Clean Spirit
Director Dirk Jan Roeleven
Countries Netherlands
Duration 88 min
Synopsis
The unique and compelling inside story of a cycling team keen on showing that winning is possible without the use of doping. In the 100th edition of the Tour de France, team Argos – Shimano, a newcomer, is thirsty for revenge and erasing the records of the doped-up old guard. Knowing that they cannot beat their opponents in the mountains (where epo rules), they have specialized in the sprint. Hunted by the past, but not losing sight of their philosophy, Argos-Shimano wants to win, for their first time, a stage in the Tour and get to Paris as a team. Up close, in cinema verité style, the film follows this young team. Acces all areas. We are there with them inside their hotel rooms, at intimate moments when the men are alone or getting a massage and in the team bus where film crews normally aren’t allowed. We witness the German sprint talent Marcel Kittel promising his teammates a nice bonus (“a Rolex?”) if they let him win a stage. In the excitement of the race we are there when Mark Cavendish causes Argos sprinter Tom Veelers to crash and ultimately forcing him to leave the Tour. We see the blood, the wounds and feel his disappointment and anger, while the soigneur, knowing from experience what doping can do, tries to fix him up, but 'clean'. Marcel and his team make history. Not only do they win the first stage and thereby seize the yellow jersey, they also win two other stages in the tour. But for the team the Tour is a war of attrition. Tom Veelers is the first one who has to pull out: during a lonely descent in the Alps he has to leave the tour in a dramatic way. Would his recovery have been different had he been using doping?, Towards the end of the Tour, the question is, are Marcel Kittel and the others prepared to do what’s necessary? Are they willing to sacrifice everything for another victory? Does everyone still have the strength to launch Kittel to victory in Paris? Right before the finale in Paris Mark Cavendish once again tries to intimidate his opponent Kittel. But which sprinter will cross the finish line first in this thrilling grande finale? The film is directed by Dirk Jan Roeleven and produced by Pieter van Huystee Film in coproduction with NTR television.
The unique and compelling inside story of a cycling team keen on showing that winning is possible without the use of doping. In the 100th edition of the Tour de France, team Argos – Shimano, a newcomer, is thirsty for revenge and erasing the records of the doped-up old guard. Knowing that they cannot beat their opponents in the mountains (where epo rules), they have specialized in the sprint. Hunted by the past, but not losing sight of their philosophy, Argos-Shimano wants to win, for their first time, a stage in the Tour and get to Paris as a team. Up close, in cinema verité style, the film follows this young team. Acces all areas. We are there with them inside their hotel rooms, at intimate moments when the men are alone or getting a massage and in the team bus where film crews normally aren’t allowed. We witness the German sprint talent Marcel Kittel promising his teammates a nice bonus (“a Rolex?”) if they let him win a stage. In the excitement of the race we are there when Mark Cavendish causes Argos sprinter Tom Veelers to crash and ultimately forcing him to leave the Tour. We see the blood, the wounds and feel his disappointment and anger, while the soigneur, knowing from experience what doping can do, tries to fix him up, but 'clean'. Marcel and his team make history. Not only do they win the first stage and thereby seize the yellow jersey, they also win two other stages in the tour. But for the team the Tour is a war of attrition. Tom Veelers is the first one who has to pull out: during a lonely descent in the Alps he has to leave the tour in a dramatic way. Would his recovery have been different had he been using doping?, Towards the end of the Tour, the question is, are Marcel Kittel and the others prepared to do what’s necessary? Are they willing to sacrifice everything for another victory? Does everyone still have the strength to launch Kittel to victory in Paris? Right before the finale in Paris Mark Cavendish once again tries to intimidate his opponent Kittel. But which sprinter will cross the finish line first in this thrilling grande finale? The film is directed by Dirk Jan Roeleven and produced by Pieter van Huystee Film in coproduction with NTR television.