The Netflix Tour de France documentary series ‘Drive to Survive’ is trying to get the involvement of several notable teams due to concerns about editorial control, privacy, and polemics during the sport’s most important event of the season, as well as costs granted to the teams.
Only five of the top eight teams, according to Cycling News, have signed up to be part of the documentary series, including UAE Team Emirates and Tour de France reigning champion Tadej Pogaar.
In his weekly essay in Het Nieuwsblad, QuickStep-AlphaVinyl team manager Patrick Lefevere confirmed his team’s participation, while Cyclingnews has gathered that Jumbo-Visma and Ineos Grenadiers are hesitant to sign up.
When contacted by Cycling News, Ineos Grenadiers just said, “No comment.” Jumbo-Visma said they were not on board but did not confirm it.
“It is true that UAE Team Emirates, as well as several other teams, were approached to participate in the show.” However, the terms for being the protagonists for the first season have not been agreed upon,” UAE Team Emirates informed Cycling news.
“We like the general concept, but we’re not under any pressure to do anything right away.” The door is open for future participation.”
During the first season of Netflix’s Formula One documentary Drive to Survive, major teams Mercedes and Ferrari did not sign up.
There are concerns, however, about a film crew being entirely immersed among the riders and personnel during the season’s most tough and crucial event. They’re especially worried about losing editorial control over the finished film, and they’re worried that some scenes will offend or anger their sponsors.
Teams are well aware of how Movistar’s The Least Expected Day documentary series highlighted the Spanish team’s disagreements and tactical blunders, so swearing by a director sportif in the middle of a battle, for example, may cause problems.
The teams have been promised €50,000, according to Cycling News, with riders not being paid individually due to their current image rights deal with their teams. If the series is a hit, more money could be split.
Although ASO owns the Tour de France, the Netflix documentary, which is a fly on the wall documentary, requires behind-the-scenes access in team cars, the team bus, and hotels.
Lefevere described the salary handed to the teams as “peanuts,” but he’s on board, with a film crew ready to start recording at their Belgian service course in the coming days.
