The Cycling Podcast

In this week’s episode of The Cycling Podcast, Daniel Friebe is joined by Brian Nygaard and Michele Pelacci as we run the rule over the men's 2026 Giro d’Italia just presented in Rome.  The ‘Corsa Rosa’ will start from Eastern Europe for the second year in a row. After Albania this year, next May it’ll be Bulgaria’s turn to host Italy’s national tour - at a hefty price. In part three of the episode, we hear from Eurosport’s Bulgarian reporter Simeon Kichukov about what the Giro should expect from Bulgaria and his homeland from the race. We then ‘revisit’ Albania - checking in with their national coach, Mejdin Malhani - to find out what legacy, if any, the Giro has left there.   There’s also discussion about which GC contenders might actually be tempted to throw their hat into the ring. Should Jonas Vingegaard seize this chance to complete a Grand Slam of Grand Tours? One of our hosts this week certainly believes so… EPISODE SPONSORS NordVPN Get NordVPN two-year plan + four months extra ➼ https://nordvpn.com/tcp It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee. Indeed If you are looking to hire someone for your company, maybe the best way isn’t to search for a candidate but to match with Indeed. Go to indeed.com/cycle now to get a £100 sponsored job credit and get matched with the perfect candidate fast. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to new special episodes every month plus a back catalogue of more than 300 exclusive episodes. The 11.01 Cappuccino Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it’s after 11am). The Cannibal & Badger Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our new virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in. The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

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.

Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, a professional cyclist and mentor for Team Amani, discusses the exciting rise of African cycling. She shares her personal experiences as a rider and highlights the cultural barriers females face in the sport. Mentorship plans for Team Amani, aimed at empowering African female cyclists, take center stage. The team aspires to compete in the Tour de France Femmes by 2028, showcasing their vision for a fully African roster and development efforts to grow grassroots cycling across the continent.

Vasilis Anastopoulos, Head of Performance at Astana, shares how data-driven strategies helped the cycling team avoid WorldTour relegation. He discusses the innovative recruitment of a data engineer and the introduction of targeted race planning. Joe Dombrowski reflects on the team's challenging morale and identity issues before the turnaround. Together, they reveal insights on their rigorous training schedule, nutrition, and the impact of new equipment, showcasing a remarkable transformation in just a year.

Matt White, a seasoned cycling directeur sportif now with Movistar after a long stint at Jayco–AlUla, dives into the challenges faced by mid-tier teams in a Pogačar-dominated era. He discusses rising costs, sponsorship pressures, and the importance of youth development. White also shares insights on team culture at Movistar, the significance of strategic race tactics, and the role of AI in coaching. With a clear vision for the upcoming season, he aims to boost victories and nurture young talent while balancing family commitments.

This episode dives into the fragile state of World Tour teams, spotlighting Jayco-Alula's near collapse and the uncertainty around the Lotto-Intermarché merger. Speculation surrounds Tadej Pogačar's 2026 season as race organizers scramble to entice him. The rising costs of cycling create tension among mid-tier teams, while contract market dynamics leave some riders in limbo. Plus, discussions on the Giro's rumored routes and the fallout from recent scandals add a riveting edge to the conversation. The hosts mix in light-hearted banter and personal updates, making it a lively wrap-up.

Larry Wabasse, a pro rider for Tudor Pro Cycling and once dubbed 'The Ghost', shares insights on his upcoming season and training. He reveals why he earned that nickname and provides travel tips for Madeira. The discussion dives into the complexities of the Athlete Biological Passport, with Larry explaining the testing process and implications of flagged results. He also highlights training trends, names underappreciated performances from the past season, and predicts rising stars for next year’s challenges!

The hosts react to the exciting unveiling of the 2026 Tour de France route, analyzing its suspenseful structure designed to challenge even the strongest racers. They debate the implications of internet leaks and how these might influence the competition. Key stage highlights include a team time trial in Barcelona and the grueling Plateau de Solaison ascent. They also discuss the adjustments to the green jersey scoring system and tackle logistical challenges of crowd control on iconic climbs like Alpe d'Huez. Expect thrilling racing strategies ahead!

The Monument season ended at the weekend in time-honoured fashion, with il Lombardia, and its now traditional denouement of a Tadej Pogačar victory. What more can anyone say about Pogačar’s extraordinary domination? As ever, we at least try to dig out new superlatives, this week with Daniel Friebe, Lionel Birnie and TNT’s voice of cycling, Rob Hatch.  We’ve got other reflections from Lombardy, including on Quinn Simmons’ remarkable performance and Redbull-Bora-hansgrohe’s struggles. There’s also the usual round-up of some of the week’s most eye-catching news stories, including the latest on Derek Gee and the battle for survival in the WorldTour.     EPISODE SPONSORS NordVPN Get NordVPN two-year plan + four months extra ➼ https://nordvpn.com/tcp It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee. Babbel Learn a language the fun, easy way with intuitive 15-minute lessons you can do when you want. Choose from 14 languages including Spanish, French, Italian and German. Listeners can get up to 60% off for a limited time only at babbel.com/cycle Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to new special episodes every month plus a back catalogue of more than 300 exclusive episodes. The 11.01 Cappuccino Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it’s after 11am). The Cannibal & Badger Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our new virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in. The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

It’s a meeting of minds on this month’s episode of The Cycling Podcast Féminin as Rose Manley, Denny Gray and Rebecca Charlton take a closer look at sports psychology in light of World Mental Health Day. We hear from Dr Allie Wagener, sports psychologist at the Human Powered Health team about her work. Plus we hear from General Manager Ro de Jonckere and rider Ruth Edwards about the ongoing influence sports psychology has on the workings of the team both on and off the bike. The Cycling Podcast Féminin team also pick over the European Championships road race and debate the merits of that surprise World Championships win in the first regular episode since the race. Also on the agenda: cheese wheel rankings, the brief return of “Casio Niewiadoma” and the fear of a burnt pizza. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to new special episodes every month plus a back catalogue of more than 300 exclusive episodes. The 11.01 Cappuccino Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it’s after 11am). The Cannibal & Badger Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our new virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in. The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.