03x03 - Adapt or Die

[bunniefuu]

[classical music playing]

[dramatic tone plays]

[Lavenu] First of all,
it is my great pleasure

to announce that Decathlon
will be joining AG2R La Mondiale.

It is a great honour.
My sincere thanks to all of you.

[applauding]

Mm. Hello again.

I'm Vincent Lavenu,

I founded this team of cyclists
back in 1992, and it's been my life.

[music intensifies]

[Chennaoui] Decathlon have joined as
financial partners with AG2R La Mondiale

in a big-money takeover,

in a move to take
Vincent Lavenu's homegrown French team

into the big time.

HISTORIC SEASON TO COME
IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT SEASON

IT PROMISES TO BE A HISTORIC SEASON

[Lavenu] Finding partners
is key to our survival.

If I hadn't agreed to hand over the team,

it would have been the end.

In the Tour de France, stage wins are key.

We're all gonna have
to roll up our sleeves

if we want to ensure success.

Dominique and his team
have already started.

You have to believe in our success
and strive for victory.

From tonight onwards,
this opportunity is yours.

[Intense music playing]

I'm Dominique Serieys.

And my position here is
Director General of the management company

that runs Team Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale.

Vincent handles
the sporting side of things,

I take care of the business

I'm sure that we'll all win together,

and long live
team Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale.

[all applauding]

[Jurdie] Cycling is evolving.
Money's the name of the game.

We've entered a brave new world.
The world of business.

This is a new chapter in our history.

Thank you all.

[Jurdie] Vincent is
naturally caught in the middle.

He has to adapt as well.

[photographer] It's the big family photo.

We happy to be here?

Yeah!

[photographer] One, two, three.

And smile!

[Lavenu] I don't know whether this will be
the last time I take part in the Tour.

It's not just up to me. We'll have to see.

Hopefully, I'll have a better idea
by the end of the Tour.

[dramatic tone playing]

[bicycles whooshing]

[intense music playing]

[music fades]

[dramatic tone plays]

[birds chirping]

[indistinct chatter]

[Serieys] How are you?

-Bruno.
-Hi, Dominique. You all right?

-Hi, Clément.
-Hello! Hi.

We see a lot of each other
a lot these days.

How are you?

-All right, Nicolas?
-I'm well. You?

-Good.
-All right then?

-[cyclist 1]Well, yeah, yeah.
-[cyclist 2] All right?

Er, so this is just a brief introduction.

You're well looked after.

With Vincent on one side,
Dominique on the other.

-Dominique, wanna go first?
-No, no. Your honour.

-The old guy. Right.
-You said it.

-[chuckling] It's true.
-That's respect.

[Lavenu] Okay, lads.
Julien already told you

that we're living through
a really unique time.

And the reason this is happening
is because of all the hard work

that we've collectively done.

We should all be proud.

So, I want to take this opportunity
to congratulate you for your efforts

and for how you
all performed at every stage.

And now, our new partner Dominque,
has a few words for you.

Yes, now it's the young one's turn.

What you all need to appreciate is
we're amongst talent that is world-class.

The stakes are high.

But we've earned our place amongst them

because Decathlon has presence
right across the world.

We have a lot of work to do.

And I've come on board here
at just the right time.

I have been involved in
motorsport for over 40 years.

I was chairman of the board
for a top French rugby union side.

When I arrived, the team was struggling,

and it was in a weakened state
because, for a good number of seasons,

their results were often pretty poor.

So, I came in as a bit of a saviour.

It's important that we don't slack off.

The shareholders have
provided the resources,

and that means we have to work together
to guarantee there's a future for us all.

-Of course, yeah.
-You have a good history here, okay?

So, let's build on it, shall we?

-Mm.
-[slurping]

[Lavenu] I was advised
that a new general manager

be coming on board,

seeing as I was not really
the team's owner anymore

and now it belongs to AG2R.

And so, Dominique Serieys
took his position as general manager

in the company.

And we work together,
though he's in charge.

[reporter] What position were you offered?

How is it different
to Vincent Lavenu's role?

Tell me how you
avoid locking horns together

when you're working with a craftsman…

Well, it's not…

…who founded the team
and has been there for 27 years?

It's not difficult.

An element I often focus on,

something that I've learnt to do
over the years in my working life,

especially when things aren't working,

is to hire someone better than you.

What did you want to put in place
that's close to your heart,

how did you want
to make your mark in the team?

The team recruited a sprinter.

They hadn't had
a sprinter for over 30 years.

[reporter] Was that something you wanted
or did someone else push for it?

Well, yeah, it was
something we all wanted.

And all the partners at Decathlon agreed.

[Serieys] We made
a strategic choice to take part

in the Tour de France with two objectives.

Whereas the team
used to prioritise climbing,

the mountain stages, and their GC ranking,

the opportunity that this year's
Tour de France has presented to us

is seven or eight
prospective stage wins for our sprinters.

And that's good. It really is
a golden opportunity for our team.

[Barrett] Good day to sprint train.

Not looking for peak, peak power,
it's about getting good quality work done.

Then we'll do the fastest sprints
in the second part.

Okay. Yeah, yeah.

-You've enough food and gels and…
-Yeah. I'm afraid to eat in case I vomit.

Not doing that
in front of Netflix. [laughs]

That's a real sprint session, that is.

If you're not getting sick,
it's not a real sprint session. But okay.

[dramatic music playing]

I'm Sam Bennett.

I ride for…

Better get this right. [laughs]

Let me just check it.

I'm Sam Bennett,
I ride for Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale,

and I'm a sprinter.

[commentator] Here goes Sam Bennett,
left-hand side in the green jersey.

Sam Bennett in front of Pedersen.
Bennett wins!

[Bennett] Down at the Tour in 2020,
I had quite a good year. [chuckles] Um…

Two stage wins, green jersey.

[announcer] The winner of
the green jersey, Sam Bennett!

As a sprinter, I want to be the fastest,
I want to be quick on the bike.

[commentator] Who's gonna
take this on the line?

Here goes Sam Bennett!

Bennett wins stage one.

That was some finish.

I want to be
the best sprinter in the world again.

[dramatic tone plays]

[gulls squawking]

[Bennett] Are you helping
Mummy over there?

[woman] Yes. Oh, it's a bear!

Put… mozzarella in a bowl.

Can you do that?

-[girl] Yeah.
-[woman] Yeah?

Okay, that's your job.

Oh!

-Wanna do another one?
-Yeah.

Competing this year on the Tour
is quite a big deal

because I was out of the game
for four years.

I had some injuries,
and I lost some of my best years. So…

Wasn't exactly how I planned it.

I've missed four, arguably,
my best physical years.

Time is running out.

You know,
it very well could be the last time.

That's why the pressure is on
from the first sprint.

As a sprinter, Sam expects perfection

every single day.

Coming back to the Tour now, it's…

[inhales]

You have to rediscover that as well.

I think you have to flip the switch again.

What attracted me to Decathlon was, uh…

a fresh start.

I needed a team that believed in me.

Yeah, I'm quite proud to be coming back
to the Tour de France.

In cycling terms,
like, the Tour de France is everything.

[Barrett] You just do
where you want to do it.

So like I said, it's just four times
ten seconds torque seated,

then out of the saddle ten seconds.

Netflix are going to run after you,
so you better not let them catch you.

In 2020,
Sam is the best sprinter in the world.

He was the first world-class sprinter
I've ever coached.

In our first team meeting
at the start of the year,

Decathlon presented, and…

they really convinced everybody
that they're here to be the best.

The team's DNA has always been GC.

Having that double objective
of the sprint and the GC,

there's a risk that you're

spreading your resources a bit thinly
across the two objectives.

There's doubts,
there's questions within the team.

The question will often arise,

"Okay, how much support
do we give the GC ambitions,

and how much support
do we give the sprint ambitions?"

[pensive music playing]

[Jurdie] Come on. Let's go, guys. Felix.

Okay. See you later.

[Serieys] All right, guys. Ride safe.

[Lavenu] So, last year,
Ben O'Connor was the leader of our team

in the general classification.

This year, Felix Gall
will take on the role of leader

because he's in good shape
and we're happy with how he's riding.

And Ben O'Connor, well, he didn't perform
quite as well as we would have hoped.

[Jurdie] Just a two-minute stop.
Gotta chat to Felix.

How's your knee today?

-I took a couple--
-Not still giving you grief is it?

So, finish well, huh? Be strong.

You'll do it in 30 to 40 minutes.

I'm a leader and I have to be there,
and it's a bit of a challenge, but, um…

I'm looking forward
to doing the Tour de France with Sam.

[Lavenu] For the Tour de France,

the goal is to be in the top five
with Felix Gall in the mountains.

And we want a stage win,
or two, with Sam Bennett.

[Serieys] Yes, he's gonna take it.

[Jurdie] Take it from Dominique.

There you go.

[chuckles]

[Lavenu] This double objective
is ambitious.

There's no point
coming to the Tour without ambition.

Our objective this time is to win.

Open up.

Hi, Julien.

-How you doing?
-Not bad.

Okay, we need to have a little chat.

[Jurdie] It's clear
that the business has changed

and the pressure's a little different now.

We have to focus on this double objective.

But we have to get the balance just right.

But we can do it if we do what
you've taught us to do over the years.

Preserve our family spirit.

For me, that's essential.

Our partners will have high expectations,
but we've got lots of experience,

and right now
we've nothing to worry about.

-We can do it.
-Sure will.

[Jurdie] It's clear
that we feel a little bit more pressure.

Yeah, right now we're in the seat,

but it might be an ejector seat.

[tense music playing]

[commentator] A big day in the mountains.
Stage 4 of the Tour is really tough.

[Offredo] Decathlon AG2R's
start of the season was extraordinary.

They are second
in the World Tour rankings.

But the season isn't over though.
What really counts is the Tour de France.

If you had a bad Tour,
you'll have a bad season.

[music stops]

[Jurdie] Come on, guys.

Look, it's a beautiful day.

It's clear that we have
the physical ability as a team

to go and win a stage.

For the general classification,
there's no change.

We're sticking with Felix.

Felix here needs
the whole team to be competitive.

Today, if Felix is feeling good,

if his legs are strong
in the last two kilometres,

then he goes for it.

Okay, then!

[commentator] Felix Gall
of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale

is in good shape and moving up.

[Gall] At the start, I was feeling good.

You want to be
as far as possible in the front.

It will be a big fight.

In two kilometres,
in two kilometres, things get tough.

Come on, Felix. Come on, come on.
Come on, come on, come on. That's it!

[commentator]
Things are getting difficult now.

The peloton is getting longer and longer.

Felix Gall seems to be struggling.
He's just hanging on.

Come on, come on, Felix.

[commentator] Felix Gall
can't keep up with the acceleration.

Felix Gall is in difficulty,
he's struggling. Gall is struggling.

Felix Gall is dropped.

Ah, it's tight.

Come on.

[commentator] Felix Gall's fallen behind.

He is set to lose over two minutes
in the general classification today.

[exhaling]

[commentator] Felix Gall
crosses the finish line in 11th position,

far behind the general
classification leaders.

A disappointing start
for Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale

and its new managers
in their quest for their double objective.

f*ck.

The first climb, I was…

I was so sh*t there.

I was on my own.

It was crazy, this stage.

[Gall] I was struggling.

I felt like I couldn't do it any more.
It was too much.

Yeah, it just brings, uh, a lot of stress.

-It was like…
-You feel limited?

-Yeah.
-Okay, but it was a good finish.

Uh, so you just have to hang on in there,

you had a tough time.

Huh. Very difficult.

But it's good
'cause you didn't give up, did you?

And that was really good. Well done.

Get some rest now. We're proud of you.

-Thanks, Vincent.
-All right? You did really well. Yeah.

[Offredo] After the first stages
of the Tour De France,

morale was low
in the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team.

Felix Gall slipped out of the top ten.

And Sam Bennett
hasn't had a stage victory.

Pressure is mounting,
and it is really difficult for them.

[commentator 1] Stage six of the race
rolls out of Mâcon

and heads towards Dijon.

Could be a tricky day.

[commentator 2] Definitely should be
one for the sprinters.

[dramatic music playing]

-[Jurdie] Come on, guys!
-[Joly] Come on then!

[Jurdie] Of course
we were hoping for a better result.

As of tomorrow, there are
another two weeks left of the Tour.

And don't worry, the plan stays the same.

And we will move forward.

Just all concentrate and we'll get there.
It's still within our grasp.

[Joly] Sam, you sprint.

Focus on the sprint

And what's important is to be in
the top five, top three, or even higher.

But today though,
we've gotta sprint. Okay?

[Lavenu] I know you fought hard,
there's no issue there.

Our team specialises in…

winning here when no one expects it.

So, believe in our chances today.

Every stage of the Tour is very difficult.

But it's our aim to come here
and to knock it right outta the park.

Having new partners to impress though,

is an extra pressure.

An added responsibility.

But we won stages here
the last three years,

so everything is still possible.

[commentator] Today's stage
is all about the sprinters.

Sammy, how are you feeling?
Good or very good?

[indistinct chatter]

[Bennett] It sounds good.

[commentator]
It's going to be an expl*sive finish.

Here comes Sam Bennett.

[Piquet] They've distanced.

Go!

[commentator] Sam Bennett's
in Jasper Philipsen's wheel.

It's going to be a huge final sprint.

Look at the speed
of the riders on this bend!

Arnaud de Lie comes back.
Wout van Aert alongside the barrier.

Arnaud de Lie, Wout van Aert,
Jasper Philipsen, who's gonna take it?

Go. Bloody hell.

[suspenseful music playing]

Dylan Groenewegen wins!

[Piquet] Groenewegen, Dylan Groenewegen!

[sighs]

[Joly] We lost it.

[sombre music playing]

[commentator] Sam Bennett is
a long way from the green jersey today.

He's struggling, I think.

The tactics aren't working.

Far too often, we make the same error.

Our intentions… Our intentions are good,

but there's a disparity
between our intention

and what actually happens in the race.

-They're two completely different things.
-Yeah, I know.

The sponsors are starting to grumble.
So we gotta fix the error.

-Hmm.
-We gotta fix this error. Okay?

The sponsors aren't too happy.

They aren't satisfied with the results.

But we're riding against
the best in the world.

And they have to know that
we always give everything that we've got,

but sometimes it doesn't work.

Barely even breaking the f*cking top ten.

Doesn't make it a bad sprint.

We have to get it perfectly right
once or twice.

And then the magic will happen.

I should be good enough
to adapt to every situation.

With my experience,

and my capacities,

I should do a lot more.

But in sport, nothing's guaranteed.

Every opportunity you have to take,

'cause you don't know
when it's gonna come back,

and you don't want to miss it.

[Serieys] I wanted
to get everyone together

so we could touch base,
and to hear what your analysis is

of how things have gone the last few days.

Obviously, it's not going very well.

You know, from the start,
it's been very difficult.

In the GC, Felix's stage results
haven't been up to par.

And it's regrettable that
we haven't sprinted very well.

And sometimes, at the start of the race,

whether the breakaways
are likely to succeed or not,

they're just too far behind.

[dramatic tone plays]

[Jurdie] Dominique, your support is vital.

Yeah, yeah.

-It's just so important.
-You have it.

And that means so much to us.

It's reassuring to us all. Really.

I demand a lot.
As you do too, in your area.

Anyway, I hope that Sam
will improve his performance from now on

and do better in the rest of the Tour.

I think we need to continue constructively
and focus on the positives

and carry on supporting them
without putting on too much pressure.

No, I actually think
we have to up the pressure on Sam.

Now he's got to do what he's here to do.
And I will be the one to tell him that.

[Jurdie] Dominique wants
to tear up the rule book.

He wants to find new solutions.

Ones that don't necessarily respect
the rules of cycling.

We can all feel that Dominique
has generated a new momentum.

And sometimes this works,
there are fresh insights

and some new perspectives
that can work for sure

and shake things up.

And there are things
that aren't appropriate 'cause…

'cause they're ideas that might work well
in a car company or the world of rugby

and they're not that
suitable in our world.

-[Serieys] So, shall we tell the riders?
-They're coming.

[Serieys] Thanks, everyone,
for giving me your time.

Now, I want to reassure you

that I have faith
in every single one of you.

And we'll succeed in our target
if we all work together.

And sometimes I know
that it's not easy to hear

when things are going… going wrong.

But I do have to voice my concerns.

They're also the views
of the other partners.

Don't worry, you'll succeed.
Do not doubt it.

[laughs] There's a smile. Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

Sam.

f*cking sprint!

Huh? Hey. Say it. "I must f*cking sprint."

[Jurdie] Inevitably,
the pressure is mounting.

It'd be a nightmare
not to get a win at the Tour de France.

There's nothing worse.

[tense music playing]

[commentator] It promises
to be an interesting day.

Another great opportunity
for the sprinters.

-[man] This going to be your stage today?
-Well, let's hope so.

-Yeah, let's.
-[Jurdie] Fingers crossed.

Okay, guys. We must discuss our strategy.

Today, focus on
the victory stage with Sam.

We can have a really good day today.
Come on, guys.

-Yeah, hopefully we get it right today.
-What, uh, what's the danger of the stage?

It's flat all the way through,
so it's just about the sprint at the end?

Are you looking at the guys
to drop you off well?

[Bennett] Yeah, I think it
won't be relaxed today,

but just hopefully
we can find the gap today.

-Good luck, Sam.
-Thank you.

[reporter] Bye, Sam.

[dramatic music playing]

[commentator 1] Will riders like Sam
be feeling under pressure?

[commentator 2]
Ah, they're all under pressure.

[Bennett] You want
to show that you're still capable,

that it's still in there.

It keeps you working hard.

I fuel off that. And I love that.

But the pressure doesn't come
from the team. It comes from myself.

[commentator 1] The sprinters teams
are preparing for this last descent

before the run-in to the finish.

The Alpecin-Deceuninck team on the right,

Mathieu van der Poel
protecting Jasper Philipsen.

And Sam Bennett, in the middle,
getting a little bit blocked in.

[commentator 3] This Decathlon AG2R team
hasn't bet everything on Sam Bennett.

And he looks pretty isolated there
in the approach to the finish.

sh*t.

[music intensifies]

[commentator] We're now heading downhill
at over 70 kilometres per hour.

Jasper Philipsen's Alpecin-Deceuninck team
powering through on the right.

Jasper Philipsen's group
gets into position.

Sam Bennett's still there,
but he has no one to help him.

[Piquet] Less than
one kilometre to the finish.

Less than one kilometre.

[commentator] The riders are making waves
trying to get back into position.

And Sam Bennett is a little further back.

Go, go, go. Fly, fly, fly, fly, fly, fly.

Mathieu van der Poel accelerates.



-Go, go. Yeah.
-Now, come on.

The world champion still on the front.

Here goes Jasper Philipsen.

And it's victory for Jasper Philipsen.

Victory for Jasper Philipsen!

[commentator] The team worked hard today,
and Mathieu van der Poel did a great job.

What teamwork from Alpecin Deceuninck.

Sam Bennett crosses
the finish line in sixth place.

Sam, he, uh,
he's not weaker than Ackermann.

He's just as strong
as quite a few of the others,

De Lie, Philipsen.

-He didn't have an opening.
-That's it, that's it, yeah.

And it's a real shame.

A sprinter needs
the team around him to be perfect.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's it.

[tense music playing]

[Jurdie] The sprinter needs confidence,

he needs strong riders on his side
to launch him from a good position.

There's a lot of questions
from the public and the press,

and there are comments like,

"Do they really have
the ability to lead Sam Bennett?"

[Bennett] I'm not giving up.

But it seems like
a total waste of your energy.

Look, they said we have to be,
like, five kilometres away,

and we try to be, you know?

But the work you did on the climb,
that should really be my job.

Well, yeah, I know, but…

I know you were given that job,
but I'm not sure you're cut out for it.

I'm sorry to say it,
but it doesn't come that naturally to you.

Yeah, well, it's not easy, is it?

[sombre music playing]

You okay, mate?

No, I'm not.

I feel like a stupid c**t.

You want to do cycling,
you love it, but then,

yeah…

That wears out when you're getting
hammered day in and day out.

Yeah, it… it wears away at you.

I just feel like a f*cking d*ck.

And at times,
it's easier to just throw in the towel,

but you have to believe that
you can still do it and still come back.

I still want to continue this,
and try and win stages at the Tour.

Cycling has
an incredible way of humbling you.

It does, doesn't it?

Yo.

Hiya.

I won't say you should have won,
but you could have won.

You didn't win.

Just missed a little bit
of that tight unit around me.

Yeah.

I just needed maybe one extra guy,

so that we'd just have
that power to be there.

When it got deep into the final,
you know, inside that last two, one K,

that's where we need a strong unit
that just flows, you know?

Yeah.

But it's all stuff we knew.
Me and Seb discussed this at the start.

And it's a sh*t situation
that you're the guinea pig.

Okay. Yeah.

-You can do it.
-Yeah.

We're proud.

-I'm not.
-I know.

But that's normal. You shouldn't be.

[commentator] This is
the last chance for the sprinters.

And it's a sweltering day today
between Nîmes and Gruissan,

with a temperature of 32 degrees.

[commentator] Coming out of the rest day,
there's always a lot of chatter.

-What are the news headlines of the day?
-[phone chimes]

[Offredo] There's an article
coming out in L'Équipe.

A sensational piece
with harsh words about Vincent Lavenu,

questioning his place
in the AG2R La Mondiale team.

"VINCENT IS NOTHING ANY MORE"

"NO LONGER THE BOSS OF HIS OWN HOUSE"

"THEY TAKE HIM FOR A LOSER"

[Jurdie] He knows
the nature of this business.

He's been in it for 30, 32 years now.

But the bit that got to him,
that really hurts is this line here.

Here it is, "Vincent is nothing now".

[melancholy music playing]

[Lavenu] I'm no longer in charge,

but I haven't run this business


built the team up, worked hard,
got them to a level

for people to think this way.

For me, that article was devastating.

Of course, it's natural
that I feel a sense of injustice.

I do, because you try your best
and people take you for a fool, you know?

That's bound to be painful.

[melancholy music continues]

[Jurdie] Over the years,
I've had victories, podiums with Vincent.

Unforgettable moments.

Days I'll remember
for the rest of my life.

And 'cause my dad's not here any more,

Vincent has been like family.

I feel that he's been a father figure
to his riders and his staff.

But now it seems that this family approach

that we all learned from Vincent
over many years

is finally over.

[music fades]

[interviewer] There is one thing
that upset the whole team,

which is that
infamous article about Vincent.

[chuckling]

[interviewer] How does
that affect the group,

and how did they react to this article,

and what do you feel about it?

Well, since you're filming me,
chances are I'll disappoint you on that.

I don't think I'm inclined to comment
on this issue because I'm not authorised.

-[Joly] Okay, guys. Thanks, guys.
-[Jurdie] Let's go.

[Joly] I'll cut to the chase,
today's our last chance at a sprint.

If we don't make this work,
we can forget about it.

Okay?

[Jurdie] It's extremely difficult,

but we're going to ignore what's happening
and just focus on the sport.

'Cause there's no point
us all dwelling on the article.

But it does affect them all.

And so it's up to me to make sure
they focus and concentrate on the race.

Now, I want you all to understand

that our objective
can be achieved, guys, it really can be.

We all have
the physical and mental strength

to make an impact
and win this famous stage.

[Bennett] You don't want
to see anybody upset.

For sure, I want to go and win for him.

I want to thank the team
for the opportunity to come here.

They put a lot on the line
to bring me here. They believed in me.

-Right, good luck.
-Cheers, man.

I love you so much. You can do it!

[dramatic music playing]

[Jurdie] Stage 16 is unique.

And there's a lot
of pressure from our partners,

Decathlon, Van Rysel, AG2R La Mondiale.

So, here in Nîmes,
it's our last chance to get a win.

[intense music playing]

[commentator] We're in the last
ten kilometres of today's stage.

And Sam Bennett's team is in the lead.

Now focus.
We're in the race. We can do it.

[Bennett] There's a lot
of pressure this stage.

This is my last chance.

But you have to put it all to the side.

A stage win is what you need,
it's what you have to do.

So you just try to go with the flow,

and pray that the legs are there
when it's go time. [laughs]

[commentator] One kilometre to go.

Mathieu van der Poel in third position.
Philipsen is in his wheel.

Sam Bennett is still there.

Go. Go.

[crowd cheering]

-Go on!
-Four hundred and fifty metres.

[commentator] And van der Poel
starts to sprint.

Jasper Philipsen about to break away
at full throttle towards the finish!

Sam Bennett is there.

[Bennett] I got into
a good enough position.

You're hyper-focused,
hyper-aware of everything around you.

Time for me to flick the switch,

and do what you have to do
to get to the line first.

To try and give back to the team.

[exciting music playing]

Go on! Go on!

[commentator] Philipsen wins!

When van der Poel's there,
Philipsen wins easily.

Sam Bennett finished well in 4th place.

[Lavenu] Good job, Sam!

It's better.

I wouldn't say better, but…

[Lavenu] Good work.

[Bennett] I was suffering.

Maybe a podium was doable that day,
but I couldn't do any more.

I put everything out there.

[reporter] At the end, you finished 4th,
which is your best result.

Sam, how do you look back
at your Tour overall?

I think I'm gonna get sick.

[reporter] Okay, thank you very much.
Sorry. Hope you feel better.

[melancholy music playing]

[Bennett vomiting]

When you see your rider throw up
after crossing the finish line,

you can only really
pat him on the shoulder.

Say, "Good job".
And that's about all you can do.

That's the way it is, it's life.

I think that at some point,

even Sam realized that
it wasn't going to happen.

And I think that he
gave up psychologically.

[Bennett] It was supposed to be
this great comeback that didn't happen.

[sighs]

I feel like I've let down the team,
the sponsors, myself…

um, everybody that put time into me.

I think, look, I have to

take it on the chin and move forward.

[Lavenu] Sam Bennett has never lost hope.

His commitment to the team is incredible.

He's so capable.

He gives 100%
for his riders, for the team,

for me.

[music fades]

The double objective for Decathlon
AG2R La Mondiale cannot happen.

There'll be no stage victory
for Sam Bennett.

And now all eyes are on Felix Gall.

Felix Gall has to win
during this Tour de France.

Or the season Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale

is sure to be ruined and end in disaster.

[dramatic sting]

[Lavenu] What do you guys think?

It's just such, such a shame.

[sombre music playing]

It's not good. It's…

I can't really say much more.
It's just how it is.

It's poor. Very poor.

If you ask me, it's one of two things.

Either the other teams are superior
and we can't get to the front,

or else there's a timidity from us
about being in front.

Is it because it's hard
and the standard's high?

They have to move up a notch.
They can't always be lagging at the back.

It's not good enough, you hear me?

They're not sufficiently prepared.

It's true that
we didn't achieve our objective.

It's not an option for us to stop though.

We have to press on, for our honour.

For our dignity.

Despite our chances narrowing,
we will not give up.

Tomorrow is a classic stage.

It could literally explode.

The first objective is
to put Felix at the foot of Tourmalet

in a strong position.

[Gall] If you're not winning anything,

it does make life
a little harder for sure.

If I can do the same as last year,

eighth place in GC, and win a stage,

then, yeah, I would be happy with it.

But, um,

yeah, of course,
it's… it's a lot of pressure.

He'll move back up. He'll get his place.

Understood?

I'm a fighter. I don't tolerate losing.

And I know what it takes
to make sure that your team can win.

Emotions don't get you a win.

What you need is organisation,
methodology, it's a process.

And you need the right team.

If this Tour's a disaster,
it'll be my responsibility

because I'm the one
responsible for running the team.

And later we can have a post-mortem.

[dramatic music rises, stops]

Netflix is here, so we got to provide some

first-class entertainment.

So, I need these
little hits of excitement.

Ah, there's a gravel stage, isn't there?

[Pidcock] Oh, yeah.

[commentator] And now,
for the first time, the gravel.

[Chennaoui] Gravel racing is chaos.

f*cking hell, I don't see anything.

Gonna be a sh*t show, I'd say.

[commentator] Look at the bottleneck
at the back of the peloton.

You might lose
the Tour de France that day.

If you're willing to take risks,

then the stage
could be yours for the taking.

I love the sense of danger.

The Tour is a f*cking circus
and we are the clowns.

[dramatic music playing]

[music stops]