The Cycling Podcast

In this week’s episode of The Cycling Podcast, Daniel Friebe is joined by the veteran French journalist François Thomazeau and the Aussie former Classics maestro Mitch Docker to recap Opening Weekend - the Belgian double-header dominated, as per the predictions, by the Visma-Lease a Bike team.  Wout Van Aert was the favourite for Saturday’s Omloop het Nieuwsblad and indeed looked to be zeroing in on victory until the peloton him down in the closing kilometres. It was left to Jan Tratnik to ‘save’ Visma-Lease a Bike and take the win…with Van Aert having to wait until the following day’s Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne to open his Classics account for 2024. We discuss these and other notable performances from the two races, and also hear from Bahrain Victorious’s Fred Wright about what went…wrong for him at Omloop. Julian Alaphilippe, too, has had better weekends, and would have been hoping for a better response to his boss, Patrick Lefevere’s, recent criticism in the Belgian media. Nevertheless, we ask: what exactly was Lefevere playing at?  Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast 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). 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. MAAP The Cycling Podcast x MAAP collection is available now. Go to maap.cc to see the full MAAP range. Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to more than 60 exclusive episodes. The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

In this week’s episode of The Cycling Podcast, Daniel Friebe is joined by the journalist Richard Abraham & top commentator Rob Hatch, as we look forward to a very eagerly anticipated Opening Weekend in Belgium.  Before thoughts turn to Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne,, we review some racing highlights from the last weekend, most notably from the Algarve in Portugal, where Remco Evenepoel passed the 50-victory mark in his still very young career. We then shift our attention to the Var in France, where our ‘own’ Larry Warbasse performed with some distinction on a fine weekend for his Décathlon-AG2r La Mondiale team..  In the final part of the episode, we focus on two upcoming races where Visma-Lease a Bike will be expected to pick up where they left off in 2023, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and O Gran Camiño in Galicia, Spain - start ramp for Jonas Vingegaard’s 2024 campaign. We hear from one rider who’ll be hoping to thwart the “killer bees”  in Belgium, Fred Wright of Bahrain Victorious, before telling you why tall trees may fall hard in the not-too-distant future in Galicia - even if that doesn’t apply to Vingegaard this weekend.  Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast 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). NordVPN This episode is supported by NordVPN. Ensure your security online with a subscription today. Listeners will get an exclusive NordVPN deal at nordvpn.com/tcp Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to more than 60 exclusive episodes. The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

In this week’s episode of The Cycling Podcast, Daniel Friebe is joined by the journalist Richard Abraham & Décathlon-AG2r La Mondiale stalwart Larry Warbasse - a still slightly soggy Larry Warbasse after his season’s début at a very wet Tour de la Provence. We discuss how Mads Pedersen whipped up a storm that blew the rest of the field away in the south of France - & ask whether the weather conditions themselves were even fit for racing. The Belgian whirlwind, Remco Evenepoel, also began his season at the weekend in Portugal, & did so with a trademark long range win. We hear from him, while turning our thoughts to the Tour de France; that race will also define everything Mark Cavendish does between now and July, and the Astana sprinter’s coach, Vasilis Anastopoulos, gives us a full debrief on a successful start to the year in Colombia. Finally, we look ahead to one of the less ballyhooed races taking place in the coming days - The Tour of Rwanda - & hear from one rider for whom it will literally mean the end of the road. 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. Get six months free with the purchase of a six-month subscription at Babbel.com/play with the promo code CYCLE24. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast 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 The Cycling Podcast x MAAP collection is available now. Go to maap.cc to see the full MAAP range. D Vine Cellars The 2023 Vuelta a España wine selection is available now at dvinecellars.com Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to more than 60 exclusive episodes. The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

In this week’s regular episode of The Cycling Podcast, Daniel Friebe is joined by top commentator Rob Hatch and the Danish former comms chief turned team manager turned journalist, Brian Nygaard.  We take a look back at a busy week of racing - including the cyclocross World Championships - and some of the biggest stories of the last week, including heartening news about the Tour of Britain. It’s then time to focus on some of the big talking points and performances at the AlUla Tour, Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and Étoile de Bessèges - including an excellent week for Brian’s countryman, the Lidl-Trek star Mads Pedersen.  In the final part of the podcast, we discuss the upcoming 20th anniversary of Marco Pantani’s death and - with the help of a couple of Italian friends - arrive at the conclusion that ‘il Pirata’s’ life and legacy still deserve to be revisited.  Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast 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). Tour De Lunsar 2024 If you would like to help the Tour De Lunsar you can donate on the gofundme page  https://gofund.me/2cdb3cdd MAAP The Cycling Podcast x MAAP collection is available now. Go to maap.cc to see the full MAAP range. D Vine Cellars The 2023 Vuelta a España wine selection is available now at dvinecellars.com Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to more than 60 exclusive episodes. The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

In this week’s regular episode of The Cycling Podcast, Daniel Friebe is joined by two of cycling’s most recognisable and beloved commentators - Renaat Schotte and Rob Hatch - to discuss to the start of the European road season and look ahead to the cyclocross Worlds in Tábor, Czechia.  The reigning ‘cross world champions, Mathieu van der Poel and Fem Van Empel, are both favourites to retain their titles at the weekend. Renaat tells us why a Van der Poel victory, in particular, looks a safe bet…but possibly not a foregone conclusion.  In the last part of the podcast, we switch our attention to the tarmac and examine some of the themes of the road season so far. After last week’s laurels for the 20-year-old Mexican wunderkind Isaac Del Toro, we’re treated to an even closer look at his journey to the top by some of the men and women who first brought him to Europe with the A.R. Monex team.  Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast 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 The Cycling Podcast x MAAP collection is available now. Go to maap.cc to see the full MAAP range. Tour De Lunsar 2024 If you would like to help the Tour De Lunsar take place in 2024 you can donate on their gofundme page  https://gofund.me/2cdb3cdd Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to more than 60 exclusive episodes. The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

We’re looking at life a little upside down in the first Cycling Podcast Feminin of the year. Special guest cycling journalist Rebecca Charlton joins Rose Manley and Denny Gray to look over the first Women’s World Tour race of the year – the Tour Down Under in Australia. We analyse the veracity of overall winner Sarah Gigante’s claims that she was “washed up” at the age of 23 and all get into a hotly-fought argument over Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig’s prospects for the year. We’re also introducing the first in our year-long series of mini features. In this month’s episode we look into the current crop of talented New Zealand racers and ask what’s behind the sudden rise in Kiwi riders. Rose speaks to World Tour talents Niamh Fisher-Black and Mikayla Harvey plus former TIBCO rider Jo Kiesanowski and Patrick Harvey, manager of the development team Black Magic Women.  The team also round-up the latest news on the future of the Women’s Tour following the liquidation of organisers Sweetspot. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast 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 The Cycling Podcast x MAAP collection is available now. Go to maap.cc to see the full MAAP range. Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to more than 60 exclusive episodes. The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

In this week’s regular episode of The Cycling Podcast, Daniel Friebe is joined by former peloton stalwart Mitch Docker and former pressroom stalwart François Thomazeau to review the first WorldTour race of the 2024 season, the Santos Tour Down Under. We discuss how Stevie Williams’ thrilling overall victory represents a return from the brink for the Welsh rider - and one tinged with controversy. The other two breakout stars of the race were BORA-Hansgrohe sprinter Sam Welsford and UAE Team Emirates’ 20-year-old Mexican prodigy Isaac del Toro. We investigate Del Toro’s roots - and look at phenoms of yesteryear who did or didn’t deliver on their early promise.  There’s also the usual round-up of the week’s news and a look at what INEOS Grenadiers are plotting - and trying to change - in 2024.  Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast 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). Babbel If you want to learn a language – perhaps Italian, French or Spanish to help you at on your travels to one of the grand tours, or Dutch or Danish so you can speak to Mathieu van der Poel or Jonas Vingegaard – Babbel is for you. Get six months free with a six-month subscription at Babbel.com/play with the discount code CYCLE24 MAAP The Cycling Podcast x MAAP collection is available now. Go to maap.cc to see the full MAAP range. Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to more than 60 exclusive episodes. The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

When, midway through last year’s Tour de France, Caleb Ewan ‘celebrated’ his 29th birthday, in fact far from rejoicing, the Aussie sprinter was enduring some of the most difficult days of his career - out of form and out of favour with his Lotto-Dstny team, so much so that his boss, Stéphane Heulot, would respond to Ewan quitting La Grande Boucle by questioning his professionalism.  Ewan’s relationship with Lotto looked irredeemably broken - and indeed, three months later, Jayco-Alula announced that they and Ewan were to reunite in 2024. Another three months have now passed since that news broke - and Ewan is finally ready to set the record straight, as he did in this in-depth interview with The Cycling Podcast on the eve of The Tour Down Under: on why he and Heulot never hit it off; on whether, as reports suggested last summer, he even contemplated retirement; and, most importantly, on his new beginning with the team where for him it all started.  The Cycling Podcast is supported by Science in Sport. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast 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). Babbel If you want to learn a language – perhaps Italian, French or Spanish to help you at on your travels to one of the grand tours, or Dutch or Danish so you can speak to Mathieu van der Poel or Jonas Vingegaard – Babbel is for you. Get six months free with a six-month subscription at Babbel.com/play with the discount code CYCLE24 Science in Sport The Cycling Podcast has been supported since 2016 by Science In Sport. World leading experts in endurance nutrition. Go to scienceinsport.com to see the whole range. MAAP The Cycling Podcast x MAAP collection is available now. Go to maap.cc to see the full MAAP range. D Vine Cellars The 2023 Vuelta a España wine selection is available now at dvinecellars.com Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to more than 60 exclusive episodes. The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

This week’s regular episode of The Cycling Podcast is our annual Speculation episode, in which we ponder & prognosticate what will be the major stories of the coming season. Daniel Friebe is joined by Décathlon-AG2r La Mondiale star Larry Warbasse & ace commentator Rob Hatch - & together they’ll scrutinise the 2024 predictions of assorted friends, colleagues & riders. Can Visma-Lease a Bike repeat their 2023 heroics? Will Mark Cavendish take his 35th Tour de France stage win? And will the year end with Patrick Lefevere & Mikel Landa BASE jumping in Venezuela? We discuss all of the above & more…  The Cycling Podcast is supported by Science in Sport. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast 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). Science in Sport The Cycling Podcast has been supported since 2016 by Science In Sport. World leading experts in endurance nutrition. Go to scienceinsport.com to see the whole range. MAAP The Cycling Podcast x MAAP collection is available now. Go to maap.cc to see the full MAAP range. D Vine Cellars The 2023 Vuelta a España wine selection is available now at dvinecellars.com Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to more than 60 exclusive episodes. The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

In this special episode of The Cycling Podcast, as a festive treat, we serve up a Christmas selection box of highlights from the 2023 men's Grand Tours. Proceeding in chronological order, we journey back in time first to May and the Giro d'Italia, where Daniel Friebe and Brian Nygaard saw lots of rain, a race that took its time to catch light, then a finale for the ages.  Next, Lionel Birnie took over at the steering wheel for the Tour de France - variously assisted and accompanied by François Thomazeau, Mitch Docker, Lizzy Banks, Ian Boswell and Richard Abraham.  Finally, it was on to Spain and the Vuelta - where Daniel and an assortment of familiar guests saw Jumbo-Visma continue their quest to make history by winning all three Grand Tours in a single season. The Cycling Podcast is supported by Science in Sport. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast 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). NordVPN This episode is supported by NordVPN. Ensure your security online with a subscription today. Listeners will get an exclusive NordVPN deal at nordvpn.com/tcp   Science in Sport The Cycling Podcast has been supported since 2016 by Science In Sport. World leading experts in endurance nutrition. Go to scienceinsport.com to see the whole range. MAAP The Cycling Podcast x MAAP collection is available now. Go to maap.cc to see the full MAAP range. D Vine Cellars The 2023 Vuelta a España wine selection is available now at dvinecellars.com Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to more than 60 exclusive episodes. The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.