The reemergence of professional cycling has left a slipstream for cycling culture in America to follow, and local filmmaker Jason Berry has taken full advantage of that with his latest feature-length film, “Chasing Legends.”
“Chasing Legends” documents the most grueling sporting event on Earth — the Tour de France. Berry, a Pittsford native and Rochester Institute of Technology alumnus, writes and directs the film that documents how unfortunate mankind was to create such a painful and grinding race while capturing the premonitions and triumphs of the most sought-after cycling race in the history of the planet.
“Legends” follows the 2009 Tour de France, which was one of the most anticipated tours in recent history, as it marked the comeback of the seven-time tour winner Lance Armstrong. Berry captures the speed and ferocity of the tour through white-knuckle cinematography.
A film bound to increase your heart rate, like the desperate climbs and suicidal descents of the Pyrenees, “Chasing Legends” spills its guts as to the dedication and sacrifice involved when stepping into the cycling tights worn by a pro squad.
The documentary lands heavy hitters while Berry chronicles the inner workings of HTC-Columbia, one of the newer pro-cycling teams in the peloton. With narration by legendary cycling commentator Phil Liggett and a cameo appearance from Ben Stiller, Berry’s story-telling ability gains full steam, not to mention full credibility.
However, Berry misses the true storyline of the 2009 Tour de France, which was the in-team battle of Astana between Armstrong and the current reigning champion, Alberto Contador. The battle signified the changing of the guard for cycling royalty, and although it may seem unrelated with the dealings of HTC-Columbia, the duel overshadowed the tour.
Berry also fails to pay respect to the Spaniard Contador, who won the tour (including a surprising win in the final time trial), which was not catalogued in the film. “Legends” instead hails Mark Cavendish, the sprinter from HTC-Columbia, as the hero.
Berry does an incredible job of documenting Cavendish’s unbelievable run in 2009, winning six stages, including the legendary Champs-Elysées. He includes the behind-the-scenes work by lead-out man Mark Renshaw, and the powerful sprinters’ sheer force that rivals that of a missile.
Documenting behind the scenes is the film’s strong point. Berry showcases the pits of professional cycling with intimate moments of everyone from the team’s mechanic to press-photographers hanging off motorcycles screeching down mountainsides.
Overall, “Chasing Legends” may be one of the best documentaries on professional cycling released in the past decade. Berry’s story-telling ability and use of remarkable visuals solidifies “Chasing Legends” as an instant classic.
