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Lake Effect Segments

‘Time Trial’ Documentary Immerses Audience In Professional Cycling World

David Millar's professional cycling career was marked both by big victories and a suspension for his use of performance-enhancing drugs. In his last year as a pro, he sought one more shot at riding the Tour de France. Scottish filmmaker Finlay Pretsell was there to document it all.

Credit Courtesy of the Scottish Documentary Institute
Director Finlay Pretsell

His film however, entitled Time Trial, is not a bio-picture. Instead, it's an immersive look at cycling with extensive footage shot from inside the peloton during races.

"What I wanted to capture was this feeling of them there ... I wanted to show a reality of what they do, and not this beautiful idea of the sport. I wanted to get the kind of rawness of it," says Pretsell.

Pretsell's film is part of this month's Milwaukee Film Festival, and he joined Lake Effect's Mitch Teich via skype from his office in Edinburgh to have a conversation about the film.

Time Trial screens three times during the Milwaukee Film Festival, including Sunday, Oct. 21 at the Times Cinema at 7 p.m.