Original subtitles

...in a big money takeover, in a move to take

Vasson-Lavenu's homegrown French team into the big time.

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.

I'm Dominique Seriez, and my position here is Director-General of the management

company that runs Team Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale.

Vasson 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.

And long live Team Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale.

Cycling is evolving.

Money is 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.

Vasson is naturally caught in the middle.

He has to adapt as well.

It's a big family photo.

Are we happy to be here?

Yeah!

One, two, three, and smile!

I don't yet know whether or not 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.

How are you?

Bruno?

Hi, Dominique.

You all right?

Hi, Clément.

Hello.

We see a lot of each other these days.

How are you?

All right, Nicolas?

Good.

That's all right then, right?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

All right.

Uh, so this is just a brief introduction.

You're well looked after.

With Vasson on one side, Dominique on the other.

Dominique, you want to go first?

No, no, no.

Your honor.

The old guy, right?

You said it.

It's true.

That's respect.

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, Dominique, 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've 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 savior.

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.

We have a good history here, okay?

So let's build on it, shall we?

I was advised that a new general manager would be coming on board.

Seeing as I was not really the team's owner anymore.

And now it belongs to As You Desire.

And so Dominique Sirius took his position as general manager in the company.

We work together.

Though he's in charge.

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 learned 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.

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

Yeah, it was something we all wanted.

And all the partners at Decathlon agreed.

We made a strategic choice to take part in the Tour de France with two objectives.

Whereas the team used to prioritize 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.

Good day at the sprint train.

Not looking for like peak, peak, peak power.

It's more about just getting good quality work done.

Then we'll do the fastest sprints then in the second part, okay?

Okay, yeah, yeah.

Do you have enough food and gels?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I'm afraid to eat in case I vomit.

Not doing that in front of Netflix.

That's a real sprint session, that is.

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

Okay.

I'm Sam Bennett.

I ride for...

Better get this right.

Just check it.

I'm Sam Bennett.

I ride for Decathlon AG2R Le Mondial.

And I'm a sprinter.

Here goes Sam Bennett.

Left-hand side in the green jersey.

Sam Bennett in front of Pedersen.

Bennett wins.

I'm at the Tour in 2020.

I had quite a good year.

Two stage wins.

Green jersey.

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.

Who's going to 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.

And I can do it.

Are you helping Mammy over there.

Yes.

What's up there?

Can you put mozzarella in a bowl?

Can you do that?

Yeah.

Yeah?

Okay.

That's your job.

Can you do another one?

You can do it.

You can do it.

I'm going to do another one.

Competing this year on the Tour is quite a big deal.

Because I was out of the game for four years.

Had some injuries.

And I lost some of my best years.

I've been running for two years, so it wasn't exactly how I planned it.

I've missed four arguably my best physical years and time is running out.

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

that's where the pressure is on from the first sprint.

As a sprinter, Sam expects perfection every single day.

Coming back to the Tour now, you kind of have to rediscover that as well.

I think you have to flick the switch again.

What attracted me to Decathlon was 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, the Tour de France is everything.

You just do where you want to do it.

Yeah.

I would say it's just four times ten seconds

torqued, seated, then out of sight over ten seconds.

Netflix, they're going to run after you and

follow you, so you better not let them catch you.

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

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

I remember 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 G.E.F.

Having that double objective of the sprint and the GC, there's a risk that you are

spreading your resources a bit thinly across the two objectives.

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

The question will often arise, OK, how much support do we give the GC

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

Come on, let's go, guys.

Felix?

OK, see you later.

All right, guys, right there.

So, last year...

Ben O'Connor was the leader of our team in the general classification.

This year, Felix Galle 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.

Just a two-minute stop.

Got a chat to Felix.

How's your knee today?

I took a couple of... It's not giving you grief, is it?

So, finish well.

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 I'm looking

forward to do the Tour de France with Sam.

For the Tour de France, the goal is to be in

the top five with Felix Galle in the mountains.

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

Yes, he's going to take it.

Take it from Dominique.

There you go.

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 are you doing?

Not bad.

Okay, we need to have a little chat.

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.

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.

A big day in the mountains.

Stage four of the Tour is really tough.

Decathlon Azure Désert's start to the season was extraordinary.

They are second in the World Tour rankings.

But the season isn't over, though.

And what really counts is the Tour de France.

If you've had a bad tour, you'll have a bad season.

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 Félix.

Félix here needs the whole team to be competitive.

Today, if Félix is feeling good, if his legs are

strong in the last two kilometers, then he goes for it.

Okay, then.

Félix Gall of Decathlon Azure Désert Le Mondial is in good shape and moving up.

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 kilometers, in two kilometers, things get tough.

Come on, Félix.

Come on, come on.

Come on, come on, come on.

That's it.

Things are getting difficult now.

The peloton is getting longer.

And longer.

Félix Gall seems to be struggling.

He's just hanging on.

Come on, come on, Félix.

Félix Gall can't keep up with the acceleration.

Félix Gall is in difficulty.

He's struggling.

Gall is struggling.

Félix Gall is dropped.

Oh, it's tight.

Come on.

Félix Gall has fallen behind.

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

Félix Gall crosses the finish line.

In 11th position.

Far behind the general classification leaders.

A disappointing start for Decathlon.

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

First climb.

So shitty.

I was on my own.

It was crazy.

This stage.

I was struggling.

I felt like I couldn't do it anymore.

It was too much.

Yeah.

It just brings a lot of stress.

You feel limited.

Yeah.

Okay.

But it was a good finish.

So you just have to hang on in there.

You had a tough time.

Very difficult.

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

And that was really good.

Well done.

Get some rest now.

We're proud of you.

Thanks, Marcel.

You did really well.

Yeah.

After the first stages of the Tour de France, morale

was low in the Decathlon-Ager-Desert-le-Mondial team.

Felix Gahl 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.

Stage six of the race rolls out of Macon and heads towards Dijon.

Could be a tricky day.

Definitely should be one for the sprinters.

Come on, guys.

Come on, then.

Of course, we were hoping for a better result.

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

Now, 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.

Sam, you sprint.

Focus on the sprint.

OK?

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

But today, though, we've got to sprint.

OK?

I know you fought hard.

There's no issue there.

Our team specializes 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 out of the park.

Having new partners to impress, though, is an extra pressure.

An added responsibility.

But we've won stages here the last three years.

So everything is still possible.

Today's stage is all about the sprinters.

Sammy, how are you feeling?

Good or very good?

It's going to be an explosive finish.

Here comes Sam Bennett.

Big distance, big distance.

Go.

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.

Arnold de Lee comes back.

Wout van Aert alongside the barrier.

Arnold de Lee, Wout van Aert, Jasper Philipsen.

Who's going to take it?

Go.

Bloody hell.

Vannevegan wins.

We lost it.

We lost it.

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've got to fix the error.

We've got to 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.

It doesn't make it a bad sprint.

You 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 because you

don't know when it's going to come back again.

And you don't want to miss it.

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 general classification, 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.

Dominic, your support is vital.

Yeah, yeah.

It's just so important.

You have it.

It 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.

Dominic wants to tear up the rulebook.

He wants to find new solutions, ones that

don't necessarily respect the rules of cycling.

We can all feel that Dominic 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 because 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.

So, should we tell the riders?

They're coming.

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 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.

There's a smile.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Sam, fucking sprint!

Hey!

Say it!

I must fucking sprint!

Inevitably, the pressure is mounting.

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

There's nothing worse.

It promises to be an interesting day.

Another great opportunity for the sprinters.

Is this going to be your stage today?

Well, let's hope so.

Yeah, let's.

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 can get it right today.

The nature of the stage is pretty flat all the way through,

so it's really just about the sprint at the end, yeah?

We'll be looking at the guys to prop you up well.

Yeah, I think it won't be relaxed today.

But, yeah, just hopefully we can find the gap today.

Good luck, Sam.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Bye, Sam.

Will riders like Sam be feeling under pressure?

Oh, they're all under pressure.

You want to show that you're still capable, that it's still in there.

It keeps you working hard.

I feel of that, and I love that.

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

The sprinters' teams are preparing for this

last ascent before the run-in to the finish.

The Absen Deceuninck team on the right.

Mathieu van der Poel protecting Jasper Philipsen.

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

This Decathlon-Ager-Desert team hasn't bet everything on Sam Bennett.

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

Oh, shit.

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

Jasper Philipsen's Absen 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.

Less than one kilometre to the finish, less than one kilometre.

The riders are making waves, trying to get back into position.

And Sam Bennett's still there, but it is a little further back.

Go, go, go.

Fly, fly, fly, fly, fly, fly, fly.

Mathieu van der Poel accelerates 400 metres from the finish.

Go, go.

The world champion's still on the front.

Here goes Jasper Philipsen.

And it's victory for Jasper Philipsen.

Victory for Jasper Philipsen.

Thank you, sir.

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

What teamwork from Alpsen Deceuninck.

Sam Bennett crosses the finish line in sixth place.

Sam, he, er... He's not weaker than Ackermann.

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

De Lee, 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... Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Perfect.

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?

I'm not giving up.

It just seems like a total waste of your energy.

Look, they said we have to be like five

kilometres away, and we tried 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.

Sorry to say it, but it just doesn't come that naturally to you.

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

You OK, mate?

No, I'm OK.

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

Yeah.

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

Yeah, it wears away at you.

I just feel like a fucking dick.

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, yeah.

I just needed maybe one extra guy so that we just had that power to be there.

When it got deep into the final, you know, inside that last 2.

1k, that's where we need a strong unit that just flows, you know?

Yeah.

But it's all stuff we knew.

It means that we discussed this at the start.

And it's, like, it's a shit situation that you're the guinea pig.

OK.

Yeah.

You can do it.

Yeah.

We're proud.

I'm not.

I know you're not, but that's normal.

You shouldn't be.

This is the last chance for the sprinters.

And it's a sweltering day today between Niem

and Grusin with a temperature of 32 degrees.

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

What are the news headlines of the day?

There's an article coming out in Le Keep, a sensational piece with harsh words about

Vincent Labanou, questioning his place in the Azure-Desert La Mondiale team.

He knows the nature of this business.

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

But the bit that got to him really hurts.

Is this line here?

Here it is.

Vincent is nothing now.

I'm no longer in charge.

But I haven't run this business 34 years.

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.

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

Unforgettable moments.

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

And because my dad's not here anymore, 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

learnt from Vincent over many years is finally over.

There is one thing that upset the whole team,

which is that infamous article about Vincent.

How does that affect the group?

And how do 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 authorized.

Okay, guys.

Thanks, guys.

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?

It's extremely difficult.

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

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

But it does affect them all.

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.

You know, you don't want to see anybody upset.

For sure, I want to go and win firm.

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.

Stage 16 is unique.

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

Decathlon, Van Rysel, AG2Z, La Mondiale.

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

We're in the last 10 kilometers of today's stage.

And Sam Bennett's team is in the lead.

Now focus.

We're in the race.

We can do it.

There's a lot of pressure.

This stage 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.

One kilometer to go.

Mathieu van der Poel in third position.

Philipsen is in his wheel.

Sam Bennett is still there.

Come on.

50 meters.

And van der Poel starts to sprint.

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

Sam Bennett is there.

Philipsen!

I got into a good enough position.

You're hyper-focused and 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.

Me to try and give back to the team.

Come on!

Come on!

Philipsen wins!

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

Sam Bennett finished well in fourth place.

Good job, Sam.

That was better.

Was I better or better?

Good work.

I was suffering.

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

I put everything out there.

At the end, you finished fourth, which is your best result.

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

I'm going to get sick.

OK, thank you very much.

Sorry, I hope you feel better.

When you see your rider throw up after crossing the

finish line, you can only really pat him on the shoulder.

It's a 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.

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

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

Everybody that put time into me.

I think, look, I have to take it on the chin and move forward.

Sam Bennett has never lost hope.

His commitment to the team is incredible.

He is so capable.

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

The double objective for Decathlon Asia-Desert Le Mondial cannot happen.

There will be no stage victory for Sam Bennett.

And now, all eyes are on Felix Galle.

Felix Galle has to win during this Tour de France, or the season for Decathlon

Asia-Desert Le Mondial is sure to be ruined and end in disaster.

What do you guys think?

It's just such a shame.

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.

If you're not winning anything, it does make life a little harder for sure.

If I can do the same as last year, eight plays in GC and win a stage,

then, yeah, I would be happy with it.

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

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

Understood?

I am 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.

Then later, we can have a post-mortem.

Netflix is here, so we've got to provide some first-class entertainment.

So I need these little hits of excitement.

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

Oh, yeah.

And now, for the first time, the gravel.

Gravel racing is chaos.

Fucking hell, I don't see anything.

It's gonna be a shit show, I'd say.

Look at the bottleneck at the back of the peloton.

You might lose the Tour de France today.

But 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 fucking circus, and we are the clown.