Tour de France in Ireland 1998 - The Racer

#IrishFilm: Crowd wanted for filming of The Racer in Merrion Square on June 15th

Blinder Films are looking to get a crowd for the filming of their new film The Racer. The production will be shooting scenes from the start of the Tour in Merrion Square during the afternoon on Saturday, June 15th.

The Racer is a new cycling movie, directed by Kieron J. Walsh, centered around the 1998 Tour de France, which had its first three stages take place in Ireland. The film’s cast includes Louis Talpe, Matteo Simoni, Tara Lee and Iain Glen.

If you’re nostalgic for the nineties and want to step back in time and be a part of the recreation of 1998’s Tour de France when it came Ireland – or get a close up glimpse from behind the scenes of a large scale international co-production – we are inviting members of the public to get in on the action and be part of the enthusiastic crowd present at the start of this momentous sporting event!  If you’re interested in participating please come to Merrion Square from 2pm and line up at the barriers that are assembled.  Shooting should take about 2 hours for these crowd scenes.

If you intend on coming along – we would ask that you take the following into consideration:

  • Having the Tour de France take place in Ireland back in the nineties created a great excitement across the country, so we are looking for enthusiastic and energetic crowd
  • Feel free to go through your closet to find your best nineties look to wear on the day!
  • The film is set in 1998 so please be mindful of staying within this period – for example, refrain from using your smart phone to take pictures during takes
  • Please do bring any national flags to wave around!

Summer 1998 – the opening stages of Le Tour de France are relocated to Ireland. Belgian rider Dom Chabol (late 30s) has been one of the best “Domestiques” (support riders) on the Tour for the last 20 years. It’s a sacrificial role – setting pace, blocking wind, and providing support to enable the team’s sprinter to victory – winning is not an option. But Dom secretly harbours a desire to wear the yellow jersey – just once before his career is over.

At the start of what will likely be his last Tour, Dom is unceremoniously dropped from the Team he has dedicated his life to. His best mate Sonny, the team masseur, fails to reassure him about his future. But a chance liaison with Lynn, a young Irish doctor, softens the blow, and Dom starts to accept – and even enjoy – the idea of civilian life.  But as he gears up to go home and to face his estranged sister, a massive doping error knocks another teammate off the Tour and Dom is thrown back in the saddle…