BeSpoke: the BBC's cycling podcast

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Tom Fordyce, Rob Hayles and the team with the latest news, big name interviews and features from the world of cycling.

BBC Radio 5 live


    • Jul 22, 2019 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 35m AVG DURATION
    • 31 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from BeSpoke: the BBC's cycling podcast

    Tour de France - Rest Day - Geraint Thomas and Dave Brailsford join BeSpoke

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2019 39:38


    The BeSpoke team drive through the night to join up with reigning Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas and Ineos Team Principle Sir Dave Brailsford on the final rest day. With Julian Alaphilippe cracking for the first time yesterday, the BeSpoke team run through who has a genuine shot of glory in Paris.

    Tour de France - Stage 8 - Breakaways & broken bikes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2019 28:43


    Geraint Thomas and his Ineos teammates crashed with 10km to go but fought back to limit the damage to Gianni Moscon's snapped frame. This was all going on whilst Thomas de Gendt rode a remarkable breakaway victory. Julian Alaphilippe stakes his claim to be considered a real GC contender, and Jeremy pulls out two of the worst jokes you'll hear all summer within a minute.

    Tour de France 2019 preview

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2019 51:31


    The 2019 Tour de France starts this Saturday. With Chris Froome out, we hear from Geraint Thomas who aims to defend his crown. Plus we ask what the future holds for Mark Cavendish after he wasn’t picked by Team Dimension Data.

    The Art of the Time Trial

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2019 40:37


    Bent double, legs aching, lungs burning, knees knocking into your ribcage as you race against the clock: the Time Trial is cycling in its purest form. But what does it feel like to ride a professional TT and what's the science behind it? In 2015 Alex Dowsett broke track cycling's world hour record by 446 metres. He and Michael Hutchinson - who held the competition record for 10, 25, 30, 50 and 100 miles - join BeSpoke to reveal the finer details and find out why it's better to have hairy legs.

    Geraint Thomas's guide to surviving a crash

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2019 26:36


    Geraint Thomas tells BeSpoke he's lucky to be ok following his crash at the Tour de Suisse which could've have scuppered his defence of the Tour de France. He talks us through the finer details of what it's like to crash at 50km/hour and says he'll need to knuckle down over the next couple of weeks to get match fit for cycling's biggest race. Plus we hear how athletes clean up their road wounds, but please don't listen if you're having your dinner.

    Chris Froome in intensive care after 55 kilometres an hour crash

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2019 26:17


    Britain's Chris Froome is in intensive care after crashing into a wall at 55 kilometres an hour during a reconnaissance ride at the Dauphine stage race in south-east France. He will no longer compete in this year’s Tour de France. Sir Dave Brailsford - team principal of Team Ineos - joins BeSpoke to update them on Froome's injuries after the six-time Grand Tour winner was airlifted to hospital with multiple fractures.

    Michael Woods special

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2019 26:09


    EF Education First's Michael Woods played Ice Hockey before becoming an elite runner, only taking up cycling to keep fit. He joins BeSpoke to discuss his journey to front of the peloton, describes how he suffers from imposter syndrome and reflects on how his son Hunter, who he lost at 37 weeks, spurred him on to his maiden grand tour stage victory at last summer's Vuelta.

    Lizzie Deignan special

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2019 21:01


    With the Giro d'Italia in our slipstream, BeSpoke pops across the Pennines to Leeds and a catch-up with Lizzie Deignan - the dominant British female road racer of her generation and, as of eight months ago, a mother to daughter Orla. We find out how she is balancing the competing demands of racing and motherhood, chew over her chances of winning back her World title in Yorkshire this September and ask whether her Trek-Segafredo team-mates have got any closer to cracking the correct pronunciation of her married name

    Giro d'Italia 2019: Carapaz victorious in Verona

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2019 26:54


    In the city synonymous with Romeo and Juliet, there are no late dramas nor tragedies for dashing race leader Richard Carapaz. The BeSpoke team analyse where the young Ecuadorian won this 102nd Giro, pick out their favourite moments of a race that has sometimes underwhelmed and attempt to get Jeremy Whittle to finally pronounce Primoz Roglic's name without hesitation or error.

    Giro d'Italia 2019 - Stage 18

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2019 27:27


    A warm feeling resonates through BeSpoke's Gareth Rhys Owen as the breakaway just kept their advantage after separating from the peloton 170kms out, with Italy's Damiano Cima winning by inches in just his second year as a professional. Richard Carapaz maintains the overall lead in the General Classification with 1min 54 over Vincenzo Nibali and Primoj Roglic back in third. Cycling broadcaster Laura Winter joins Jeremy Whittle and Gareth as the Giro nears completion and discusses whether Simon Yates has egg on his face and how prevalent mechanical doping is in elite cycling.

    Giro D'italia: The final week

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2019 30:39


    Bad weather and dangerous descents made for a captivating 16th stage of the 2019 Giro. The Italian rider Giulio Ciccone won, whilst Richard Carapaz remains the race General Classification leader, a lead he took from Primoz Roglic whose tour turned on its head after a badly timed toilet break. He now sits third behind Carapaz and Vincenzo Nibali with just five stages left. BBC Cycling commentator Simon Brotherton, joins Jeremy Whittle and Gareth Rhys Owen.

    Giro D'Italia 2019: Stage 12 - Hail Cesare

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2019 34:32


    The Guardian’s Tour de France Correspondent Jeremy Whittle and Gareth Rhys Owen join Tom Fordyce as the 2019 Giro d’Italia finally gets exciting with a brilliant 12th stage - Italian Cesare Benedetti claiming his first grand tour stage win in dramatic fashion. Meanwhile Team Ineos are failing to make a dent and one of the BeSpoke team isn’t impressed with how they look in their first Grand Tour in their new kit. They discuss the latest developments in a doping story that is gathering momentum, plus Gareth has some exciting shopping news.

    Masochism & unfinished business – the 2019 Giro d’Italia preview

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2019 57:21


    Last year’s Giro winner Chris Froome tells BeSpoke how he loves to inflict pain on his competitors as we preview the first Grand Tour of the season, the Giro D'italia. Meanwhile fellow Brit Simon Yates - who was on the verge of winning last year’s race before spectacularly imploding - says he’s put it all behind him. Rob’s bottom is blamed for his inability to climb, Jeremy makes a very bold prediction, plus the team are joined by ex pro rider and current manager of EF Education First Jonathan Vaughters, who admits that cyclists are masochistic.

    The Sky's the limit: Volcanoes, cinnamon and the world's steepest road

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2019 27:22


    The journey to Grand Tour victory starts 2'300 metres up Mount Tiede: a dormant volcano in Tenerife which is overdue an eruption. This is where Team Sky have based their training camps since 2010. Bespoke have been given exclusive access to the riders and staff as they help prepare their riders for the summer ahead. Tom Fordyce speaks to Chris Froome as he tries to regain his Tour de France title from teammate Geraint Thomas, he finds out which condiment is quaffed by the bucket load, plus he makes a visit to arguably the steepest road in the world.

    Ropey airports, cobbled roads and retirement

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2019 43:55


    Olympic gold medallist Dani Rowe joins Gareth Rhys Owen on the podcast this week to discuss life after the peloton; Dani retired from road racing in November. Rob Hayles returns from the Tour of Flanders having witnessed one of the worst airports in Europe but one of the best post-race interviews you'll hear. They discuss the pressures and strains of being a professional cyclist in light of British rider Peter Kennaugh announcing this week he'd be taking a break due to mental health reasons, plus they look ahead to the most punishing weekend on a bike: Paris-Roubaix. A race that Rob started three times but never finished.

    The greatest race of all?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2019 46:10


    Tom Fordyce is joined by cycling writer Sadhbh O’Shea and BeSpoke veterans Gareth Rhys Owen and Jeremy Whittle to battle up the steep cobbled climbs and narrow roads of the Tour of Flanders, a race like no other. World no.1 Annamiek van Vleuten tells the team what it takes to win Flanders and reveals why a happy rider is a successful rider and reveals she can't tell the difference between her Mitchelton-Scott teammate twins Adam and Simon Yates. Plus Tom pressurises his guests into predicting a winner and is then blindsided by Gareth in return.

    The near-death story of cycling's great survivor

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2019 43:18


    Tom Fordyce is joined by the Guardian’s Jeremy Whittle and former pro rider Rob Hayles – eventually – as they hear the remarkable story of veteran rider Bernie Eisel’s near-fatal accident and his remarkable recovery. Bernie spills the beans on the strange habits of his team-mate and long-time room-mate Mark Cavendish and offers a tantalising prediction of what the superstar sprinter might do next. Plus the team discuss the cavalier charms of part-time drummer and full-time peloton maverick Julian Alaphilippe, and make a series of poorly-considered Grand Tour forecasts.

    BeSpoke's end of year awards

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2018 41:44


    What a year it’s been. A clean sweep for British riders of the three Grand Tours in Geraint Thomas, Chris Froome and Simon Yates, but who will the BeSpoke team pick as the best rider of 2018? Tom Fordyce gets the band back together and is joined by Rob Hayles, Jeremy Whittle and Gareth Rhys Owen – the team that covered the Tour de France for BeSpoke. As well as rider of the year, awards are also dished out for the best day’s racing, most thrilling moment, and biggest inspiration.

    Mr & Mrs Thomas - How we won the Tour

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2018 51:29


    He cried on his wedding day and when he won the greatest prize in cycling, but listen to Geraint Thomas as you’ve never heard him before in this BeSpoke special. With his wife Sara alongside him, the 2018 Tour de France winner talks to Tom Fordyce about how he overcame mountains and a sore bum on the eve of the world’s biggest race to get the better of his teammate Chris Froome. Thomas's year was capped off by winning the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award in December.

    Is it game over for Cavendish?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2018 26:24


    In this week’s episode, Ben Croucher and the team discuss whether Mark Cavendish’s latest health problems will stop him breaking Eddy Merckx’s famous Tour de France record. They also discuss Chris Froome’s chances of winning the upcoming Tour of Britain, and ask if Simon Yates is learning from his mistakes at the Giro d’Italia to become a contender at the Vuelta a Espana.

    Stage 17: A horrible climb, a happy Welshman and a rapid escape

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2018 26:10


    On a mountain steeper and longer than Alpe D’Huez, Geraint Thomas takes an iron grip on the yellow jersey as Chris Froome cedes precious time and possible team leadership. Meanwhile, Tom and the team take a fruitless cable-car ride and encounter a frustrating buffering issue.

    Is there a Plan G?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2018 33:19


    Geraint Thomas joins Tom Fordyce to chat about his win at the Criterium du Dauphine, his hopes for being a co-leader at the Tour de France, and his plans for the future. Plus, Tom and the team assess the form of fellow Brit Mark Cavendish ahead of the Tour.

    Stage 8: Is Froome losing his nerve?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2018 22:16


    As Chris Froome hits the deck again on Stage 8 of the Giro d’Italia, Tom and Jeremy ask if the five-time Grand Tour winner is experiencing a run of bad luck, or if a great rider is starting to lose his way. They look at whether the race leader Simon Yates can keep his cool in potentially tricky conditions in the coming days, and assess the potential of stage winner Richard Carapaz.

    Stage 7: "Yates brothers race Froome & co like it's a club ride"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2018 29:53


    As Britain's Simon Yates retains the lead at the Giro d'Italia, Tom and Jeremy catch up with his old cycling club in Lancashire, where it all began. Find out what made him the rider he is today, and how his family back home are coping with the drama and excitement.

    Stage 5: Italians rise to the occasion in Sicily

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2018 20:41


    Join Tom Fordyce and cycling journalist Jeremy Whittle as they look back on Enrico Battaglin's stage five victory of the Giro d'Italia ahead of compatriot Giovanni Visconti. Britain’s Simon Yates continues to impress - we talk confidence tricks and virtuous circles. The Australian Rohan Dennis retains the lead but does he have what it takes to hang onto it for much longer? And as Mount Etna looms over the race, will the ancient volcano blow the race wide open?

    Michael Goolaerts Special

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2018 25:27


    Following the death of Veranda's Willems-Crelan rider, Michael Goolaerts at the 2018 Paris-Roubaix race, Tom Fordyce, Rob Hayles and Dr Michael Hutchinson discuss the circumstances around the Belgian’s mid-race cardiac arrest, the reactions of other pro-cyclists and whether testing and screening could prevent further tragedies in the future

    Flaaaaanders & why you shouldn’t interview Luke Rowe with your 4-year-old in the room

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2018 48:06


    On the eve of the second monument - the Tour of Flanders - the guys look at who’s going to win it, speak to Journalist Laura Winter about the women’s race and OJ makes the mistake of trying to interview Luke Rowe whilst his 4-year-old daughter is in the room.

    Welcome to the 80s, where mullets were helmets & cyclists dreamed of aluminium

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2018 36:26


    After they managed to track down the man who made the Channel 4 TDF theme music, OJ, Tom and Rob revel in what cycling was like in the 80s. They also review the first monument of the season and look at the problem with potholes on British roads.

    Chris Froome returns an "adverse" drugs test

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2017 28:32


    Reaction to Chris Froome returning an "adverse" drugs test at the Vuelta a Espana. Follow the team @5liveSport and use the hashtag #BeSpoke for video highlights from each show.

    Six days, hill climbs & journalistic heavyweights

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2017 34:58


    This week, OJ Borg, Rob Hayles and Dr Michael Hutchinson discuss how six-day racing saved Rob from a Dickensian life as a chimney sweep, speak to Haley Simmonds about the National Hill Climb Championships and when it's OK to vomit. And they send their biggest journalistic heavyweight to conduct the first media interview of deposed UCI president Brian Cookson.

    Chris Froome's Secret World of Climbing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2017 77:52


    Ahead of this year's Tour de France, the three-time champion Chris Froome takes us inside the peloton as he talks about the tactics, the psychology, the pain, the rivalry, and the close encounters with fans during the famous mountain stages.

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