Inspired by the career of American cyclist Lance Armstrong, the film follows his rise from competitive sport to the summit of the Tour de France, while journalist David Walsh begins to suspect that something does not add up about his victories.

How it was made

The project began when director Stephen Frears, after reading a review of Tyler Hamilton's book The Secret Race, wanted to bring the story to the screen. Unable to secure the rights to that book, he turned to Walsh's Seven Deadly Sins and hired John Hodge to write the script, drawing mainly on that book, other journalism and sworn statements from cyclists. Principal photography started in October 2013. To better understand his role, Ben Foster took performance-enhancing drugs during the shoot.

Reception and legacy

The film premiered at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival and reached cinemas in France and the United Kingdom that September and October. It grossed around 3.3 million dollars worldwide. Critics were mostly lukewarm: Foster's performance drew praise, but Frears was faulted for not delving deeper into the real story. Its place in film history is fairly modest.