The Netflix trailer reveals what you can expect from the second season of Tour de France Unchained

Netflix has given fans a taste of what they can expect from the second season of Tour de France: Unchained, the streaming giant's sequel to its original docuseries that examines the world's largest cycling race.

Series 1 aired last June and features the highs, lows and behind-the-scenes footage of the 2022 Tour de France. Series 2 was filmed shortly after this release and, like last year, is scheduled to start shortly before this year's Tour de France. There is currently no specific release date and no confirmation as to whether a third season will be filmed in July.

The trailer begins with Dutch sprinter Fabio Jakobsen sticking his middle finger up at the camera, and the rest of the minute-long teaser suggests that Netflix is ​​delving into the more controversial aspects of the personalities and storylines surrounding the 2023 edition of the Tour.

Soon we see a battered Mark Cavendish, his hopes of surpassing Eddy Merckx and claiming an all-time record victory on stage 35 gone up in smoke. Then there are two repetitions of particularly bad falls: Carlos Rodríguez falls and is ridden by those behind him before a Jayco AlUla rider falls over a guardrail.

Read more: Eisel: “Mark Cavendish’s commitment to the Tour de France is stupid, but this is the sport we fell in love with”

The talk of suffering and risk-taking reinforces the suspicion that, as in the first season, Netflix will lean heavily into the fact that professional cycling is a much tougher sport than casual viewers might expect.

The series will also deal with the strained relationship between two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe and his Soudal Quick-Step team boss Patrick Lefevere, which has already been discussed extensively in the media.

“Julian Alaphilippe costs a lot of money,” Lefevere says into the camera. When asked how much he earns, Alaphilippe says: “A little too much for Patrick, I think.” Alaphilippe is pictured next to his child and his wife Marion Rousse, who was publicly criticized by Lefevere for the lack of current results are responsible.

As the trailer continues, it's all about angry drivers: Ben O'Connor, David Gaudu and Wout van Aert are all pictured smoking in their respective team buses, an area normally sealed off from the outside world and a key part of Netflix's behind-the-scenes -trip is. Access to scenes.

Read more: In a professional team team bus with Lotto Dstny

The topic of doping will also be discussed, although the details are still unclear at this point.

“Do you think he might be doping or not?” an off-screen interviewer asks, after which we see Thibaut Pinot staring into the camera. The scene cuts off before we get an answer from the Frenchman, if he gives one at all, and before we get any further information about who the doping suspicion concerns.

The full list of teams that Netflix had access to for the second series of Unchained has yet to be confirmed, but the eight teams that made up the first series are expected to return: Visma-Lease a Bike, Ineos Grenadiers, Soudal Quick -Step, Bora -Hansgrohe, Alpecin-Deceuninck, EF Education-EasyPost, Decathlon-AG2R and Groupama-FDJ.

UAE Team Emirates, Tadej Pogačar's team, were a crucial omission last year and although they were linked with a starring role in Series 2, GCN reported that no contract was in effect and that the team was taking requests from Netflix on a case-by-case basis.

For more pro cycling news, check out our dedicated racing hub on the GCN website.