The film begins with a focus on Rene Koppert, a 21 year old Dutch cyclist who turned professional in 1982 with the TI - Raleigh team and is riding his first Tour de Romandie. His need to learn as a professional is likened to Raleigh's willingness to develop their frame building facility based on feedback from the team's riders. The film shows Koppert visiting Raleigh's Specialist Bicycle Development Unit (SBDU) in Ilkeston, Derbyshire with Jan le Grande, the team's chief mechanic. It is stressed that feedback from the pros trickles down to frames made for members of the public. In the race Koppert wins the Prologue time trial in Meyrin, a suburb of Geneva and the team's manager, Peter Post, is interviewed. The film subsequently follows the race as it unfolds as well as referring to the work of team mechanics and the soigneurs. The race is won by Jostein Wilmann and the film ends with shots of the TI - Raleigh cars and the team packing up their bikes.
Photography: Chris Connell and Dick Pope
Sound: Peter Glossop and Rene Borisewitz
Editor: Derek Williams
Asst Editor: Jonathan Posner
Director: Lindsey Clennell
Producer: Peter Selby
TI-Raleigh was a Dutch professional road bicycle racing team between 1974 and 1983. The team was created and led by Peter Post. The team was sponsored by British cycling manufacturer Raleigh and Raleigh's holding company Tube Investments (TI). In 1982 the Tour de Romandie was run between the 4th and 9th May.