Rough Rider Promo

Rough Rider Promo from Wildfire Films on Vimeo.
The most spectacular sporting event in the world in 2013 will take place next July, when for twenty‐one days, the 100th Tour de France sees 180 cyclists pedal over 3,000km around the French countryside. This grueling event will be cheered on by huge roadside crowds and accompanied by the mighty caravan of global media, sponsors, medics and support staff that keep the wheels turning.

Within that media scrum sits one of the worlds most cantankerous sports journalists. Paul Kimmage has spent the last 22 years fighting to rid his most beautiful sport of doping. The former professional cyclist is detested by many in the sport, led by Lance Armstrong, fellow journalists and heads of the world cycling governing body.

Throughout the twenty‐one days of the most grueling road race, we travel with journalist Paul Kimmage in his caravan, giving us an extraordinary insight into the fascinating, beautiful and often shocking world of professional cycling. At its heart this is a story of one man’s unrequited love for his sport.

Right now, there is no sport with a bigger credibility fight on its hands than cycling, and no event where genuine romance coexists so uncomfortably with hideous reality than the Tour de France. Told against the backdrop of the centenary Tour, and through the eyes of one of the most aggravated whistleblowers in sports journalism, we are going on a journey that could prove to be one of the most contentious sports films of our time.

Due for completion: November 2013

Made with development funding from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board