June 26, 2023: Greg LeMond movie "The Last Rider"

A movie about Greg LeMond's 1989 Tour de France victory, The Last Rider has been released.

Wendy Ide, of the Guardian newspaper had this to say about the film:

"A likable protagonist and a tense final act make this account of Greg LeMond’s improbable victory in 1989 exciting and affecting

"Two key elements are required if a sports documentary is to connect with audiences beyond the existing fans: a likable central character who has battled seemingly insurmountable odds to achieve success and a nail-biting final act. The Last Rider, Alex Holmes’s account of American cyclist Greg LeMond’s incredible triumph in the 1989 Tour de France, contains both. LeMond had previously won the grueling race, in 1986, so he wasn’t a complete outsider. However, he had nearly lost his life in a shooting accident in 1987 and been written off as a serious contender in the race. It’s a conventional documentary, but a quality one. Spectacular archive footage from the event captures an inescapable sense of excitement – infectious, even to cycling agnostics in the audience – and interviews with LeMond and his wife, Kathy, are unexpectedly affecting."

The film trailer:

 

Here's the text to go with the trailer: The heroic true story of American cyclist Greg LeMond, considered to be one of the greatest cyclists of all time, who defied the odds for one of the most triumphant comeback stories in sporting history. The first, and only, American to win the Tour de France, LeMond came back from the brink of death to beat his famed rivals in the historic and nail-biting race at the 1989 Tour de France. Directed by Alex Holmes and featuring exclusive interviews with LeMond and his wife Kathy as well as, never before seen footage, The Last Rider is an exhilarating portrait of one of the greatest athletes of our time.