The Cycling Podcast

That's a wrap for the Challenge Mallorca. Lionel Birnie heads to Palma for the final race in the series hoping for dry weather and an incident-free race. Then he reconvenes with Rob Hatch in a soggy, Sunday evening Sóller to recap the day. We hear from Michael Valgren of EF Education-Easy Post and Lotto sports director Dirk De Mol about the cancellation of Saturday's race. And Lionel and Rob take a detour to Palma's two famous velodromes – one old, one new. We play out with The Cycling Podcast's original punk, François Thomazeau. He was once a member of a punk band called Special Service and we hear their track Marseille ou Kingston. Thanks for listening, the regular episodes will return this week to review the week's other racing. Sponsored by Sports Tours International The Cycling Podcast is proudly sponsored by Sports Tours International. Whether you want to ride, or watch the best in the world in action, Sports Tours International can take you to the heart of some of the world’s biggest cycling events. Choose from a VIP experience at the Tour de France or one of the major classics, or riding events such as the Etape du Tour or Marmotte, you can travel in style with Sports Tours International. One of the most prestigious sportive events in the world is the Mallorca 312 in late April. You can experience the beauty of the island on closed roads, tackling either the full 312km, or the short 225km or 167km events. Let Sports Tours International take charge of all the planning and logistics so all you have to do is enjoy the ride. Go to sportstoursinternational.co.uk for full details. 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 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 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 Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

The fourth race in the Challenge Mallorca series was cancelled because of crashes on the opening circuit. But that doesn't stop Lionel Birnie and Rob Hatch talking Balearics for twenty five minutes or so. We discuss the safety issues and the impact of the cancellation on the race. Then we ask whether the Vuelta a España could return to the island of Mallorca for the first time since 1991*, and ponder whether innovative, alternative race formats might be the answer to the safety issues. *Corrections Corner – the Vuelta also visited Mallorca in 1998 when Fabrizio Guidi won in Palma and Abraham Olano won a time trial in Alcúdia. Sponsored by Sports Tours International The Cycling Podcast is proudly sponsored by Sports Tours International. Whether you want to ride, or watch the best in the world in action, Sports Tours International can take you to the heart of some of the world’s biggest cycling events. Choose from a VIP experience at the Tour de France or one of the major classics, or riding events such as the Etape du Tour or Marmotte, you can travel in style with Sports Tours International. One of the most prestigious sportive events in the world is the Mallorca 312 in late April. You can experience the beauty of the island on closed roads, tackling either the full 312km, or the short 225km or 167km events. Let Sports Tours International take charge of all the planning and logistics so all you have to do is enjoy the ride. Go to sportstoursinternational.co.uk for full details. 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 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 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 Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

In this third part of our series from the Challenge Mallorca, Lionel Birnie heads to the Col de Sóller to watch the race, then returns to catch up with Rob Hatch. They discuss the greatest grand tour rider Mallorca has produced and look ahead to the final two events in the series. Sponsored by Sports Tours International The Cycling Podcast is proudly sponsored by Sports Tours International. Whether you want to ride, or watch the best in the world in action, Sports Tours International can take you to the heart of some of the world’s biggest cycling events. Choose from a VIP experience at the Tour de France or one of the major classics, or riding events such as the Etape du Tour or Marmotte, you can travel in style with Sports Tours International. One of the most prestigious sportive events in the world is the Mallorca 312 in late April. You can experience the beauty of the island on closed roads, tackling either the full 312km, or the short 225km or 167km events. Let Sports Tours International take charge of all the planning and logistics so all you have to do is enjoy the ride. Go to sportstoursinternational.co.uk for full details. 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 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 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 Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

The second race in the Challenge Mallorca series takes Lionel Birnie to the south east of the island and a glorious beach. But what is Ciro Scognamiglio's verdict? We hear from man of the match George Radcliffe, Lionel predicts the winner (because of course he does) and we discuss the impact of tourism on the island. Sponsored by Sports Tours International The Cycling Podcast is proudly sponsored by Sports Tours International. Whether you want to ride, or watch the best in the world in action, Sports Tours International can take you to the heart of some of the world’s biggest cycling events. Choose from a VIP experience at the Tour de France or one of the major classics, or riding events such as the Etape du Tour or Marmotte, you can travel in style with Sports Tours International. One of the most prestigious sportive events in the world is the Mallorca 312 in late April. You can experience the beauty of the island on closed roads, tackling either the full 312km, or the short 225km or 167km events. Let Sports Tours International take charge of all the planning and logistics so all you have to do is enjoy the ride. Go to sportstoursinternational.co.uk for full details. 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 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 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 Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

In this lively discussion, cycling journalist Rob Hatch shares his insights on the Challenge Mallorca. He and Lionel Birnie delve into the event's history and highlight Mallorca's stunning landscapes. They explore the quirky influence of sports directors on race dynamics and reminiscing about past thrilling moments. With anecdotes about local culture, from cuisine to the historic charm of Valdemosa, the conversation is a delightful mix of humor and nostalgia that captures the essence of cycling in this beautiful part of the world.

Daniel Friebe, Lionel Birnie and Rob Hatch return to reflect on the Tour Down Under, where the climb up Willunga Hill once again proved decisive and some familiar faces from previous editions shone. To Daniel’s delight, the trio also look ahead to this weekend's cyclocross world championships in France, where Mathieu van der Poel is aiming for his seventh rainbow jersey. Health-permitting, Thibau Nys will be among MVDP’s challengers – and we hear from the precocious Belgian about his past, present and future.  EPISODE SPONSORS 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/tcp 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. 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 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 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 Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

We’re back! In the first episode of The Cycling Podcast Féminin of 2025, Rose Manley, Denny Gray and Jo Rowsell are looking ahead to what promises to be an enticing road season. We offer up our 'bold predictions' (thanks Denny!) for the coming months, sparking arguments galore as we work out which count as downright ‘fanciful’ and which are seemingly probable. Potential Grand Tour victors, Anna van der Breggen’s return and winning opportunities for some young pretenders are all up for debate. Plus we discuss the first Women’s World Tour race of the season – the Tour Down Under – and reflect on what it might mean for the rest of the year. Noemi Rüegg was the overall winner in Australia, cementing her champion status after a breakthrough season last year. There were also stage wins for Daniek Hengeveld and Chloe Dygert, and a first peek at some new look teams. Also on the agenda, a present from the stork, showing off to your ex on Instagram and some continued Christmas Quiz seething. EPISODE SPONSOR 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. 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 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 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 Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

Daniel Friebe, Lionel Birnie and Rob Hatch return to ring in the new season, which commenced this week with the Tour Down Under. After two stages and two emphatic wins for Redbull-Bora-hansgrohe’s “Flying Wombat” Sam Welsford, we look ahead to the weekend’s decisive stages.  There’s also a postscript to last week’s discussions about both the future of the sport and its business model - and also what 2025 has in store for INEOS Grenadiers.  EPISODE SPONSOR 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 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 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 Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

After a Christmas and New Year break, The Cycling Podcast returns with the now traditional early-season speculation episode. With suggestions from some familiar voices, Daniel Friebe, Lionel Birnie and Rob Hatch  look at some of the stories and trends we think may shape the 2025 professional cycling season. Episode sponsors AG1 If you want to take ownership of your health, try AG1 and get a FREE one-year supply of Vitamin D AND five free AG1 travel packs with your first purchase. Go to drinkAG1.com/cycling. 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/tcp 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 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 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 Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

The final Grand Tour of the season rolled out from Portugal in searing temperatures and with question marks over several of the contenders. We were there to witness and report on all of it, with Fran Reyes bringing his sultry presence to week one, Richard Abraham dropping in for week two and Rob Hatch helping to bring the ship in to Madrid. Once again, there were talking points, adventures and laughs aplenty.  The Cycling Podcast presented by Shokz The Cycling Podcast is proudly brought to you by Shokz, pioneers of bone-conduction headphones. Shokz headphones give you unmatched sound quality and comfort without compromising your awareness of the sounds around you. Get £10 off every purchase at uk.shokz.com with the code CYCLING10. The discount code is valid until December 31. 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 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 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). MAAP We’d like to say a big thank you to MAAP for their support of The Cycling Podcast over the past three seasons, and congratulations for their move into the World Tour as kit partners of the Jayco-Alula and LIV-Alula-Jayco teams. Check out the new kits at maap.cc. DVine Cellars Our Christmas ‘Best of the Grand Tour Rest’ selection is available at https://dvinecellars.com/collections/the-cycling-podcast-cases The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.