The Cycling Podcast

The Cycling Podcast rings in the New Year by looking ahead to the 2023 season and some of the big storylines that may or may not play out on and off the road. Daniel Friebe is joined by former pro team manager and spin doctor Brian Nygaard and current AG2R Citroën ace Larry Warbasse. Having discussed the main headlines of the festive period, our not-so-clairvoyant trio hears from various other Cycling Podcast regulars, who this week provide their 2023 predictions for our deliberation. Can one nation really win all three Grand Tours in 2023? Or one team? And will the revelation of the next twelve months be a rookie who calls himself “Il Bandito”? Find out which galaxy brains are behind these and several other fanciful prognostications in the episode. The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens and Science in Sport. Pod Live Sport The Cycling Podcast will be part of the line-up at Pod Sport Live at Kings Place in London’s King’s Cross on Sunday, February 12 2023. To buy tickets go here. The 11.01 Cap

The Cycling Podcast Féminin's final episode of 2022 sees the return of the Christmas Quiz! But before their competitive sides kick in, Rose Manley, Orla Chennaoui and Lizzy Banks share their highlights of the season and are in agreement for once.  In a year when the inaugural Tour de France Femmes put women’s racing in the spotlight, they reminisce over some of the moments that captured their imagination at the race. Among them is the tightly-contested GC battle, Annemiek Van Vleuten’s eventual high mountain domination and getting to witness Marianne Vos – the greatest of all time – in yellow.  Honourable mention also goes to the finale of the Women’s Tour where Elisa Longo Borghini snatched overall victory by one second from Grace Brown, with practically the last pedal stroke of the whole race. The emergence of a potential new rivalry between Annemiek Van Vleuten and Lotte Kopecky also caught the attention, with the pair sharing the spoils across two of the most thrilling races of the year: Strade Bianche

The Cycling Podcast completes its review of the 2022 season by electing our “Team of the Year”. In reality, it wasn't a difficult choice: Jumbo-Visma ruled the roost both in the terms of the quality and quantity of their victories, with Jonas Vingegaard's Tour de France title, Wout van Aert's July tour de force and Tobias Foss's rainbow jersey capping a sensational season. In an extended interview, the team's Managing Director Richard Plugge reminds us of his and their remarkable journey over the past decade, from the brink of oblivion to something akin to what Plugge calls "total cycling". Before that, Daniel Friebe and Rob Hatch discuss the week's big stories, including Astana's sacking of Miguel Ángel López. There's also a cameo from Ned Boulting of ITV and The Road Book, who tells us about that publication's riders of 2022. The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens and Science in Sport. Pod Live Sport The Cycling Podcast will be part of the line-up at Pod Sport Live at Kings Place in London’s K

In this episode Tom Whalley speaks to Paul Farrell, the founder of Leggera who now designs frames and other items for some of the biggest brands in cycling. His career has seen him live in 55 different countries, with 15 years spent living and working in a carbon factory in China. Prior to that he spent over a decade working in the oil business, during which time he was shot at with bows and arrows. He also survived in the world's worst hovercraft tragedy. The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens and Science in Sport. Supersapiens Supersapiens is a continuous glucose monitoring system that helps you make the right fuelling choices. See supersapiens.com Science in Sport For 25% off all your SiS products, go to scienceinsport.com and enter the code SISCP25 at the checkout. LinkedIn This episode is supported by LinkedIn Jobs. Post your job ad for free and find the right people for your organisation at linkedin.com/cycle StitchFix Christmas party season is coming so is it time to give your wardrobe a

The Cycling Podcast continues its review of the 2022 season by electing our “Comeback of the Year”. Egan Bernal and Milan Vader made miraculous recoveries from injuries that looked career-threatening, Jai Hindley successfully banished the memory of a wretched 2021…but it’s Geraint Thomas who takes the laurels thanks mainly to his third place in the Tour de France. Before an extended interview with Thomas, Daniel is joined by Brian Nygaard to review the week's main news stories. We get the latest on B&B Hotels and Mark Cavendish, catch up on track and cyclocross news and also reflect on developments following the tragic death of Davide Rebellin. The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens and Science in Sport. Supersapiens Supersapiens is a continuous glucose monitoring system that helps you make the right fuelling choices. See supersapiens.com Science in Sport For 25% off all your SiS products, go to scienceinsport.com and enter the code SISCP25 at the checkout. Nord VPN Get an exclusive Nord

This episode of Kilometre 0 features François Thomazeau talking about The cyclist and his shadow by Olivier Haralambon, which was published by The Cycling Podcast earlier this year. The book is a vivid exploration of what it is to ride a bike by Olivier, a philosopher and former racing cyclist. At the end of the 2020 Tour de France, François described the book – published in its original French as Le coureur et son ombre – as his favourite cycling book, which piqued our interest. François translated the book into English and The Cycling Podcast published it. Reading Olivier's book takes you into the very flesh of bike riding, it leads you straight into the noises, the sights, the smells, the urges involved in leaving the upward position for the stoop in the saddle. But it also takes you into the saddle itself, into the frame and the cogs and even the road, the tarmac, the rain and the sweat. It is more a book to feel than a book to read. – François Thomazeau Click here to buy the book Listeners in the

In this episode of The Cycling Podcast, we continue our review of the 2022 season by looking at some of the biggest stories of the last eleven months - and a troubling year for certain sections of the cycling media itself. Daniel Friebe is joined by AG2r-Citroën rider Larry Warbasse and Jeremy Whittle, the co-founder of Procycling Magazine and now The Guardian's Tour de France correspondent. We also review the week's news and reflect on the tragic death of former Italian rider Davide Rebellin. The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens and Science in Sport. Supersapiens Supersapiens is a continuous glucose monitoring system that helps you make the right fuelling choices. See supersapiens.com Science in Sport For 25% off all your SiS products, go to scienceinsport.com and enter the code SISCP25 at the checkout. Nord VPN Get an exclusive Nord VPN deal by going to nordvpn.com/tcp MAAP The Cycling Podcast x MAAP collection is available now. Go to maap.cc to see the full MAAP range. D Vine Cellars T

The Cycling Podcast continues its review of the 2022 season by electing our “Ride of the Year” - and courting controversy with that selection. You can keep your Remcos at Liège, your Pogs at Strade Bianche, we say - the finest single exploit of the men’s cycling year was Tobias Foss’s giantkilling act in the World TT championship in Wollongong. In this episode, to help account for our choice, Foss himself gives us a forensic description of how he turned an annus mirabilis into an annus…iridis or “rainbow year”. Before that, Daniel is joined by Rob Hatch to review the week's main news stories. We get the latest on Nairo Quintana and Mark Cavendish, catch up on track and cyclocross news and also hear about the sad passing of a titan in the world of anti-doping. The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens and Science in Sport. Supersapiens Supersapiens is a continuous glucose monitoring system that helps you make the right fuelling choices. See supersapiens.com Science in Sport For 25% off all your SiS

In this episode of Service Course, Lizzy Banks talks to Henry Furniss, who describes his mission as 'enhancing adventure with disruptive techonology'. In 2019, he left WindyMilla, the company he co-founded, and the following year he hinted to Service Course what he planned to do next. Now he can put more flesh on the bones of his new project, which combines two of our favourite things – new materials and 3D printing. Lizzy met Henry on London's Brick Lane during the recent Rouleur Classic. Also in this episode, Lizzy chats to Tom about his production and sound design work on the Tour d'Écosse series for The Cycling Podcast and hints that there are plans for a full equipment and kit debrief with Lionel and Simon – neither of whom could be described as technical experts – in next month's episode. The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens and Science in Sport. Supersapiens Supersapiens is a continuous glucose monitoring system that helps you make the right fuelling choices. See supersapiens.com Sci

How does a WorldTour professional evaluate his own performance? How does his team? What about his colleagues and training partners? In this week’s episode, regular guest Larry Warbasse of AG2R Citroën Team and his compatriot, Joe Dombrowski of Astana Qazaqstan, are invited to analyse and critique their respective 2022 seasons – and then to turn the spotlight on each other.  Daniel Friebe conducts proceedings as we also discuss the week’s main headlines, including news on Mark Cavendish’s future team and Lachlan Morton’s plans and latest adventures.  The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens and Science in Sport. Supersapiens Supersapiens is a continuous glucose monitoring system that helps you make the right fuelling choices. See supersapiens.com Science in Sport For 25% off all your SiS products, go to scienceinsport.com and enter the code SISCP25 at the checkout. MAAP The Cycling Podcast x MAAP collection is available now. Go to maap.cc to see the full MAAP range. Rocket Money Keep track of you

The final episode of the Tour d’Écosse series covers the last three stages of the ride to visit each of Scotland’s Football League grounds. Stage 13 of the trip takes Lionel and Simon from Montrose to Peterhead, via Aberdeen and a visit to Slains Castle, which inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula. At 128 kilometres it’s the longest stage of the entire tour too but, fortunately, it's somewhat tailwind-assisted. The following day, however, they battle a fierce headwind on the way to Elgin City’s Borough Briggs, before the last leg takes them from Birnie to Dingwall, the home of the 42nd and final football club on their itinerary, Ross County. This episode also features a chat with Scotland’s Commonwealth Games road race bronze medallist Finn Crockett, who supports Ross County. In total, over 15 days of cycling, they covered more than 1,300 kilometres and spent almost 58 hours in the saddle. The Tour d’Écosse was recorded by Lionel Birnie and Simon Gill. Production and sound design by Tom Whalley. Broomwagon su

The Angus stage of the Tour d’Écosse takes Lionel Birnie and Simon Gill from Dundee up to Forfar and Brechin before dropping down to the seaside in Arbroath and finally hugging the coastline to Montrose. There are a couple of culinary delights on the way, the Forfar Bridie for brunch and the Arbroath smokies for lunch before heading to watch the Red Lichties, Arbroath, take on East Fife at Gayfield Park, which is apparently the closest football ground in Europe to the sea. It’s a ride of almost 100 kilometres with more than 1,000 metres of climbing through the beautiful Angus countryside. Supersapiens Supersapiens is a continuous glucose monitoring system that helps you make the right fuelling choices. Stay in your performance zone with Supersapiens. Find out more at supersapiens.com Science in Sport Lionel and Simon were fuelled by Science In Sport. Everything you need before, during and after your ride. For 25% off all your SiS products, go to scienceinsport.com and enter the code SISCP25 at the checkou

Join Lionel Birnie and Simon Gill in Freuchie as they recap the first stage of the Tour d’Écosse following their return to Scotland for their journey around the country visiting all the football grounds. First, though, an exploration of Freuchie’s cricketing exploits before they roll through the Lomond Hills to Perth, the home of St Johnstone, and then up to Dundee where the city’s two football clubs play in their own separate grounds that happen to be just across the street from each other. On the way Lionel and Simon are joined by another couple of Dotwatchers who had been following their progress and joined them for a few kilometres. Supersapiens Supersapiens is a continuous glucose monitoring system that helps you make the right fuelling choices. Stay in your performance zone with Supersapiens. Find out more at supersapiens.com Science in Sport Lionel and Simon were fuelled by Science In Sport. Everything you need before, during and after your ride. For 25% off all your SiS products, go to scienceinsp

After just 165 rest days, the Tour d’Écosse resumed in Bonnyrigg in late September for the final stretch of the journey taking in the remaining Scottish Football League grounds. The route director had to re-draw the course over the summer because Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic became the newest members of the Scottish League after winning promotion at Cowdenbeath’s expense in May. And so, instead of picking up where they left off in Alloa in April, Lionel and Simon head to Bonnyrigg, which is just south of Edinburgh for the first of six stages that would take them all the way north to Dingwall. We find out what connects Bonnyrigg to James Bond 007, we cross through the Scottish capital and, with the Netflix Tour de France series currently in production, hear from filmmaker Finlay Pretsell about the challenges of making documentaries about professional cycling. Then it’s over the Forth Road Bridge again – no confusion about how to get across the water this time – picking up a dotwatcher or two on the way, before re

In the November episode of The Cycling Podcast Féminin, Rose Manley, Orla Chennaoui and Lizzy Banks talk transfers. With a number of high profile riders swapping teams, The Cycling Podcast team discuss the mechanics behind the moves and how they might change the face of racing next year.  Drawing particular attention is the official arrival of Zoe Backstedt on to the Women’s World Tour. The 18 year old is the first rider to ever hold four World Championship titles across four different disciplines at the same time. She speaks to Orla about her imperious year and her goals for the forthcoming season when she’ll join Lizzy at EF Education-TIBCO-SVB.  Zoe will not only be racing against her sister Elynor (Trek-Segafredo) next year but will also be looking to beat her dad Magnus too. The former Paris-Roubaix champion will be taking up a place in the Canyon SRAM race car as their new directeur sportif Magnus chats to Orla about his ambitions to steer a competitive and popular Canyon SRAM team towards much needed

All roads lead to Alloa as the first stretch of Tour d'Écosse stages come to a conclusion with a trip to see the Wasps take on Clyde in the shadow of the beautiful Ochil Hills. The roll out is from the site of the West Lothian Cycle Circuit at Linlithgow. Lionel meets Matt Ball, one of the driving forces behind the creation of the circuit about how he hopes it will inspire generations of young cyclists and give riders of all abilities somewhere to meet, ride and race. Then it's a short final stage via Falkirk, Stenhousemuir and Stirling before the last stretch to Alloa in time for kick-off and the pre-match specialty, a Scotch pie on a roll. Yes, you read that correctly – a pie in a bread roll. The Tour d'Écosse resumes next time with the final run of stages taking Lionel and Simon all the way to Dingwall, home of Ross County. The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens and Science in Sport. Supersapiens Supersapiens is a continuous glucose monitoring system that helps you make the right fuelling ch

After some initial confusion about which bridge would take them from Edinburgh across to Fife, Lionel and Simon’s Tour d’Écosse journey continues with stage eight. It’s a relatively short stage but there’s a deceptive amount of climbing on the course today and Simon is beginning to feel it. His efforts to slow Lionel down come to nothing. Tired legs does not explain the sinking feeling the pair get when they reach Cowdenbeath… Supersapiens Supersapiens is a continuous glucose monitoring system that helps you make the right fuelling choices. Stay in your performance zone with Supersapiens. Find out more at supersapiens.com Science in Sport Lionel and Simon were fuelled by Science In Sport. Everything you need before, during and after your ride. For 25% off all your SiS products, go to scienceinsport.com and enter the code SISCP25 at the checkout. MAAP The Cycling Podcast x MAAP collection is available now. Go to maap.cc to see the full MAAP range. Hammerhead The Tour d'Écosse routes were created using th

Stage seven of the Tour d’Écosse is as close to the traditional transitional stage as it’s possible to get. The route avoids the Bathgate Alps and takes the low route from Glasgow to Edinburgh. In Lionel and Simon’s defence they have to go via Livingston Football Club’s Tony Macaroni Arena. It’s a beautiful, quiet ride offering time for reflection and reminiscence before they reach the outskirts of the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. Simon visits the Caledonian Brewery before they reach the home of Heart of Midlothian and then it’s on to Hibernian and a glimpse of some Sunshine on Leith. Supersapiens Supersapiens is a continuous glucose monitoring system that helps you make the right fuelling choices. Stay in your performance zone with Supersapiens. Find out more at supersapiens.com Science in Sport Lionel and Simon were fuelled by Science In Sport. Everything you need before, during and after your ride. For 25% off all your SiS products, go to scienceinsport.com and enter the code SISCP25 at the checkout.

In this episode of The Cycling Podcast, one of the revelations of 2022, Fred Wright of Bahrain Victorious, meets Daniel Friebe to review his season and discuss his journey so far towards the upper echelons of the World Tour. Before that, Daniel is joined by Rob Hatch to review the week's main news stories. We get the latest on Nairo Quintana, Jay Vine and Mark Cavendish - and also hear from new BikeExchange-Jayco signing Alessandro De Marchi. The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens and Science in Sport. Supersapiens Supersapiens is a continuous glucose monitoring system that helps you make the right fuelling choices. See supersapiens.com Science in Sport For 25% off all your SiS products, go to scienceinsport.com and enter the code SISCP25 at the checkout. MAAP The Cycling Podcast x MAAP collection is available now. Go to maap.cc to see the full MAAP range. Noom If you would like to lose weight in a sustainable way and embed some healthy eating habits go to noom.com/cycle Friends of the Podc

We’re still in Glasgow, and this is the big one, the Queen Stage of the Tour d’Écosse with seven current Scottish Football League grounds on the route, plus a couple of wild cards. Lionel and Simon drop in on Cathkin Park, the so-called ‘ghost ground’ and former home to the long defunct Third Lanark club. There are stops at Hampden Park, home of the Tartan Army, Parkhead – or Paradise to give it another name – Cumbernauld and Airdrie, the club with two second names Albion Rovers, Hamilton Academical and Motherwell. We also explore the sectarian divide which splits the city with Kenny Pryde. The eyes of the cycling world will be on Glasgow, and other parts of the country as Scotland takes centre stage in August 2023 as hosts of the UCI World Championships. The first ‘Super Worlds’ as Lionel calls it, will see 190 rainbow jerseys awarded across multiple cycling disciplines. But what will the World Championships mean for the future of Scottish Cycling? We hear from Jimmy McCallum and Peter Ellen of The Cyclin