I always find it odd that broadcasters, in particular ITV, do not use the opportunity to show cycling related films during the Tour de France; at the very least to promote Le Tour. Cycling as a sport is about endurance, like golf you’re competing against yourself to surpass your previous ability, the sport itself contains drama, intrigue, action and politics. Riders do not just have to keep an eye out for one another but spectators, their dogs, cars and most importantly the weather!
So here is a vague list of cycling films inspired to celebrate the Tour de France (event though only one includes Le Tour) these include two shorts from celebrated directors Spielberg & Ridley Scott, one which would lead to an Hovis advert and the other an iconic Extra Terrestrial scene. They are a miscellaneous bunch of English and foreign films depicting sport, bicycle messengers and workers.
Leave a comment if there is a cycling film that does not appear, if you are looking where to watch these you can check www.justwatch.com.
Breaking Away (1979)
Directed by Peter Yates with the screenplay written by Steve Tesich who would also write American Flyers (1985). A small-town teen obsessed with the Italian cycling team vies for the affections of a college girl starring Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern and Peter Dooley.
The Cyclist (2012) Peloton
The painful and humorous journey of a selfish athlete who is now down on his luck unable even to keep his job as a bike messenger. He finds a way to redeem his life through the support of friends and by learning that to break from the large group of bikers, the peloton, the winning cyclist must first work with the team, written and directed by John Lawrence.
Toto al giro d’Italia (1948) Toto Tours Italy
Totò a mild professor who knows nothing about cycling and bicycles, but to make a good impression with his students practicing day after day, proves to be a total failure, calls the devil who offers a contract: Totò would win all cycling races but in the end he had to give his soul and life after to the devil.
And Soon The Darkness (1970)
A British horror thriller written by prolific writer Brian Clemens known for The Avengers & The Professionals depicts Two young English women go on a cycling tour of the French countryside. When one of them goes missing (Michele Dotrice, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em) the other (Pamela Franklin, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - 1969) begins to search for her. But who can she trust?
Cyclomania (2001)
Three teenage cyclists, two boys and a girl trying to balance friendship, competition and a growing romance. The two good friends works as bicycle messengers in Helsinki, in the evenings they practice hard to qualify for the Finnish championships. Their lives change when Oona starts working at the same company.
Bicycle Thieves (1948)
One of the best known cycling films a post war Italian masterpiece based on novel by Luigi Bartolini Ladri di biciclette where a working-class man's bicycle is stolen, endangering his efforts to find work. He and his son set out to find it.
American Flyers (1985)
Written by Breaking Away’s Steve Tesich it stars Kevin Costner, David Marshall Grant, Rae Dawn Chong (Commando, 1985) Alexandra Paul (Baywatch) Sports physician Marcus persuades his unstable brother David to come with him and train for a bicycle race across the Rocky Mountains. He doesn't tell him that he has a brain aneurysm which could render him paralyzed or dead at any given moment.
The Flying Scotsman (2006)
Starring Jonny Lee Miller & Brian Cox tells the true story of Graeme Obree, the Champion cyclist who built his bicycle from old bits of washing machines who won his championship only to have his title stripped from him and his mental health problems which he has suffered since.
Quicksilver (1986)
Written and directed by Thomas Michael Donnelly and starring Kevin Bacon as Jack Casey used to be a hot-shot stock market whiz kid. After a disastrous professional decision, his life in the fast lane is over. He loses his nerve and joins a speed delivery firm which relies on bicycles to avoid traffic jams of San Francisco. Can Jack regain his nerve and his self-respect, and rebuild his life on a more sound basis?
Jour de Fete (1949)
French film Written, Directed & starring Jacques Tai A village postman with no sense of humour delivers his mail via bicycle on the day the travelling fair comes to town. He is disrupted by a short film about US speed and efficiency and the playful teasing of the village folk.
Wadja (2012)
A film of firsts: first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia & with a first female Saudi director Haifaa Al-Mansour who also wrote the screenplay. An enterprising Saudi girl signs on for her school's Koran recitation competition as a way to raise the remaining funds she needs in order to buy the green bicycle that has captured her interest.
Boy and Bicycle (1962)
Ridley Scott short starring late brother Tony Scott A teenage boy plays truant from school, and spends the day riding around the town and the deserted beach on his bicycle, letting his mind wander as he imagines he is the only person in the world.
El Amateur (1999, The Amateur)
Argentinian feature where on the outskirts of a provincial town, Pajaro is determined to enter the Guinness Book of Records by breaking the longest bike-ride record. He rides around the fountain in the square with the help of his friend, Lopecito. He is willing to face many challenges, in attaining this new record. Will this race open the path to love for him, and for his redemption?
Rush It (1978)
A female bicycle messenger is looking for love in New York City stars Tom Berenger and John Heard.
Belleville Rendezvous (2003)
A French animation written and directed by Sylvain Chomet probably the only Tour de France related feature. When Madame Souza’s grandson is kidnapped during the Tour de France a rescie attempt is made with her beloved pooch Bruno teaming up with an aged song-and-dance team the Belleville Sisters.
The Kid With The Bike (2011)
Abandoned by his father, a young boy is left in a state-run youth farm. In a random act of kindness, the town hairdresser agrees to foster him on weekends.
BMX Bandits (1983)
Two BMX expert bikers and a friend of theirs (Nicole Kidman) become entangled with a group of bank robbers after discovering a carton of walkie-talkies.
Beijing Bicycle (2001)
Chinese film about a seventeen-year-old country boy working in Beijing as a courier has his bicycle stolen, and finds it with a schoolboy his age.
Rad (1986)
The story of one young man, Cru Jones, who has the intensity and desire to win a BMX race called Helltrack.
Slipstream (1967, Unfinished)
Short film by Steven Spielberg about bicycle racers starring Tony Bill but production ended when $5,000 budget ran out.
Premium Rush (2012)
In Manhattan, a bike messenger (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) picks up an envelope that attracts the interest of a dirty cop, who pursues the cyclist throughout the city written and directed by David Koepp.
Onna Keirin-ō (1956)
A black and white Japanese film sport film about cycling I have not been able to find a synopsis for this, but do you know the synopsis?
Track cycling: What is the Keirin? | Cyclingnews
Back in 2013 Harry Bunnell wrote for BFI 10 Great films about cycling.