We’re a little spoiled for choice when it comes to listing the best cycling documentaries of all-time. The sport of cycling is fortunate (and in some cases, not so fortunate) to have been showcased in a wealth of excellent documentary films. The list below only scratches the surface, but if you’re looking to follow the cycling documentary rabbit hole…make sure to carve out a few weeks, because there’s a lot to get through here.
If you’re looking for a list of anime or animated films, check out The Best Cycling Anime of All-Time. And if you’re after movies, check out The Best Cycling Movies from Around the World.
Documentaries about cycling are a fantastic way to learn about the sport: its history, its culture, its peculiarities, and of course, its scandals. This list tries to bring in something of every aspect of road cycling rather than just focusing on racing documentaries.
7 Best Cycling Documentaries
From racers to amateurs (in lycra), there's something for everyone in the list of the seven best cycling documentaries around.
Original Release Date: 2017
Original Language: English
Running Time: 121 minutes
The less you know about this cracker of a documentary the better. But so you have some reason to give this a shot – Bryan Fogel begins a journey into performance-enhancing drugs with the aim of winning a multi-day sportive, but ends up uncovering one of history’s biggest doping scandals.
Original Release Date: 1976
Original Language: Danish
Running Time: 105 minutes
Featuring Eddy Merckx, Roger de Vlaeminck, Francesco Moser and Freddy
Maertens, this documentary from celebrated-filmmaker Jorgen Leth is a must-watch chronicling the pain, the glory, and the ugly, of the 1976 Paris-Roubaix from those around it.
Original Release Date: 2006
Original Language: English
Running Time: 96 minutes
The best documentaries are often revelations: to us, the audience, as well as the documentarian. Alex Gibney started his documentary as a celebration of one of cyclings most recognised names – Lance Armstrong. However, only a few months into filming, it was revealed that Armstrong had doped his way to victory. Gibney pivots the documentary to expose and examine Armstrong’s methods.
Original Release Date: 2017
Original Language: English
Running Time: 92 minutes
MAMIL goes in a different direction. Instead of focussing on professional cyclists and racers, MAMIL (as the title would suggest) follows middle-aged men amateur cycling groups in the UK, US, and Australia. This humorous documentary is light, but its nice to see something that focusses on dedicated hobbyists of sport.
Original Release Date: 2014
Original Language: English
Running Time: 96 minutes
Six years after winning both the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia, Marco Pantani was found dead in his hotel room following a cocaine overdose. This documentary tells his tale, and was one of the first documentaries about cycling recommended to me.
Original Release Date: 2009
Original Language: English
Running Time: 104 minutes
Following riders participating in the gruelling Race Across America, is a tragic yet striking documentary that will stay with you long after you’ve watched it. (Full disclosure: I’m being a little lenient here. I don’t think this one would make most people lists of best cycling documentaries. However, I’m giving it a boost for the subject matter alone.)
Original Release Date: 2018
Original Language: English
Running Time: 102 minutes
Rapha (yes, that Rapha) actually put out some pretty decent cycling films. Outskirts demonstrates the chill, explorative side of cycling. Available to watch in its entirety on YouTube, Outskirts: Route 66 is one to watch with friends on a lazy Sunday.
What’s your favourite cycling documentary? Did I miss it? Let me know in the comments below.
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