Due to worries about editorial control, privacy, and polemics during the sport’s greatest event of the season, as well as costs given to the teams, the Netflix Tour de France documentary series ‘Drive to Survive’ is battling to obtain the participation of many prominent teams.
Cycling news believes that UAE Team Emirates, as well as Tour de France reigning champion Tadej Pogaar, are not yet signed up to be part of the documentary series, with just five of the top eight teams thought to be on board.
QuickStep-AlphaVinyl team manager Patrick Lefevere confirmed his team’s participation in his weekly piece in Het Nieuwsblad, but Cycling news has learned that Jumbo-Visma and Ineos Grenadiers are hesitant to sign up.
When approached by Cycling news, Ineos Grenadiers just stated, “No comment” Jumbo-Visma denied they were not on board, but did not confirm their presence.
“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.
However, there are reservations about a film crew being completely entrenched amongst the riders and personnel during the season’s most difficult and essential event. They are particularly anxious about not having editorial control over the finished documentary, and are apprehensive that some sequences may offend or disgust their sponsors.
Swearing by a director sportif in the midst of battle, for example, may cause difficulties, with teams well aware of how Movistar’s The Least Expected Day documentary series highlighted the Spanish team’s conflicts and tactical missteps.
According to Cycling news, the teams have been offered €50,000, with riders not being paid individually owing to their current image rights deal with their teams. If the series is a success, further income may be shared.
The Tour de France is owned by ASO, but the Netflix documentary requires behind-the-scenes access in team cars, the team bus, and hotels to be a fly on the wall documentary.
The pay provided to the teams was characterized as “peanuts” by Lefevere, but he is on board, with a video crew ready to begin recording at their Belgian service course in the coming days.