DÉBUT extends over 44 pages and looks like a kind of newspaper. Tino Pohlmann's work is intended to remind us of the beginnings of the Tour de France in 1903, "when printed paper still meant power", according to the press release for DÉBUT. At the beginning of the last century, it was Henri Desgrange who wanted to increase the circulation of his newspaper L'Auto-Velo with a cycling race that readers could follow in his newspaper. It was the birth of the Tour de France. The race grew and grew. Today, it is one of the biggest sporting events in the world and captivates millions.
DÉBUT: Photographic work accompanied by quotations
However, it is no longer just the men who pedal hard on the roads of France - there is now also a Tour de France for women. The Tour de France Femmes premiered in 2022. Pohlmann accompanied the race and showcases the female protagonists in DÉBUT. His photos are garnished with quotes from the riders, in which they give an insight into their inner lives, such as Alena Amialiusik. "It feels as if something is flooding my mind and body at the same time. I like this state in which I switch off completely and feel free and unstoppable."
The look behind the scenes of the women's Tour de France promises even more. "DÉBUT doesn't just show the protagonists on the road, but also takes pictures of the entire Tour de France arena, transporting us to a colourful, loud, crazy and equally picturesque backdrop lined with streams of spectators. Leafing through the large-format, tactile pages, you feel like you're part of this insane race across the Grande Nation for a short time," reads the book's announcement.
DÉBUT is published and available on Collected.photo
