The Cycling Podcast S13 Ep153: Context, What Context?
10 snips
Nov 27, 2025 
Larry Warbasse, a professional road cyclist with Tudor Pro Cycling, dives into the intriguing landscape of competitive cycling. He discusses the uncertainty surrounding the Lotto-Intermarché merger and its implications for the WorldTour. Race dynamics are evolving, with promotion pressures influencing tactics and survival strategies. Warbasse also examines Marcel Kittel's controversial comments on doping and the staggering increase in peloton speeds since COVID, attributing it to advances in equipment and nutrition.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Promotion/Relegation Changed Race Dynamics
- The UCI promotion/relegation system added compelling race storylines and changed team tactics across the season.
- Daniel Friebe argues media exposure and possible shorter cycles would improve its impact.
Uneven Race Calendars Skew Fairness
- Huge variation in race days between teams creates unfair advantages in points accumulation.
- Larry Warbasse suggests limiting race days or otherwise regulating calendars to protect riders and competition.
Cap Team Race Days To Reduce Over‑racing
- Limit total team race days to prevent burnout and competitive imbalance.
- Example suggestion: cap teams around 275 race days to reduce over-racing and protect riders.
