If you love cycling or if you just love looking at the fabulously beautiful French countryside (like my mother used to do), you’ve probably watched the Tour de France. The brand new Netflix documentary, “Tour de France: Unchained”, is a big surprise for me. The 8 part series is an-depth look of the 2022 race. Behind the scenes filming of all the team stress, teamwork strategies, pep-talks, interviews with the riders, and all the unglamorous stuff like crashes and talk of financial sponsorship problems sheds a brand new light on the sport. I’ll not look at professional cycling the same ever again! I highly recommend it!

I’ve ridden in France during the Tour de France (in the morning before the arrival of the pro peloton) and have experienced many of the iconic climbs in the alps. The photo above is my first trip in Paris for the final day of the Tour, mustache and all.

Click on the YouTube video for the Netflix trailer above.

It’s all about tears and triumph…guts, grit,…and glory

The 2023 Tour de France will be the 110th edition of the Tour de France. It will start in Bilbao, Spain on July 1 and end with the final stage at Champs-Élysées, Paris on July 23.

Fans from around the world gather on the race routes drinking and partying often days in advance.

The 2023 edition will be all about the crazily difficult climbs! The race profiles look horrendous!

The final day finishes in Paris with 1,000,000+ fans watching along the route!

I’m in Vail a few years ago preparing to ride the summit. My support crew is ready to wave me off.

We are a young team but we have fun!

I received this signed Greg Lemond magazine cover for being the number one fundraiser for a MS ride years ago.

Photos: Dick Gentry: 1,7,8. 3 riders in the alps: The Independent. Photo in Paris: Aurelian Vialotte, radio Times.