The Best of BTP Summaries & Playlists

From 2008 to 2011, I worked with Cervélo, makers of the fastest, most coveted racing bikes in the world at the time. I had the opportunity of crafting their transmedia strategy and co-writing, producing, and directing all video content – including their Tour de France commercials and the groundbreaking BEYOND THE PELOTON (BTP) that revealed the unpolished behind-the-scenes realities of Cervélo’s Tour de France-winning TestTeam, garnering a fanatical following and foreshadowing the hit TOUR DE FRANCE: UNCHAINED Netflix series.

My creative partner Joe Finkleman and I worked directly with Cervélo’s co-founder Gerard Vroomen, with our innovative storytelling helping grow the company exponentially in a few short years. Here are videos, playlists and recaps from 30 BEYOND THE PELOTON episodes shot over the course of 3 years.

If new to the BEYOND THE PELOTON (BTP) cycling series, or pro cycling in general, you might want to start with the BTP trailer, my BTP x Cervélo portfolio page, my making-of blog post and the best of the BEST OF BTP Vimeo playlist.

BTP MILAN-SAN REMO TRILOGY

MILAN-SAN REMO 2009. The Cervelo Test Team is back in Europe after making a strong impression early on in their first season, with stage wins in Qatar and California. In this episode, we watch the rise of Heinrich Haussler, a young rider who shocks the world during one of the most prestigious single day races. Winning this Italian race is “the dream of every racer.”

MILAN-SAN REMO 2010. In the episode, we join the Cervelo Test Team as they try to better last year’s surprising results. With Heinrich Haussler out with a knee injury, and Thor Hushovd sick, the team realizes last year’s successes are far from given.

MILAN-SAN REMO 2011. With the Cervelo Test Team merging with Garmin to form Team Garmin-Cervelo, they now have three riders who can win. But they’ll be reminded that even with a strong team and a plan in place, some things are out of your control.

Watch the MILAN-SAN REMO TRILOGY on Vimeo.

BTP TOUR DE FRANCE 2009

The Tour de France, every pro-cyclist’s dream race. In PART 1 of the four-part 2009 TOUR DE FRANCE episodes from Booker’s BEYOND THE PELOTON series, we begin in Monaco for the “grande departe”. All eyes are on 2008 Yellow Jersey winner Carlos Sastre and Thor Hushovd with multiple Tour stage wins to his name. But with two super-star riders with different objectives, can the team still ride as one?

In PART 2, the team starts out in Barcelona and winds their way through the French Pryénées.

Halfway through the Tour in PART 3, the daily pounding and tumbles begin to take their toll on the team.

In PART 4, we follow the boys to Paris to see if Thor Hushovd can hold onto the Green Jersey while trying to stave off Mark Cavendish.

Watch BTP TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 on Vimeo.

BTP “CLASSICS” TRILOGY 2011

In the first episode of the 2011 spring “classics” trilogy, we join Team Garmin-Cervelo as they line up for the longest one day race on the calendar: Milan-San Remo. With three riders who can win, they’ll be reminded that even with a strong team and a plan in place, some things are out of your control.

In the second episode, we join the team at the Tour of Flanders, with millions of Flemish fans in attendance. Laced with disappointment from unlucky circumstances at Milan-San Remo, the boys try to put that all behind them to tackle their next big objective.

In the third episode, the team prepare to support Thor’s bid move to the top step of the podium after coming second and third in the two previous years at legendary Paris-Roubaix. But this race, as always, is full of surprises.

Watch the 2011 CLASSICS TRILOGY on Vimeo.

BTP “CLASSICS” TRILOGY 2009

MILAN-SAN REMO 2009. Back in Europe at the spring classics after making a strong impression at the Tour of California, we get to see the rise of a young star in one of the longest single day races during the Cervelo Test Team’s first pro-cycling seasons.

TOUR OF FLANDERS 2009. After their surprisingly strong showing at Milan-San Remo, we next see the classics specialists as they prepare for another of the early spring races, Tour of Flanders. Hoping to leverage their success to date, we follow the progress of the team brimming with confidence through the fabled race in the Belgium countryside.

PARIS-ROUBAIX 2009. Fighting the elements and the cobbles, Paris-Roubaix is one the teams major goals of the season. In this episode we learn what the race means to the riders and how they approach its fabled cobble sections.

Watch the 2009 “CLASSICS” TRILOGY on Vimeo.