THE TOP CYCLING MOVIES

Cycling is a world of blood, sweat and gears, where the pros battle it out with spirited amateurs – all of which makes for fantastic drama. What are the most intriguing and exciting movies about cycling and documentaries looking at life on two wheels?

There are plenty to choose from, featuring the key names from the sport and demonstrating the extremes of what it takes to compete in the Tour de France and the Race Across America. Let’s join the peloton of the best cycling movies…

The Top Cycling Movies

1. Slaying the Badger
2. A Sunday in Hell
3. Breaking Away
4. The Flying Scotsman
5. Battle Mountain

Slaying the Badger

Streaming on Disney+ and part of ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentaries, Slaying the Badger tells the story of how US cyclist Greg LeMond helped teammate Bernard Hinault, aka The Badger, win the Tour de France. In 1986, it was supposed to be LeMond’s turn – but their friendship turned sour and became a rivalry instead.

Based on the bestselling Slaying the Badger: Greg LeMond, Bernard Hinault, and the Greatest Tour de France, written by award-winning author Richard Moore, director John Dower recounts a friendship gone wrong.

Dower, who also directed Bradley Wiggins: A Year in Yellow, said that, ‘Slaying the Badger goes beyond just a story about a cycling race. The strange thing about cycling is it’s an individual sport practiced by teams. Within the race there are so many different races. You can win mountain stages, time trial stages.

‘What is amazing about this story is the rivalry between two guys on the same team that started out as friends. This extraordinary rivalry turns friendship into betrayal incredibly quickly. It’s got that Greek mythology about it with one brother trying to kill the other.’

Cycling fans agree it’s beautifully shot and dramatically told, with epic panoramas of Northern France, Northern Italy and Switzerland, plus noted cycling journalists including Francois Thomazeau and Sam Abt, together with a great score.

Before Lance Armstrong, there was Greg LeMond, who is now the first and only American to have won the Tour – Hinault maintains, ‘I was merely helping Greg, I was pushing him on’ – the film gives you the opportunity to make up your own mind.

A Sunday in Hell

Eddy Merckx is one of cycling’s greatest legends. This Danish 70s bike movie gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal with him – and other big names such as Roger De Vlaeminck and Freddy Maertens - over a bone-jarring day in the saddle during pro-cycling’s most brutal race: Paris-Roubaix. It’s the most famous – and usually the most dramatic – of the spring classics, with most of the latter portion over narrow, cobbled tracks.

Tough and gritty, this 1976 documentary might be lacking in some pace for a modern audience, but it’ll take you straight back to a time of steel-frame bikes and wool cycling jerseys, all through the eyes of the riders, team directors, protesters, spectators and mechanics.

BBC commissioning editor Nick Fraser sums it up best: ‘You can see every bead of sweat on the cyclists and every smashed-up ankle. It really makes you never want to get on a bike again. But it is an amazing film.’

Breaking Away

Another 70s cycling movie is Breaking Away, a coming-of-age comedy-drama which follows four teens in Bloomington, Indiana, who have recently graduated from high school.

Starring Dennis Quaid, Dennis Christopher and Daniel Stern, it won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and received nominations in four other categories, including Best Picture. The four teens aren’t sure what to do with their lives now they’ve graduated; Dave (Dennis Christopher) is obsessed with competitive bicycle racing, and Italian racers in particular.

The film culminates in a bike race, with Dave facing off against the local university kids, and international Italian racers who look down on him because of his background.

The Flying Scotsman

Graeme Obree’s love/hate affair with the hour record is the subject of this British drama, covering the period in which Obree takes, loses and then retakes the record.

Obree was a champion cyclist who built his bike from old bits of washing machines; he won his championship, only to have his title stripped from him. The drama also looks at Obree’s mental health problems, and stars Jonny Lee Miller, Laura Fraser and Succession’s Brian Cox.

Directed by Douglas Mackinnon (Sherlock, Good Omens and Line of Duty), it features a soundtrack by Emmy-winner Martin Phipps, who’s also written for Peaky Blinders, The Crown and Black Mirror.

Battle Mountain

For a different insight into Graeme Obree’s career, check out documentary Battle Mountain, which follows him on another seemingly insurmountable quest. The world champion and world hour record holder competes for the Human Powered Landspeed Record against the best teams, tech and science in the world – with only his hands, eyes, mind and body. Plus a saucepan and a pair of rollerblades?!

Battling with his inner demons and physical setbacks, this in an intimate, emotional and inspiring portrait of the Flying Scotsman – the man who succeeds against all odds. Directed by David Street, the documentary features a soundtrack by Alun Woodward whose spectral music creates a dazzling and poignant backdrop to the quixotic sporting legend. Largely instrumental, it’s an atmospheric mix of electronica, loops and guitars.

Summer of Sport

Who will take home this year’s Tour de France yellow jersey? Only time will tell, but in the meantime, enjoy this summer’s sport in the company of the best sports ads, some amazing FIFA soundtracks and the best from Nike, Adidas and more.

Need to license music for your sports content? Our latest albums and collections have everything you need – or search our hand-picked playlists for inspiration.