How the Race was Won

Follow How the Race was Won
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

We spent 2023 getting Pretty Serious about bike racing. For 2024, we're going all-in on telling you How the Race was Won. It's a new name but with the same general focus: each week, Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash take a closer look into the key moments of key races, the how and the why behind tactics and results, and then discuss what's coming up. Escape Collective is entirely member-funded. If you like this podcast please consider supporting us by becoming a member: https://escapecollective.com/member/

Escape Collective


    • May 19, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 44m AVG DURATION
    • 76 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from How the Race was Won with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from How the Race was Won

    Mischief, mayhem, gravel at the Giro d'Italia

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 32:00


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down the dramatic ninth stage and the rest of the key points from the first "week" of the 2025 Giro d'Italia.

    Could this Liège meeting have been an email?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2025 24:49


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano take a closer look at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, where there was more to break down than you might expect for a race won so convincingly.

    It ain't over till it's over at the Amstel Gold Race

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2025 26:12


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down all the action from the men's Amstel Gold Race.

    Racing Roubaix is different from chasing Strava KOMs

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 30:03


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down all the action from the men's race at Paris-Roubaix.

    It wasn't for lack of trying at the Tour of Flanders

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2025 30:02


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down the action from the men's Tour of Flanders, where rivals threw everything at the pre-race favorite.

    Is this just what racing is now?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2025 30:38


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down the men's Gent-Wevelgem and draw some conclusions from the other races after a very busy weekend.

    That was a lot of work to finish third at San Remo

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2025 34:38


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down Milan-San Remo, where Tadej Pogačar tried his darnedest to drop Mathieu van der Poel – to no avail.

    Visma masters the art of war

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2025 42:30


    It's a double dose of bike racing analysis this week as Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down the action at Paris-Nice *and* Tirreno-Adriatico.

    Achievement unlocked at Strade Bianche

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2025 36:20


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down Strade Bianche, which featured some dramatic moments and a more intriguing battle than we might have expected ...

    Maybe they should call it Group 1 Syndrome

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 42:28


    How the Race was Won returns with a breakdown of the Omloop (Het) Nieuwsblad. Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano talk tactics, surprises, blunders, and more in the first podcast of the season ... which is a lot more than a podcast this year. You can still listen to the show here on the podcast feed if you prefer, but How the Race was Won is now broadcasting live on video after all the big races. To get the full show, head on over to the Escape Collective YouTube channel.

    Guangxi and a season wrap

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 29:26


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano talk Tour of Guangxi and then look back at the season that was, pondering who the unheralded riders of the year were and more.

    A dominant showing amid the falling leaves

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2024 33:21


    Il Lombardia gave Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano yet another dominant performance to discuss, and this time, they doubt whether anyone else could have done anything at all to stop the world's best rider from claiming his fourth straight win in the race.

    Rainbows defended, rainbows earned

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2024 31:13


    In this episode of How the Race Was Won, Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down the thrilling action from the 2024 UCI Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland. The men's elite race was dominated by an (un?)expected 100km solo breakaway from Tadej Pogačar, who secured his third major win of the year and completed the coveted Triple Crown of Giro/Tour/Worlds. Dane and Cosmo analyze Pogačar's bold strategy, the chaotic chase behind him, and the impressive teamwork displayed by the small Slovenian squad. They also discuss the performances of other favorites like Remco Evenepoel, highlighting the lack of coordination in the chase group that ultimately led to Pogačar's victory.In the women's elite race, Lotte Kopecky successfully defended her title, showcasing her resilience by recovering from being dropped late in the race and winning in a sprint finish. The podcast concludes with a look ahead to Il Lombardia, where Pogačar will defend his title wearing the newly acquired rainbow jersey.

    TTs and what ifs

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2024 51:42


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano discuss the men's time trial at Zurich Worlds, answer some listener questions, and look ahead to what's coming.

    O Canada

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 34:07


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down all the action from the Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal.

    Just like Red Bull drew it up

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 39:51


    Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash break down the final week of the Vuelta a España, which gave us some entertaining stage battles and, thanks to largely to Ben O'Connor's persistence, an intriguing fight for red.

    Mountains, mountains, and more mountains at the Vuelta

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2024 37:06


    Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash break down the GC fight at the Vuelta a España and also discuss the brilliant breakaway battles of the second week before talking Renewi Tour and looking ahead to the Vuelta finale.

    Vibe shifts at the Vuelta

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2024 41:05


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down the first nine days of the Vuelta a España, where the vibes have been constantly shifting and where the GC looks wide open after some intriguing days in Andalusia.

    Grand Tours galore and Poland too

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2024 38:05


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano have plenty to discuss on this week's How the Race was Won. Could SDWorx have done more for Demi Vollering at the Tour de France Femmes? Does Kasia Niewiadoma deserve more credit for what she did right? Is Kaden Groves faster than we thought? And will Jonas Vingegaard feel a bit better now that he has won a WorldTour stage race this summer?

    A long-awaited win at San Sebastián and a look ahead to the TDFF

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2024 38:41


    Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash break down the Donostia San Sebastián Klasikoa, where a rider took his first WorldTour win in four years, and then Abby Mickey delivers a dispatch from the Grand Départ of the Tour de France Femmes.

    The Olympic Road Races were what we love about cycling

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2024 41:27


    Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash break down the men's and women's road races at the Paris Olympics, which were so much more than exercise contests.

    ITTs and Q&As

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2024 52:42


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down the action from the time trial events at the Paris Olympics, answer some listener questions, and look ahead to the upcoming Olympic road race.

    The winners and losers of the Tour de France

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2024 51:29


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down the action from the final week of the 2024 Tour and draw some wider conclusions about who delivered and who came up short in the race.

    Nothing is inevitable

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2024 52:28


    Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash break down the second week of the 2024 Tour de France, where the stage battles kept us constantly entertained and the vibes were constantly shifting.

    It's all still to play for at the Tour de France

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2024 48:25


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down the action from the first week of the 2024 Tour de France.

    How the Race was Won: Storylines aplenty to kick off Le Tour

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2024 41:05


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano discuss the first three stages of the 2024 Tour de France, where two Frenchmen took unexpected wins before an intriguing sprint showdown.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.

    Previewing the Tour de France route

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 49:19


    Rather than looking back at the racing over the past week, this time, Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano look ahead to the upcoming Tour de France, previewing all 21 stages of the route.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.

    One team to rule them all at the Tour de Suisse

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2024 40:17


    Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash discuss the Tour de Suisse, where Adam Yates, João Almeida, and UAE Team Emirates dominated the competition in a show of force ahead of the Tour de France.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.

    A nail-biting Dauphiné

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2024 43:52


    Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash break down the 2024 Critérium du Dauphiné, where Primož Roglič narrowly held off Matteo Jorgensen to win the overall title, and discuss what it all means ahead of the Tour de France.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.

    The Dauphiné underway and more

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2024 34:48


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down the first two stages of the Critérium du Dauphiné, field some questions in a Q&A session, and look at what's next on the bike racing docket.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.

    Last call for Giro takes

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2024 42:03


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down the final week of the 2024 Giro d'Italia and discuss some of the bigger takeaways from the race as a whole.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.

    Wholesome goodness at the Giro

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2024 43:57


    Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash discuss the wholesome breakaway wins, the clear sprint leader, the shifting meta, and the dominant GC rider at the Giro d'Italia.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.

    The aura comes to the Giro

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2024 40:12


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano tackle the talking points of the Giro so far, where Tadej Pogačar and his aura of invincibility have taken control of the GC, but where plenty of stage battles have provided intrigue.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.

    The Giro is underway

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2024 49:48


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down the action from the first few stages of the 2024 Giro d'Italia and also discuss the Vuelta España Femenina, a bit of Eschborn-Frankfurt, and what's coming up at the Giro.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/join to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.

    The Tour de Romandie

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2024 42:01


    On this week's How the Race was Won pod, Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down the Tour de Romandie, where the Ineos Grenadiers put on a familiar show and where Decathlon-AG2R showed us that they are a sprinting team after all.

    Liège-Bastogne-Liège

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2024 36:31


    Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash discuss La Flèche Wallonne, where the weather made for a more interesting men's race than we often get while the women's race ended with a long-awaited win, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, where one rider's dominance made for a less intriguing finish than we might have hoped on the men's side while the women kept it suspenseful to the very end.

    The Amstel Gold Race

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2024 33:01


    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano discuss just exactly how the men's Amstel Gold Race was won, and how the riders who finished both first and second did lots of things right, whereas the rider whose shadow loomed large at the start only finished 22nd.

    Paris-Roubaix and a bit of the Basque Country too

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2024 44:27


    Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash break down Mathieu van der Poel's dominant display (again) on the cobbles, his team's spectacular showing to support him, and the battle for the podium at Paris-Roubaix, and also the crash-marred Itzulia Basque Country.

    The Tour of Flanders

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2024 47:43


    Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash break down a grueling edition of the Tour of Flanders and ponder whether anyone in the peloton could have done anything to challenge a dominant Mathieu van der Poel.

    E3, Gent-Wevelgem, and Catalunya, oh my!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2024 53:11


    Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash have plenty to talk about after a week that was absolutely jam-packed with racing. The E3 Saxo Classic, Gent-Wevelgem, and the Volta a Catalunya all get the How the Race was Won treatment as the Tour of Flanders looms.

    Debating Milan-San Remo

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2024 59:25


    Caley Fretz joins Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano to break down all the storylines from Milan-San Remo: Jasper Philipsen as a bona fide Classics contender, Mathieu van der Poel as an MVP teammate, whether Michael Matthews could have closed the door in the sprint, whether UAE could or should have done anything differently, and more.

    Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2024 50:08


    On this week's How the Race was Won podcast, Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash discuss the surprising Paris-Nice podium, Primož Roglič's early season form, Jonas Vingegaard's dominance, and new developments in the Republic of Sprinters after Tirreno-Adriatico.

    A called shot at Strade Bianche

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2024 41:06


    This week on the How the Race was Won Podcast, Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash break down the action at Strade Bianche. Could the race have been won any other way? Was the winner playing mind games with his rivals?Plus, the podcast discusses what's on tap for this week at Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico.

    Opening Weekend

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2024 52:39


    If you, like us, have spent the past four months nurturing a pent-up need to be pretty serious, your wait is over. After a long hiatus during the offseason – and even through the first few weeks of this year, with apologies to the Tour Down Under! – Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash are back with a weekly show to break down all of the racing action that took place over the past week.The podcast's aim has always been to be Pretty Serious about bike racing, and that isn't changing, but the *name* is. Since its inception, the podcast has focused on telling listeners about how events were concluded in the triumph of this or that rider, but this year, Cosmo and Dane are just going all-in on telling you How the Race was Won.Each week, you can expect Cosmo and Dane, and occasionally other voices too, to take a closer look at the moments that defined racing over the previous few days (focusing mostly on men's racing with Wheel Talk the following day focusing on the women's racing), to highlight which riders maybe deserve a bit more heralding and which might have been a bit too heralded, and to look ahead to broader storylines. Sometimes, the podcast will even attempt to venture into sports talk radio territory.This week on How the Race was Won, the crew breaks down Jan Tratnik's win at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, who deserves a bit more credit for their performance in the race, Visma's general dominance across the weekend, and what it all means.

    Closing the book on the 2023 season

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2023 42:36


    Ruth Winder joins Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano to wrap up the 2023 road racing campaign. The crew talks Guangxi and Chongming Island, and ponders some of the broader questions of the season.

    He won another one?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2023 40:22


    Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash discuss Tadej Pogačar's second Monument of the season and third straight victory at Il Lombardia, as well as talking gravel, Paris-Tours, and MTB World Cups. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Overachievers and underachievers, Lombardia looming

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2023 53:17


    Abby Mickey joins Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano to discuss the highlights of this past weekend's racing, field questions from Escape Collective members, and look ahead at Il Lombardia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    When is a teammate not a teammate?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2023 49:08


    Ruth Winder joins Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano to discuss the entertaining road race action from the European Continental Championships as well as the 2023 Grand Tour season as a whole. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    A thrilling final week of Grand Tour racing

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2023 48:12


    Abby Mickey joins Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano to discuss the dramatic final week of the Vuelta a España, the race in general, and the Human Fly, and also to take a closer look at the women's Tour de Romandie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Into the last week of the season's final Grand Tour

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2023 57:07


    Abby Mickey joins Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano amid a busy slate of September racing. The crew talks Vuelta, the SIMAC Ladies Tour, and Canadian GPs, which means plenty of discussion of Evenepoel and Kuss, SD Worx and sprints, and uphill surges in North America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Vuelta always keeps it interesting

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2023 39:07


    Jonny Long joins Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano after nine days of racing at the Vuelta a España. The crew discusses the battle between Remco Evenepoel and Jumbo-Visma, smart moves and questionable decisions, and what's next. Also, the podcast looks at two different approaches to a sprint in Plouay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Claim How the Race was Won

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel