Closer than ever before

What do you do when you're an indy film maker (read: low budget) and you want to blow away any film that's been made about the Tour de France? You think better, work harder and find inventive solutions that the other guys missed while they were taking it easy. For Chasing Legends we planned and plotted ways to put the viewer closer than they have ever been. We've all seen gorgeous helicopter shots, long-lens finish line shots, even a few dash-cam team car shots. But you have never before been INSIDE the peloton, until now. (yes that's Lance, thanks Bernie for the shot!)

Even with our limited budget we figured out ways to connect the audience to the experience of the tour. For instance, who gets the best seat in the house for the action? The professional photographers. Of them, two names come to mind, Graham Watson and Tim deWaele (the Jean Claude Van Damme of photographers). Both are interviewed in Chasing Legends and Tim even let us mount cams on his helmet and his moto. Here are a few screen shots of how close we will take you. HUGE thanks Tim. (click on the image, they get bigger)
.
Below: TIGHT SQUEEZE - Tim was yelling at his driver, not sure what (he speaks in a mix of French and Dutch). It was a close call either way...the spectator in the frog suit almost got clipped!


.
Mark Cavendish drafting off Big George


.
Notice there is no guardrail. No chance for mistakes or crashes - for rider, team car or Photographer moto...


.
It defies physics how a centimeter of rubber can retain traction going 80k on wet pavement, downhill - into a tight corner.


.
Lonely, cold and rainy. The less glamorous professional cycling.


.
Again Big George - climbing into the clouds.


.
And finally a self portrait by Tim, of Tim.