Time Trial

Time Trial is a 2017 documentary film directed by Finlay Pretsell and starring former professional cyclists David Millar and Thomas Dekker. This movie is not your fortunate, heart-warming sports story; it serves as an exploration of professional cycling from the inside, providing viewers with a unique understanding of the world of bike racing and the demanding toll it takes on an athlete's body and mind.

The movie’s narrative is built around David Millar's career, a talented Scottish cyclist whose career saw both dazzling highs and scandalous lows. In a sport tarnished by doping scandals, David Millar was one of the few professional cyclists that publicly came clean about his own use of performance-enhancing drugs. After serving a two-year ban for doping, David Millar reemerged as a vocal anti-doping advocate.

However, Time Trial is more than a tale of a doping incident. It is an in-depth portrayal focusing on Millar's final season before retiring from professional cycling. Primarily, the dramatic tension of the movie is centered around Millar's attempt to secure a place in the prestigious 2014 Tour de France - one last time.

From a cinematic perspective, Time Trial is exceptionally dynamic and engaging. Director Finlay Pretsell, a former cyclist himself, uses a variety of filming techniques to take the spectator into the heart of the race. The camera's perspective varies from being an onlooker from a distance to being immersed in the peleton, creating a sense of shared experience with the cyclists. These aspects are captured using innovative camera rigs and chase vehicles, resulting in a unique visual style that truly makes you feel like you're part of the action.

Fans of professional cycling will appreciate the opportunities given to see behind-the-scenes footage along with Millar’s real-time commentary. For instance, viewers are privy to pre-race coffee shop talks, team car meetings, and grueling uphill climbs. The film also weaves in personal narratives and snippets of Millar's life away from the bike, providing glimpses into the physical and psychological pressures faced by professional cyclists.

The movie benefits tremendously from Millar's candid commentary. The film is not dubbed with the typical after-the-fact narration. Instead, insights, musings, bursts of frustration, and reflections over the race radio are captured raw and unscripted, which often provides a brutal honesty about the harsh realities of the sport. This approach offers an intimate look behind the curtains at the frequently glorified, but seldom understood, professional sports world.

Thomas Dekker makes a brief but impactful appearance in the movie. Actually, the inclusion of Dekker is significant in maintaining the context of the discussion around drug use in professional cycling and its consequences. This movie does not shy away from talking about this touchy subject, which provides viewers a balanced understanding of the controversies that have drastically shaped the world of professional cycling.

For all that, Time Trial is not just a movie for cycling enthusiasts. It is about sportsmanship, the intricate balance between victory and defeat, and a reflection on aging, where a once unbeatable sportsman struggles against the inevitable physical decline. The struggle, determination, passion, and the brutal reality of professional sports make this film relatable to everyone.

In conclusion, Time Trial is a raw, riveting, and aesthetically unique piece of filmmaking, which draws viewers into the immersive world of professional cycling. It's a deeply intimate and emotional journey into the life of an athlete, filled with breathtaking scenery, high-speed competition, and personal narratives about the strenuous reality of what it truly means to compete at the top level of professional sport. The film's innovative techniques provide a visual feast that is not limited to sports documentary norms, making it a must-watch not only for cycling enthusiasts but for anyone interested in the beauty, brutality, and complexity of professional athleticism.