Netflix Tour de France Unchained Cancelled by Escape Collective

Netflix’s behind-the-scenes documentary series Tour de France: Unchained has come to a halt after three seasons. According to journalist Daniel Benson, the series is not expected to return for a fourth season. French newspaper Le Parisien hinted at the uncertain future of the show, noting that past teams involved had not yet been approached for filming, which breaks the usual production timelines.

The third season of Tour de France: Unchained is set to be released shortly before this summer’s Tour de France, after which the series will not continue. Although the show had an impact and gained international popularity, it did not receive the significant fan boost that organizers had hoped for, especially within France.

Produced in partnership with Tour de France organizers ASO and Box to Box Films, the same production house behind Formula 1: Drive to Survive, the series aimed to introduce cycling to a broader audience. While it did drive engagement, it also faced criticism for prioritizing drama over accuracy. Some riders, like Wout van Aert, accused the show of manipulating timelines and fabricating conflicts for entertainment.

Unchained was created for a French audience, with dialogue primarily in French and subtitled, which limited its appeal to non-French viewers. In comparison to other Netflix sports series, Unchained was more popular than tennis but fell short of the viewership of Formula 1 and golf. The first season of Unchained garnered 36.1 million hours of views in 2023, demonstrating a positive impact despite its challenges.

While Unchained may be ending, the show did manage to attract new fans to cycling. The accompanying podcasts received positive feedback from viewers, suggesting that they served as an entry point to cycling fandom for many. Despite its limitations, Unchained succeeded in its goal of expanding the audience for cycling.