Escape Collective

In the latest installment of our special edition podcast, Orogenesis Dispatches, Josh Weinberg talks with adventure cyclist Kurt Refsnyder, who is riding the entire trail from the US border with Canada all the way to Mexico.Kurt checks in from Bridgeport, California, about 2,000 miles (3,200 km) into the 5,000-mile (8,000 km) route. From there, with it being nearly halfway through the route, he reflects on challenges that have included substantial sections of deadfall in Oregon, smoke and fires in Idaho, and unexpectedly hard sections like a soft rail bed in Northern California. He also reveals a feeling of relief being in California, where the trails are more established for bikes, and deadfall will hopefully be less of a concern.The bulk of the conversation addresses reader/listener-submitted questions that span a multitude of topics, including using an electronic drive train over a mechanical one, riding without a chamois pad, how he chooses camping spots, the daily joys of waking up on the trail, and what lies ahead.

Today on the show: Movistar is the new destination team, Kristoff crashed out, and we're headed back to Ayuso Alleyway.

Today on the show: Alexander Kristoff may miss his milestone, UCI points really matter for the next couple of weeks and there are more people leaving Ineos this off-season.

Today on the show: We have new world champions, but there are many more fun things to talk about from the road races in Rwanda. Meanwhile, breaking news, Juan Ayuso is already causing a ruckus at Lidl-Trek.

Juan Ayuso has a new home, Chloe Dygert has a sticker printing machine, and there are also some World Championships happening in Rwanda. 

Josh Weinberg recently checked in with Kurt Refsnider, a bikepacker attempting the first full ride of the Orogenesis Trail. At roughly 5,000 miles, the route begins at the Canada–US border and travels through Washington, Oregon, and California to the Mexico border, then onto the Baja Divide.At the time of recording, Kurt was in Paisley, Oregon, about 1,100 miles in, nearing California and the halfway point through the U.S. section.Kurt details how challenging the ride through Washington was, with nearly 120,000 feet of climbing and descending over rugged moto trails and non-motorized singletrack near Mount St. Helens. He faced detours due to land closures, and construction added to the difficulty.Once in Oregon, Kurt has primarily followed the Oregon Timber Trail. Using elevation gain as a metric for daily effort, he explains how climbing has taken priority over daily mileage, aiming for 7,000 to 8,000 feet of climbing per day.He also dives into gear maintenance and resupply strategies, which have been tough, with dust wearing down his suspension and brake pads, and unpredictable provision availability. He's already swapped out some wear items and explains how opting for battery packs over a dynamo hub for power has worked out.Along the way, Kurt has been fueled by strong community support.Folks following along are tracking his progress, offering lodging, bringing food, and sharing real-time trail conditions. Looking ahead, he faces a tough, deadfall-heavy section in southern Oregon. Once he crosses into California, he'll encounter faster ATV trails before taking a rest near Quincy and heading into long singletrack sections through Truckee and Tahoe, where we plan to catch up with him again.

Today on the show: Remco made it three in a row as he passed Pogačar by, SRAM is suing the UCI and we have an update on the Israel-Premier Tech situation.

Today on the show: Worlds starts this weekend, we love Tom Pidcock's mum, and Philly is back, baby. 

Today on the show: Alabelievers rejoice, the greatest Vuelta podium on a shortened final stage, and what does this all mean for pro cycling? 

Today on the show: Tadej Pogacar has is mojo back, Juan Ayuso won a bet, and we've got new tech to talk about.

Or is there any difference anymore? Today on the show: Is the Vuelta is a real bike race? Is UAE a good bicycle team? Is Chris Hoy the best? And is Geraint Thomas happy he's done? 

Remember when Juan Ayuso was the biggest story of the week? Today on the show: Protests in the Basque Country bring the Vuelta to a halt, GC Pidcock has arrived, maybe? And we still haven't talked about Juan Ayuso officially leaving UAE, so we'll definitely talk about that.

In this first dispatch from the field, Josh Weinberg talks to Kurt Refsnider, who is attempting to ride the entire Orogenesis Trail from the Canadian border through Washington, Oregon, and California to Mexico via the Baja Divide.On day 12 of his journey, Kurt shares his progress, which entails riding over 500 miles into Washington with nearly 85,000 feet of climbing, much of it on challenging single-track and moto trails.Kurt also discusses the physical and mental demands of this particular trail thus far. He compares the experience to other long-distance trails, such as the Colorado Trail and the Tour Divide, with an emphasis on how rugged and demanding Orogenesis is. Reflecting on the balance between effort and reward, Kurt also touches on the performance of his equipment, camping conditions, and the encouragement he receives from local riders and towns.

Today on the show: Juan Solo looks to free himself from the new Death Star, rebel fighter Jonas Vingegaard quietly plots his route to destroying the UAE empire, High Prince Kulset is out of a job thanks to his father, and on the distant republic of Edinburgh, the Grand Départ isn't looking as certain as it once was …

Today on the show: Vuelta drama fizzles before it starts and there's been another bike theft.

Today on the show: The Vuelta is underway, Vingegaard is back, and Danny van Poppel can't stop collecting yellow cards.

Today on the show: Mads' middle finger, Pogačar doesn't want you to take his picture, and the Secret Pro is back. And no, we will not be answering the question in the episode title. But you're welcome to guess! 

Today on the show: A Vuelta preview from Dane, disqualifications at Romandie with Abby, and Mike Woods is retiring, which makes us sad. Plus, the big green egg Pogačar bought his teammates. 

Head to Escapecollective.com/member to sign up today.Today on the show: Arkea and maybe Jayco are in a little bit of trouble? Tom Pidcock is going for GC again, and Patrick Levefere is angrily posting photos of his sandwiches.

Today on the show: Pogacar is tired, a punch up in Portugal, and Kit went to a show. Let's get to it.

Is Remco's move to Red Bull good? Is Michael Storer an egg thief? Caley, Jonny, and Iain have the answers. 

“Orogenesis” is the geologic process of mountain building — a gradual evolution powered by unfathomable forces that expand across and transform broad swaths of the landscape.Orogenesis is also set to be the longest mountain biking trail in the United Sates. At 3,500 miles, this new route stretches through Washington, Oregon, California, and then it connects to the existing Baja Divide bikepacking route to add another 1,600 miles to San Jose del Cabo at the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula. The creation of such a trail is an absolutely monumental vision, and endurance cyclist Kurt Refsnider will be guinea pigging his way down the full length of it for the remainder of this year as the first person to attempt the ride in its entirety.In this episode, we talk to Kurt Refsnider about the history of the trail, what drew him to it, and what to expect along the way. We'll then be checking in with him over the next few months as he makes his way from the US/Canadian border to Mexico.

Pauline Ferrand Prevot won the Tour de France Femmes in style, there's big drama in Guadeloupe, Roglic dropped his latest quote, and Remco hasn't moved yet. So much to talk about, and to keep us out of our post-Tour doldrums. Caley, Jonny, and Iain bring you the latest. 

It's fun when directors fight. Lucky for us, we've got a true mano a mano bout in the team cars of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. This week, Caley, Jonny, and Dane chat through Visma vs FDJ, Visma vs UAE, and congratulate Ben Healy on winning a fake bike race twice in one go. 

Caley, Jonny, and Kit are back in the Spin Cycle studio for the final (men's) Tour episode. Is Pogačar burned out? Was it a good Tour? We have thoughts. 

From the rain-drenched cobbles of the Champs Élysées, Iain Treloar is joined by Joshua Robinson of the Wall Street Journal and Patrick Redford of Defector to discuss Montmartre, an epic stage win, and the whiplash of arriving in Paris. Also: the famous Escape Collective Tour Award Show.

A breakaway winner was expected for stage 20 of the Tour de France, but did anyone expect it to be Kaden Groves?Iain Treloar is joined by Joshua Robinson of the Wall Street Journal, Patrick Redford of Defector, and Jacob Whitehead from The Athletic to discuss the penultimate stage of this year's race.

The final mountain stage of the Tour de France – shortened though it was for cattle-related reasons – went to Thymen Arensman as Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar mostly watched each other on the final summit finish of the race.Iain is joined by Patrick Redford of Defector and Joshua Robinson of the Wall Street Journal to talk about the racing but also the broader strokes.

The Queen stage of the Tour de France is now behind us. One mountain stage remains. Ben O'Connor played perfect legs with perfect tactics and took home a huge win for Jayco, while behind the battle for yellow wimpered and the battle for third, the white jersey, and the crucial Red Bull classification were absolutely firing. 

A straightforward sprint stage turned out to be anything but. A storm rolled into Valence just before the peloton did and led to a huge pileup in the finale. The good news? The fight for the green jersey is on. And tomorrow? The Alps. 

A beautiful day on Mont Ventoux capped by Johan Bruyneel calling UCI President David Lappartient the "Selfie King." Does it get any better? 

Ever have a question about the Tour de France? We've got you covered. 

Out of the Pyrenees and into the breakaway. The last stage before the final rest day of this Tour de France brought plenty of action, most of it off the front. Plus Pogačar admitted he's been a bit sick and Visma was attacking itself. 

One of the hardest stages of this Tour de France is now behind us. What did we learn? Vingegaard attacked but didn't get anywhere, Pogačar looks comfortable, and the race for 4th-6th is on. Plus, we found some juice on a gondola and there's a new maillot sable in town. 

If a time trial happens at the Tour de France and Ronan isn't there to see it, does it make a sound? Caley, Jonny, and Iain are joined by Defector's Patrick Redford to talk through a TT that ended up tighter (in some ways) than we expected. Plus, more on the 2012 Sky/Brailsford saga and the photographers are in trouble. 

Alternate headline: Jesus Christ PogačarWelcome to a podcast in three parts. Caley, Jonny, and Iain first join from the Tourmalet, then a traffic jam, and then a fascinating restaurant in Lourdes. Tadej Pogačar is the story of the day but there are plenty of other bits to dig into. 

What a stage. The stage of the Tour so far? We think so. It had everything, from breakaway wins to big GC crashes to finish line protesters. Caley, Jonny, and Iain are joined by Joshua Robinson of the Wall Street Journal and (briefly) Defector's Patrick Redford to talk through the day. Today's podcast title brought to you by Jason Gay of the Wall Street Journal. 

We did it. We made it to the first rest day of the Tour de France. It took ten days but we got there. Caley, Jonny, and Iain sit down in Toulouse to answer your rest day questions. 

What a day in the mountains. Two races in one, a fantastic yellow jersey, and the first hints of a coming GC battle. Caley, Jonny, and Iain are joined by Chris Marshall Bell to talk through the day's stories. Alternate episode titles today (feel free to suggest your own):Massif Bental St Martins CollegePhilippe Philippe Simon is Massif France's Bastille Day Bungle is Massif

Jonas Rickaert had a dream.A fast, chaotic sprint made even more interesting thanks to some heroics (or insanity? Fine line) from Mathieu van der Poel on the road to Chateauroux. Caley, Jonny, and Iain break down the stage.

Sprint day! It was a hot one in central France and Jonathan Milan won the drag race up a slight rise to take his first Tour de France stage. Did Alpecin-Decueuninck back the wrong man? And is Pogačar a threat for the green jersey? Caley, Jonny, and Iain break it all down and then extol the virtues of a Bergadou breakaway and discuss Feed Zone Gate. 

For the record, we had our episode title before the Cycling Podcast did. Pogačar had this one circled on this calendar, and there was no denying him. Caley and Jonny are joined by Iain, just in from Norway, to chat through the stage (which was fun), whether it means anything for the GC battle (not really), and look ahead to a big haul across the middle of France this weekend. 

We thought it would be a breakaway day, and indeed it was. Ben Healy put on a show, sneaking away at just the right moment to take his first Tour stage win. Behind, weird decisions from UAE and Visma left the pod crew with many questions. Caley and Jonny are joined by pro photographer Zac Williams and reporter Chris Marshall Bell to break down the motivations of those big teams, how Healy pulled it off, and plenty more. 

Time trial day! It's Ronan's Christmas, birthday, and birth of his first child all rolled into one. The man could not be more excited. Jonny and Caley, in contrast, are just hoping for literally anything interesting to happen. Lucky for us, it did. Jonas Vingegaard underperformed (or did he?), Remco Evenepoel smashed it, and sweet Kevin Vauquelin (or is it VauqueliCAN) rode his way into the top three. 

Another lumpy finish, another string of attacks, another brave French boy, and Pogačar's first (and 100th) stage win. Caley, Jonny, and Ronan come to you from Rouen where they discuss the finale, Evenepoel's motivation level, Ralph Denk's aura farming, and much more. 

A whole lot of nothing, then lots all at once. That was the feeling from stage 3 of the Tour de France, where a processional day was punctuated by a nasty crash and the exit of Jasper Philipsen, then even more crashes in a hectic finale in Dunkirk. Caley, Jonny, and Ronan break down the stage, bring you news from Bryan Coquard and the Cofidis bus, and more. 

The French boys were so brave today. Caley, Ronan and Jonny bring you the latest from stage 2 of the Tour de France, where Mathieu van der Poel soared to the stage win and was handed the yellow jersey by Alpecin-Deceuninck teammate Jasper Philipsen. Elsewhere, we've got the latest on Remco Evenepoel heading to the exit door at Soudal-Quick Step, and likely off to Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe.

Visma-Lease a Bike is not going to roll over this week. Stage 1 of the 2025 Tour de France was a cracker, for a sprint stage, with wind and crashes playing a role in setting early GC gaps and Jasper Philipsen pulling on the first yellow jersey of the Tour. Caley, Jonny, and Ronan join you from a canalside in Lille, 50 meters from the Visma bus. We hear from Matteo Jorgenson on his team's plan and how it was executed, do a little Echelon 101 schooling, and smell a few smells. 

It's Tour de France eve. Caley is back, joined by Jonny, Ronan, and special guest Matt Stephens to discuss the Jonas Vingegaard's press conference, why Kaden Groves is at the Tour, and lots more. 

Welcome back to the Tour Daily! These are our daily Tour de France episodes, brought to you by the same crew as Spin Cycle. We're on the ground in France, Lille specifically, to take in the vibes, ask questions at press conferences, and generally get this bike race started. In this first Tour episode, Ronan, Jonny and Chris Marshall-Bell gather on a grassy field next to a bar to cap off what has been an inauspicious start to the 2025 Tour de France for Escape Collective. Nevertheless, they bring you the latest from the pre-Tour press conferences and Ronan has been wandering around sniffing out some tech truffles.

Cycling's a beautiful sport. It's also a nightmare for new fans to get into – a mess of jargon, history, and tactics. Journalism professor (and new cycling fan) Holly Johnson has questions, and together with Iain Treloar, is on a mission to decipher pro cycling. In the first episode: a chat with Jonathan Vaughters about how teams work.