This was the first documentary film from Gripped Films (makers of 24 Solo - review to follow) and follows the selection process for the US Olympic team for the 2004 Athens Games. With four men competing for the two spots and four women competing for the single woman’s spot it’s a roller coaster ride following World Cup races and NORBA nationals.  In advance of Beijing, this is a great insight into the preparations required to make it at the top level and unlike most mountain biking movies has a back story and character interest throughout.  Cinematography is great and the editing excellent.

Definitely worth a look this DVD follows the stars around the world as they struggle for UCI points.  The only negative thing that I can say is that it doesn’t feature the actual Olympic race.  It will however make you want to go out and ride your bike and is perfect for distracting you while you spin on a turbo trainer.

Available from www.grippedstore.com these DVDs are not region locked and can be played on any DVD player.

On a side note, a similar process has just been completed for the coming Olympics and some of the riders have featured again with newly crowned US national champions Mary McConneloug and Adam Craig making the team this time around.  For London 2012 it’s a four year selection process rather than the old two year cycle which will make things much tougher as countries need to be consistent and have a program four years in advance.