'Coureur': more fiction would have done this film some good

At the beginning of this century, Kenneth Mercken himself briefly flirted with a professional cycling career. In his film debut, he follows a promising cyclist who is about to make his breakthrough;

He scores a contract with an Italian team, but runs up against ice-cold competition, unrestrained doping, health problems, and his own extreme ambition. Mercken exposes these dark sides with care and restraint, but more fiction, a clearer central plot, and zestier performances would have done this film some good.