A few days ago on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, a very particular race took place complete with a final awards ceremony. Cyclists, fans, and even a group crash that generated quite a few reactions on social media, comments and shares that led many to think there had been a calendar extension. No need to worry, it was enough to look closely to realize you were witnessing pure fiction. The city on the French Riviera served as the backdrop for the filming of "Pumping Black," the film by Mimi Cave starring Natalie Portman and Jonathan Bailey.

The film project had been presented at the international market during last year's Cannes festival. If in May it was only in a pre-production phase, now it has moved on to filming in southern France. At the heart of the project is the idea of investigating the dynamics of professional cycling by telling the story of an athlete (Jonathan Bailey) who must face the risk of being excluded from the peloton and his encounter with an ambitious doctor played by Oscar winner Natalie Portman. This is a major return of cinema to cycling and seeing the first behind-the-scenes videos leaked on social media, it appears that everything is being done following the smallest details. A few days ago the Promenade des Anglais was closed to traffic to stage a fake race complete with team cars and spectators cheering from the roadside, recreating a Tour de France stage. From the images you can see the staging of a massive group crash with a final "scuffle" between two athletes while others lie in pain on the ground, in behind-the-scenes photos instead there is the protagonist crossing the finish line and, exhausted, being surrounded by photographers before celebrating on the podium wearing the yellow jersey.

To play Taylor Mace, the film's protagonist, Jonathan Bailey, known to the general public for his roles in Bridgerton and Wicked, underwent real training to better immerse himself in the mindset of a professional cyclist. Thanks to some images posted on social media a few weeks ago, we saw him training with his team and a series of enthusiasts met on the border between France and Italy. It is still fiction, with many stunt doubles, but the effort is nonetheless remarkable. Before moving to Nice, the crew had shot some scenes on Col du Galibier, one of the iconic climbs of the Grand Boucle, staging an actual stage finish. Some shots were filmed on sections of the climb complete with spectators and TV motorcycles, while at the top the finish line banner was set up with podium, team buses and sponsor village. According to the production schedule, other "sacred" cycling locations should be involved.

Despite the great attention to detail, there is no direct reference to real facts and subjects, let alone to the Tour de France itself. Instead of the canonical black and yellow Tour de France logo, they opted for the simple word "Tour" placed on the finish line and roadside banners. There is also no reference to existing teams on the team cars and uniforms worn by the actors, neither in name nor in colors; not even the yellow jersey recalls the famous symbol of the race leader. At the moment there are no other details about the film, which is characterized as a thriller with strong dramatic tones, no details about the actual theme addressed, but what is certain is that everything possible is being done to transport the audience into an actual cycling race, trying to extend, albeit fictionally, the already endless racing season.

(photo by Digital Spy)