Rent Vive Le Tour (1962)

Raw Spirit and Drama - Vive Le Tour review by griggs

As an ex-cycling journo who once chased the peloton, Louis Malle’s Vive La Tour is an absolute gem of cycling nostalgia. We always bang on about how the Tour evolves year after year, but Malle’s documentary charmingly shows it’s barely changed at all, doping in particular has always been an issue. Sure, roadside cognac pit-stops are history, and café owners no longer fret about depleted booze supplies, but witnessing these iconic riders—in vivid colour—tackle legendary raids is genuinely thrilling. It’s fascinating to watch cycling legends brought to life in such detail, perfectly capturing the raw spirit, drama, and eccentricity that still defines cycling’s greatest race today.