The Cycling News Podcast

In our second Tour de France podcast - sponsored by Zwift - from the 2021 race we look back at the second week of racing and hear from Wout van Aert, Greg Van Avermaet, and Matt Brammeier.

In our first Tour de France podcast - sponsored by Zwift - from the 2021 race we look back at the first nine days of racing and hear from Geraint Thomas, Tadej Pogacar and Tom Southam.

In this week's episode of the Cyclingnews podcast we focus on the 12-rider long-list Team Ineos have built for the Tour de France. We run through the riders included, focus on their main GC challenge and ponder where this leaves Egan Bernal after it was confirmed that the Colombian would aim for the Giro d'Italia.   We chart the progress of Geraint Thomas – hear from him twice at the Etoile de Besseges and ask whether age will finally catch-up with him or if he can discover his 2018 Tour winning form and claim a second win in the race at the age of 35.   There's a discussion over whether any team can win all three Grand Tours in one season, and we discuss some of the latest action from  Etoile de Besseges as the European season kicks up another gear.  

In the latest episode of the Cyclingnews podcast, we focus on Tom Dumoulin's decision to step away from the sport with immediate effect, and we have some wonderful new theme tunes sent in by you, our incredible listeners.   We also hear from Bob Jungels, Allan Peiper, and Simon Yates about their 2021 plans but our main focus surrounds the shock news that Dumoulin has decided to take a break from professional cycling. The news came out on Saturday morning, just 24 hours after the 30-year-old had been announced as a co-leader for the Tour de France.    "I took the decision yesterday. And the team supports me in it, and it feels really good. It is really as if a backpack of a hundred kilos has slipped off my shoulders. I immediately woke up happy," Dumoulin said in a statement released by his team.    "It feels so good that I finally took the decision to take some time for myself. That says enough. I have been feeling for quite a while that it is very difficult for me to know how to find my way as Tom Dumoulin the cyclist - with the pressure that comes with it, with the expectations of different parties.   We talk about Dumoulin's brave choice to take time away from the limelight and why the sport can be demanding in so many other ways other than just the physical.   To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here.

In the first 2021 episode of the Cyclingnews podcast we look back at the first major news story of the year involving the sudden contract termination of Marc Hirschi at Team DSM and his move to UAE Team Emirates. We analyse why the move may have come about and what this says about Team DSM and their decision to release one of the revelations of last year's season mid-way through his contract. We look back at some of the other riders who have left the team during existing deals, from Warren Barguil to Michael Matthews, Marcel Kittel and Tom Dumoulin and describe out the departure of Hirschi is somewhat different. The Swiss rider's departure certainly leaves a void in the team but we look at who can step up to fill the gap and whether Romain Bardet is the perfect fit as their new team leader. Along with that, Daniel Benson and Ed Pickering from Procycling make some bold predictions for the season in both the men's and women's WorldTour, and we also play some of the possible new Cyclingnews theme tunes that our trusted listeners have sent in over recent weeks.    To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here.   https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-cycling-news-podcast/id1012929015

After a long hiatus Philippa York has returned to the Cyclingnews podcast for a special episode recorded in the UK last week. It's been an unprecedented year in cycling but one of the aspects we've missed most has been our regular podcasts with York, having previously covered the Tour de Romandie, Criterium du Dauphine, Tour de Suisse and Tour of Britain in her company. But with the off-season in full swing, and with social distancing rules followed to the letter of the law, we met up with York for a catch up. We talked about her first Tour de France as a reporter this year and what it was like returning to the race in such dramatic circumstances due to the nature of the pandemic, while we also analysed the recent moves involving Mark Cavendish and Rod Ellingworth. The latter has moved back to Team Ineos after just 18 months at Bahrain McLaren and we discuss whether Ellingworth initial move to Bahrain was a success, what lessons were learned, as well as how important a good director can be for a rider when it truly comes to the cut and thrust of racing. York also shares her thoughts on Cavendish's return to QuickStep after a difficult period in his career and whether the move represents a win-win situation for both rider and team. York also goes into detail about how riders handle aspects such as slowing legs and possible retirement, and what it's like to have the carpet pulled from under your feet when it comes to contracts and stopping. At this point in the year our coverage is typically full of training camps and team presentations but those days are either on pause or held virtually. However, York shares some of her favourite memories of training camps and team presentations with most of her anecdotes involving cake or in one case, a manager's daughter even jumping out of a cake at a TVM presentation. It's a must-listen episode brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello.   The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here.     Sponsor message   Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

In this week's edition of the Cyclingnews podcast - brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello - we hear from Nicolas Roche about his season and Team Sunweb. The Irishman played a significant part in the team's success in 2020, which included three Tour de France stage wins, and he talks about his road captain role and plans for next season.   We also hand out season review report cards for Sunweb and AG2R La Mondiale, and we ask our listeners to record a new version of the Cyclingnews podcast theme tune.   With just 5 wins this year, which was a third of what they won in 2019, AG2R La Mondiale had a tough season.  Their standout riders were Nans Peters at the Tour and then Benoît Cosnefroy, who took three of their wins. At 25, he's really starting to fulfill the potential he showed when he won the World U23 title in 2017. However, the team as a whole struggled, losing Romain Bardet at the Tour to a crash, and then missing out on a glut of victories in smaller races in France after the majority of them were cancelled. We review their year, Ed Pickering from Procycling awards them a grade, while we also cast our eyes over their 2021 roster. Over at Sunweb, the German registered team won 16 races, which is their most since 2014 when they had 41 wins. They won three stages in the Tour, Fleche Wallonne, finished second in the Giro d'Italia, and had two of this year's breakthrough riders in Jai Hindley and Marc Hirschi. The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here.     Sponsor message   Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

In this week's episode of the Cyclingnews podcast there's an exclusive interview with Daniel Martin from Israel Start-Up Nation while we also continue our WorldTour report cards with Ineos Grenadiers and ISN under the spotlight.   Ineos won the Giro d'Italia with Tao Geoghegan Hart, bombed at the Tour de France and came second in the Vuelta a Espana. They won 19 races in total and obviously the standout ride was the Giro, where they bounced back from losing Geraint Thomas to win seven stages wins and the maglia rosa.   They were well below their typical best at the Tour, were forced into late line-up changes before seeing Egan Bernal falter in the mountains. There was a stage win for Michal Kwiatkowski but in the build up to the Tour they were off the pace in races like the Dauphine and their Classics campaign was quiet, even by their standards. Over at Israel Start-Up Nation the team won two stages in Grand Tours, courtesy of Daniel Martin and Alex Dowsett. They had nine difference winners in fact, and took fourth overall in the Vuelta and while the caliber of their wins wasn't huge – only two were at WorldTour – the team showed signs of promise and progress.   We analyse both teams' seasons, before Procycling's Edward Pickering, who used to be a teacher, hands out grades for each team.   The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here.     Sponsor message   Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972.   Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.    BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.    Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.    Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.    For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful  

In the latest episode of the Cyclingnews podcast, brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello, we speak to Michael Valgren about his 2020 season, his time at NTT Pro Cycling and his move to EF Pro Cycling ahead of next year's campaign.   The Danish rider spent two years on the African team and never quite managed to replicate the 2018 form that saw him win Amstel Gold Race but he talks about his motivation, why things didn't work out and how he will fit into EF Pro Cycling's roster. As well as hearing from Valgren, we also start our yearly report card analysis of the WorldTour teams and as Valgren features – and because there's no real method – we start by taking a look at both NTT and EF.   NTT actually started the season incredibly well. They came into 2020 with arguably one of the weakest rosters of the WorldTour teams but they won six races by the time Paris-Nice concluded. They dominated a number of online races during lockdown but once racing resumed they struggled. Giacomo Nizzolo won the European Championships and Ben O'Connor took a fine stage in the Giro d'Italia but there was very little for them to celebrate.   They ended the year with eight wins but the season was really dominated by sponsorship issues and once more the underperformance of several key riders. Sponsorship issues created uncertainty and tension between the management before Assos stepped in to help the team going forward. We analyze the season for NTT, before Procycling's editor Edward Picking – a former teacher no less – provides the team with a report card grade.   Then we head to EF, and the American team that went from 17 wins in 2019 to 17 wins this year. There was no Monument win this time around but the team were aggressive in every format of racing – they won stages in all three Grand Tours and finished on the podium in the Vuelta a España. They also won the Critérium du Dauphiné with one of the best days of racing we saw all year, and even if you strip out the wins they took outside of the WorldTour – for example, the wins in Colombia – they were impressive. Our presenters look back on the year for the team before Mr Pickering provides his end of season grade.   The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello.    Sponsor message   Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972.   Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.    BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.    Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.    Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.    For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

In the latest episode of the Cyclingnews podcast – brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello we hear from Israel Start-up Nation duo Alex Dowsett and Kjell Carlström. Dowsett talks about the reasons behind his December attempt on the UCI Hour record, while team director Carlström provides an insight into the team's transfer strategy, Chris Froome's path back to the top of the sport, and where the team's strengths lay in 2021.   Hosts Ed Pickering and Daniel Benson recap the endings from both the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana but also take an in-depth look at what's gone wrong at NTT Pro Cycling and how difficult the market is for dozens of riders struggling for teams next season. We also discuss Richard Carapaz, and whether the Vuelta runner-up is Ineos' best hope for Grand Tour success next season.   The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here.    Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

In the latest Cyclingnews podcast we cast our eyes over the main contenders at the Vuelta a Espana. The field is stacked with stage racing talent, from Chris Froome to Primoz Roglic, Tom Dumoulin, Richard Carapaz and Dan Martin. We hear from Dumoulin about his own chances, and how he has coped with such a short but intense season. We also look back at the men's edition of the Tour of Flanders and discuss the rivalry between winner Mathieu van der Poel and Wout Van Aert and  how the pair could shape the Classics for years to come. The whirlwind of a season then takes us to Italy, where we hear from Jaoa Almeida and Tao Geoghegan Hart as the final week of action begins at the Giro d'Italia. The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here.    Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

In the latest Cyclingnews podcast, brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello, we talk about the precarious situation at the Giro d'Italia after a number of positive COVID-19 tests have lead to two teams withdrawing and one additional team's management requesting that the race come to an early end. We discuss if the Giro will make it to Milan or not and how the organisers are vowing to carry on. We also hear from Mark Cavendish, who spoke to the media in Belgium this week, and we look at the potential teams that he could join in 2021. With the men's and women's Tour of Flanders coming up we look at the favourites and we talk to Elisa Longo Borghini about her season, the Classics and Trek Segafredo.

In the latest episode of the Cyclingnews podcast, we look back at the Giro d'Italia, Gent-Wevelgem and talk about where Mark Cavendish goes from here after he told the world that Gent-Wevelgem might be his final race.  We also hear from Mads Pedersen, Jack Haig, and Alex Dowsett. We start with Mark Cavendish, who told reporters that Gent-Wevelgem could be his final race as pro rider. In emotional scenes, the British rider gave little else away but with his contract up and no confirmation of an extension at Bahrain McLaren could this be it for the sprinter who has won 30 stages of the Tour de France, Milan-San Remo, and many more races? Daniel Benson and Ed Pickering discuss the huge impact Cavendish has had on the sport, his major achievements, what he was like to interview, and how his personality and his fast finish went hand in hand. We also look back at the Giro d'Italia  - before the latest COVID-19 results were announced – and analyse the finish in the men's edition Gent-Wevelgem. Coming up in the next edition of the podcast we have an exclusive interview with Elisa Longo Borghini from Trek Segafredo and preview the Vuelta a Espana.

In the latest episode of the Cyclingnews podcast, brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello, we look back at the first four days of the Giro d'Italia and recap the men's and women's editions of Liege-Bastonge-Liege. We have an exclusive interview with women's race winner Lizzie Deignan (Trek Segafredo) who talks about her victory, dividing up leadership and the first edition of Paris-Roubaix. We also hear from Marc Hirschi, who finished second in the men's race. In the Giro we hear from current race leader Joao Almeida and Matteo Tosatto, who talks about Geraint Thomas after the Welshman crashed out of the race. The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here.    Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

In the latest episode of the Cyclingnews podcast we preview the Giro d'Italia which starts on Saturday and hear from Matt White and Adam Hansen, with the latter dropping huge and unexpected news surrounding his future as an athlete. We'll also look back at Fleche Wallonne and hear from Marc Hirschi and European Editor Stephen Farrand makes his latest appearance.   We also take a look at the most important news from the week, which includes Quinn Simmons suspension from Trek Segafredo after the American responded to a post from a cycling journalist about the upcoming US election, in which she asked supporters of Donald Trump to stop following her on Twitter. Simmons responded by writing “bye,” followed by an emoji of a hand with black skin tone waving. The use of a black emoji by a white person online has been repeatedly highlighted as racist, and the term “digital blackface” has been coined to describe its usage. Simmons later apologized for his actions and he remains suspended. 

Featuring Van Aert, Hirschi, Kwiatkowski, van der Breggen, Van Vleutin, and Longo Borghini In our latest episode of the Cyclingnews podcast, brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello, we look back at a memorable weekend of racing from the UCI Road World Championships from Imola, Italy. We focus on the men's and women's elite road races and we hear from a number of the key protagonists, including Wout Van Aert, Marc Hirschi, Michal Kwiatkowski, Anne van der Breggen, Annemiek Van Vleutin and Elisa Longo Borghini. Van der Breggen began the first elite rider since 1995 to win both the road race and the time trial in the same year, while Julian Alaphilippe stormed to his first road title with an attack on the final climb of the race. We look back at both races, discuss Dutch domination, how and where both races were won and what the results mean for the rest of the season. The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here.    Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

The latest episode of the Cyclingnews podcast looks back at the last few days in the Alps as we hear from Mikel Landa, Julian Alaphilippe, Richie Porte, and Adam Yates. The racing has seen Michal Kwiatkowski and Miguel Angel Lopez win stages, while the race for the yellow jersey is almost over, with Primoz Roglic looking almost unbreakable. We analyse the winners and losers from the Alps, and also compare the might of Jumbo Visma with the strongest editions of Team Sky and Ineos from the last few years. There's also an in-depth discussion on how Sunweb have come away with a Tour stacked with highlights and discussions over Richie Porte's Grand Tour career.   The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here.    Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

In the latest episode of the Cyclingnews podcast – brought to you in association with Sportful and Pinarello – we look back at the critical stage 15 of the Tour de France and hear from Egan Bernal and Bob Jungels. We look at where things went wrong for Ineos Grenadiers in this year's Tour de France and where they go next. The top-ten on GC in the race has taken shape but Tadej Pogacar is breathing down Primoz Roglic's neck as the race heads towards the final week and the Alps, and we play out where the race could be won and who else might challenge for a step on the podium. Jungels talks about the incident in which he crashed Sergio Higuita out of the race and we also hear from Geraint Thomas who finished on the podium in Tirreno-Adriatico. Finally, we ask, ‘when is the right time to ask questions relating to doping?' This topic took centre stage on the rest-day when Michael Rasmussen accused a journalist of raising a stupid question in which Roglic was asked why his performances should be believed. The perfectly reasonable question may have caused a stir for some but we debate the delicate nature of asking tough questions and elaborate on why cyclists are asked about the topic in the first place.   The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here.    Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

In the latest edition of the Cyclingnews podcast, brought to you in association with Sportful and Pinarello, we hear from Tour de France revelation Marc Hirschi (Sunweb), Charly Wegelius from EF Education First and four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome from Tirreno-Adriatico. We also cover the breaking news from the Tour de France that saw ASO's Christian Prudhomme forced to self-isolate after testing positive for COVID-19 and four team staff members from WorldTour squads sent home for the season reason after a huge effort to test everyone at the Tour on the first rest day. Daniel Benson and Ed Pickering analyse the opening 9 days of racing and dissect the top ten and how the next few days might play out. The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here.    Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

It's the end of stage 7 of the Tour de France and Wout van Aert has taken his second stage win of the race, and Jumbo-Visma's third after a day dominated by crosswinds, chaos and GC changes.   Adam Yates retained his yellow jersey but that just scratches the surface on a day that was nail-biting and intense from the gun and saw the peloton split to pieces on several occasions through the efforts of Peter Sagan's Bora-hansgrohe and then later due to pressure from Team Ineos. Several yellow jersey contenders were caught out in the echelons, while the likes of Miguel Angel Lopez, Nairo Quintana and Thibaut Pinot head into a weekend of stages in the Pyrenees within touching distance of the lead. The race is delicately poised. In this latest episode of the Cyclingnews podcast, we look back at a dramatic day, hear from both Van Aert and Yates and dissect the new GC standings ahead of the Pyrenees.   The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here.    Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

  Roglic rises as cracks appear in rivals' GC challenges – podcast It the end of stage of the 4 of the Tour de France and we have a feast of Tour content in our latest edition of the Cyclingnews podcast, as we hear from Egan Bernal, Sepp Kuss, and Tim Declercq. We'll also discuss the latest transfer news after Michael Matthews broke his contract with Team Sunweb to join Mitchelton-Scott. Daniel Benson and Ed Pickering dissect the action from stage 4 after Primoz Roglic won ahead of Tadej Pogacar and Guillaume Martin with 16 riders finishing in the front group on the first summit finish of this year's race. Overall leader Julian Alaphilippe took 5th and held onto his yellow jersey with Adam Yates at 4 seconds, and Roglic at 7 seconds.   We hear from Bernal on the battle for yellow, and Roglic's star teammate, Kuss, who drove the pace of the leading group in the final few kilometers. We also discuss some of the time gaps for Emanuel Buchmann and Rirchard Carapaz, before turning out attention to Tim Declercq, who once more selflessly controlled the pace of the peloton for much of the stage.   Finally, we debate the pros and cons around Matthews' surprise move to Mitchelton Scott.   Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

In this week's podcast episode we hear from Peter Sagan, Nicholas Roche, Tom Dumoulin and have an exclusive interview with George Bennett from Jumbo Visma. We debate the merits of the Team Ineos Tour de France squad and the possible implications having left both Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas at home on the sofa. We analyise the depth within Jumbo Visma and ask whether Ineos are rattled by the Dutch team's recent performances. We hear from George Bennett on the strength at Jumbo Visma and how the Kiwi is adamant that he will improve ahead of the Tour de France.  Dumoulin and Roche talk to us about rider safety and the questions facing the CPA after a string of major crashes and incidents, while we also hear from Peter Sagan at the Criterium du Dauphine. The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here.    Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

This week we're discussing a number of races from Strade Bianche to Milano –Torino, and this weekend's Milan-San Remo and Chris Froome and Egan Bernal's latest adventures in France. We'll hear from Froome, and from Danish rider Jakob Fuglsang but really there's only one place to start and that's with the horrific sprint finish on stage 1 the Tour de Pologne that saw Fabio Jakobsen taken to hospital and placed in an induced coma. The fall happened after Dylan Groenewegen altered his line and forced the QuickStep rider into the barriers. Jakobsen didn't just go into the barriers he went through them. It was quite honestly one of the most shocking crashes in years. Several riders came down, a race official was left unconscious and Groenewegen was disqualified and fined. He may also face further punishment from the UCI. We analyze the incident, and talk to former sprinter Robbie McEwen about road safety and how the UCI and race oganisers must listen to riders if conditions are going to improve. We also look back at a thrilling edition of Strade Bianche and debate whether Wout van Aert is currently the most complete rider in the WorldTour. We head to France and try and narrow down Team Ineos' Tour de France squad, hear from Chris Froome, and then pick our favourites for Saturday's Milan-San Remo. The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here. 

After months of inaction and cycling fans surviving off online racing and re-runs of their favorite races, world-class racing is finally back on our screens.   The sport is taking baby steps towards normality but both the men's and women's peloton have taken part in a number of races with the Vuelta a Burgos currently underway in Spain, and with the men's and women's Strade Bianche scheduled for Saturday the WorldTour wheels are about to turn for the first time since March.   In this edition of the Cyclingnews podcast Daniel Benson and Procycling's Ed Pickering speak to European editor Stephen Farrand, who is based in Italy and his set to report from Strade Bianche. We also catch up with women's editor Kirsten Frattini about the women's race and the news that Marianne Vos is on her way to the new women's Jumbo Visma team. We drop in with Alasdair Fotheringham who watched Remco Evenepoel storm to the win on stage 3 of the Vuelta a Burgos, while there's an interview with world champion Mads Pedersen thrown in for good measure.   This week's episode – brought to you by Sportful and Pinarell – isn't all Froome, as we also check in with Jumbo Visma's Wout Van Aert, who is currently at a training camp ahead of the Tour. We talk to the Belgian about the Tour, cyclo-cross and, of course, Froome.   The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here.    Sponsor message    Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.     BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.    Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.     Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.    For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

This week's cycling news has been dominated by one story – the move of Chris Froome to Israel Start-Up Nation. The four-time Tour de France winner will end his long stint at Ineos this year before moving to pastures new for the first time since 2010 but there are plenty of vital questions that need to be answered before the year is out.  The most pertinent and most difficult is whether Dave Brailsford will select Froome for the Tour de France this year or whether Ineos will discard their longest serving leader for Egan Bernal and Geraint Thomas. Cyclingnews' Daniel Benson and Procycling's Ed Pickering take on the biggest question ahead of the Tour while also sharing details on how the move came about.  We also look ahead to 2021 and whether the move to Israel Start-Up Nation will pay off and who the team needs to sign in order to help Froome in his quest to win a fifth Tour title.   This week's episode – brought to you by Sportful and Pinarell – isn't all Froome, as we also check in with Jumbo Visma's Wout Van Aert, who is currently at a training camp ahead of the Tour. We talk to the Belgian about the Tour, cyclo-cross and, of course, Froome.   The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here.    Sponsor message  Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.   BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.   Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

In this week's episode of the Cyclilngnews podcast, brought to you in association with Sportful and Pinarello, we rank the top-ten female riders from 1998 onwards. Our time frame takes into consideration the Women's World Cup that ran from 1998 until 2015 and the  current Women's WorldTour With expert opinions from our women's editor Kirsten Frattini and Procycling's Ed Pickering we start with an incredibly strong long-list before whittling down to two sets of top tens. The long list includes Marianne Voss, Leontien van Moorsel, Anna van der Breggen, Fabiana Luperini, Annemiek Van Vleuten, Petra Rossner, Nicole Cooke, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Ina Teutenberg to name but a few, and there are a number of surprise inclusions before settle on the best rider.  Here's our long-list, so feel free to join in and post your order in the comments below.  Annemiek Van Vleuten Pauline Ferrand-Prevot Fabiana Luperini Petra Rossner Marianne Vos  Mara Abbott  Emma Pooley  Judith Arndt Leontien van Moorsel  Anna van der Breggen Nicole Cooke   Ina Teutenburg   Kristin Armstrong   Giorgia Bronzini   Lizzie Deignan Chloe Dygert Kirsten Wild Amanda Spratt Oenone Wood   Anna Wilson/Millward Amber Neben   Chloe Dygert Kirsten Wild Amanda Spratt Hanka Kupfernagel Emma Johnansson Elisa Longo Borghini Trixi Worrack Evelyn Stevens Mirijam Melchers   In this week's episode we also hear from George Bennett and discuss all the breaking  news from Ed's chicken farm. The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here.     Sponsor message   Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.    BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.    Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

In this week's edition of the Cyclingnews Podcast, brought to you in association with Sportful and Pinarello, we look at another top-ten list and this time it's the cobbled Classics riders from the men's WorldTour era.   Our list is comprised of some of the best cobbled specialists of all-time, let alone the last few years, and as well as discussing their palmarès, we analysed the lasting impressions each rider has made on the sport.   Starting with a long-list of 15, Daniel Benson (Cyclingnews) and Edward Pickering (Procycling) whittled their respective lists to ten riders before crowning their best riders.   The podcast also features exclusive interviews with former Paris-Roubaix winner Mat Hayman – he picks his best cobbled rider, too – and Matteo Trentin on CCC's sponsorship and how he and Greg Van Avermaet will race together later in the year.   Here's our long-list, so feel free to join in and post your order in the comments below.   Peter Sagan Philippe Gilbert Tom Boonen Fabian Cancellara Greg Van Avermaet Zdenek Stybar Alessandro Ballan Juan Antonio Flecha Nick Nuyens Niki Terpstra Mat Hayman Alexander Kristoff Stijn Devolder Andreas Klier Johan Vansummeren   The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews Podcast, click here.     Sponsor message   Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.    BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.    Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

In this week's episode of the Cyclingnews podcast, we analyze the latest news surrounding Chris Froome and his contract situation. The four-time Tour de France winner has been linked with several teams with the notion of a mid-season transfer mentioned in several camps. We look at Froome's options, where he should go and whether staying at Team Ineos is his best option.  As well as our Froome discussion Cn's Daniel Benson and Procycling's Edward Pickering rank their top-10 sprinters from the from  WorldTour era. From a shortlist of 16 to a reduced number of 12 (as you see below) and then to 10, our podcasters rank the fastest riders in the world with some surprising results.   Pascal Ackermann Mark Cavendish Marcel Kittel Arnaud Demare Nacer Bouhanni Andre Greipel Dylan Groenewegen Caleb Ewan Elia Viviani Sam Bennett Fernando Gaviria Peter Sagan   We'd love to The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello and. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here.   Sponsor message  Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972.  Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.   BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.   Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.   Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.   For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

Are the greatest and the most successful the same or different? That's the hot topic in this week's edition of the Cyclingnews podcast as Ed Pickering and Patrick Fletcher go head-to-head and attempt to rank the greatest GC Grand Tour riders of the WorldTour era.  In no particular order we selected ten riders: Nairo Quintana, Tom Dumoulin, Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, Bradley Wiggins, Vincenzo Nibali , Cadel Evans, Geraint Thomas, Egan Bernal, Alejandro Valverde and analyzed their Grand Tour careers since the WorldTour began in 2019 and through four forms of criteria – numbers of wins, longevity, competition and legacy/reputation – Pickering and Fletcher arrived at two very different lists.    We discuss both list and some of the notable absentees from our original ten, and to break up the proceedings we have an interview with Simon Yates thrown in for good measure.   We'd love to know your top-tens, so please post them in the comments below. The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful and Pinarello and. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here.   Sponsor message  Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972.  Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.    BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.   Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.   Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.   For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

In the latest episode of the Cyclingnews podcast, brought to you by Sportful, Pinarello and Floyds of Leadville, we catch up with Sam Bennett on living in lockdown and how he envisages the year unfolding. We also chat with Nathan Haas with the Australian providing us with his selection of tunes to listen to while training indoors.   There's time to also check with our women's editor Kirsten Frattini on the latest developments in the women's peloton – including the Bigla-Katusha story and how the team face closing. Hosts Ed Pickering and Daniel Benson also discuss the merits and the draw backs surrounding eRacing, while we talk all things Alaphillipe with the Frenchman set to be the cover star on next month's edition of Procycling magazine. We share who the top ten riders are on CN according to 'clicks' and Ed takes us through the process of how Procycling determine the cover stars throughout the year.   The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful, Pinarello and Floyds of Leadville. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here.   Sponsor message   Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972.   Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.    BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.    Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.    Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.    For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

In this episode of the Cyclingnews Podcast Women's Edition we sat down with Mitchelton-Scott rider Annemiek van Vleuten in the spring of 2019 ahead of what turned out to be one of the biggest years in her career.    It was a year that saw the Dutch all-rounder secure victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, a second overall title at the Giro Rosa and then dominate the elite women's road race with a history-making 105km solo attack that netted her the victory at the UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire.   The 37-year-old Van Vleuten has been a professional since 2009 and has become one of the best riders and most recognisable names in the women's peloton. She is also a two-time world champion in the time trial, two-time winner of Giro Rosa champion, and a double winner of La Course, and the current elite women's road race world champion.   Before we met up with Van Vleuten in the spring of 2019, we asked her to look back on her career and pick out five of her biggest moments and the ones that meant the most for her.    The conversation happened just days before she soloed to victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège in April, but she had plenty of moments to pick from her decade-long career including the Tour of Flanders, Olympic Games, World Championships, Giro Rosa and La Course.   Enjoy our conversation with Annemiek van Vleuten.    The Cyclingnews Podcast is brought to you by Sportful, Pinarello and Floyds of Leadville. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here.   Sponsor message   Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972 Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe.    The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

A bumper edition of the CN podcast It's been a few weeks since our last episode but the Cyclingnews podcast is back with interviews with Tom Dumoulin and Matt White  We also discuss the likelihood of the  Tour de France taking place later this year and whether it's too soon to get excited about race dates that have been scheduled for the second half of the year. European editor Stephen Farrand provides the latest lowdown from Italy and the Giro d'Italia's plans, while we also look back at the formation of the Slipstream team. The American squad recently announced a round of cuts and layoffs but in the 2000s they burst onto the scene, and Ed Pickering from Procycling magazine was at their team launch in Boulder, Colorado 13 years ago. Pickering and CN's Daniel Benson talk about the team's first rosters and pose the question as to whether they've stayed true to their roots.   Tom Dumoulin, at home in Belgium, catches up with us over Skype and talks about lockdown, altitude camps and his thoughts on the new 2020 calendar, while Mitchelton Scott's Matt White joins us from Spain to discuss how teams can start to plan for the coming months.   To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here.  Our latest competition gives you the chance to win one of two musettes. We have one from Katusha Alpecin that's stuffed with goodies and kit from last year, while we also have a similar prize for BMC Racing fans. Can you tell we've recently moved offices and need to clear some space?  All you have to do to win these fantastic prizes is head to our Itunes page, give us a review and post your top three kits for 2020 (men's or women's). We'll announce the winners in the next couple of weeks.  This podcast was brought to you by Sportful, Pinarello and Floyds of Leadville.

Last week, when we recorded an episode entirely devoted to the covid-19 coronavirus crisis. The hope was that by now we'd be back to some semblance of normality and that racing would at least be back on the agenda. Seven days later though and that scenario is far bleaker than many of us could have imagined. Granted, as we recorded this episode Paris-Nice is somehow still on but around the world bike races are being pulled left right and centre. It looks as though the entire season is at risk. Coming up we'll hear from our European Editor Stephen Farrand, who is based in Italy, one of the most heavily hit countries, and we talk to Italy's Matteo Trentin from CCC team, who gives us riders' perspective.  But we start this episode by talking to Rob Harris, AP's global sports correspondent. In this interview, we step away from cycling and look at the wider problems that sport now facing. We ask who decides which sports go ahead, whether, as Lewis Hamilton recently said ‘cash is king' and just how damaging the possible loss of marquee events such as the Olympics, European Championships and a host of other events could be for sport on a global stage.  Closer to home, Stephen Farrand has been with Cyclingnews for almost a decade. He is based in Italy and has covered the Giro since 1994. These are unprecedented times for Italian cycling and its society as a whole. We caught up with Stephen on Thursday afternoon, just after the conclusion of stage 5 at Paris-Nice. He gives his insight into how Italy is coping and where racing could go from here. For our final interview, we stick with an Italian theme. Matteo Trentin is the vice president of the Italian riders association and one of the most respected riders in the peloton. The CCC rider is currently in Spain for a short training camp but we spoke with him about his thoughts on racing and the coronavirus and what the riders and teams should be doing under the difficult circumstances.    To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here.  Our latest competition gives you the chance to win one of two musettes. We have one from Katusha Alpecin that's stuffed with goodies and kit from last year, while we also have a similar prize for BMC Racing fans. Can you tell we've recently moved offices and need to clear some space?  All you have to do to win these fantastic prizes is head to our Itunes page, give us a review and post your top three kits for 2020 (men's or women's). We'll announce the winners in the next couple of weeks.  This podcast was brought to you by Sportful and Floyds of Leadville.   Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972 Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe.  The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

As you might expect this podcast solely focuses on the Coronavirus and its effect on professional cycling.  We're going to hear from team bosses Jonathan Vaughters, and Matt White, as well as our European Editor Stephen Farrand, who lives in Italy, and Sophie Smith, who made it home from the UAE and is safely back in Australia.  But we start with Stephen Farrand and we discuss the impact of Covid-19 on the Italian race scene and how teams and the Italian public at large are struggling to cope. This was recorded just a few hours after RCS announced that Strade Bianche would not take place this weekend. Our interview with Jonathan Vaughters from EF Pro Cycling was conducted on Thursday evening but Paris-Nice was set to go ahead and EF were down to ride.  Vaughters talks about how teams are trying to understand the quickly evolving situation and the various playbook scenarios they are having to consider when it comes to race selection, rosters and riders' health.  Matt White's Mitchelton-Scott team was one of the first, if not the first, to announce that their men's and women's teams would be halting all racing with immediate effect. That as before Strade Bianche was canceled. In this interview White talks about the wellbeing of his riders, and the logistical stresses put on a team. He uses the example of the recent developments at the UAE Tour as an example.  Finally, we hear from Australian journalist Sophie Smith on the dramatic twists that took place at the UAE Tour last week. Some teams and riders are still stuck in the UAE and will be there until mid-March but the situation for around 72 hours was fraught and tense, to say the least. In this interview with Smith, we take you through how the situation unfolded.   To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here.  Our latest competition gives you the chance to win one of two musettes. We have one from Katusha Alpecin that's stuffed with goodies and kit from last year, while we also have a similar prize for BMC Racing fans. Can you tell we've recently moved offices and need to clear some space?  All you have to do to win these fantastic prizes is head to our Itunes page, give us a review and post your top three kits for 2020 (men's or women's). We'll announce the winners in the next couple of weeks.  This podcast was brought to you by Sportful and Floyds of Leadville.   Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972 Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe.  The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

The UAE Tour continues and in the latest episode of the Cyclingnews podcast – brought to you in association with Sportful, Pinarello and Floyd's of Leadville – we wrap up stages 3 and 4. We hear from Adam Yates on his stage win and race lead, and Caleb Ewan and Sam Bennett after both riders missed out on stage wins. Ewan crashed and found himself out of position on Wednesday, while Bennett jumped too early and altered his leadout train. We talk about both sprinters and just how competitive this race has been.  As in previous days we also drop in at Team Ineos to talk to Chris Froome. The four-time Tour de France winner is using the UAE Tour as his comeback race and in this latest catch-up we talk to him about his future beyond 2020 – he's out of contract this year – and how he's feeling after several days of competition.   Picking up from our previous discussion over the Australian emu wars of the 1930s – to remind you, the emus won – presenters Daniel Benson and Sophie Smith continue the theme by turning their attention to their limited dinosaurs facts after stage 4 started outside a dinosaur theme park in Dubai.  Spoiler: Their facts and knowledge on the subject really are limited.    To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here.  Our latest competition gives you the chance to win one of two musettes. We have one from Katusha Alpecin that's stuffed with goodies and kit from last year, while we also have a similar prize for BMC Racing fans. Can you tell we've recently moved offices and need to clear some space?  All you have to do to win these fantastic prizes is head to our Itunes page, give us a review and post your top three kits for 2020 (men's or women's). We'll announce the winners in the next couple of weeks.  This podcast was brought to you by Sportful and Floyds of Leadville.   Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972 Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe.  The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

In the second of our podcasts from the UAE Tour we hear from Chris Froome, Adam Yates, Sam Bennett, and yes, as the title suggests, we also discuss the Australian Emu War of the 1930s. Spoiler alert: the Emus won.  We start with a recap of the first two days of racing after Pascal Ackermann and Caleb Ewan  - the new leader of the race – shared the spoils. Joined once again by Australian writer Sophie Smith, we hear from Chris Froome. The British rider opens up about his rehab, learning to walk again and he reveals that he had a further surgery in December after internal stitches became infected.  We also talk to Adam Yates. The British climber took fourth at the white jersey at the 2016 Tour but has not hit those heights in a Grand Tour since. He tells us why it's going to be different this time at the Tour and what he's changed in terms of his schedule and plans.  Smith gives an insight into how stage 3 might play out and what level of popularity the Yates brothers share back in Australia. And then there's the emus.   To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here.  Our latest competition gives you the chance to win one of two musettes. We have one from Katusha Alpecin that's stuffed with goodies and kit from last year, while we also have a similar prize for BMC Racing fans. Can you tell we've recently moved offices and need to clear some space?  All you have to do to win these fantastic prizes is head to our Itunes page, give us a review and post your top three kits for 2020 (men's or women's). We'll announce the winners in the next couple of weeks.  This podcast was brought to you by Sportful and Floyds of Leadville.   Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972 Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe.  The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

The second WorldTour stage race of the season kicks off this weekend with the UAE Tour. The week-long event provides a world-class field with three up-hill finishes and a number of opportunities for the sprinters. It's no surprise that so many sprinters have made the journey to the Middle East with Pascal Ackermann, Dylan Groenewegen, Mark Cavendish, Caleb Ewan, Sam Bennett and Fernando Gaviria all on the startlist.  In our first podcast episode from the race we sit down with Ewan, and talk about leadership, pressure, his season so far, and how he sees the sprints going as the week progresses. The Australian is certainly a firm favourite at the race after taking a stage here last year.  Our presenters – Daniel Benson and Sophie Smith – also hear from Chris Froome, who arrives at the race having not competed since his career-threatening crash at last year's Criterium du Dauphine in France. Froome has spent the last eight months in recovery and rehab and admits that he's still not over his injuries. In our recording he opens up about his hopes for the coming weeks and his condition heading into his first race of the year. Finally, we catch up with Froome's team director, Matteo Tosatto.   To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here.  Our latest competition gives you the chance to win one of two musettes. We have one from Katusha Alpecin that's stuffed with goodies and kit from last year, while we also have a similar prize for BMC Racing fans. Can you tell we've recently moved offices and need to clear some space?  All you have to do to win these fantastic prizes is head to our Itunes page, give us a review and post your top three kits for 2020 (men's or women's). We'll announce the winners in the next couple of weeks.  This podcast was brought to you by Sportful and Floyds of Leadville.   Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972 Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe.  The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

  This is our first in a series of podcasts in which we are partnering with Shimano and for our first episode we headed to Hoogerheide for the final round of the Cyclo-cross World Cup. We hear from several of the main protagonists including Wout Van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel, and his father Adri, Katie Compton and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado as we sample and soak up the unique and exciting atmosphere at one of the biggest cylco-cross races of the year.  We also talk componentry and kit, while for your amusement, we even send a cyclo-cross novice, editor in chief Daniel Benson, around the elite course, to test out the latest gear from Shimano.    Sponsor message Founded in Osaka, Japan in 1921, Shimano has been dedicated to helping people get closer to nature by bicycle for almost 100 years. That comes with the desire to create outstanding cycling products and apparel.   With decades of experience in creating internationally renowned bicycle components, Shimano is proud to have developed products that continue to take countless athletes to victory and provide the means for limitless global bicycle journeys.   Those athletes include superstars such as Chris Froome, Egan Bernal, Julian Alaphillipe, Tom Dumoulin, Mathieu Van Der Poel and many more.   From sun-soaked Grand Tours to wet and windy spring Classics and everything in between, Dura-Ace is powering these riders to victory. Professionals riding, testing and winning on Shimano all year round, proving the technology for you to use.  For more on Shimano's elite components and apparel see bike.shimano.com.

 After a long hiatus we welcome back Procycling editor Edward Pickering to the Cyclingnews podcast, as we look ahead to the Tour Down Under and discuss a number of topics from the evolution of UAE Team Emirates to the chances of Elia Viviani and Caleb Ewan as they go head-to-head in Australia.  Viviani moved to Cofidis over the winter and we discuss how the French team has successfully gone about their business in the transfer market and whether the Italian can replicate the form he has shown over the last two years.  We also hear from both Viviani and Ewan after Sunday's downtown criterium, while we also check in with Tom Southam from EF Pro Cycling as he looks ahead to the first WorldTour race of the year.  Our final interview in this episode is with Matt White, from Mitchelton Scott. White has masterminded six overall titles in the last nine years and with Daryl Impey on his roster is looking to make it three in a row. The Australian team director talks about this year's Tour Down under course and how and where the race might be won.   To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here.  Our latest competition gives you the chance to win one of two musettes. We have one from Katusha Alpecin that's stuffed with goodies and kit from last year, while we also have a similar prize for BMC Racing fans. Can you tell we've recently moved offices and need to clear some space?  All you have to do to win these fantastic prizes is head to our Itunes page, give us a review and post your top three kits for 2020 (men's or women's). We'll announce the winners in the next couple of weeks.  This podcast was brought to you by Sportful and Floyds of Leadville.   Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972 Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe.  The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful  

In the latest episode of the Cyclingnews podcast we hear from Tom Dumoulin, Julian Alaphilippe, Caleb Ewan and Jumbo Visma's Merijn Zeeman on how he picked his team's Tour de France squad, and how they'll take on Team Ineos in July.  We also cast our gaze over the good, the bad and the ugly from this year's men's WorldTour team kits. We announce the winners of our signed Vincenzo Nibali jerseys and there are two musettes stuffed with kit to give away.  We start with a look back at the highlights from the December training camps and sit down with former Giro d'Italia winner Tom Dumoulin. The Dutchman controversially switched teams to move from Sunweb to Jumbo Visma over the winter and in our interview he opens up about the car journey in which he turned around at half-way due to his knee injury and his reasons for switching teams. Now fit and healthy, he also talks about the 2020 Tour de France and how he and Jumbo Visma's other leaders are going to work together this July.  Dumoulin's director, Merijn Zeeman is another guest on the podcast and he tells us how the management arrived at the final eight Jumbo Visma for July's event and why they've decided to send such a strong team to the race. From Jumbo Visma we head to Deceuninck-QuickStep in Calpe and catch up with Alaphilippe to find out whether he can replicate his incredible 2019 season.  We also pick our top three, and bottom three, WorldTour kit designs for 2020, before a final stop at Lotto-Soudal in Mallorca where we hear from Caleb Ewan on his dreams for Milan-San Remo and his transition from Mitchelton Scott to his current Belgian team. Our latest competition gives you the chance to win one of two mussettes. We have one from Katusha Alpecin that's stuffed with goodies and kit from last year, while we also have a similar prize for BMC Racing fans. Can you tell we've recently moved offices and need to clear some space? All you have to do to win these fantastic prizes is head to our Itunes page, give us a review and post your top three kits for 2020 (men's or women's). We'll announce the winners in the next couple of weeks.    This podcast was brought to you by Sportful and Floyds of Leadville.    Sponsor message   Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972 Official apparel supplier to Bora-Hansgrohe.  The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Peter Sagan is available to purchase by all cyclists.  BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigors of pro bike racing.  Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.  Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike.  For more details visit sportful.com Follow the ride on instagram @sportful

In this episode of the Cyclingnews Podcast, brought to you by Sportful, Floyds of Leadville and Pinarello, we kick off 2020 with an exclusive interview with Peter Stetina. The American rider turned away from the WorldTour at the end of the 2019 campaign, and is now preparing for a change in direction as he embarks on a season of gravel races. In late December, we sat down with Stetina, who enjoyed ten years at the top of elite racing at the WorldTour level.  He talks about his time in the sport, stage racing, almost losing his leg after a career-threatening crash, and how his accident forced him to take stock of everything around him. "I'm stepping away in my prime," Stetina tells us, as he looks back on a decade-long career that has spanned a number of high-profile teams.  Stetina also talks about his charity work and the causes close to him, before opening up about his hopes for the future, as he enters a new phase of his life. We hope you enjoy our discussion with Peter Stetina.   To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here.     Sponsor message   Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Team Virtu Cycling, Bora-Hansgrohe and Bahrain-Merida. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Marta Bastianelli, Peter Sagan and Vincenzo Nibali is available to purchase by all cyclists. BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigours of pro bike racing. Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions. Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike. For more details visit sportful.com. Follow the ride on Instagram @sportful.

Earlier this month the Cyclingnews Podcast team recorded their first episode in front of a live studio audience. Featuring expert knowledge from Philippa York and Yanto Barker - and podcast mainstays Edward Pickering from Procycling Magazine and Cyclingnews' Daniel Benson - we looked back at the last 12 months with a quickfire review of the cycling year, starting with the monuments of spring, on through the Giro, Tour de France and Vuelta and the World Championships. We even took questions from the audience.   Full of genuine insight into the racing season and anecdotes from York's career, the podcast provided a neat overview of the year with one eye also looking towards the future and the riders the panel expects to dominate in 2020.   This podcast was brought to you by Sportful, Pinarello, Floyds of Leadville and Wattbike.   To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here.     Sponsor message   Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Team Virtu Cycling, Bora-Hansgrohe and Bahrain-Merida. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Marta Bastianelli, Peter Sagan and Vincenzo Nibali is available to purchase by all cyclists.   BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigours of pro bike racing. Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.   Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike. For more details visit sportful.com. Follow the ride on Instagram @sportful.

In the final Cyclingnews podcast from the 2019 UCI World Championships we look back at the final two days of action and the elite men's and women's road race. We hear from new rainbow jersey holders Annemeik van Vleuten and Mads Pedersen, along with Coryn Rivera, Amanda Spratt, Peter Sagan, Matteo Trentin, Mathieu van der Poel, and Jacob Fuglsang.  We also look back at the week as a whole and discuss the latest on Rohan Dennis, the farcical outcome in the U23 race and how the championships stacked up as a whole. This podcast was brought to you by Sportful, Pinarello, Floyds of Leadville and Wattbike.   To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here. http://apple.co/32jXDgY . Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Team Virtu Cycling, Bora-Hansgrohe and Bahrain-Merida. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Marta Bastianelli, Peter Sagan and Vincenzo Nibali is available to purchase by all cyclists. BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigours of pro bike racing. Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions. Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike. For more details visit sportful.com. Follow the ride on Instagram @sportful.

It's the morning after the U23 race at the World Championships and there's only one place to start and that's with the disqualification of Nils Eekhoff from the Netherlands and the decision from the UCI jury to award Samuele Battistella (Italy) with the rainbow jersey. Eekhoff had crossed the line first in Harrogate after a seven-man sprint but an hour after the finish it was announced that the UCI jury were investigating the result. Another hour went by before Eekhoff was seen leaving the race in tears. His crime, drafting after crashing with around 120km to race. The UCI only checked the footage after the race, which of course led to huge uproar from fans, journalists and fellow riders. It's fair to say that this has been the biggest talking point of the race so far. We hear from Eekhoff, his national coach, Tom Pidcock, who was bumped from fourth to third as a result, and the UCI.   To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here. http://apple.co/32jXDgY . Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Team Virtu Cycling, Bora-Hansgrohe and Bahrain-Merida. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Marta Bastianelli, Peter Sagan and Vincenzo Nibali is available to purchase by all cyclists. BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigours of pro bike racing. Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions. Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike. For more details visit sportful.com. Follow the ride on Instagram @sportful.  

Rohan Dennis (Australia) stepped up when it mattered most to deliver a resounding win in the men's elite time trial at the World Championships on Wednesday. The Australian decimated the field to defend his 2018 title and answered many of his critics after his controversial walkout from the Tour de France in July. Dennis beat starlets Remco Evenepoel and Filippo Ganna and we hear from all three riders in our podcast. We debate where this win leaves Dennis's career and if this opens the door for a return to Bahrain Merida or if his decision to snub trade team equipment was the nail in the coffin.   We analyse a number of other key performances, including several riders who underperformed and we hear from Vuelta a Espana winner Primoz Roglic.   This podcast was brought to you by Sportful, Pinarello, Floyd's of Leadville and Wattbike.   To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here. http://apple.co/32jXDgY . Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Team Virtu Cycling, Bora-Hansgrohe and Bahrain-Merida. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Marta Bastianelli, Peter Sagan and Vincenzo Nibali is available to purchase by all cyclists. BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigours of pro bike racing. Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions. Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike. For more details visit sportful.com. Follow the ride on Instagram @sportful.

In the latest edition of the Cyclingnews podcast, brought to you in association with Sportful, Pinarello, Floyds of Leadville and Wattbike, we hear from Chloe Dygert Owen after she put in a mezermersing performance, demolishing the Dutch pair of Anna van der Breggen and Annemiek van Vleuten to win the women's elite time trial world title in Yorkshire. The American covered the 30.4km course in a time of 42.11and put 1:32 into Van der Breggen and 1:52 into Van Vleuten.  We hear from both Dygert Owen and Van Vleuten on their performances. We also head to press conferences ahead of Wednesday's elite men's time trial to talk to defending champion Rohan Dennis and Remco Evenepoel, and we preview a number of other favourites for the 54km test. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here. http://apple.co/32jXDgY . Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Team Virtu Cycling, Bora-Hansgrohe and Bahrain-Merida. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Marta Bastianelli, Peter Sagan and Vincenzo Nibali is available to purchase by all cyclists. BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigours of pro bike racing. Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions. Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike. For more details visit sportful.com. Follow the ride on Instagram @sportful.

It's the first day of time trials at the UCI World Championships in Yorkshire and the Cyclingnews team analyse all the action from today's team time trial mixed relay in which the dominant Dutch brushed aside the challenge from Germany and hosts Great Britain to win the gold. We hear from Elisa Longo Borghini, Dan Bingham, Jan Bakelants and Lucinda Brand, while we also debate whether the inaugural mixed TTT was a startling success or if the UCI need to go back to the drawing board. This podcast was brought to you in association with Sportful, Pinarello, Floyd's of Leadville and Wattbike. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here. http://apple.co/32jXDgY . Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Team Virtu Cycling, Bora-Hansgrohe and Bahrain-Merida. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Marta Bastianelli, Peter Sagan and Vincenzo Nibali is available to purchase by all cyclists. BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigours of pro bike racing. Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions. Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike. For more details visit sportful.com. Follow the ride on Instagram @sportful.

Find out what Katie Hall, Allie Dragoo, Lindsay Goldman, Omer Shapira, BePink's Walter Zini and race director Sean Petty thought of the inaugural women's-only edition of the race Organisers of the Colorado Classic haven't been shy about trying new ways to make bicycle racing work in the Centennial State, first pairing their 2.HC men's race and US national calendar women's race with a concert in a 'Velorama' with big-named stars they hoped would attract cross-over fans.   For this year, however, the Velorama was gone and organisers made the unorthodox move of shedding the men's event and investing their funds in a women's-only UCI 2.1 race. Four stages took the international peloton from Steamboat to Avon and Golden before the finale in downtown Denver in the shadow of Coors Stadium.   Chloe Dygert-Owen (Sho-Air Twenty20) swept all four stages, all the jerseys and the overall, but the real winner may have been US women's racing in general as presenting Sponsor VF Corporation decided to return for at least one more year in 2020.   The women raced for a total prize purse of $75,000 this year – $5,000 more than the men did in 2018 – and the race crowdfunded tens of thousands more for primes and local charities during the live video coverage that was broadcast for the entirety of each stage.   In this edition of the Cyclingnews podcast, Kirsten Frattini and Pat Malach discuss impressions of the race and its potential moving forward. We also hear from Sho-Air Twenty20's Allie Dragoo, who retired after the final stage, Boels Dolman's Katie Hall, Israeli champion Omer Shapira, Hagens Berman-Supermint rider/owner Lindsay Goldman, BePink directeur sportif Walter Zini and Colorado Classic race director Sean Petty.

Not for the first time in this year's Tour of Britain Mathieu van der Poel showed a clean pair of heels to his rivals for a convincing stage win that extended his lead. And not for the first time the Cyclingnews team of Philippa York and Daniel Benson were left debating whether the young Dutchman can take the rainbow jersey later this month in Yorkshire. Joined by author and journalist William Fortheringham, the team look back at the stage and consider whether van der Poel has perhaps played his cards too early ahead of Worlds, while we hear from the rider himself during his stage-winner's press conference.  Fotheringham gives us his expert view on the Worlds course having ridden it earlier this year, while York puts to bed the notion that riding on home roads offers any form of advantage. The pair then talk about the similarities between Yorkshire's course and the one raced in Oslo in 1993.  There's also time to check in with Jose Azevedo and the latest problems at Katusha-Alpecin where the riders are still waiting on news over the team's future, and we catch up with Mikel Landa on whether the move to Bahrain-Merida will finally offer him the chance of sole leadership at a team.   This podcast was brought to you by Sportful, Pinarello, Floyd's of Leadville and Wattbike.   To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here. http://apple.co/32jXDgY . Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Team Virtu Cycling, Bora-Hansgrohe and Bahrain-Merida. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Marta Bastianelli, Peter Sagan and Vincenzo Nibali is available to purchase by all cyclists. BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigours of pro bike racing. Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions. Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike. For more details visit sportful.com. Follow the ride on Instagram @sportful.

In the latest episode of the Cyclingnews podcast we catch up with some of the leading contenders for the World Championships who are currently finessing their form at the Tour of Britain. We speak to young Dutch sensation Mathieu van der Poel about his chances in Yorkshire and growing level of expectancy he has on his shoulders. We also hear from Italian leader Matteo Trentin on his nations chances, a generation of riders now at their peak, and the merits of racing on British roads ahead of Yorkshire. There's a catch up with the British national champion Ben Swift on his time at UAE Team Emirates and how he is hoping to galvanize a team around him despite only having six spots on the start line. Finally, time trial specialist and super domestique Luke Durbridge gives us his take on the Australian team, Rohan Dennis' chances on defending his time trial title, and the merits of announcing squads as early as possible. What's more Philippa York is on hand to give her expert opinion on an array of topics with the Worlds just over a week away.  The Cyclingnews podcast is brought to you in association with Sportful, Pinarello, Floyd's of Leadville and Wattbike. To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here. http://apple.co/32jXDgY . Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Team Virtu Cycling, Bora-Hansgrohe and Bahrain-Merida. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Marta Bastianelli, Peter Sagan and Vincenzo Nibali is available to purchase by all cyclists. BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigours of pro bike racing. Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions. Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike. For more details visit sportful.com. Follow the ride on Instagram @sportful.

1999 had its highs and lows. For every No Scrubs by TLC there was a Mambo Number 5 or virtually anything from the Backstreet Boys' back catalogue. Bluetooth came about, we all played Snake on our Nokia 3210s, and a Texan shocked the world by winning the Tour de France. Whatever happened to him? But when it came to professional cycling, maybe the best thing about the sport was just how inaccessible it was. If you wanted to keep up with European racing, your options were either the four lines of text posted on Ceefax, loading up Cyclingnews on your parents' dodgy modem, or waiting a week for your favourite cycling magazine to hit the shelves. However you managed to follow cycling back then, the fact that you had work for it only added to the romance. And the final UCI World Championships of the 1990s were arguably the most romantic and beautiful of the entire decade. The setting was perfect, the line-up stellar, even the race-winning break was filled with a mouthwatering array of talent. And, to top it all, we had a shock winner. This is the story of Oscar Friere's 1999 Worlds win and how a complete unknown stormed to victory in one of the biggest upsets the sport had ever seen. Join us as we re-tell the race on its 20th anniversary, and head to meet with Friere at his home in Northern Spain. This issue of the Cyclingnews podcast was brought to you by Sportful, Pinarello, Floyds of Leadville, and Wattbike. To subscribe to the Cyclignews podcast, click here. http://apple.co/32jXDgY A special thanks to everyone who was interviewed: Oscar Freire, Hugo Coorevits, Servais Knaven, Rolf Aldag, Scott Moninger, Sven Montgomery, Dirk Demol and Dimitri Konyshev. Sponsor message Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Team Virtu Cycling, Bora-Hansgrohe and Bahrain-Merida. The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Marta Bastianelli, Peter Sagan and Vincenzo Nibali is available to purchase by all cyclists. BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigours of pro bike racing. Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions. Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike. For more details visit sportful.com. Follow the ride on Instagram @sportful.