SYNOPSIS:

WILL is competing in his last Tour de France before returning to the United States to get his doctorate in history. SALVATORE has little formal schooling, grew up in the warm sunshine of southern Italy, and loves beautiful women who find his good looks and charm irresistible. Together, the two teammates have competed in hundreds of professional bike races in Europe. They are helpers, known as domestiques, on their team and are devoted to the needs of their captain. But all that changes when Will wins a stage in the Tour and moves within striking distance of wearing the yellow jersey and becoming the leader of the greatest bike race in the world. A wealthy gambler takes note of Will’s effort and tries to manipulate the outcome of the race for his own profit. Will and his team are shaken when their tired captain is caught blood doping and thrown out of the Tour. As he struggles to take over first place, Will ignites an old flame with ANNICK, who distracts him from the goal of winning the race, especially when he suspects Salvatore is sleeping with her. Hurt by Will’s suspicions, Salvatore makes a tremendous effort to stick by his friend’s side as the Tour enters the crucial stages in the Alps and the weather turns stormy. On the last day in the mountains, Salvatore suffers a horrific crash on a descent during a hailstorm while Will overcomes his competitors and the climbs to stand in yellow on the top step of the podium in front of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Then, as he holds the victor’s trophy in his hands, he gives it up to sweep Annick, the love of his life, off her feet, and together they ride down the Champs d’Elysees in triumph before the adoring fans.