninck, Bora-Hansgrohe, and AG2R Citroën will also feature with exclusive interviews, insight, and a new perspective on racing the Tour.
Between them, the eight teams directly involved in the series won 11 of the 21 stages at last year's race. Viewers will get an insight into Jasper Philipsen's pair of sprint victories, Tom Pidcock's daring Galibier descent, and Wout van Aert's triple triumph as well as Vingegaard's toppling of Pogačar in the high mountains.
Earlier this year, Cyclingnews obtained the official trailer after it was shown at the Mobile Live World Congress in Barcelona. At the end of April, the first trailer was officially released, showing brief highlights from the eight episodes.
Included in the trailer is Groupama-FDJ boss Marc Madiot telling his riders, "You are soldiers, you are warriors. When you pull on a jersey, you become another person."
Highlights of Pidcock's ride, Thibaut Pinot's struggles, the cobbled Arenberg stage, on-bike footage, team manager reactions, and various high-speed crashes are also included.
A second trailer (see above) was released in early June in the lead-up to the documentary's release. Clips show interviews with Fabio Jakobsen, Thibaut Pinot, and Yves Lampaert, while action shots of mountain GC battles are interspersed with fast-paced sprint finishes.
Tour de France: Unchained, which was made by Quadbox - a joint venture between Quad and Box to Box Films production companies - will be shown in 190 territories around the world. In France, the series will be known as 'Tour de France: Au cœur du peloton' ('Inside the peloton').
Netflix funded the reported production costs of €8 million to make the series. Tour de France organiser ASO and host broadcaster France Televisions both netted €250,000 each. The eight teams shared the remaining €500,000, giving each team €62,000 ($67,000).
"This project is part of our overall ambition to make our sport more accessible and meet an even wider audience," ASO managing director Yann Le Moënner said when he confirmed the Netflix series during the winter.
“Through a narrative approach, which is additive to the competition itself, the public will be able to discover how the Tour de France represents the ultimate challenge for the competitors; in particular in terms of suffering, pushing their limits and team spirit."
