An epic recreation Le Ride (E)

90 mins

TV presenter Phil Keoghan has been living and working in LA for more than half his life (he’s world famous for hosting The Amazing Race), but the expat Kiwi’s attachment to Aotearoa has always been strong. So when he read about an unknown Cantabrian cyclist, Harry Watson, who was part of the first Antipodean team in the 1928 Tour de France, he wanted to recreate the team’s expedition. But Keoghan and his long-time adventuring pal, Ben Cornell, take their tribute to the nth degree. They source replica 1928 team cycles, which are twice the weight of modern bikes, with no gears or brakes.

Donning hilarious old-style shoes and caps, they stick to the gruelling 26-day schedule of 5372km, departing Paris and riding around the perimeter of France. (It’s worth noting that contemporary Tour-istes ride a leg, jump in a van or fly to the next stop, then ride some more. Not so in 1928! The course was designed to be so tough that only a fraction of the teams who began would make it to the end.)

Le Ride is Keoghan’s eye-opening, and inspiring documentary of their journey, which was much more than the fit athlete expected. Juxtaposed with eye-boggling archive footage, the French scenery is impressive with its beaches, steep drops, and aqueducts.

Whether you’re a cyclist, Franco phile, or armchair adventurer, Le Ride will delight and inspire. – Sarah Watt

Le Ride

opens in select cinemas nationwide on December 15.