Boulder Filmmakers Celebrate Cycling Underdog with 'GRINTA!' Screening and 'Grinta for Life' Wellness Program

New documentary on Italian cyclist Eros Poli's 1994 Tour de France win inspires midlife wellness movement in Colorado.

Mar. 5, 2026 at 11:43pm

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A new documentary film, 'GRINTA!', recounting Italian cyclist Eros Poli's unlikely 1994 Tour de France stage victory, is captivating audiences and fueling a burgeoning midlife wellness initiative called 'Grinta for Life' in Boulder, Colorado. The film explores themes of resilience and perseverance that resonate beyond the cycling world, inspiring a movement focused on helping individuals in midlife reclaim their identity, community, and physical vitality.

Why it matters

As people live longer, there is a growing societal demand for programs and initiatives that help maintain health, purpose, and connection as individuals age. The 'Grinta for Life' program taps into this desire, offering a framework for resilience and reinvention through shared experiences, storytelling, and evidence-based tools.

The details

The film 'GRINTA!' revisits Eros Poli's legendary 1994 Tour de France stage win, where the Italian cyclist, often relegated to leadout duties, defied expectations by launching a solo breakaway and securing a victory that remains a iconic moment in cycling history. The film follows Poli as he returns to France and Italy thirty years later. The impact of the film extends beyond the screen, inspiring Boulder business owner and executive producer Jay Crain to create the 'Grinta for Life' program, which is designed to help individuals in midlife reclaim their identity, community, and physical vitality.

  • The film 'GRINTA!' premiered near the Mont Ventoux stage of the 2023 Tour de France.
  • A screening of 'GRINTA!' is scheduled for March 11, 2026 at the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder, Colorado.

The players

Eros Poli

An Italian professional cyclist best known for his surprising solo stage victory on Mont Ventoux during the 1994 Tour de France.

Jay Crain

A Boulder business owner and executive producer of the film 'GRINTA!', who experienced a personal transformation through cycling after a health crisis and was inspired to create the 'Grinta for Life' program.

Gregory Welk

A professor of kinesiology at Iowa State University who will participate in a Q&A session following the Boulder screening of 'GRINTA!'

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What they’re saying

“Grit isn't just about sport. It's about how we show up in our relationships, our health and our purpose.”

— Jay Crain, Boulder business owner and executive producer of 'GRINTA!'

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The success of 'GRINTA!' and 'Grinta for Life' highlights the power of storytelling and community in fostering wellness. Poli's inspiring story and the shared experience of overcoming challenges are driving a movement that emphasizes resilience, reinvention, and the importance of maintaining health and purpose as individuals age.