Stanley Street Social Podcast

Melbourne Football Club captain and cycling analyst Max Gawn joins his pod to go deep on his cycling journey, his leadership journey, and the practices he'd apply to build a winning cycling team culture - when (not if) Stanley St. Social gets a WorldTour squad.From accidentally discovering the Tour de France on SBS as a kid to breaking down monument tactics and GC battles, Max traces how he became one of AFL's most genuine cycling obsessives. Then he gets honest about leadership - what it really took to become Melbourne's captain, the late Jim Stynes' influence on embracing his difference, and why the best culture he's ever been part of was built in the hard years, not the good ones.And then we build the team. Max lays out exactly how he'd approach culture, connection and leadership in a WorldTour cycling squad - and it's more practical than you'd expect.We chat:Max's cycling journey from SBS late nights to monument obsessiveLeadership, identity, and embracing your differenceJim Stynes and the mentor who shaped a captainType A vs Type B leaders and why both need a seat at the tableBuilding team culture across a globally scattered cycling rosterThe Triple H framework and why storytelling changes everythingCelebrating the lead-out rider as loudly as the GC winner

Luke Plapp calls in fresh off a third place finish at the Tour de Hungary — long travel, wet roads, and a GC that got away thanks to a cancelled stage and 50km/h crosswinds. We break down the drama of stage four, the cinema of stage five, and what Cosnefroy bonus second dominance.Then it's a full Giro d'Italia wrap through stage nine — Narvaez back to winning ways, the Arrieta and Afonso cobblestone chaos, Felix Gall's blockhouse charge, Ciccone in pink, and why Jumbo-Visma look completely dialled in. Plus the transfer rumour mill is spinning — Hindley to Visma, Turner to Soudal, Frigo to UAE and more.Maxi's top five this week? The most overrated things in cycling as a spectator — from "racing on instinct" to neutralised starts, the most combative rider award, and watts per kilo obsession.Presented by Giant Bicycles and Pillar Performance — use code STANLEY15 for 15% off at Pillar Performance.

Heinrich Haussler is a Sports Director at Decathlon). We chat as the team prepares for the 2026 Giro d'Italia starting in Bulgaria. Haussler dives into the logistical challenges of the early Bulgarian stages and the transfer to Italy, the role of a DS handling logistics, hotels, vehicles, and performance, plus how the team has stayed injury-free heading into the Grand Tour. He breaks down Decathlon's impressive 2026 classics campaign, the rapid rise of Tobias “Toby” Lund Andresen, the incredible maturity and potential of 19-year-old sensation Paul Seixas (already turning heads with podiums and massive watts), Felix Gall's ambitions, and building a strong team culture with Luke Rowe and others. Topics include:• Evolution of cobbled classics (nutrition, tubeless tyres, training, and why races are faster and harder)• Creating a “Cervelo Test Team” style selfless atmosphere• Differences between Red Bull and Decathlon environments• Australian cycling• Haussler's hot takes on riders to watch, his favourite races, and bold Giro predictions for Toby and Felix

Ed Langdon join Max and Alex to review the first 3 stages of the Giro.

Zak Dempster is the Chief of Sports at Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe.He raced at the WorldTour level for over a decade before transitioning into team management, rising quickly through roles at Israel Cycling Academy and INEOS Grenadiers to now oversee all sporting and performance operations for Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe.

Giro starts Friday.Plappy's back after a top five at the Tour de Romandie, and we're getting into all of it. The watts, the motorbike chaos, Lipo refusing to ride with Pog, and exactly where Plappy lost time in the prologue - spoiler, it's the corners.Then we preview the Giro. Vingegaard goes in as the overwhelming favourite for a race he's never done. The GC field's already missing Almeida and Carapaz. The sprint battle is stacked. And the Pillar Performance Top 5 Giro moments of the last decade. Tommy D taking a roadside squat in the pink jersey. Froome attacking from 80k out. Yates winning it back on the exact climb that broke him. It's all in there.Patrick Eddy winning in the Australian jersey in Europe, Ineos's new money, and the teams that win table updated.

We get technical with Koen de Kort, Head of Innovation and Tech at Lidl-Trek. After 17 years racing at the highest level - 43 classics, 18 Grand Tours - Koen now sits on the other side of the sport, driving the technology that gives WorldTour riders their edge. We dig into his current projects, where the biggest performance gains are being found right now, how cycling tech has evolved from his days in the peloton, and what the future of race equipment, skin suits, aerodynamics and bikes looks like.

Matt Keenan joins Max Gawn and Alex Clements to break down the 2026 Liège-Bastogne-Liège, one of the biggest Ardennes Classics.The crew review Tadej Pogačar's dominant performance, discuss rising star Paul Seixas, and debate their Top 5 sprinters of the decade.

Kell O'Brien joins the social club to talk through a massive spring. We chat about his classics block with Jayco-AlUla's - Roubaix in particular, track - his Olympic campaigns and what's next, working for the different riders and much more.

Plappy joins the social club to check in after his altitude camp, review Amstel Gold, and preview the week ahead.

Gerry Ryan AO joins the social club to share his remarkable cycling journey, from sponsoring Kathy Watt's 1992 Barcelona Olympic success to founding the Jayco team in 1993 and launching Australia's first UCI WorldTour squad, GreenEDGE (now Jayco AlUla), in 2012. He discusses growing up in Bendigo, key milestones including the 2013 Tour de France team time trial win, the bus-gantry drama, 2018 Vuelta success and Giro heartbreak, the importance of Aussie DNA, caravan sales impact, and his broader sporting contributions. An inspiring conversation with one of Australian sport's most influential figures.

Matt Kennan joins Max and Alex to review Paris Roubiax, Basque Country and the Sprinters World Champs. Plus Max's segments - The teams who win! & tops 5s.

Ed Langdon is a premiership-winning winger for the Melbourne Demons and regarded as one of the AFL's premier endurance athletes.He joins the podcast to review Flanders and preview Roubaix and Basque country.

Jensen joins us after a massive week at Paris-Nice. We chat about:Life at Alpecin-Deceuninck: Being within a major Belgian team and his role in the lead-out train.The Aussie Summer: Reflecting on his good form back home, including a win at the National Criterium Championships.The Giro: A look at his preparation and goals for the upcoming Giro d'Italia campaign.

Max's 250th, Catalunya, Belgium Racing and a look at this weekend.

George Bennett is New Zealand national champion, has ridden for the world's most elite teams, been teammates of Roglič, Vingegaard, and Pogačar, and now rides for Team NSN.

Milan-San Remo, Pogi's new best friend, Catalunya preview, and Max launches his new segment.

Kenno joins the pod to discuss the two big tours from last week - Paris Nice and Tirreno Adriatico.

Strade Bianche, Paris-Nice, Tirreno–Adriatico, plus much more.

Max and Alex are in the new studio and Plappy was flying at UAE.

We're live at Motor Wine to unpack the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.

Plappy talks our through his / Jayco's Tour and Max gives us his best and worst performances of the TDU.

Plappy is on the ground at TDU and we go through the team sheets.

Mathew Keenan joins to pod to unpack his weekend in Perth and preview Adelaide.

Checking in on the Tour of Bright and Max's off season.

We run through the year and give out a lot of 1s.

We've missed a few races but we catch up on Il Lombardia, Worlds, and the off season.

Last round of footy, Max Gawn is ready to lock into the Vuelta.

A traditional episode, full team sheet, ranking each team's performance.

Plappy is hot off a huge TT!

Luke Plapp is through the first 10 days of the Tour de France and he joins us on a well deserved rest day.

Plappy just finished 9th on Stage 5 of Tour de France TT.

After a huge Giro stage win Plappy got the call up for the Tour de France and we chat to him on the eve of his first Tour.

Plappy is back from the Giro, Max Gawn brings new segments, and the Critérium du Dauphiné is stacked.

Luke Plapp joins us from the Giro after another big week of breakaway action.

Plappy joins us after the TT and his first-ever Grand Tour stage win at the Giro!

Max Gawn has won three games of footy on the trot and Plappy is on the ground eyeing off a pink jersey.

Max Gawn, Alex Clements and Lucas Plappy review Paris Roubaix and all the other racing from the last couple of weeks.

Plappy returns from Greece with a stage win, we rate Flanders and preview Paris Roubaix.

Full unpack of Milan San Remo.

Paris-Nice, Tirreno Adriatico and Milan San Remo preview. Max Gawn, Lucas Plapp and Alex Clements.

One-day and one-week stage racing is in full swing! Strade Bianche, Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico.

Breaking down the UAE Tour action, deep-diving into Luke Plapp's time trial performance, and taking a look at Melbourne FC's season launch

Max Gawn, represents the team at Cadel's race on the ground and Plappy is back after wrist surgery. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plappy reviews, his TDU, gives an update on his condition and we preview Cadels. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plappy review his Road Nationals in Perth, Max's update on the off season and Tour Down Under preview. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The last ep of Season 7 to close the year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Lots happening at MFC, Plappy Mail Bag and a full team sheet preview of the 2024 Vuelta. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plappy is back home after a crazy week in Paris.  We unpack the Olympic road race, TTs and preview the track.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Max Gawn, Alex Clements and Plappy (live from Paris).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.