It rained in torrents here in northern England yesterday, so I decided to stop indoors to try a "mission impossible" - for me that is - and fit up a new television and DVD player rig that I have just bought.
A combination of good luck and tenacity won the day ..so I sat down and debated with myself as to just which DVD I should celebrate my good fortune..."A day in Hell", "Tour de France-The Early Years", "Stars and Water Carriers"... No it was none of these but a cycling film made for "grand diffusion" - the masses, and released in Belgium (I think) in October 2001.
"Le Velo de Ghislain Lambert" is a MUST-SEE for anyone interested in the glorious days of Belgian cycling in the 1970s. All those wonderful highly coloured team jerseys..Brooklyn, Sonolor, BIC, Frisol ..and of course MAGICREME grace the film. The film itself is pure fiction, but based on superb observation.
The film relates the story of a young man, born on the same day as Eddy Merckx, and only eight minutes apart, who has aspirations of emulating his hero. The Blurb on the DVD cover says "..This isn't the history of a champion that we are going to relate to you, but that of a "petit coureur" who dreams of glory, and whose only problem is that he lacks the legs that his heart deserves . He sees himself as the worthy successor of Merckx... winning the Tour, breaking the Hour Record...but it is in the guise of a drugged-up loser that he will finally cross the finishing line.."
The film manages to depict all the fun, tension and colour of the Belgian racing scene of those days... even down to the beer tent and jazz band, such essential parts of any criterium in the 70s. Then of course there is the "pot Belge", references to Francesco, Carlos..and such a collection of bikes such as Flandria, Peugeot..and TODEKA
I bought my copy of the film in France, but have Googled to find copies more locally. They seem to be available..but whether the system of recording will play on American DVDs, I'm uncertain.
I cant think of a much better way, over Christmas, when you are fed-up of eating turkey and watching those nauseating festive programmes than to put on your favourite Belgian cycling jersey and black shorts, settle down with a few bottles of Belgian beer..possibly with chips and mayonnaise in the musette, and to just let yourself soak up..so much atmospere. The film is hugely entertaining..very funny..and of course full of cycling goodies..It's 113 minutes of pure self-indulgence..and it's got sub-titles if you can handle the technology..
if you just love loving a loser..buy this film - you won't regret it!
Norris Lockley..still laughing..Settle UK