Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intense and compelling docuseries has cursing, peril.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Tour de France: Unchained
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
TOUR DE FRANCE: UNCHAINED is a documentary series that follows pro cycling teams during the 2022 Tour de France. From the starting line in Copenhagen, Denmark, to the podium on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, cameras follow teams EF Education-Easy Post, Ag2r Citroen, Alpecin-Deceunick, Groupama-FJ, Jumbo-Visma, Bora-Hansgrohe, Ineos Grenadiers, and Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl throughout the 109th race. Viewers get to watch and listen in on team meetings as well as more intimate conversations between athletes, managers, and coaches before, during, and after each stage. Interviews with notable cyclists, team managers, and others, including Christian Prudhomme, the general director of the Tour de France, highlight their concerns, key moments, and, in some cases, strategies. They also talk about some of the victories and disappointments they experience along the way. Former pro cyclists like Steve Chainel and sports journalist Orla Chennaoui offer their commentary throughout.
Is It Any Good?
The docuseries gives an intimate, compelling look at the amount of hard work, discipline, strength, and group effort needed to complete what many consider to be the greatest bike race in the world. While it's focused on the 2022 Tour, Tour de France: Unchained underscores how grueling the 21-stage, three-week experience is for cyclists every year thanks to routes that take them through the French Alps and the Pyrenees. It also addresses previous mishaps that have occurred during the race, including catastrophic crashes and painful losses, some of which the athletes are fighting to overcome both mentally and physically.
There are those who consider the overall production to be a subtle narrative about the redemption of the sport, given its long and controversial history of doping. But Tour de France: Unchained's overall focus is on the ferocity of the race, and the amount of teamwork it requires. It also highlights the practical need for cyclists to win stages in order to keep their team sponsors happy. However, the best part of this docuseries is the impressive video footage, which tells the story from a voyeuristically intense point of view. Cycling fans will revel in it, and those who aren't may find it surprisingly gripping and poignant.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the Tour de France. Why is it considered one of the greatest sporting events in the world? Why can men only compete in it? What are some of the controversies surrounding it?
How do the producers of Tour de France: Unchained use video cameras to highlight the challenges and dangers associated with this annual race? Is it an effective way to tell the cyclists' stories?
TV Details
- Premiere date : June 8, 2023
- Cast : Christian Prudhomme , Orla Chennaoui , Steve Chainel
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Reality TV
- Character Strengths : Perseverance , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : June 22, 2023
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