The Wheel Talk Podcast

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.

For our first episode of the new year, and with Australian National Championships in mind, Gracie Elvin sat down with Lidl-Trek super-domestique Lauretta Hanson to talk about her experience as a domestique in the WorldTour, her journey to the Paris Olympics and being a hometown hero.Aussie Nats kicks off with U23 and Junior time trials on January 8th, elite time trials the following day and road races over the weekend with the women racing on Sunday the 12th.

Loren, Gracie, and Abby are back this week for the last episode of the year. We chat about Demi Vollering joining FDJ-Suez, what that means for the French team and how they might divide leadership between the Dutchwoman, Evita Muzic, and Juliette Labous. We also reflect on our favorite moments of the season including Grace Brown's Olympic and World Championship success, the Olympics in general, and of course Kasia Niewiadoma's Tour victory.Thanks so much for listening! This year has been insane, and we're so happy to have helped guide you through it. We will be back on January 7th with another Conversation episode (with Lauretta Hanson and Gracie) before we dive into the Aussie Summer of Racing with the National Championships and Tour Down Under. There is a lot to look forward to in 2025!

This week Loren Rowney caught up with Shimano's Road Marketing Manager Alexa Cunningham to chat about sponsorship on the women's side of the sport, from grassroots to WorldTour, and how Alexa found herself in Valkenburg working for one of the biggest brands in cycling.Alexa's obsessions: The Resident on Netflix and Liv's short film about Bonnie.

This week Loren and Abby sat down with Georgie Howe, former rower turned professional cyclist for Liv-AlUla-Jayco. Howe found cycling during the pandemic and her rise in the sport was rapid. That rise came with its pluses and minuses, and after a few wonderful years, Howe is leaving the professional peloton behind in 2025 ... for now. But she's not keen to hang up the bike just yet!More information about the study Georgie mentioned from the 2023 Tour de France Femmes can be found here.Matt de Neef also wrote a story about Georgie's rapid rise in cycling here.

This week on Wheel Talk, Abby chatted with Anna Henderson about her silver medal in the Time Trial at the Paris Olympics, the emotional come-down after she overachieved her goal, her switch to Lidl-Trek, and more.

This week Matt de Neef called up Grace Brown to chat about her career up to this year, her dream 2024 season that included Olympic Gold and a World title, and what she has planned for the future. Matt's written piece on the conversation can be found on Escape Collective here.

This week Abby called up Geerike Schreurs (aka Gee) to chat about her move from racer to soigneur to gravel pro to a WorldTour contract with SD Worx-Protime in 2025.

This week Abby chatted with Elise Chabbey before the end of her up-and-down season about her transition from kayaking to road cycling, her time with Canyon-SRAM and her move to FDJ-Suez in 2025.

This week we kick off our off-season interview series with none other than football/soccer legend Tobin Heath. Tobin is a new convert to cycling but it didn't take long for her to get hooked. We talk all things women's cycling and sport, about her time at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and more.

Abby, Gracie and Loren get together for a final group podcast for a while to wrap up the final races of the season and chat the latest transfers. They also talk about the placement of Tour of Chongming Island and Tour of Guangxi in the calendar and if an earlier slot in the year would impact public interest in the races.Next week Abby and Matilda Price chat with Tobin Heath about women's sports and her discovery of cycling. You won't want to miss it!Obsessions: Abby - Fall, Loren - Harry has his final treatment this week!, Gracie - Agatha All Along

This week on the podcast, Loren, Gracie, and Abby talked about the Simac Ladies Tour, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig's move to Canyon-SRAM, and the lack of announcement around Demi Vollering's 2025 team.Obsessions: Abby - Abbott Elementary, Gracie - Shōgun, Loren - Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

This week on the podcast Gracie, Abby and Loren chat about the latest in transfer news, the Gravel World Championships, the 2025 calendar, and the future of bike racing in Australia.Obsessions: Abby - Nobody Wants This, Gracie - Chappell Roan's The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, Loren - A Touch More with Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe

Abby, Matt de Neef and Matilda Raynolds break down the women's Elite World Championship road race. The course was harder than expected, combined with horrendous weather, Saturday gave us quite the race. Very few riders could walk away claiming they had a good day, one of them was the winner, and a whole team proved that strength means nothing if you can't work together.

This week on the podcast Abby, Loren and Gracie talked about the World Championships time trial on Sunday, some amazing performances there (and one in particular). They also preview the road race, with a little input from none other than Elise Chabbey who just announced she will be moving teams for next season.

This week Abby, Loren and Gracie chat about the European championships with some impressive wins in both the time trial and road races. They also dive a bit into some more transfers and extensions announced last week and look ahead to the World Championship time trial.Obsessions: Abby - Gilmore Girls, Loren - Her bike trailer, Gracie - Truth Be Told.

Despite having no new signings (yet) SD Worx-Protime doesn't look like they will be any less dominant next season, thanks to their world champion.Abby, Tilda and Gracie break down Tour de Romandie plus touch on how teams are shaping up for 2025.Obsessions: Abby - The Woodhalls, Tilda - Maggie Rogers, Gracie - Zwift training plans (specifically the beginner build up).

This week we chatted a bit about our days in the peloton and answered some listener questions, plus touched on the Paralympics (Meg Fisher's guide has more info on the classifications).

Gracie Elvin and Matt de Neef are back this week with Abby and Loren to talk Classic Lorient Agglomération. Plus, final takes on the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift! We're still not over it.Next week we will try to tackle some listener questions. Submit yours to the Escape Collective Discord (Wheel Talk channel) or send in your own audio diary here!Obsessions: Loren - her kids, Gracie - her postpartum body, Abby - cooking, specifically cheesy creamed corn, Matt - Ted Lasso

It's going to take Abby, Loren and Tilda quite some time to process what they watched on Sunday, the final day of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. History was made, and there's far too much to talk about. With audio diaries from Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal), Niamh Fisher-Black (SD Worx-Protime), Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek) and Lea Curinier (FDJ-Suez).

The penultimate stage brought some fireworks, with a new winner and a whole lot to talk about before stage 8 on Sunday. Loren, Tilda and Abby break it all down, with audio diaries from Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal), Niamh Fisher-Black (SD Worx-Protime), and Noemi Rüegg (EF-Oatly-Cannondale).

A historic win, and emotional win, and one we all should have seen coming. Loren, Tilda and Abby are here to talk about it. Plus audio diaries from Emma Norsgaard (Movistar), Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal), Lea Curinier (FDJ-Suez) and Quinty Ton (Liv AlUla Jayco).

It was a crazy day at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift! Loren, Abby and Tilda try to make sense of it. Loren returned to the peloton for the day, on the back of a motorbike. And audio diaries from Noemi Rüegg (EF-Oatly-Cannondale), Lea Curinier (FDJ-Suez), Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek) and Niamh Fisher-Black (SD Worx-Protime).

The Classics riders got a taste of their terrain in a Grand Tour today, with an Amstel Gold Race/Liege-Bastogne-Liege combo. Loren caught up with Georgie Howe at the finish and the two chatted the race so far and the race to come. Plus audio diaries from Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek) and Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal).

Abby, Loren, and Tilda had a long day, but not as long as the team staff. Two stages in one day, two winners and a whole lot of drama. With audio diaries from Quinty Ton (Liv AlUla Jayco), Noemi Rüegg (EF-Oatly-Cannondale) and Lea Curinier (FDJ-Suez).

Abby, Tilda and Loren are on the ground in Rotterdam for the Grand Depart of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. All the fastest Dutch women wanted the first stage victory, but only one rider could pull on the first yellow jersey. The stage was not without some controversy, some ice cream needed and some of that first stage hype.With audio diaries from Emma Norsgaard (Movistar), Quinty Ton (Liv AlUla Jayco), and Léa Curinier (FDJ-Suez).

Abby, Tilda and Loren are on the ground in Rotterdam gearing up for the Grand Depart of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Starting Monday, August 12th the top women in professional cycling will kick off the third edition of the Tour de France Femmes, and we'll be bringing you daily episodes on the ground all week long, with audio diaries from riders in the race. Before the start, we preview the stages to come, who we are looking at the feature in each stage and who can beat Demi Vollering on Alpe d'Huez.   

Abby, Loren and Gracie break down the major talking points from the Olympic road race. Some teams threw everything they had at the race, were in the perfect position and still walked away with nothing while some were poorly placed when it counted but still managed to pull off a podium.Obsession (everyone): Ilona Maher. Always.

Gracie, Loren, and Abby spend most of this week's episode praising the winner of the Olympic time trial, among other amazing women who raced in Paris on Thursday. They look ahead to what is expected to be a very good road race on Sunday and discuss what else they are loving about the Games.

Loren, Tilda and Abby are joined by Gracie (finally!) to chat about the Giro d'Italia's placement on the calendar, it's overlap with the men's Tour and the lack of coverage. Plus what Lotte Kopecky's new skills mean for SD Worx-Protime's future and what Elisa Longo Borghini leaving Lidl-Trek will mean for the American team and the team she's joining.Obsessions: Abby - the dress worn by Biniam Girmay's wife at the Tour podium, Gracie - her newborn son Noah!, Tilda - America's Sweethearts, Loren - the weather in Belgium right now

Abby and Loren can barely wrap their minds around the final stage of the Giro d'Italia Women. A historic stage winner and a dream come true podium for the three women on it. With an audio diary from MVP of the day Niamh Fisher-Black of SD Worx-Protime.

Loren and Abby are back to try to make sense of the seventh stage of the Giro d'Italia Women. The Queen stage left us with more questions than answers, but also in tears as a podcast favorite claimed a massive result. With audio diaries from Letizia Borghesi (EF-Oatly-Cannondale), Mareille Meijering (Movistar), Lizzie Deignan (Lidl-Trek) and Niamh Fisher-Black (SD Worx-Protime).

Loren is back with Abby to talk about the sixth stage of the Giro d'Italia Women. And what a finish it was! With audio diaries from Letizia Borghesi (EF-Oatly-Cannondale) and Grace Brown (FDJ-Suez).

Rebecca Charlton is back to talk to Abby about the fifth stage of the Giro d'Italia. The final day before the GC really takes off, the fifth stage still saw a gap between favorites get smaller.With audio diaries from Lizzie Deignan (Lidl-Trek), Josie Nelson (DSM-Firmenich PostNL), Mareille Meijering (Movistar), Urška Žigart (Liv AlUla Jayco), and Maike van der Duin (Canyon-SRAM).