The Wheel Talk Podcast

This week on the podcast, Matt de Neef, Georgie Howe, and Iris Slappendel join Abby Mickey to talk about some of the biggest stories from the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. From the massive increase in viewership to where the top riders of this year's Tour go from here. There is far too much to talk about from this year's edition.

Today, Georgie sits down with Dr Stacy Sims to discuss how women – from the professional to amateur ranks – should optimize their hormones for performance. This was a recording before the TDFF, but we thought it was an apt time to publish given the conversations sparked. It is all in an endeavor to answer the question: how sustainable is the current state of professional women's cycling?

The fourth edition of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is now complete and today's final stage delivered plenty of entertaining storylines. Join Georgie Howe and Matt de Neef as they break down another action-packed day of racing at the biggest event on the women's calendar. This final episode features audio diaries from Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek), Mags Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly), and Ally Wollaston (FDJ-Suez).

For the last time this Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Shawn Clarke calls in from the Liv AlUla Jayco team car. Shawn comments on stages 7 and 8, two of the most exciting days of the race, including the decisive Queen stage.

The queen stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift proved every bit as decisive as we'd expected. Join Georgie Howe and Matt de Neef on the Col de la Madeleine as stage 8 unfolds before your ears. This episode features audio diaries from Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal), Ally Wollaston (FDJ-Suez), Jelena Erić (Movistar), and Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly).

The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has been entertaining from the very start and today's stage into Chambéry was no exception. Join Georgie Howe and Matt de Neef as they break down the big storylines from another great day of racing as the queen stage beckons. This episode features audio diaries from Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal), Emma Norsgaard (Lidl-Trek), and Brodie Chapman (UAE Team ADQ).

The proper climbs have begun at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and it's been non-stop action as a result. Join Georgie Howe and Matt de Neef as they break down an entertaining and satisfying stage 6. Today's episode features audio diaries from Imogen Wolff (Visma-Lease a Bike), Ally Wollaston (FDJ-Suez), and Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal).

Shawn Clarke is back, reporting from the Liv AlUla Jayco team car. Clarke talks through his observations from car 2 - more crashes, full gas racing, and more riders struggling with positioning.

We aren't even into the proper climbs yet and already the GC contenders are coming out to play. Join Georgie Howe and Matt de Neef as they break down all the action from stage 5 of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Today's episode features audio diaries from Ella Wyllie (Liv AlUla Jayco), Brodie Chapman (UAE Team ADQ), and Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek).

In some ways it was a regulation sprint stage at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, but there was still plenty to talk about. Georgie Howe and Matt de Neef are joined by the wonderful Iris Slappendel to break down all of the action from a fast and fascinating day of racing. This episode features audio diaries from Franzi Koch (Picnic-PostNL), Ella Wyllie (Liv AlUla Jayco), Sarah Van Dam (Ceratizit), and Imogen Wolff (Visma-Lease a Bike).

It was a day that looked to be heading towards a rather routine sprint finish. And then things took a turn for the worse. Loren Rowney, Georgie Howe, and Matt de Neef bring you all the headlines and more from a dramatic third stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. This episode features audio diaries from Franzi Koch (Picnic-PostNL), Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek), Jelena Erić (Movistar), and Susanne Andersen (Uno-X Mobility).

Abby here, momentarily infiltrating the Wheel Talk podcast for this mini-episode with Shawn Clarke, Director for Liv AlUla Jayco. After a fantastic start to the race for the team, Shawn checks in with some insights from inside the caravan at the biggest race in women's cycling.

Two days of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, two wonderfully entertaining stages. Loren Rowney, Georgie Howe, and Matt de Neef break down all the action from a day where the oldest rider in the race took stage honours and Kim Le Court made history. Today's episode features audio diaries from Sarah Van Dam (Ceratizit), Ella Wyllie (Liv AlUla Jayco), Imogen Wolff (Visma-Lease a Bike), and Susanne Andersen (Uno-X Mobility).

What a stage to kickstart the fourth edition of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift! Loren Rowney, Georgie Howe, and Matt de Neef break down all the action from a day in which the stage-hunters and GC favourites (and the GOAT herself) duked it out for the first yellow jersey of this year's Tour. Today's episode features audio diaries from Brodie Chapman (UAE Team ADQ), Jelena Erić (Movistar), Ally Wollaston (FDJ-Suez), and Mags Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly).

Matt de Neef, Loren Rowney, and Georgie Howe are on the ground at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. On the eve of the race, they discuss all the top contenders for the general classification and stages, plus chat with Iris Slappendel, Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) ahead of the fourth edition of The Femmes.

Fresh off an impressive performance at the Giro d'Italia Women and days before the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, Abby sat down with Sarah Van Dam, Ceratizit's breakout star of 2024. In her first season in the WorldTour Van Dam has already finished on the podium of a WWT stage race – the Itzulia Women – but she doesn't want to be considered just a climber just yet.You can also read more about her over at Escape Collective.

Today on the Wheel Talk podcast we briefly look back at a wicked fast Giro d'Italia Women and look ahead to the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift with a full route breakdown featuring the one and only Sarah Gigante.

Abby and Georgie talk about the Giro d'Italia overall, the final stage, and more. With audio diaries from Brodie Chapman (UAE Team ADQ), Amanda "Spratty" Spratt (Lidl-Trek), Ana Vitória Magalhães (Movistar), and Lea Curinier (FDJ-Suez).

Abby and Loren are joined again by Esra Tromp to talk about the Queen stage of the Giro d'Italia, and what a stage it was! Heroic tactics, incredible teamwork, and new woman in pink. With audio diaries from Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal), Brodie Chapman (UAE Team ADQ), Josie Talbot (Liv AlUla Jayco), and Becky Storrie (PicNic PostNL).

Abby and Loren are joined by EF Education-Oatly Team Manager Esra Tromp to talk about a wild sixth day at the Giro d'Italia Women. With audio diaries from Mirre Knaven (EF Education-Oatly), Lea Curinier (FDJ-Suez), Rebecca Koerner (Uno-X Mobility), and Liv-AlUla-Jayco DS Shawn Clarke.

Abby is joined by Cosmo Catalano of the How The Race Was Won podcast and Loren to talk about the fifth stage of the Giro d'Italia Women. What was slated to be a sprint stage was upended by one sector of crosswinds where some of the GC favourites got to jump on some of the climbers and the favourite from the stage still managed to take it. With audio diaries from Lieke Nooijen (Visma-Lease a Bike), Becky Storrie (PicNic PostNL), Mirre Knaven (EF Edcuation-Oatly), Alice Towers (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) and Josie Talbot (Liv AlUla Jayco).

What. A. Stage! Abby and Georgie chat that climb that finished off the fourth stage of the Giro d'Italia. The pink jersey is on the back of a GC favourite but the race is far from won. With audio diaries from Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal), Lea Curinier (FDJ-Suez), Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek), and Brodie Chapman (UAE Team ADQ).

In today's episode, Cosmo Catalano of the How The Race Was Won podcast joins Abby to talk about stage 3. A late-stage crash drastically impacted the outcome of the race ... but did it really? With audio diaries from Mirre Knaven (EF Education-Oatly), Alice Towers (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto), Becky Storrie (PicNic PostNL), Josie Talbot (Liv AlUla Jayco), and Lieke Nooijen (Visma-Lease a Bike).

After the second stage of the Giro d'Italia Women, Loren and Abby talk through the surprising win, the changes in the GC, and what the heck happened to a few GC contenders who lost time. With audio diaries from Brodie Chapman (UAE Team ADQ), Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal), Rebecca Koerner (Uno-X Mobility), Lea Curinier (FDJ-Suez), and a special contribution from Liv AlUla Jayco DS Shawn Clarke.

Abby and Georgie talk about the opening time trial at the Giro d'Italia Women, where the top four riders are exactly who you'd expect and the GC battle might already be wrapped, much to the surprise of the winner. The good news is the Giro is only getting started. With audio diaries from Brodie Chapman (UAE Team ADQ), Amanda Spratty (Lidl-Trek), Rebecca Koerner (Uno-X Mobility), Lieke Nooijn (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Ana Vitória Magalhães (Movistar).

Today on the podcast, Abby and Georgie talk you through each of the stages in the upcoming Giro d'Italia Women, plus the biggest names to watch and more. Stay tuned for daily episodes with audio diaries from some of our favourite riders and find a full written preview on EscapeCollective.com.

With no WorldTour racing this past weekend and a Giro preview podcast coming later this week, I wanted to use this as an opportunity to highlight a fantastic story by Matt de Neef about a topic that has been on the rise in recent years: iliac artery endofibrosis. The written piece can be found here, but for those who prefer to read with their ears, you'll be able to listen to Matt narrating his story on the pod this week.

After the Great Handlebar Fiasco last week, riders (and the hosts of this podcast, Abby, Georgie, Loren, and Gracie) were not pleased about the lack of safety at the new Copenhagen Sprint WWT event.

It's a full house this week as Abby, Loren, Georgie and Gracie discuss everything that went down at Tour de Suisse: Marlen Reusser's meteoric rise, Demi Vollering's biggest weakness, the second-best climbing team in the peloton, and what it all means for the coming weeks. They also talk about the new handlebar rule, with some input from FDJ-Suez's Director of Performance, Lieselot Decroix, as well as the Giro d'Italia Women's new slot on the 2026 calendar.

Forget the battle of Winterfell, the Tour of Britain was the true battle for the North.This week, the team dive into what was an EPIC edition of the Tour of Britain. The roads were punishing, and the weather was unforgiving. Two forces eventually fought it out for victory on the streets of Glasgow. Gracie, Matt, and Georgie also look to Spain as FDJ-Suez continue to prove their dominance, plus HoweGood roasts the UCI in a minute of madness, and Gracie describes how she gave Georgie a baptism of fire on the MTB.

With a lull in WWT racing last weekend, Georgie, Abby, and Gracie try to answer a few listener questions, including one about fueling in the women's peloton. We also break down the new Tour of Norway and chat Unbound, featuring audio diaries from Cassondra Spring of Liv and Melisa Rollins.

This week, Anna Shackley, former professional for SD Worx-Protime and current director for Cynisca, joined Loren and Abby to break down the final Spanish stage race - Vuelta a Burgos. The three discuss what they learned from the Spanish block of racing, who came out on top and who will be looking for more in the coming months. 

Abby, Gracie and Georgie chatted this week about Matt White's dismissal from the GreenEdge team, Ceratizit ending their sponsorship of a WorldTour team, Itzulia Women and Vuelta a Burgos (aka the first WWT ITT of the year).

It's time for the Grand Tours and the team kicks off its analysis with the Vuelta Feminina and special guest Julie Leth. What used to be a lovely, sunny race in Spain was anything but with the women showcasing some enthralling racing.Who impressed? Were there any controversial tactics? What riders have the most work before the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift?

Gracie, Loren and Abby discuss all things La Vuelta Femenina on this week's Wheel Talk podcast. They also reflect on Lotte Kopecky's comments regarding her winter training and the media's role in critiquing athletic performances.

It's all hands on deck this week to discuss La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Gracie, Loren, Georgie, and Abby gather to break down the final two races of the Spring, who came out on top and who has some catching up to do before the upcoming stage races.

This week on the Wheel Talk Podcast, Abby, Gracie, and Georgie break down the Brabantse Pijl and the Amstel Gold Race (including that podium ceremony) and look ahead to the final two one-day events of the spring: La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Wowza, what a race! The greatest comeback in women's road cycling continues to give while top favourites miss the top step and lack of a definitive plan keeps the best team from taking home another Paris Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift cobblestone.

It cycling's Holy Week and Abby, Gracie, and Georgie have a lot to say about concussions, Lotte Kopecky, Lidl-Trek, and more. They also look ahead to Paris Roubaix Femmes where the world champion is yet again the top favorite to claim the crown.

This week's podcast features the full team of Abby, Loren, Gracie, and Georgie, who discuss Gent Wevelgem and Classic Brugge-De Panne and preview Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Tour of Flanders.The "world championships of sprinting" was windless this year, but that didn't stop one youngster from forging ahead alone (for a long time) before the sprinter's teams eventually brought her back. Meanwhile, one rider attempted to prove she was unbeatable, but perhaps there is a way around her. And the biggest race of the spring is coming on the weekend, but can anyone dethrone SD Worx-Protime?

Abby, Gracie and Loren have a lot to say this week about Sanremo Women. They dive into the tactics, how the race could have been won, and if it really needs to be longer. After, they look ahead to the two races on tap this week; Classic Brugge-De Panne and Gent Wevelgem. A full preview for those can be found in this week's Wheel Talk Newsletter.For more on Sanremo Women check out Matt's piece on EscapeCollective.com

This week the team gets together to discuss Trofeo Alfredo Binda. Almost all the best riders in the sport showed up to race in Cittiglio, but a flurry of attacks couldn't stop a top quick woman from taking the day. The race hinted at what's to come next weekend at Sanremo Women, the first for the women's peloton in 20 years.

This week Abby, Gracie, Loren and Georgie break down Strade Bianche. From FDJ-Suez's dream day to the conditions that took most of the peloton out of contention to the battle we've all been waiting for continues to heat up, there's a lot to say as the WorldTour season continues. Coming up next: Trofeo Alfredo Binda.Bonus! Gretchen Powers checks in from the Cross Country skiing World Championships in Trondheim, Norway.

The peloton opened up Classics season with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday and Omloop van het Hageland on Sunday, but the opening race left many pondering the new dynamics of the peloton, and how much impact offseason transfers (both in the peloton and in the cars) had on the race tactics.Then, on Sunday, Anna van der Breggen had us feeling like we'd hopped in a time machine. With Strade Bianche up next, the question is how much impact will Omloop Het Nieuwsblad have on the season, and can teams get their **** together before the next WorldTour one day?

This week on the Wheel Talk Podcast, we assemble an A+ list of personalities to partake in the second edition of the Wheel Talk Draft. Prepare to yell into the sky when your favourite riders get picked, or don't, and let ten months of smack talk begin.

This week the team looks to Valenciana. A small race in Spain? No chance. Anna van der Breggen is back, and with a vengeance. Could Demi Vollering's top step be in danger this season? The crew discuss what Van der Breggen's form shows, how a happy head leads to a fast Marlen Reusser, and how Trek finally opened their account with Elisa Balsamo taking two stages. With the best time of the year (the Classics) just a few weeks away, we also breakdown the start list for the Omloop Het Niewsblad and tag our riders to watch for the cobbled block of racing.

This week, the team takes you through the four stages at the Women's UAE Tour. We discuss a world class sprinter continuing her streak, unmatched race craft from a legend of the peloton, and underwhelming performances from those we'd expect to finish higher on the results sheet. What does this race signify for the season? Join the Wheel Talk crew as we break it all down.Obsessions: Loren - Super Bowl ads, Gracie - We Are the Stars by Gina Chick, Georgie - the Imperfects and the Minefield podcasts.

For the week between Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, we return to our "conversation series." Loren sat down with old friend Molly Weaver, former rider for Team Sunweb (now Picnic PostNL) turned Ultra racer. They two discuss the issue of power to weight, how the demand to lose weight ended Molly's career, and Molly's plans for 2025: On the Edge, Molly's British Coastline World Record Attempt.Molly's written work from her time as a professional road cyclist can be found here.

This week's episode is a special one. Matt de Neef takes control of the mic, along with Gracie Elvin and Georgie Howe, for an on-the-ground breakdown of Tour Down Under. The three talk about everything from the stage 1 non-chase to double Willunga Hill chaos to what Chloe Dygert can accomplish in 2025.

Georgie Howe joined Gracie and Abby to break down all the action from Aussie Road Nats and preview the upcoming Tour Down Under. For a full written preview ahead of TDU check out the Wheel Talk Newsletter at Escape Collective.Obsessions: Georgie – being home in Melbourne with friends and family, and Zero 7, Gracie – swimming!, Abby – The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon.