Netflix pulls the plug on Tour de France series, but documentary on Tour de France Femmes still an option

After three seasons, Netflix is pulling the plug on its Tour de France series, Au cœur du peloton (Unchained), according to Le Parisien. A third and final season, covering the 2023 edition, will be released in June. However, a documentary on the Tour de France Femmes is still under consideration.

Although Netflix has not officially confirmed the cancellation, the cycling world is already preparing for the end of the series. "Normally, by the end of January, we are contacted about filming in the spring," a staff member of a French team told the French newspaper. "This time, we haven’t heard anything at all. The message seems pretty clear."

Others involved in the Tour de France have also noted that the series was beginning to lose its freshness. "Honestly, it’s difficult for Netflix to come up with something new every year. Cycling follows a fixed routine—bus, race, bus, hotel, sleep, and repeat the next day. And now that Pogacar is dominating everything, it’s harder to create suspense in the story."

Beyond the lack of new angles, viewership numbers also appear to have played a role in the decision. Internally, the second season’s results were considered mixed—while there was enough international interest, the series failed to gain traction in France, the very market where Netflix wanted to grow. Additionally, production costs are high. On top of the expensive filming process, Netflix also pays a significant fee to the race organizer and participating teams, with each squad receiving around €50,000.

However, the end of Unchained does not mean Netflix is walking away from cycling entirely. The streaming platform has shown interest in producing a documentary about the Tour de France Femmes. Unlike Unchained, this project would likely be a one-time production rather than a multi-season series.

Interest in women’s cycling is growing rapidly, especially after the thrilling 2024 Tour de France Femmes, where Katarzyna Niewiadoma secured victory on Alpe d’Huez with just a four-second lead over Demi Vollering. Netflix seems to have taken notice.

Whether Netflix will proceed with a Tour de France Femmes documentary remains uncertain. Another media company is also reportedly interested in the project, though it is unclear which platform it is. What is certain, however, is that Netflix’s Tour de France journey is over—for the men’s race, at least.