In this episode of the Spin Cycle podcast, Caley, Kit, Jonny, and Ronan focus on the recent UCI Road World Championships, discussing both the thrilling victories and the controversial incidents that unfolded in Zurich. We recap the men’s and women’s races, highlighting Tadej Pogačar’s extraordinary solo attack in the men’s race and exploring the Dutch women’s team’s unexpected loss, which stemmed from tactical errors. We break down the women's race, examining the unusual dynamic between the Dutch riders and pointing out the squandered opportunities that cost them the win.
Next, the crew examines the controversial decision made by the UCI officials to not penalize Mathieu van der Poel for riding on the sidewalk, even though clear rules prohibit this action. We also discuss Mike Woods’ curious choice of mid-race fuel – bicarbonate soda – and look at the logistical problems encountered at the Tour of Langkawi, where several teams’ bikes were lost in transit. We wrap up the episode by reviewing Suvi Loponen's recent article about the environmental impact of carbon fiber use in cycling and analyze the obstacles the industry faces in tackling sustainability concerns.