The Cycling Podcast

The Cicle Classic is England's answer to the spring classics. Paris-Roubaix is the Hell of the North so perhaps this ought to be known as the Beast in the East. The race celebrates its 20th anniversary this month, with the 2025 edition taking place on Sunday, April 27. Held in the East Midlands, the race criss-crosses the countryside, taking in rough, rutted farm tracks. If it was created today it would be considered a gravel race. The Tour of Flanders has the Koppenberg, Gent-Wevelgem has the Kemmelberg, Paris-Roubaix has the Arenberg – the Cicle Classic has Somerberg. Lionel Birnie explores the history and character of the UK's highest-ranked one-day race and hears from the founder Colin Clews who had the idea, Matt Stephens, who was third in the first edition two decades ago, Conor Dunne, who won in 2016 and James McCallum, who was on the podium in arguably the most dramatic and certainly the muddiest edition in 2012. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast Frie

Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie return to review the latest headlines and talking points from the world of pro cycling, this week in the company of Tudor Pro Cycling ace Larry Warbasse, aka ‘The Motown Maestro’. While the Classics leave the flatlands of Flanders behind and head south towards hillier terrain, Larry has been getting ready for his big goal of the spring, the Giro d’Italia, in Spain’s Sierra Nevada. We hear what he’s made of the duel that has provided the central plot of the Classics so far, Pogačar versus Van der Poel, and also about high-altitude Giro prep.  There’s also Coorevits Corner and a look back at another remarkable week for team UAE Emirates, crowned by João Almeida’s victory in Itzulia.  Sponsored by Laka The Cycling Podcast’s coverage of the spring Classics is supported by Laka. Laka offers specialist bike insurance that goes further than you think. It’s powered by a collective of cyclists who all have each others’ backs. They won’t charge a fixed sum, instead, they calculate you

We are hitting the road for this month’s episode of The Cycling Podcast Féminin. Join Rose Manley and Denny Gray in their little Bar Tabac just a stone’s throw from the famous Paris Roubaix cobbles. They’ll be calling up Rebecca Charlton to collectively cast an eye over this season’s early Classics. Talk inevitably turns to SD Worx who have been the most successful of the teams so far, although they certainly haven’t had it all their way. Their stars Lotte Kopecky and Lorena Wiebes have managed some mighty solo wins, often without the powerful team support that we’ve come to expect. Plus we transport our listeners to the pavé of Northern France in our mini feature. Follow along with Rose and Denny in a mad dash to the velodrome as they cover Paris-Roubaix Femmes. Soak up the atmosphere and hear from the likes of Paris-Roubaix debutant Imogen Wolff, former men’s champion Magnus Backstedt and former Pédaleuse de Charme Marthe Truyen. We’ll also be looking ahead to what is set to be a thrilling Ardennes Class

Join Lionel Birnie, who is in the André-Pétrieux velodrome in Roubaix, and Daniel Friebe as they recap the 122nd edition of Paris-Roubaix. With Tadej Pogačar making his much-anticipated debut in the (senior) race, and Mathieu van der Poel aiming for a third consecutive victory – something that hasn’t been done since Francesco Moser ruled the pavé (1978-1980), the Hell of the North was billed as a showdown between these generational talents. But with half-a-dozen other genuine contenders, it also promised to be an open race. Sponsored by Laka The Cycling Podcast’s coverage of the spring Classics is supported by Laka. Laka offers specialist bike insurance that goes further than you think. It’s powered by a collective of cyclists who all have each others’ backs. They won’t charge a fixed sum, instead, they calculate your monthly contributions – up to a maximum capped amount – based on the collective’s claims. There’s no excess so you won’t be penalised when it comes to making a claim. Laka is back as a proud s

Join Rose Manley and Denny Gray in the André Pétrieux velodrome as they record their post-race reaction to the fifth edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes Avec Zwift. With world champion Lotte Kopecky aiming for a second consecutive Hell of the North win – which would also make her the first woman to do the Flanders-Roubaix double in the same season – can anyone stop Classics specialists SD Worx? Sponsored by Laka The Cycling Podcast’s coverage of the spring Classics is supported by Laka. Laka offers specialist bike insurance that goes further than you think. It’s powered by a collective of cyclists who all have each others’ backs. They won’t charge a fixed sum, instead, they calculate your monthly contributions – up to a maximum capped amount – based on the collective’s claims. There’s no excess so you won’t be penalised when it comes to making a claim. Laka is back as a proud sponsor of The Cycling Podcast. Listeners can get their first 30 days free by signing up with the code TCP30 at laka.co/tcp  Follow us o

Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie return to discuss the latest racing and news in professional cycling – this week with ace TNT commentator Rob Hatch.   We revisit some of the big talking points after the Ronde van Vlaanderen at the weekend, including Mathieu van der Poel’s disrupted preparation and what the result means for Eddy Merckx-Tadej Pogačar comparisons.  Of course on Sunday Pogačar could achieve a feat that no one since Merckx has managed – winning Paris-Roubaix as the reigning Tour de France champion. Can he do it? And if not, could the subject of another Coorevits Corner this week, Belgian sweetheart Wout Van Aert, be the man to thwart him? Sponsored by Laka The Cycling Podcast’s coverage of the spring Classics is supported by Laka. Laka offers specialist bike insurance that goes further than you think. It’s powered by a collective of cyclists who all have each others’ backs. They won’t charge a fixed sum, instead, they calculate your monthly contributions – up to a maximum capped amount – based

Rose Manley and Rebecca Charlton pick over what was set to be a fiercely contested Tour of Flanders. Defending champion Elisa Longo Borghini heads up the top favourites for the race and arrives in fine form following her Dwars Door Vlaanderen victory. Meanwhile, World Champion Lotte Kopecky comes to the race without a win to her name this season but on the lookout for a historic third title in De Ronde. Or could a new Queen of the Cobbles be crowned in Flanders?  Sponsored by Laka The Cycling Podcast’s coverage of the spring Classics is supported by Laka. Laka offers specialist bike insurance that goes further than you think. It’s powered by a collective of cyclists who all have each others’ backs. They won’t charge a fixed sum, instead, they calculate your monthly contributions – up to a maximum capped amount – based on the collective’s claims. There’s no excess so you won’t be penalised when it comes to making a claim. Laka is back as a proud sponsor of The Cycling Podcast. Listeners can get their first 3

Join Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie as they analyse the men’s edition of the Tour of Flanders. With the three big stars of the spring – Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogačar and Mads Pedersen – set to go head to head, who else could force their way into the reckoning, and would Wout van Aert and his Visma-Lease A Bike team be able to play a part in the latter stages? Sponsored by Laka The Cycling Podcast’s coverage of the spring Classics is supported by Laka. Laka offers specialist bike insurance that goes further than you think. It’s powered by a collective of cyclists who all have each others’ backs. They won’t charge a fixed sum, instead, they calculate your monthly contributions – up to a maximum capped amount – based on the collective’s claims. There’s no excess so you won’t be penalised when it comes to making a claim. Laka is back as a proud sponsor of The Cycling Podcast. Listeners can get their first 30 days free by signing up with the code TCP30 at laka.co/tcp  Follow us on social media: Twitter @c

Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie return to discuss the latest racing and news in professional cycling - this week with top TNT commentator Rob Hatch.   We discuss an intense weekend of racing, with a pair of key appetizers before the Tour of Flanders: E3 Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem. The two semi-Classics saw Mathieu van der Poel and Mads Pedersen in superlative form, so who, besides Tadej Pogačar, could possibly stop them in Flanders on Sunday?  Wout Van Aert’s chances are the subject of this week’s Coorevits Corner. We also look back at the Volta a Catalunya and the latest tour de force by Primož Roglič. This week’s episode ends on a sombre note as we remember our late co-founder Richard Moore, who was the subject of a special tribute in Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday.   Sponsored by Laka The Cycling Podcast’s coverage of the spring Classics is supported by Laka. Laka offers specialist bike insurance that goes further than you think. It’s powered by a collective of cyclists who all have each others’ backs. They w

Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie return to discuss the latest racing and news in professional cycling - this week in the company of former CSC, Sky and GreenEDGE communications maestro Brian Nygaard.  After our Arrivée episode at the weekend, we discuss one or two talking points that we missed in the immediate wake of Sanremo - and the hot breaking news that Tadej Pogačar will ride Paris-Roubaix.  There’s also a look at the Volta a Catalunya, where Lennard Kämna is making his comeback after a career-threatening crash a year ago. The episode features an interview with Kämna and also our weekly trip to Coorevits Corner, where Hugo is expecting E3 Harelbeke to deliver a few home truths.  Sponsored by Laka The Cycling Podcast’s coverage of the spring Classics is supported by Laka. Laka offers specialist bike insurance that goes further than you think. It’s powered by a collective of cyclists who all have each others’ backs. They won’t charge a fixed sum, instead, they calculate your monthly contributions – up t

Arrivée is The Cycling Podcast’s quick-fire race analysis show offering a first take on the biggest races. Join Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie as they discuss their first impressions of the opening Monument of the spring, the longest one-day race on the World Tour calendar, Milan-Sanremo. Who will triumph on the Via Roma and how did they do it? Sponsored by Laka The Cycling Podcast’s coverage of the spring Classics is supported by Laka. Laka offers specialist bike insurance that goes further than you think. It’s powered by a collective of cyclists who all have each others’ backs. They won’t charge a fixed sum, instead, they calculate your monthly contributions – up to a maximum capped amount – based on the collective’s claims. There’s no excess so you won’t be penalised when it comes to making a claim. Laka is back as a proud sponsor of The Cycling Podcast. Listeners can get their first 30 days free by signing up with the code TCP30 at laka.co/tcp  TRIBUTE TO RICHARD MOORE AT GENT-WEVELGEM Friend of the Po

Rose Manley and Jo Rowsell cast their eye over one of the most hotly anticipated races of the year, Milano-Sanremo Donne. The last time the race was staged for women was 20 years ago, leaving plenty of intrigue over how it would be approached by this current crop of riders. This season’s battle of SD Worx versus Demi Vollering was expected to continue into this race. The Dutch team boasted both World Champion Lotte Kopecky and super sprinter Lorena Wiebes in their line-up, making them the team to beat. However, former alumnus Vollering – now of FDJ Suez – got the better of them at Strade Bianche and looked to do it again on the famous climbs of the Cipressa and Poggio.  There were plenty of contenders for the inaugural Milano Sanremo Donne title elsewhere too. Trofeo Binda champion Elisa Balsamo heads up Lidl-Trek, Elisa Longo Borghini looks to make a big impression as Italian champion and Kasia Niewiadoma races for the first time since her Strade Bianche crash. Arrivée is The Cycling Podcast’s quick-fire

Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie return to discuss the latest racing and news in professional cycling - this week in the company of Tudor Pro Cycling ace Larry Warbasse aka ‘The Motown Maestro’.  Fresh(ish) from finishing Tirreno-Adriatico, Larry delivers his verdicts from The Race of the Two Seas. Who, if anyone, was hot in the often frigid weather conditions? And who still has work to do ahead of Milan-Sanremo on Saturday.  Daniel spent the week on the other side of the Med at an even soggier Paris-Nice. We discuss a successful title defence for Matteo Jorgenson there and other highlights. There’s also the latest instalment of ‘Coorevits Corner’, plus some pre-Sanremo speculation.  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 Franc

With old grudges and new rivalries playing out on the gravel roads of Tuscany, Strade Bianche offered up plenty to talk about in this month’s episode of The Cycling Podcast Féminin. Rose Manley and Denny Gray are joined by cycling broadcaster Rebecca Charlton to discuss all the juicy details, plus they look ahead to the return of Milan-Sanremo with a mini-feature about the race’s predecessor, the Primavera Rosa. Ever since Demi Vollering's move to FDJ-Suez and Anna Van der Breggen announced her return to the peloton last year, anticipation of a fierce rivalry between the pair has been rising. After Strade Bianche and their first meeting at Setmana Valenciana, it is fair to say that the match-up has already more than exceeded expectations. Van der Breggen has proven to be the only rider in the peloton capable of matching Vollering for power and tactical nous, although Vollering has thus far always come away with the spoils. Strade Bianche also saw former world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot take third place

Lionel Birnie, Rob Hatch and Brian Nygaard recap Strade Bianche, where Tadej Pogačar recovered from a crash, picked himself up from the adjacent field and still managed to see off a spirited challenge from Tom Pidcock. We ask whether Pidcock should have waited – and whether, indeed, waiting was what he did – and discuss what the rest of the peloton can do to stop Pogačar when he’s in such irrepressible mood. With the peloton split between two week-long stage races, Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico, this week we keep an eye on the likely storylines, including an aggressive start to the Race to the Sun. 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 Marmo

Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie are back to review the latest news and racing in the world of procycling, assisted this week by ace commentator Rob Hatch.  ‘Opening Weekend’ may not have lived up to all the hype but both Omloop het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne did serve up some juicy talking points. Among the hottest topics in the Belgian media were Visma-Lease a Bike’s toils - and they’re also on the agenda in this week’s ‘Coorevits Corner’, our weekly check-in with Flandrian cycling oracle Hugo Coorevits. In part three of the episode, we look ahead to Strade Bianche and Paris-Nice at the weekend. One of the favourites for overall victory on the Promenade des Anglais a week on Sunday, Pavel Sivakov, also shares some childhood memories of “The Race to the Sun” and discusses newfound confidence since joining UAE Team Emirates last year.  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

It's the equivalent of Christmas Eve in Flanders, the night before Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the opening cobbled classic of the spring season. Join Lionel Birnie and Rob Hatch as they preview the race and wonder who can stop Visma-Lease A Bike winning four in a row. There's a wistful meander down memory lane recalling past editions, an attempt to capture the elements that make Omloop such an eagerly-anticipated race, and a bit of light speculation ahead of Saturday's race. 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. Go to the Tour de France Grand Départ in Lille, or see the race in the A

Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie are back to review the latest news and racing in the world of procycling, assisted this week by Tudor Pro Cycling stalwart Larry Warbasse aka ‘The Motown Maestro’. Tour de France rivals Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard both began their seasons last week - both with instant success. Pogačar’s GC win in the UAE Tour came thanks to stage victories in the two mountain stages to Jebel Jais and Jebel Hafeet, while Vingegaard left it late with his final-day TT triumph in Portugal. In part three of the episode, Larry updates us on an encouraging start to his season. We then premiere a new feature for the Classics season – Coorevits Corner – starring veteran Belgian reporter Hugo Coorevits. 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 VI

 Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie welcome Brian Nygaard for his first podcast appearance of 2025, as we look ahead to another prominent Dane’s return to action this week.  Jonas Vingegaard starts his bid to topple Tadej Pogačar at the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal, after a year and particularly a Tour de France that left them wondering what, if anything, they could do to dethrone the Slovenian. We ponder the question while also discussing what other impediments, besides his rivals, that Pog could encounter on his path to a fourth Tour win.  We also hear from one of Vingegaard’s key lieutenants, Matteo Jorgenson, and reflect on the weekend’s races in Portugal, Spain and France.  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 on

In the February episode of The Cycling Podcast Féminin, Rose Manley, Orla Chennaoui and Jo Rowsell pick over the UAE Tour, a race which often offers up some key insight for the season ahead. Plus we look at some of the junior world champions of the past in our mini feature. There’s plenty to discuss from the UAE Tour, as Elisa Longo Borghini took a commanding overall victory while Lorena Wiebes went almost unchallenged as she swept up all three sprint stages. Some other big favourites didn’t fare so well though. Pauline Ferrand Prévot has made no secret of her Tour de France Femmes ambitions since her comeback but was noticeably absent among the first finishers on the top of Jebel Hafeet. While the new line-up at FDJ-Suez failed to take home a top ten on any stage. In our mini feature we speak to former and present junior world champions and see how they’ve fared since hitting the elite ranks. We hear from Lucy Van der Haar nee Garner who retired five years ago, Canyon-SRAM rider Zoe Backstedt, current juni