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It's the summer of 1893 in the Belgian city of Nemure.

22-year-old Maurice Gaural wheels his worn-out bicycle down the cobbled streets,

conserving his energy for what lies ahead, rounding a corner into the city's pulsating center,

Maurice's heart pounds as he spots the starting line of the race that could change his life.

Known as Le Fou, or The Fou, Maurice is somewhat infamous in his hometown for his free-wheeling and reckless cycling.

A chimney sweep by trade, he's still relatively new to the world of competitive cycling.

So far, he's had a few strong finishes, but victory has always alluded to him.

Today, Maurice hopes that will change, and that the cycling community will sit up and take notice.

The energy on the street is palpable, a cyclist's jostle at the starting line,

the crowd roaring for their favorites.

Slowly, Maurice wheels his bicycle to the back of the pack,

and within moments of his arrival, the cyclists are all. Almost immediately, Maurice surges ahead,

taking the competition and crowd by surprise. But those who know him aren't shocked at all,

Maurice is called Le Fou for a reason, and his reckless bursts of speed are no secret.

By the race's midpoint, Maurice has built a commanding lead,

but disaster strikes as something punctures and deflates his back tire.

It seems Maurice's race is over, but as he leans his damaged bike against a nearby wall,

Glimmer of Hope appears. One of the race organizers has a spare bicycle,

and without wasting a second, Maurice ceases his opportunity.

Cheers ripple through the crowd as he mounts the spare bike and speeds off again,

his sights set on reclaiming the lead. The roar of the crowd reaches a crescendo,

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