The Cycling Podcast

We’re on the Ligurian Riviera for the first Monument of the season - almost live from the finish-line on Via Roma. Join Daniel Friebe & Brian Nygaard to hear how the race was won & what some of the key protagonists said. There’s also a cameo from perhaps our most cherished friend - Ciro Scogamiglio of La Gazzetta dello Sport. buycycle Arrivée is brought to you by buycycle – the online marketplace for used bikes, where cyclists buy and sell pre-loved bikes with complete confidence. 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 100 exclusive episodes. Our latest, four-part KM0 special, ‘Classicissi

This week’s episode of The Cycling Podcast is a special dispatch from the Côte d’Azur, partly recorded at the home of our own Captain America - better known to us as Décathlton-AG2r La Mondiale’s ‘Motown Maestro’ Larry Warbasse - and featuring an exclusive interview with Visma-Lease a Bike’s newly crowned Paris-Nice champion, Matteo Jorgenson, on the morning after his triumph on the Promenade des Anglais.  Larry and Daniel Friebe kick off with a recap of some of the week’s big stories, including Paris-Nice. Jorgenson’s victory was the most important in his flourishing career to date - and, over coffee in Nice’s Vieux Port, the Californian by birth, Idahoer by upbringing and Niçois by adoption tells Daniel how he overcame pre-race favourite Remco Evenepoel and childhood friend Brandon McNulty. After that, also in Nice, we hear journalist François Thomazeau’s reflections on what was due to be his final Race to the Sun.   In the last part, it’s back to Larry’s secluded hideaway in Èze to hear about his week in

In this week's episode of The Cycling Podcast, Daniel Friebe and journalist Richard Abraham are back in the bike race bubble at Paris-Nice, where two of the Big Four contenders for this year's Tour de France start to piece together their preparations for July.  Remco Evenepoel comes fresh from victory at the Volta ao Algarve but is taking on a stage race on French soil for the first time in his career. Meanwhile Primož Roglič looks to open his account for his new team, BORA-hansgrohe, at a race he won in 2022. We discuss the expectations of both riders and hear from experienced Australian Jack Haig on what makes Paris-Nice a race of singular difficulty.  Of course we also tackle the weekend's big talking point, namely the exploits of another one of the Big Four, or should that be the Super Six: Tadej Pogačar at Strade Bianche. Daniel and Richard hear from Pog's former teammate Matteo Trentin and digest an 81km solo victory that will undoubtedly go down as one of one of his greatest hits.  Follow us on soci

We’re looking at motherhood in our February episode of The Cycling Podcast Féminin. With Ellen Van Dijk’s much-anticipated return from maternity leave on the horizon, we explore the growing trend of racers returning to the peloton post-baby. Rose Manley speaks to Lizzie Deignan, one of the first women to be supported by her team to a return to racing and her agent Emma Wade, as well as new mum and Uno-X rider Joss Lowden, former Trek-Segafredo rider Abi Van Twisk and former British champion Meg Backstedt (née Hughes). Rose is also joined by Orla Chennaoui and Denny Gray to look at the recent racing, most notably a rare debut win for the GOAT Marianne Vos at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Discussion descends into bickering as the team try to decide how well Lidl-Trek played their tactics at the race after finishing third and fourth. We also ponder Lotte Kopecky’s recent transformation after showing off her climbing legs on the UAE Tour’s Jebel Hafeet and wonder how that might affect a seemingly tense relationship wi

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

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, befor

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 liter

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 Su

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 emai

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:

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

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. Foll

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 l

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 updat

In this special, end-of-year episode of The Cycling Podcast, Daniel Friebe is joined by a star-studded ensemble of regular guests to relive and debate some of the highlights of the 2023 road season. Mitch Docker, François Thomazeau, Larry Warbasse, Richard Abraham (fortunate to avoid inclusion in the episode artwork!), Ian Boswell, Rob Hatch and a certain Italian newshound all drop in to share in the festive fun - and give their nominations for the Ride of 2023, Person of 2023, Beef of 2023 and other accolades. 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

Yes, it’s the most wonderful time of year… Christmas quiz time! Reigning champ (or so she claims) Orla Chennaoui pits herself against quiz debutant Denny Gray in Rose Manley’s fiendish Yuletide puzzler. Let your brain be bamboozled by humdingers like, how many corners were there in the World Champs course? Did Demi Vollering really explain her teammate’s toilet habits in a post-race interview? And most crucially, which rider is “Orange Bumcrease”? As is only appropriate at Christmas time, prepare for a whole load of sledging on all sides. Before all that, Rose, Orla and Denny reveal their racing highlights of the year and in a Cycling Podcast first, Denny closes the show with his performance of “12 Days of SD Worx-mas”.  Merry Christmas to all our listeners! The Cycling Podcast is supported by Science in Sport. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast The 11.01 Cappuccino Our email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjo

In this week’s regular episode of The Cycling Podcast, we visit Bora-Hansgrohe at their December billet in Mallorca for an in-depth interview with the team’s Head of Sports Rolf Aldag.  It turned out to be a timely conversation, coming as it did hot on the heels of news that Cian Uijtdebroeks had walked out on Bora-Hansgrohe to sign for Jumbo-Visma - his agent claimed after his Bora deal had been terminated, the team said a year before it was due to expire.  Here, Aldag talks to us about Uijtdebroeks’ shock exit and what it could mean for Bora, the rider and the sport. We also, of course, discuss the star signing who has recently moved the other way, from Jumbo to Bora, Primož Roglič. There’s much more besides – on Rolf’s own career, the winning formula he helped to create at HTC High Road, Jan Ullrich’s belated doping confession and Mark Cavendish’s hopes of another Tour de France stage win. The Cycling Podcast is supported by Science in Sport. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagra

In this week’s episode of The Cycling Podcast, long-time Grand Tour diarist Pavel Sivakov joins us to reflect on his 2023 season and look ahead to his imminent move to the world’s number one-ranked team, UAE Team Emirates.  The winner of the Giro della Toscana in September and a top-10 finisher in six stage races, Sivakov enjoyed his best season ever in 2023 - and yet recognises that, in some pundits’ eyes, his Grand Tour results are still used as the single measure of his career trajectory. He and Daniel Friebe discuss why that is while also looking back at his time at INEOS, examining that team’s quest to build a new identity, dissecting his own issues with self-doubt - and casting thoughts ahead to the next phase of his career.  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

In this episode of The Cycling Podcast, Daniel Friebe is joined by ace Eurosport commentator Rob Hatch to discuss the latest headlines from the world of professional cycling and some of the burning issues of the week.  In Germany, the hot topic of the last few days has been the release of the new, multi-part Jan Ullrich documentary ‘Der Gejagte’. Daniel reports back on what we as viewers learn and also reflects on how the film in some ways acts as the perfect afterword to his Ullrich biography.  In the final part of the episode, there’s time for a bit more self-examination - in this case from Rob on the ever-evolving craft of the commentator.  The 12 Hills of Christmas route on Strava 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). Hammerhead This episode is

In this week’s regular episode of The Cycling Podcast, Daniel Friebe is joined by Brian Nygaard and Ian Boswell - both of them formerly of Team Sky as a press chief and rider respectively - as we chew over the shock news that Deputy Team Principal Rod Ellingworth is to leave the British outfit.  We analyse Ellingworth’s legacy and ask where the team goes next, having lost one of their founding fathers. Are they on the brink of a bright new era or contemplating a crisis of identity?  There’s also discussion of the news last week that GCN+ and the GCN App are to close – in addition to the usual round-up of the latest headlines.  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 This episode is supported by Babbel - language learning that works. Babbel is o