Top 5 Cycling Movies

Drama, heartbreak, triumph and glory: what are just normal aspects of professional cycling are also the perfect storm of emotions for an epic film script. While you’re gearing up for a long summer of biking ahead, find a spare evening to settle down and watch one (or all) of our top five recommended movies to get your head in the game.

The Flying Scotsman (2006)

Although this biopic of an amateur Scottish cyclist is more a depiction of the man behind the handlebars rather than gruelling race footage, it is nevertheless a tribute to the power of the bicycle. The film follows bipolar Graeme Obree (Jonny Lee Miller) from a traumatic childhood event to his winning, losing, then reclaiming the world one-hour distance record. A story of true inspiration, The Flying Scotsman is well worth viewing, and if you look carefully, you can spot the real Graeme Obree standing in as his own character’s stunt double.

The Flying Scotsman. Source: The Bike Comes First

A Sunday in Hell (1976)

The title alone should tell you the premise for this documentary. A Sunday in Hell follows the torturous chronological events of the 1976 Paris Roubaix, a single-day race from Paris to the Belgian border. For those who enjoy a change in perspective, definitely add this to your watch list: told from the point of view of the participants, spectators and organisers, the documentary will open your eyes to a whole new world of cycling – although try not to wince when they’re riding hard over those cobbled French streets.

A Sunday in Hell. Source: Mass Moca

Triplets of Belleville (2003)

From documentaries to quirky cartoons – if you’re in the mood for “not your average” cycling film, watch Les Triplets des Belleville. Despite there being almost no dialogue (at least subtitles aren’t a problem), the charming cartoon depicts an ambitious grandmother coaching her grandson to ride Le Tour de France. When he is captured by the mafia whilst competing, she sets off on her own cross-country adventure to rescue him. Incorporating familiar aspects of French culture, don’t assume that the quirky animation is a Disney-like tale: Les Triplets des Belleville is one of the most epic cycling stories of all time.

Triplets of Belleville. Source: Mass Moca

Rising from the Ashes (2012)

Looking for an epic, inspirational tear-jerker? Get your hands on a copy of Rising from the Ashes. Following the real-life story of former professional cyclist Jacques Boyer as he moves to a war-torn Rwanda to form a national cycling team, the 2012 documentary was funded by just the $800,000 raised through donations over six years of production. Award-winning and deeply moving, Rising from the Ashes is the ultimate portrayal of how camaraderie through a sporting team can reveal the best of the human spirit.

Rising from the Ashes. Source: Giro Cycles

Bicycle Dreams (2009)

If you read our blog on Epic Endurance races, RAAM (Race Across America) will be a familiar term to you. While A Sunday in Hell may demonstrate the gruelling demands of a 6 hour race, Bicycle Dreams shows the hardships of the punishing American race. 3,000 miles, 18 cameras and countless obstacles later comes a 2009 documentary representing hardships, achievements and an unfortunate tragedy.