Scratches | Bikepacking The Silk Road Mountain Race

Scratches is not a film about ending a race, as much as it is about the start of it all—the origin of cycling adventures for someone like Manu. This journey, in many ways, parallels the experiences of numerous individuals. Why do we need this kind of riding? Why do we crave this adventure? Rather than providing a generic answer, the film delves into Manu’s relationship with cycling as a tool for freedom, exploration, meditation, and perhaps even therapy in some ways. The film unfolds in the Kirghiz mountains during the Silk Road Mountain Race in 2023, where Manu crashed and had to scratch. It then retraces its steps back in time and travels to other lands. Initially, the film was intended to be a video race recap, but it evolved into a love letter to freedom and movement. Eventually, it underwent another transformation, and Scratches is the result of a constantly evolving process in that regard. A film by Ryan Le Garrec and Manu Cattrysse. Produced by Chiru, Tailfin and Hunt.