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New cycling feature film The Domestique set to go into production next year

Movie directed by man behind Skoda TDF ad tells story of rider putting his doping past behind him

In a case of art imitating life, in this of all weeks comes news of a feature film due to enter production next year called The Domestique that explores the bridge between a generation of riders reliant on doping to what is hoped to be a cleaner one entering the sport now.

Billed as a “story of a struggling pro cyclist on a quest to find personal and professional redemption,” the film follows long-time domestique Vince Carter as he looks to restore his relationship with his ex-wife and son, and put his doping past behind him to complete his dream of finishing the Tour de France.

German director Marc Schoelermann has been recruited to take the helm of the project, building on his track record of making big-budget TV ads as well as the 2008 crime thriller, Pathology.

He’s no stranger to directing cycling action either – he was the man behind Skoda’s Tortour ad (below), which gives grounds for hope that the film will present a more authentic depiction of the sport than the wheels* in the project poster suggest.

Mind you, the film, said to be “a sports drama realistic enough to satisfy die-hard cycling fans, but with the broad appeal to engage a wider audience who are not familiar with the intricacies of pro cycling,” also promises commentary from Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen… 

* road.cc tech editor Mat has identified them as Spinergy Rev-X wheels, currently banned by the UCI.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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15 comments

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hairyairey | 11 years ago
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Clearly not missing the opportunity to make money from doping. Although you can't beat the China Syndrome which was released 12 days before Three Mile Island.

Yes, I like the Skoda advert it shows what a car really has to put up with. It's sad that so many adverts portray cars as a shining idol to be worshipped when it's just a metal can to get you inefficiently from A to B. Car adverts haven't progressed from TV adverts that show you how great the colours are on this model, till you realise that the colours look just as good on your set!

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gordonmarkus | 11 years ago
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I'm really looking forward to this coming out. I didn't realise that there was so much negativity towards Paul Sherwen & Phil Ligget, and I can't understand why. For me those guys are literally the voice of cycling on TV, I grew up watching the TDF on channel 4, and I think that those guys totally embody what the tour means to me.

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WolfieSmith replied to gordonmarkus | 11 years ago
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Agreed. Harmon and Kirby are clueless: the Smashy and Nicey of cycling commentary. That's the problem with the new interest in cycling. It's attracted a fair few newbies who don't recognise how much better L and S are.  39

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notfastenough | 11 years ago
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Always thought these Skoda cycling ads are very clever. Others put the cars out there with the teams but Skoda have managed to take a boring support item and say "check out how much abuse and racing around that these get - it'd be great for your day-to-day needs!"

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s_smith replied to notfastenough | 11 years ago
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Anyone know who did the music on that Skoda ad?

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Raleigh | 11 years ago
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+1 for the Eurosport commentary.

Harmon and Kelly ftw.

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Stumps | 11 years ago
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Its the poster that made me laugh.

"featuring the legendary commentators Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen".

Oh dear if they are the stars of the film its on a downward spiral already  13

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sam_bennett | 11 years ago
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On the up side I was at 5live's octoberfest and Mark Herbert from Warp films confirmed that they've picked up the option for 'Put Me Back on The Bike' and are adapting the book now.

Knowing Shane Meadows he won't make a hollywood fluffy piece of garbage

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Some Fella | 11 years ago
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I wonder if the dvd will have an alternative Eurosport commentary with Dave Harmon and Sean 'Make the calculation' Kelly?

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Karbon Kev | 11 years ago
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talk about on topic, look forward to this, not looking forward to the commentary from the muppet brothers though  14

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WolfieSmith | 11 years ago
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Apparently Sean Kelly wasn't upbeat enough - even after dubbing him with a bumblebee in a bottle.

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The Rumpo Kid | 11 years ago
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I'll wait for it on disc. There might be an option to mute the commentary.

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joemmo | 11 years ago
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with those 2 on board I can see potential for some product placement involving mentions of the local regional cheese and wine.

Have to be optimistic about this but hard core cycle fans are bound to get upset by the compromises necessary to make a compelling story. A bit of a shame they had to use the drugs angle though.

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Clenbutador | 11 years ago
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^^ What he said

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steff | 11 years ago
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I was looking forward to this until the Liggett/Sherwen bombshell. Now I hope his Spinergys disintegrate.

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