‘Taking the piss’ Jai Hindley and Ben O’Connor hit out at Netflix series portrayal
Just days before the start of the Tour de France, two of Australia’s leading cyclists have lashed their portrayal in Netflix’s new Tour de France: Unchained series.
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Australia’s top two cyclists have both sensationally hit out at Netflix after the streaming service insinuated a rift between them in the latest series of its hit show, Tour de France: Unchained.
The series is cycling’s answer to Drive to Survive, which has also been hit by similar claims of over-dramatisation.
An entire episode of the current series, which was produced by Netflix and released in early June, was dedicated to the supposed enmity between star climbers and Perth-locals Jai Hindley and Ben O’Connor.
But, just days before he starts the 2024 edition of the Tour this weekend, Hindley says his comments were taken out of context to create non-existent drama.
“To be honest, mate, I’ve got no issues with Ben O’Connor at all, there’s no rivalry on my end,” he said. “He’s a good guy, I’ve known him for a long time. There’s honestly no stress.
“Netflix is just taking the piss. They’ve cut, changed and dramatised everything.
“In the end, I get it, but all the things I said were also completely out of context.
“It is what it is. It’s Netflix, it’s gotta be drama. I get it, but in terms of me and Ben, no issues at all.”
O’Connor, who was portrayed in an unflattering light in the episode, also says the show pushed the boundaries.
“The Netflix show is there to try to create storylines,” O’Connor told this masthead. “The ‘rivalry’ between Jai and I is really a laughable prospect.
“We are good mates, we’ve had Christmas dinner together, and are proud of each others’ results throughout the years.”
The episode in question focuses on Tour debutant Hindley’s famous solo win on the mountainous stage five of last year’s race.
Hindley’s win also saw him become just the eighth Australian to wear the leaders’ yellow jersey, joining the likes of Cadel Evans, Robbie McEwen and Stuart O’Grady.
While Hindley celebrated one of the best days of his career, the cameras focused on O’Connor, who had a bad day in the saddle, and was frustrated at the tactics of his AG2R team, which aided Hindley’s final attack.
O’Connor stressed he was happy for the 2022 Giro d’Italia winner Hindley, but added on the episode: “I felt betrayed and undercut. I’m a little annoyed.
“Jai won the Giro, he’s here for the GC (general classification – overall honours), so why are we helping him?
“It’s so f***ing frustrating to see another guy win who you know you can fight with.”
O’Connor has been criticised online after he was made out to be the bad guy when Netflix’s the cameras were allowed in on an honest team discussion.
“Perhaps people fall for it, but it is possible to be in an international professional sport and have good healthy relationships with your competitors – especially those from the same city back in Australia!” he told this masthead.
Netflix’s other behind the scenes sporting hit, Drive to Survive, has suffered similar criticisms. Max Verstappen even refused to sit for interviews for the fourth season of the smash hit, citing fake storylines.
O’Connor rode the Giro in May and isn’t riding this year’s Tour, while Hindley’s role has changed since Bora-Hansgrohe signed superstar Primoz Roglic.
Roglic is the team’s leader and protected rider as Bora plans an underdog effort to loosen the stranglehold Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar have on the race.
Vingegaard and Pogacar have won the last four Tours de France, and Hindley will be riding in support of Roglic.
But, the Aussie is ready to take over as team leader if anything happens to Roglic, who has suffered a string of bad luck at the Tour.
“I’m still ready and in the best shape and best possible mindset,” Hindely said. “He’s the man for the team and they want to win the race with him – he’s got a good history with the Tour.
“But, it’s unpredictable. It’s long, it’s hard and you don’t know what will happen from one day to another.
“Last year for example, I was third on GC, but crashed really hard and that was my GC done. You just have to be prepared for all occasions.
“It’s a really strong team, and I’m just excited to go back to the Tour again.”
The Tour de France is live and free on SBS and SBS On Demand from June 29.
Originally published as ‘Taking the piss’ Jai Hindley and Ben O’Connor hit out at Netflix series portrayal
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