Podcasts about astana

In this Confirmed, jL joins to explain the decision to take the break and talk about his future as well as G2 complete their roster, broky returned, magixx future in question, jks joins FlyQuest, and FISSURE Playground with Astralis, FURIA, and more team. ➡️ Follow us for updates:   / hltvconfirmed  

In dieser Radioreise nimmt Sie Alexander Tauscher mit auf eine spannende Tour von Astana nach Tiflis. In der kasachischen Hauptstadt erleben wir die Straße und die Häuser als Leinwand. Unser Guide Dima Dimow rollt anhand verschiederner Murals die jüngere Zeitgeschichte der Stadt und des Landes auf. Graffiti und Wandmalereien mit Symbolen der Sowjetunion und des unabhängigen Kasachstan von verschiedensten Künstlerinnen und Künstlern. Wir lassen uns ein paar der spannendsten Geschichten erzählen. Astana-Guide Maral Zhunussova erinnert beim Rundgang an die sowjetischen Wohnviertel mit integrierten Kindergärten und Schulen. Mit ihr sprechen wir auch über das Nebeneinander von kasachischer und russischer Sprache. Der Kasachstan-Guide Miraz Mauretkazy erklärt uns, was Kasachstan wörtlich übersetzt bedeutet und wie sich das Land im Laufe der Jahrhunderte geformt hat. Vor allem erklärt er uns, warum heute rund ein Drittel der Einwohner russische Wurzeln haben. Anschließend fliegen wir gedanklich westwärts über das Kaspische Meer in Richtung Kaukasus. Wir treffen Mamuka Pipia, den  Fraktionschef der Partei „Solidarität für den Frieden“ und Chef des größten georgischen Restaurants in Moskau. Sein Leben ist ein Pendeln zwischen Georgien und Russland. Mamuka erzählt uns, warum er im Russland-Ukraine-Krieg in der russischen Region Kursk mit einem Hilfskonvoi notleidenden Menschen geholfen hat. Und natürlich spricht er über die aktuelle politische Lage in seiner Heimat, in Georgien. Eine spannende, nicht alltägliche Radioreise. Wir wünschen viel Spaß beim Vermehren der gewonnenen Einsichten! 

In this sweeping episode, Ghost breaks down why geography is destiny, and how the old Silk Road trade routes are being revived to reshape global power. He explores Kazakhstan's sudden importance as Russia, China, and Iran link up railways and pipelines in a new Eurasian triangle that cuts out Western influence. From Chinese investment treaties and Saudi port expansions to Russia's quiet nuclear deals across Africa and Central Asia, Ghost unpacks how the multipolar world is materializing beneath the headlines. He dives into the Astana Process, the shadowy Astana city itselfJor, and the strategic chessboard of Central Asia that echoes ancient Mongol invasions and Ottoman history. You'll also hear why pipeline routes matter more than media narratives, how rare earth minerals in the Congo fuel everything from iPhones to missiles, and why seemingly disconnected conflicts in Ukraine, Armenia, and the DRC are all part of the same supply chain struggle. Complete with maps, historical context, and a big dose of skepticism about legacy media, this is a masterclass in understanding the economic and geographic forces behind today's headlines.

85% din mărfurile transportate pe uscat între China și Europa trec prin Kazahstan. Acesta este motivul pentru care Kazakhstanul vrea să-și integreze coridoarele de transport în Inițiativa Chinei „O centură, un drum” sau Noul drum al mătăsii. Subiectul a fost discutat la summitul Asia Centrală – China organizat la Astana Summitul de la Astana: O nouă etapă în consolidarea influenței chineze în Asia Centrală, este un titlu din azattyq.org. Publicația relatează despre summitul „Asia Centrală – China” care a avut loc recent la Astana și la care au participat președinții din Kazakhstan, Uzbechistan, Kârghistan, Tadjikistan și Turkmenistan. Reuniunea a fost prezidată de liderul chinez, Xi Jinping. Președintele Tokayev a descris relațiile cu China drept un „parteneriat testat în timp”, subliniind investițiile directe chineze în Kazahstan care depășesc 26 de miliarde de dolari, în timp ce comerțul bilateral a ajuns la 44 de miliarde de dolari. Printre punctele cheie discutate la summit s-a numărat transformarea Asiei Centrale într-un centru care leagă Asia și Europa. Potrivit lui Tokayev, 85% din mărfurile transportate pe uscat între China și Europa trec prin Kazahstan. Acest lucru consolidează rolul strategic al țării în Inițiativa Chinei „O centură, un drum” (sau Noul drum al mătăsii, n.r.) Kazahstanul încearcă să integreze acest proiect în propriile coridoare: „China de Vest - Europa de Vest”, Autostrada Transcaspică și Axa Nord - Sud. Președintele cazac a invitat China să construiască un terminal comun de marfă în portul cazac Kuryk, situat pe țărmurile Mării Caspice. Proiectele energetice ale Armeniei cu Iranul sunt incerte în noul context Aproximativ la 20% din gazul importat de Armenia provine din Iran: care sunt riscurile în contextul conflictului Iran-Israel? se întreabă www.hetq.am. Experții și reprezentanții guvernului armean evită în prezent să facă evaluări specifice ale impactului potențial al escaladării conflictului dintre Iran și Israel asupra economiei armene. Potrivit lui Ara Marjanyan, expert național în energie la Organizația Națiunilor Unite, chiar dacă unele proiecte sunt suspendate, Armenia nu ar trebui să se confrunte cu probleme de securitate energetică. Totul va depinde de evoluția conflictului. „În anii următori, va fi dificil să se finalizeze cu succes extinderea programului Gaz pentru Electricitate, lucrările la linia de înaltă tensiune s-ar putea să nu fie terminate, iar finalizarea proiectului hidrocentralei Meghri devine incertă”, a declarat expertul. Gaz pentru Electricitate este un proiect major de cooperare energetică între Armenia și Iran. Din 2009, Armenia dă la schimb electricitate contra gazului iranian: pentru 1 metru cub de gaz, furnizează 3 kWh de electricitate. Contractul este prelungit periodic. Aproximativ 80% din gazul folosit în Armenia este importat din Rusia. Turcia a întrecut Italia la numărul de turiști Succes istoric în turismul din Turcia, titrează anlatilaninotesi.com.tr: Turcia a întrecut Italia la numărul de turiști înregistrați în 2024. Conform celui mai recent raport publicat de Organizația Mondială a Turismului a Națiunilor Unite, Turcia a primit 56,7 milioane de turiști străini în 2024, trecând de pe locul 5 pe locul 4 în clasamentul mondial. În fața Turciei se clasează Franța, Spania și Statele Unite. Ministrul Culturii și Turismului, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, a declarat că acest succes se bazează pe o viziune pe termen lung. „Am câștigat acest succes prin istoria, cultura, natura și infrastructura turistică a țării noastre,” a declarat ministrul.   Au participat la Revista Presei Europa Plus: Dariga DANIYAR,  Kazakhstan Satenik SAMVELYAN,   Armenia Betul YIGIT, Turcia

In questo episodio parliamo con Fausto Masnada, reduce da un Giro d'Italia 2025 che ha segnato non solo un grande ritorno ad alti livelli, ma anche un nuovo capitolo nella sua carriera con la maglia dell'Astana Qazaqstan Team.Dopo due anni complicati tra infortuni e momenti difficili, Fausto ha ritrovato sé stesso, la gamba giusta e quella fiducia che solo la corsa rosa può davvero restituire.Con lui analizziamo il percorso dell'Astana in questo Giro, la nuova atmosfera all'interno della squadra, i compiti da uomo squadra e le ambizioni personali per il futuro.Un Masnada più maturo, consapevole, affamato: la storia di un ritorno, ma soprattutto di una nuova partenza.

TRACKLIST : Blu.a - Gian's beat (Shaun Reeves remix) Rob Pearson - Work together (The Maersk remix) DJ W!ld - Fashionistas KiRKie - Feeling high Ray Mono - Capo (Mihai Popoviciu remix) Paul Donton - Dive into it (Mr D. Deep remix) Carmona - Subelo JCR - Turn it off Carlo Gambino - In time Beneath Usual & Max Cohle - Riders Paul Donton - Something Is Off (The Maersk Project Mix) Heavenchord - Grisha (Soé)

The second China-Central Asia Summit has taken place in Kazakhstan. Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the summit in Astana. He has laid out a vision for cooperation between China and Central Asia, calling for unity, win-win development, and deeper people-to-people ties. He also outlined plans to promote regional prosperity, security, and integration. What are the outcomes of the China-Central Asia Summit (00:40)?From a digital RMB center to new measures for offshore finance, China's central bank has announced eight major financial policies at the Lujiazui forum in Shanghai. What do they mean for China's financial opening up (18:28)?

President Xi Jinping returned to Beijing on Wednesday after attending the second China-Central Asia Summit, which had outcomes that officials and experts said would give stronger momentum to China-Central Asia cooperation and help the Eurasian heartland become a vast oasis of peace, harmony and development in a turbulent world.In less than 48 hours in Astana, Kazakhstan, Xi attended more than 10 bilateral and multilateral events, during which he renewed traditional friendship, discussed ways of promoting cooperation, and drew the blueprint for development with the heads of state of the five Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.In the Astana Declaration of the second China-Central Asia Summit, leaders of the six countries pledged continuous efforts to strengthen friendly relations, deepen political mutual trust, and expand economic cooperation for the future of the region, as the world faces heightened turbulence and volatility."No matter how the international situation changes, China will remain unwavering in opening up to the outside world, and embrace higher-quality cooperation with Central Asian countries to deepen the integration of interests and achieve common development," Xi said on Tuesday when addressing the summit, the second of its kind. The first was held in China's northwestern city of Xi'an in 2023.The summit also announced the signing of 12 cooperation agreements regarding Belt and Road cooperation, facilitation of personnel exchanges, green minerals, trade, connectivity, industry and customs.Noting that countries now face the common task of ensuring sustainable progress amid growing global uncertainty, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said he believes that the China-Central Asia mechanism will become a model of innovative strategic partnership for shared prosperity, common security and inclusive development.Xi's trip to Kazakhstan marked his third consecutive visit to neighboring countries since China held the Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries in April.Speaking at a news briefing in Astana upon the conclusion of the tour on Tuesday night, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that a highlight of the trip was Xi's announcement that China and Central Asian countries have explored and formed the China-Central Asia Spirit, which features mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit, mutual assistance and the pursuit of common modernization through high-quality development."China never seeks modernization in isolation but is committed to joint development and win-win cooperation with other countries. Through high-quality development and high-level opening-up, China aims to bring more development opportunities to countries worldwide, including those in Central Asia, and to work together with all nations to forge a broad path toward common modernization," Wang said.The signing of the treaty of permanent good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation was the most significant innovation of the summit, said Wang, as it "sets a new milestone in the history of relations among the six countries"."This will lay a solid foundation for the long-term and steady development of relations between China and Central Asian countries," Wang added.Sun Weidong, secretary-general of the Secretariat of the China-Central Asia Mechanism, told reporters after the summit that leaders of the six countries recognize the strategic significance of the region and the importance of further deepening multilateral cooperation based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit."In Astana, the heads of state comprehensively summarized the significant achievements of the China-Central Asia mechanism since the first summit and made a new top-level design for the development of China-Central Asia relations, pointing out the new direction for all-around cooperation between China and Central Asia," Sun said.Since the first summit in 2023, trade between China and Central Asian countries has surged 35 percent, reaching a historic high of nearly $100 billion last year.The joint declaration issued on Tuesday also outlines the six priority directions for China-Central Asia cooperation: unimpeded trade, industrial investment, connectivity, green minerals, agricultural modernization, and facilitation of personnel exchanges.The political will of the leaders of China and Central Asian countries to promote sustainable development and deepen the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism plays a key role, said Sheradil Baktygulov, director of the Institute of World Policy of Kyrgyzstan.The leaders' participation in the summit reflects mutual respect and a shared commitment to deepening the China-Central Asia partnership, Baktygulov told Xinhua News Agency.It enables them to align on key issues, strengthen mutual trust, and forge a coordinated approach to regional security and development, he added.

China and the five Central Asian countries signed a treaty of permanent good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation on Tuesday, enshrining the principle of everlasting friendship across generations in the legal form. President Xi Jinping signed the document with leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, where they gathered for the second China-Central Asia Summit. Addressing the summit, Xi said that China-Central Asia cooperation is rooted in more than 2,000 years of friendly exchanges, cemented by solidarity and mutual trust, cultivated through more than three decades of diplomatic ties, and taken forward through openness and win-win cooperation of the new era. As the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, Xi said a strong belief in fairness and justice and an unyielding commitment to mutual benefit and win-win cooperation are the only ways to maintain global peace and achieve common development. "There is no winner in tariff wars or trade wars. Unilateralism, protectionism and hegemonism will surely backfire while hurting others," he said."I always maintain that history should move forward, not backward; and the world should be united, not divided. Humanity must not regress to the law of the jungle. Instead, we should build a community with a shared future for mankind," he added. Xi emphasized that building on the collective efforts over the years, the nations have forged a China-Central Asia Spirit of "mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit and mutual assistance for the joint pursuit of modernization through high-quality development". He called for carrying forward the China-Central Asia Spirit, enhancing cooperation with renewed vigor and more practical measures, promoting high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and forging ahead toward the goal of a community with a shared future for the region."China consistently takes Central Asia as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy. With a firm belief in an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood as well as a strong dedication to amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, China interacts with Central Asian countries on the basis of equality and sincerity," he said. Xi highlighted the need to optimize the China-Central Asia cooperation framework to make it more results-oriented, more efficient and more deeply integrated, with collaboration focused on smooth trade, industrial investment, connectivity, green minerals, agricultural modernization and personnel exchanges. In order to promote relevant cooperation, China will provide a grant of 1.5 billion yuan ($209 million) to Central Asian countries this year to be used in livelihood and development projects high on their agenda, he said, adding that China will also provide 3,000 training opportunities to Central Asian countries over the next two years. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended the summit. They commended the China-Central Asia mechanism as an important platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation between the two sides and driving economic and social development in Central Asian countries. In a world full of uncertainties, the strategic significance of the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism is becoming more prominent, as China's prosperity and strength are benefiting neighboring countries, they said. Noting that China is a strategic partner and a true friend that Central Asian countries can rely on permanently, the leaders said they look forward to close and all-around cooperation with China to make the China-Central Asia mechanism a model of regional cooperation. They pledged to closely coordinate and cooperate with China, firmly uphold the principles of free trade and the multilateral trading system, and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice.The leaders of China and Central Asian countries signed the Astana Declaration of the second China-Central Asia Summit. They also witnessed the launch of three cooperation centers on poverty reduction, education exchange and desertification prevention and control, as well as a cooperation platform on smooth trade under the China-Central Asia cooperation framework. It was decided at the summit that China will host the third China-Central Asia Summit in 2027.

Leaders from China and the five Central Asian nations have come together in Astana, Kazakhstan, for the second China–Central Asia Summit. This high-level gathering is far more than a routine diplomatic event: it represents a defining moment for regional cooperation. Against a backdrop of global uncertainty, expectations are soaring. What tangible progress has been achieved since the Xi'an Declaration? What does this evolving partnership mean for regional stability and economic integration? Can this summit help forge a closer China–Central Asia community with a shared future?

President Xi Jinping called on China and Kazakhstan on Monday to guide their bilateral ties with high-level strategic mutual trust, saying that the two countries should serve as strong support for each other amid challenges and provide beneficial assistance to each other's development and revitalization.Xi made the remarks during a meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.The Chinese president arrived in Astana earlier on Monday to attend the second China-Central Asia Summit. He was welcomed by Tokayev and other senior officials at the airport. Kazakh teenagers and children, holding the national flags of China and Kazakhstan, warmly welcomed Xi on his arrival.Xi told Tokayev that China always views and develops its relationship with Kazakhstan from a strategic and long-term perspective."I'm willing to work together with you to steadfastly consolidate the friendship between the two countries and contribute more to regional and world peace and development with stability and positive energy of China-Kazakhstan relations," he said.Xi said efforts should be made for China and Kazakhstan to upgrade bilateral cooperation through high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.He called on the two sides to consolidate cooperation in traditional areas including trade, investment and energy, advance the construction of cross-border railway projects and the upgrading of port infrastructure, expand cooperation in high-tech fields, and promote green and sustainable development.Xi said that China and Kazakhstan should continue to support each other on issues involving core interests and major concerns, and promote the synergy of their development strategies.He called on both countries to expand law enforcement and defense exchanges, and jointly combat terrorism, separatism and extremism.The two sides should strengthen the foundation of China-Kazakhstan friendship through diverse people-to-people exchanges, and make the China tourism year in Kazakhstan a success, he said, urging efforts to encourage more exchanges among youth, media, think tanks and local regions.Amid a complex and turbulent international situation, Xi called on the two countries to firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, and to practice true multilateralism and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.As the rotating chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, China will work with all member countries and take the opportunity of this year's SCO summit in Tianjin to make the SCO more substantive and stronger, thus showcasing new developments, breakthroughs and dynamics, Xi said.Tokayev said that China is Kazakhstan's friendly neighbor, close friend and trustworthy partner.Kazakhstan and China have a strong political will to enhance cooperation and consistently support each other on issues related to sovereignty, security and other core interests, unaffected by changes in the international situation, he said.After their talks, the two presidents jointly witnessed the exchange of more than 10 cooperation documents, covering areas such as trade, investment, science and technology, customs, tourism and media.Kazakhstan is the largest country in Central Asia and shares a 1,700-plus-kilometer border with China. In 2022, the two countries agreed on the vision of building a China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future defined by lasting friendship, a high degree of mutual trust and sharing of weal and woe.Observers said that the two heads of state have provided significant strategic guidance for the sustainable development of bilateral ties. Xiao Bin, a researcher of Central Asian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in recent years has been accelerating and expanding across multiple fields, laying a solid foundation for the new "golden 30 years". "China's trade and economic cooperation with Kazakhstan has not only provided the Kazakh people with a genuine sense of benefit, but has also contributed to the diversification of Kazakhstan's economy and the stability of its society," Xiao said.In addition to enhancing and improving traditional areas of cooperation, China and Kazakhstan are also exploring emerging areas of collaboration, including green development, by launching a hydrogen energy innovation cooperation center, he added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the 2nd China-Central Asia Summit in Astana and deliver a keynote speech. He is also scheduled to hold separate meetings with the leaders of Central Asian countries.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has met his Kazakh counterpart, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in Astana. It comes ahead of a major summit between China and Central Asia in Kazakhstan.

From Monday to Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, at the invitation of the country's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. In the land of the Great Steppe, President Xi and his counterparts of five Central Asian countries are expected to further cement China-Central Asia cooperation. Exchanges between China and Central Asia date back at least two thousand years, to the days of the Ancient Silk Road. And with the Belt and Road Initiative, political trust has been enhanced and trade volume has skyrocketed. What does the summit mean for China-Central Asia ties? What results can we expect this time? What do stable China-Central Asia relations mean for the world?

In dieser Radioreise nimmt Sie mit Alexander Tauscher mit nach Astana. Freuen Sie sich auf die kasachische Hauptstadt, die zugleich die jüngste Hauptstadt der Welt ist. Das frühere Nur-Sultan mit seinen neuen prächtigen, gigantischen, futuristischen und zugleich sehr kunstvollen Gebäuden schießt regelrecht aus der Steppe in den Himmel. In dieser Sendung fokussieren wir uns einerseits auf die neue Stadt und tauchen zugleich in das Leben der Steppen-Nomaden ein. Den historischen Teil von Astana aus Sowjetzeiten mit interessanten Wandmalereien beleuchten wir in einer separaten Sendung mit Dima Dimov. Unser erster Guide Oral zeigt uns die Zentralmoschee von Astana, die größte in Zentralasien. Außerdem fährt sie mit uns auf dem Fluss Esil entlang des beeindruckenden Präsidentenpalastes. Den atemberaubenden Blick vom Bajterek-Turm, der wie die Moschee auf Initiative des ersten Präsidenten von Kasachstan Nursultan Nasarbajew gebaut wurde, beschreibt Guide Dilnaz. Die Traditionen der kasachischen Nomaden lernen wir in der Jurtensiedlung Ethnoaule kennen. Dort zeigt uns die Künstlerin Golmaral Tatibaewa ihre Schmuckstücke. Die Sängerin Merike spielt Lieder der Steppe. Und Organisatorin Nami erklärt uns, warum sie die kasachische Sprache bewahren und weitergeben will. Kasachische Küche und kasachische Gastfreundschaft erleben wir mit Nursultan in seinem Aula-Restaurant. Die moderne Interpretation der kasachischen Küche präsentiert uns Chefkoch Azamat Rakhmetullayev im Evas Wine Cafe. Und einen Treffpunkt für mehrere Generationen erleben wir mit Alfa Rabi & Dianijar im Cafe Lowkey. Unser modernes Basiscamp dieser Radioreise ist das Hilton Astana direkt vis á vis der großen Weltkugel, die zur Expo 2017 errichtet wurde. Anna Suchanova, Commercial Direktor bei Hilton Astana erklärt, was Besucher heute auf dem modernen Gelände und in der Kugel erleben. General Manager Leo Holli beschreibt die enormen Wachstums-Chancen von Kasachstan. Die kasachische nationale Fluggesellschaft, die die Hauptstadt im Namen trägt, hat uns in Windeseile nach Zentralasien gebracht. An Bord eines Air Astana-Fluges von Frankfurt nach Kasachstan sprachen wir mit Inflight Supervisor Shamil Bojanow über kasachische Küche in 8.000 Meter Höhe. Außerdem schwärmt er von seinem Job, der es ihm ermöglicht, viele fremde Länder und Kulturen kennenzulernen. In diesem Sinne reisen auch wir in das neuntgrößte Land dieser Erde, in die nach Russland zweitgrößte ehemalige Sowjetrepublik. Viel Spaß in Kasachstans Hauptstadt Astana!

This episode is brought to you by the Insta360 GO 3S action cameraThis week, James and Will are joined by ex-pro Levi Leipheimer. Levi turned pro in 1997 and in 2000 hit the big time with US Postal, riding as a teammate of Lance Armstrong. Stints at Rabobank, Astana and Radioshack followed, during which time he won the Tour de Suisse, three Tours of California, the Dauphine and two stages of the Vuelta a España, finishing second in Spain in 2008. His last contract at QuickStep in 2012 was cut short after Levi admitted to doping during his career, his admittance of guilt and subsequent testimony playing a role in the take down of Lance Armstrong. Today Levi is open about this part of his past, and here he speaks candidly about doping, both his feelings at the time and his feelings on the subject now, both in the context of US Postal and the early 2000s and the cycling now.Today, Levi heads up the event he founded some 16 years ago, Levi's Gran Fondo amateur race and its pro-race sibling, The Growler. As the US calendar shrinks, the 220km Growler is said to be 'the hardest one-day race in North America', and the only race broadcast live in the States, this year via YouTube. Levi talks us through the importance of the Growler to the US domestic scene, from the $156,000 prize purse that helps fund poorly paid pros, to the platform it offers young talent.Interview begins at 8:13------This episode is brought to you by Insta360, the 360-degree filming action camera specialists. Insta360 has now launched two GO 3S cycling bundles: a Cycling Multiview bundle that captures all angles plus a Cycling POV bundle for a great point of view. Check out the all-new, road-cycling-perfect Insta360 GO 3S here and don't forget to use the code Cyclist at the checkout for a free Insta360 GO 3S carry case, plus for a limited time there's also 15% off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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De eerste emoties en pijntjes zijn een beetje gezakt, maar er móét nog uitgebreid worden teruggeblikt op de Giro d'Italia. Dylan van Baarle en Wout Poels hebben in de laatste week veel meegemaakt en vertellen hun versies van de verhalen. Want was Simon Yates nou boos op zijn ploeggenoten, de dag voordat hij op legendarische wijze de roze trui veroverde? En wat had Van Baarle dan anders moeten doen? Poels, normaal gesproken altijd de beste versie van zichzelf in de derde week van een grote ronde, haalde niet uit de laatste dagen van de Giro wat hij eruit had gehoopt te halen. En dus heeft hij zijn gedroomde trilogie van ritzeges in alle drie de grote ronden incompleet. Reden om nog een jaar langer prof te blijven? Zijn ploeg Astana is er in ieder geval alles aangelegen om zijn doel alsnog met hem te halen en is daarom in verregaande onderhandeling om zowel Van Baarle als podcast-host Marijn Abbenhuijs naar het team te halen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prima visita ufficiale in Kazakistan per Giorgia Meloni dall'inizio del suo mandato: una visita che la premier ha definito non solo di protocollo, ma di sostanza. "L'Italia è uno dei principali partner commerciali ed economici del Kazakistan e anche uno dei principali investitori nell'economia kazaka.

A huge day in the GC at the Giro and Geraint and Laurens De Pluski are debriefing it all from training camp in Tenerife. After some big name exits and cracks on stage 16, who's left standing? Is Derek Gee still De Pluski's man? Is Simon Yates smelling blood? There's also Continental chapeau of the day for Astana after a first and second finish, and we get the low-down on G's birthday celebrations including a suspect cheesecake. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vitality win sixth trophy in a row, Spirit did the job in Astana, BESTIA Major visa saga, first s1mple impressions with FaZe, and more in this episode of HLTV Confirmed!➡️ Follow us for updates:   / hltvconfirmed  

Po dzisiejszym zwariowanym do kwadratu etapie Sylwek Szmyd przekonuje mnie że jutro będzie jeszcze ciekawiej. Niestety nie daje się przekonać bo na etapie 16 tegorocznego Giro: Tarling i Roglicz wycofali się z wyścigu, Bernal odpadał potem wracał by znowu odpaść, Ayuso stracił naście minut, Byczek Del Toro okazał pierwsze oznaki słabości, Carapaz szarpał wszystkich jak reksio kaszankę, Vismowy Yates po cichu zbliżył się do koszulki lidera, Gee zaskoczył wszystkich nawet realizatorów transmisji, Astana natłukła punktów UCI a Mertinelli spadł w przepaść... Chcesz folołować? – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pncastCykChcesz popaczeć? – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pncast/Chcesz połoglondać? – YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5hNRM9CimnQAZTho-FBAcQ Chcesz pobiznesować? – e-mail: podnominal@gmail.com Chcesz dać zapomogę? – PATRONITE: https://patronite.pl/pncast Buycoffee: www.buycoffee.to/pncastPatroni : HIGROSYSTEM.PLMarek DrÓb

Jack's away at IEM Dallas this week, so Sam is joined by Ethan. The pair are discussing PGL Astana, and they definitely don't crash out over NAVI's abysmal start to 2025.Also on this week's Overtime on Inferno, Sam and Ethan discuss the fact that electroNic should retire, the inconsistency of Astralis' rifle core, and why FURIA have suddenly become one of the most likeable teams in the world.Join the discord:https://discord.gg/X3jU4djxUKCheck out Logan's newsletter:https://thestratbook.gg

🌪️ JUAN AYUSO es un huracán. Ayer consiguió su primera victoria de etapa en el Giro de Italia y hoy ha vuelto a lanzar un pequeño mensaje. El día de la gran victoria de LUKE PLAPP y de la exhibición de Astana. 📱 Síguenos en redes sociales: Twiter: @podcastLBC @albermg Instagram: @amarcosgallego YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZPuzTB6PXX363rL2CRju3w 🟢 Escúchanos en Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4FgUyioG97fwjEh5yXJETh?si=a0090831798c4d0d 📱 ¿Te gustaría anunciarte en este podcast?: https://advoices.com/la-bicicleta-podcast ⚠️ ¿Quieres ayudarnos? Puedes contribuir y convertirte en mecenas de La Bicicleta Podcast en Patreon. Desde 1,50€ al mes puedes ayudar a que sigamos aquí contigo cada día: https://patreon.com/LaBicicletaPodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink 🚀 Únete al canal de Telegram: https://t.me/boost/LaBicicletaPodcast

kyousuke Falcons move instead of Spirit upgrade, Astana surprises in NIP, Astralis, and FURIA playoff runs, big G2 visa blunder, StarLadder Budapest Major announced, and urging electronic to give up IGLing in this episode of HLTV Confirmed!➡️ Follow us for updates:   / hltvconfirmed  

PGL Astana is on and Jack and Sam really couldn't care less about it. They still talk about it, though, meaning that Astralis, BIG, and G2 are all on the receiving end of some tough love. Not everyone is criticised on this weeks episode of Overtime on Inferno, FURIA and NIP both get some love as they impress in KazakhstanJoin the discord:https://discord.gg/tldrCheck out Logan's newsletter:https://thestratbook.gg

FaZe get s1mple for Dallas and the Major in place of broky, Astralis disband looking possible, Vitality continue their dominance streak, Falcons making another final, and Spirit's time to prove themselves - this and more in this episode of HLTV Confirmed!➡️ Follow us for updates:   / hltvconfirmed  

Koersklappers: Ward Rigole, Jonas VergauwenWard en Jonas, oftewel: ons gouden, dynamische duo dat nog steeds een rekening in De Karper heeft openstaan van toen bij de Kerstspecial.Ditmaal alweer kwinkslagend en voorbeschouwend over de aanstormende Ronde van Italië, maar ook met de beste Italianen voor onze Sporza Minicompetitie en ook nieuws over Remco, Astana, fietscontroles en Bart Wellens.Doe mee aan onze Sporza minicompetitie

Welcome back to Spin Cycle. In this episode, Caley, Jonny, and Kit give Astana the props they've been yearning for (almost as valuable as UCI points). Then, a look at the youngsters of Romandie, a cluster of a TTT at the Vuelta, and a trip in the sad Visma Van. Plus, Joe Laverick joins to discuss the Traka and how gravel has become a meme. 

Send us a textIn Episode 283, I have the pleasure of conversing with International Master Malcolm Pein, Chief Executive at Chess in Schools and Communities, Chess Correspondent at The Daily Telegraph, Proprietor of Chess & Bridge Ltd and Executive Editor of CHESS Magazine. Malcolm is a Former British Junior Champion. As a Qualified FIDE Trainer, he has trained over 20 national and world junior champions. He has been a Chess Correspondent of The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph for over 30 years and has commentated on chess for the BBC, Sky TV, Canal+, Independent Television News and CNN.He is the author of many books and Executive Editor of CHESS Magazine. He has consulted on many films, including Chess Masters: The Endgame, EastEnders, Casualty, X-Men: Days of Future. In 1992, he founded the London Chess Centre, a games shop in central London and the UK's only dedicated chess shop. In 2010, I founded Chess in Schools and Coommunities, which teaches chess in 350 schools and 800 classrooms weekly. Over 250,000 children have learned life skills through chess in its' programs. In 2016, he was appointed Manager of the England Open Team. Notable successes include defeating China (the strongest chess country in the world at that time) at the Chess Olympiad in Baku in 2016. In 2019, England took the silver medals at the World Team Championships at Astana, the team's best result for over 20 years and later that year at Batumi, England took the bronze medals at the European Team Championships. We speak about parallels between Malcolm and our 109th Podcast Guest National Master Bruce Pandolfini, growing up in Liverpool, his favorite Beatles songs, fundraising and more. 

Начните свой путь инвестора с помощью Freedom Broker: https://ffin-kz.onelink.me/ZmAs/drvcqz41Реклама. Публичная компания «Freedom Finance Global PLC». Лицензия № AFSA-A-LA-2020-0019.Сегодня у нас в гостях – легенда мирового велоспорта, олимпийский чемпион и победитель Вуэльты Испании Александр Винокуров. В этом выпуске мы поговорили о его пути в профессиональном спорте: с чего всё начиналось, как он добрался до вершины и что чувствовал на пике своей карьеры. Затронули важнейшие вехи – победу на Олимпийских играх 2012 года и триумф на Вуэльте-2006. Не обошли стороной и трудные моменты: допинг-скандал 2007 года, восстановление после тяжёлой травмы бедра на Тур де Франс в 2011-м и возвращение в спорт. Обсудили его нынешнюю должность генерального менеджера команды «XDS Astana Team», а также критику в адрес финансирования казахстанской велокоманды. Винокуров откровенно рассказал о своём опыте, взглядах на развитие спорта в стране и о том, что для него значит велоспорт сегодня.______Таймкоды:0:00 Dope Söz 1370:14 Допинг в велоспорте 2:20 Слава Винокурова10:27 Реклама13:36 Золото олимпиады 201220:20 Спорт в 90-ых23:20 “Astana” team 33:28 Подарки чемпионам37:18 Велосипедная инфраструктура41:51 Травмы велоспорта43:03 Проф.спорт или олимпийский? 46:14 Зарплаты в велоспорте55:28 GGG и патриотизм1:01:07 Жизнь в Монако1:06:31 Велогонщик или спортивный менеджер?1:07:33 Блиц для Вино______Dope soz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dopesoz/Telegram: https://t.me/dopesozҰсыныс бойынша/По сотрудничеству – oralbaiuly@gmail.com 

“And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling [.…] And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” (Mk 4: 37-41) Bishop Athanasius Schneider, auxiliary bishop of Astana in Kazakhstan, has identified the challenges of our age, “a new pagan society,” he calls it, and “anti-Christian”; others have said “post-Christian” or apostolic. Although the time is difficult, Bishop Schneider is not afraid. He tells us to pray and to have confidence in the power or the Rosary, its importance and efficacy. So, today we are talking about his new book, Salve Regina: A Rosary Crusade for Holy Popes (Sophia, 2025); he entreats us to petition God that He give us holy popes in the coming years, that the head may lead the body, as the church sails on into the unknown. He also talks about the traditions and history of the Rosary. We also talk about his remarkable life. Bishop Schneider's book, Salve Regina: A Rosary Crusade for Holy Popes Bishop Schneider's website, Gloria Dei Bishop Schneider on Wikipedia Another episode of Almost Good Catholics about the Rosary: Annabelle Mosely on Almost Good Catholics, episode 12: Did God Just Wink? Seeing the Numinous All Around Us Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

“And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling [.…] And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” (Mk 4: 37-41) Bishop Athanasius Schneider, auxiliary bishop of Astana in Kazakhstan, has identified the challenges of our age, “a new pagan society,” he calls it, and “anti-Christian”; others have said “post-Christian” or apostolic. Although the time is difficult, Bishop Schneider is not afraid. He tells us to pray and to have confidence in the power or the Rosary, its importance and efficacy. So, today we are talking about his new book, Salve Regina: A Rosary Crusade for Holy Popes (Sophia, 2025); he entreats us to petition God that He give us holy popes in the coming years, that the head may lead the body, as the church sails on into the unknown. He also talks about the traditions and history of the Rosary. We also talk about his remarkable life. Bishop Schneider's book, Salve Regina: A Rosary Crusade for Holy Popes Bishop Schneider's website, Gloria Dei Bishop Schneider on Wikipedia Another episode of Almost Good Catholics about the Rosary: Annabelle Mosely on Almost Good Catholics, episode 12: Did God Just Wink? Seeing the Numinous All Around Us Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling [.…] And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” (Mk 4: 37-41) Bishop Athanasius Schneider, auxiliary bishop of Astana in Kazakhstan, has identified the challenges of our age, “a new pagan society,” he calls it, and “anti-Christian”; others have said “post-Christian” or apostolic. Although the time is difficult, Bishop Schneider is not afraid. He tells us to pray and to have confidence in the power or the Rosary, its importance and efficacy. So, today we are talking about his new book, Salve Regina: A Rosary Crusade for Holy Popes (Sophia, 2025); he entreats us to petition God that He give us holy popes in the coming years, that the head may lead the body, as the church sails on into the unknown. He also talks about the traditions and history of the Rosary. We also talk about his remarkable life. Bishop Schneider's book, Salve Regina: A Rosary Crusade for Holy Popes Bishop Schneider's website, Gloria Dei Bishop Schneider on Wikipedia Another episode of Almost Good Catholics about the Rosary: Annabelle Mosely on Almost Good Catholics, episode 12: Did God Just Wink? Seeing the Numinous All Around Us Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling [.…] And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” (Mk 4: 37-41) Bishop Athanasius Schneider, auxiliary bishop of Astana in Kazakhstan, has identified the challenges of our age, “a new pagan society,” he calls it, and “anti-Christian”; others have said “post-Christian” or apostolic. Although the time is difficult, Bishop Schneider is not afraid. He tells us to pray and to have confidence in the power or the Rosary, its importance and efficacy. So, today we are talking about his new book, Salve Regina: A Rosary Crusade for Holy Popes (Sophia, 2025); he entreats us to petition God that He give us holy popes in the coming years, that the head may lead the body, as the church sails on into the unknown. He also talks about the traditions and history of the Rosary. We also talk about his remarkable life. Bishop Schneider's book, Salve Regina: A Rosary Crusade for Holy Popes Bishop Schneider's website, Gloria Dei Bishop Schneider on Wikipedia Another episode of Almost Good Catholics about the Rosary: Annabelle Mosely on Almost Good Catholics, episode 12: Did God Just Wink? Seeing the Numinous All Around Us Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies

Alex Dowsett shares the aerodynamic strategies he learned during his time at Team Astana—insights that helped shape some of the fastest riders in the world. From bike setup to body position and marginal gains, this aero masterclass reveals what truly separates pros from amateurs. If you're chasing speed, this is the deep-dive you didn't know you needed.Our S&C Plan - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.roadmancycling.com/strengthandconditioning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you would like to join Anthony & Sarah and race the L'Etape by Tour de France event in Las Vegas go to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lasvegas.letapebytourdefrance.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use the following code to get a 20% discount at checkout! -  Roadman20REAPCustom Carbon Composition Bikes made in the UK. REAP's gravel bike is set to redefine gravel riding with 50mm+ tyre clearance ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reapbikes.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ROUVY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ROUVY replicates terrain, gradients, and resistance, giving you the most authentic indoor cycling experience possible. Explore, train, and ride with ROUVY—visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ROUVY.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to start your adventure today! And to get one month FREE use code Roadman1m⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠4iiii Powermeter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The PRECISION 3+ Powermeter from 4iiii is a compact yet powerful unit & is  packed with features that set it apart, including integration with Apple's Find My network PLUS It's got up to 800 hours of battery life.Learn more by visiting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠4iiii.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

A very busy weekend of action all over the globe and we've got plenty of takes and insight on the newest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack to go over it all.They start with the "PBC on Prime" show in Newcastle, Australia, as Tim Tszyu wiped out Joey Spencer in four rounds in his return after a tough set of losses. What's next- Keith Thurman?Then, we talk the Queensberry on DAZN show in Manchester, England with heavyweight Filip Hrgovic pounding Joe Joyce for 10 rounds and decision win. Who's Hrgovic gonna fight and should Joyce continue despite reapeated beatings he's taken in the last two years? Next, we move on to the Top Rank on ESPN+ show in Las Vegas with Richard Torrez headlining and wins over Italian Guido Vianello. Frustrating fight for Torrez with all of Vianello's holding, but it's a solid win.The boys discuss and Dan goes over the Lindolfo Delgado and Abdullah Mason victories on the undercard, too. And finally on the the recaps from Astana, Kazakhstan Janibek Alimkhanuly squashes Anauel Ngamissengue in five rounds and retains the IBF/WBO middleweight titles. What's next in a barren middleweight division? Plus, Bakhodir Jalolov defeats Ihor Shevadzutskyi in a heavyweight bout, but Dan wants more from Jalolov.News:Jai Opetaia has an injury that has caused his May 13 cruiserweight title defense against Claudio Squeo to be postponed until June 8 in Australia on DAZN.Heavyweights Fabio Wardley and Jarrell Miller will fight in the main event of a Queensberry Promotions card on June 7 (DAZN) at Portman Stadium in Wardley's hometown of Ipswich, England.The bout will be for vacant WBA interim belt. Presser on Monday in Ipswich, England.  And, Pro boxing will take place in Cuba for the first time in over 60 years with a card on April 11 featuring  pro fights with several Cuban Olympic medalists. Pro boxing was banned there from 1962-2022. Dan has moreNostalgiaApril 8, 2006 – 19 years ago on Tuesday – Floyd Mayweather defeats Zab Judah to win the welterweight title in a huge promotion and wild fight with a melee in the ring. Big Dan was ringside and remembers the mayheam on this "Money May" win.Hear it all on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast" and make sure to follow and subscribe on this feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.! 

A very busy weekend of action all over the globe and we've got plenty of takes and insight on the newest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack to go over it all.They start with the "PBC on Prime" show in Newcastle, Australia, as Tim Tszyu wiped out Joey Spencer in four rounds in his return after a tough set of losses. What's next- Keith Thurman?Then, we talk the Queensberry on DAZN show in Manchester, England with heavyweight Filip Hrgovic pounding Joe Joyce for 10 rounds and decision win. Who's Hrgovic gonna fight and should Joyce continue despite reapeated beatings he's taken in the last two years? Next, we move on to the Top Rank on ESPN+ show in Las Vegas with Richard Torrez headlining and wins over Italian Guido Vianello. Frustrating fight for Torrez with all of Vianello's holding, but it's a solid win.The boys discuss and Dan goes over the Lindolfo Delgado and Abdullah Mason victories on the undercard, too. And finally on the the recaps from Astana, Kazakhstan Janibek Alimkhanuly squashes Anauel Ngamissengue in five rounds and retains the IBF/WBO middleweight titles. What's next in a barren middleweight division? Plus, Bakhodir Jalolov defeats Ihor Shevadzutskyi in a heavyweight bout, but Dan wants more from Jalolov.News:Jai Opetaia has an injury that has caused his May 13 cruiserweight title defense against Claudio Squeo to be postponed until June 8 in Australia on DAZN.Heavyweights Fabio Wardley and Jarrell Miller will fight in the main event of a Queensberry Promotions card on June 7 (DAZN) at Portman Stadium in Wardley's hometown of Ipswich, England.The bout will be for vacant WBA interim belt. Presser on Monday in Ipswich, England.  And, Pro boxing will take place in Cuba for the first time in over 60 years with a card on April 11 featuring  pro fights with several Cuban Olympic medalists. Pro boxing was banned there from 1962-2022. Dan has moreNostalgiaApril 8, 2006 – 19 years ago on Tuesday – Floyd Mayweather defeats Zab Judah to win the welterweight title in a huge promotion and wild fight with a melee in the ring. Big Dan was ringside and remembers the mayheam on this "Money May" win.Hear it all on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast" and make sure to follow and subscribe on this feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.! 

It's a tremendous weekend of main event fights all over the globe and we're ready to go over it all. And, you'll hear from an unbeaten welterweight star champ, who's going for a unified title next weekend, as well, on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast"Host T.J. Rives is back with insider Dan Rafael to go over it all.There are tons of Saturday previewsIn the "PBC on Prime" main event from Newcastle, AustraliaJunior middleweight Tim Tszyu meets American Joey Spencer in a 10 round battle. Can Tszyu regain his form and set up bigger things? Next, the Top Rank Boxing card on ESPN+ in Las VegasUnbeaten Heavyweight prospect Richard Torrez Jr. meets Guido Vianello in a main event schedlued for 10 rounds. Plus, Junior welterweight Lindolfo Delgado and sensational lightwewight prospect Abdullah Mason are also in action. Then, it's Nomad Boxing with Top Rank on ESPN+  from Astana, KazakhstanJanibek Alimkhanuly takes on little known Anauel Ngamissengue, for Alimkhanuly's IBF/WBO titles. It should be an easy night for Janibek, but we'll see. Plus, heavyweight gold medalist Bakhodir Jalolov meets Ihor Shevadzutskyi in a 10 rounderFinally, we go to the Queensberry Promotions on DAZN show in Manchester, England with Heavyweights Joe Joyce and Filip Hrgovic meeting in the main event. Do either of them have much left to get back into contention.Then, a conversation with Jaron "Boots" Ennis, as he faces Eimantas Stanionis on April 12th (DAZN) at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in an IBF/WBA welterweight unification fight. "Boots" gives his side of why he's stayed at 147 lb. and not moved up for seemingly more lucrative fights.Then, some NewsWe have the Announcement of PBC on Prime card May 31 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas:Caleb Plant defends WBA interim super middleweight title vs. Armando Resendiz. And,Jermall Charlo ends 18-month layoff vs. Thomas LaManna in 10-round super middleweight co-feature. PBC makes it clear this is ahead of a Plant-Charlo fight later this year if they winMVP announces newly signed women's undisputed junior lightweight champion Alycia Baumgardner will make a mandatory defense vs. Jennifer Miranda in the KatieTaylor-Amanda Serrano 3 co-feature July 11 on Netflix at MSGAnd, Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani appeared together this week at the Japanese Boxing Commission awards ceremony and when Inoue accepted hs seventh consecutive Japanese boxer of the year award he challenged Nakatani to a fight next year. Would probably be the biggest all-Japanese fight in history.Finally, GREAT  NostalgiaApril 6, 1987 – 38 years ago on Sunday – Sugar Ray Leonard comes out of three year retirement and defeats Marvin Hagler to win the linea/WBC middleweight title in one of the biggest fights in boxing history. Ray was the rightful winner...so say T.J. and Dan. But, why did they not rematch?Hear it all on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.

It's a tremendous weekend of main event fights all over the globe and we're ready to go over it all. And, you'll hear from an unbeaten welterweight star champ, who's going for a unified title next weekend, as well, on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast"Host T.J. Rives is back with insider Dan Rafael to go over it all.There are tons of Saturday previewsIn the "PBC on Prime" main event from Newcastle, AustraliaJunior middleweight Tim Tszyu meets American Joey Spencer in a 10 round battle. Can Tszyu regain his form and set up bigger things? Next, the Top Rank Boxing card on ESPN+ in Las VegasUnbeaten Heavyweight prospect Richard Torrez Jr. meets Guido Vianello in a main event schedlued for 10 rounds. Plus, Junior welterweight Lindolfo Delgado and sensational lightwewight prospect Abdullah Mason are also in action. Then, it's Nomad Boxing with Top Rank on ESPN+  from Astana, KazakhstanJanibek Alimkhanuly takes on little known Anauel Ngamissengue, for Alimkhanuly's IBF/WBO titles. It should be an easy night for Janibek, but we'll see. Plus, heavyweight gold medalist Bakhodir Jalolov meets Ihor Shevadzutskyi in a 10 rounderFinally, we go to the Queensberry Promotions on DAZN show in Manchester, England with Heavyweights Joe Joyce and Filip Hrgovic meeting in the main event. Do either of them have much left to get back into contention.Then, a conversation with Jaron "Boots" Ennis, as he faces Eimantas Stanionis on April 12th (DAZN) at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in an IBF/WBA welterweight unification fight. "Boots" gives his side of why he's stayed at 147 lb. and not moved up for seemingly more lucrative fights.Then, some NewsWe have the Announcement of PBC on Prime card May 31 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas:Caleb Plant defends WBA interim super middleweight title vs. Armando Resendiz. And,Jermall Charlo ends 18-month layoff vs. Thomas LaManna in 10-round super middleweight co-feature. PBC makes it clear this is ahead of a Plant-Charlo fight later this year if they winMVP announces newly signed women's undisputed junior lightweight champion Alycia Baumgardner will make a mandatory defense vs. Jennifer Miranda in the KatieTaylor-Amanda Serrano 3 co-feature July 11 on Netflix at MSGAnd, Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani appeared together this week at the Japanese Boxing Commission awards ceremony and when Inoue accepted hs seventh consecutive Japanese boxer of the year award he challenged Nakatani to a fight next year. Would probably be the biggest all-Japanese fight in history.Finally, GREAT  NostalgiaApril 6, 1987 – 38 years ago on Sunday – Sugar Ray Leonard comes out of three year retirement and defeats Marvin Hagler to win the linea/WBC middleweight title in one of the biggest fights in boxing history. Ray was the rightful winner...so say T.J. and Dan. But, why did they not rematch?Hear it all on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.

The last days before the Great Hunt.Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.“Can the scorpion ever stop being a scorpion? “"Do we get our legally permitted weaponry back?" The bishop still held my hand."Sure. If it makes you feel better.""I would like to meet your people then," he gave my paw one last shake then released me. "Shall we go?""I will have someone take you to your car. I want to briefly meet with the President, of Havenstone, then I'll join you in the garage. We'll drive over to JIKIT and I'll make the introductions. Good enough?""That is acceptable," he nodded."What about you two?" I regarded the nun and the Swiss Super-soldier. The nun remained vigilant, and silent. The Swiss' eyes flickered to his boss before settling back on me."It is what I volunteered for," he stated firmly."Okay. Please never say I didn't give you a chance to take the sane way out. Also, Bishop Nicolö, circumstances have conspired to up my prospective wedding date to January 1st.""That will be more difficult. Why the change?" he remained grim."We are having twins. By March, this will be very visible.""That is, unfortunate," he shook his head."You have no idea," and then a brainstorm. "And I am curious about resurrecting the Order of the Dragon, the Societas Draconistarum." Technically that meant 'Society of the Dragonists' which was more appropriate than the literal Ordo Draconis."Precisely how do you plan to recreate a crusading Christian Order which was the purview of the Hungarian monarchs?" he didn't sound the least skeptical, just curious."I have billions of euros to fund such a thing," I winked. "Of far greater critical importance, I know where I can find the supernatural guidance and spiritual imperative for such an organization.""You are going to produce a dragon?" his eyes grew larger even as he fought down his fear. Good man. He was adaptive. He'd need to be."I never said such a thing. That would make me sound crazy," I smiled broadly. "Besides, when I say 'dragon', you think 'devil' and that's way too pedestrian for where we are going.""I am not a moral relativist.""Neither am I. I'm out to save lives and nurture the drive in the human spirit to reach for freedom, love and liberty. As you might imagine, I'm pretty freaking outnumbered.""I think you are crazy," he re-evaluated things."I just might be. In all honesty, you should back out now. Take your two compadres back to 25 East 39th Street (the Holy See's Permanent Observer Offices to the UN in NYC) and report 'Mission Failure'. You'll most likely live longer," I reasoned."I am not afraid to die," Sister Rafaela Sophia finally voiced an opinion."That's idiotic," I scoffed before the bishop could reprimand her for opening her mouth. "You should be.""My soul is in God's hands," she set her jaw."Does he talk to you?" I countered."His message is clear.""Not what I asked. I asked if he specifically directed you to toss your life fruitlessly away as an object lesson for the reckless, or careless?""This is uncalled for," Nicolö intervened."Nope. I bet you a phone call to my Brother to physically restore your bishopric that there are four people in this room who have murdered in cold blood," I kept eye contact with the nun, "and she's the odd one out. Right Juanita?""Yes, Ishara," Juanita slipped up. Her spycraft, like mine, needed work."You were in the military?" the bishop asked my bodyguard."Was? I am. Right now," she related. "I will be until I die."That earned me looks from the three Catholics."She is loyal," Nicolö nodded slightly toward her, referring to Juanita's declaration."Huh? To me? Nope. She's loyal to my office, which we shan't get into right now. Back to you, Sister Rafaela Sophia. Are you out to be a martyr, or has some saint, or angel, given you a directive the other two seem to be unaware of which causes you to devalue your life?""I am devoted to the One True God, Christ, our Savior," and Juanita snorted, "and the Virgin Mary," the nun stated firmly. "I don't hear voices in my head.""Juanita, that was rude. Apologize to our guest," I kept looking forward."No." Well, fuck you too."Gun," I commanded. I held out my left hand."What? No. I will not give you one of my guns," she resisted."Juanita, give me your primary weapon, or I will ask Pamela to beat you up the moment I depart for the Great Hunt. After yesterday's stunt, you know she will," I threatened. Fair, I was not. She drew a Glock-20 and handed it to me. I went through the routine, dropped the magazine then ejected the round before opening the door.Oh look, there were four SD chicks outside, ready to escort my visitors downstairs. I didn't even need to waste a phone call. It wasn't like the conference room wasn't being monitored."Excuse me," I took a half step out the door then hurled all three items down the hall. Looking back at Juanita. "Go fetch.""Fuck you," she snapped."And insulting her faith was as degrading to both her faith and her as me doing this to you is degrading to you right now," I lectured her. "It is important to her, therefore it is important to me because she is my guest in the same way it is important to me that I let my bodyguard do her job without being a total asshole all the time. Now go get your God-damn weapon," I barked. Off she went. I left the door open."Now Sister Rafaela Sophia, the point of all this is: I don't give a crap if you are willing to die for God. In fact, that makes you less than worthless to me and the team. I want to know if you are willing to put other motherfuckers in the ground so that Bishop Nicolá, or Mathias, might get to keep doing their jobs.""Murder is a sin," she declared."Go home," I sighed while shaking my head."She answers to me, the Church and God, not you, Mr. Nyilas," the bishop stepped forward."Then you can go home too," I shrugged. "I'm not asking for remorseless killers. I'm asking for people willing to kill to get the hard work done and best of all, for people who know the difference.""Everyone on JIKIT is a professional soldier, or killer?" he asked."No, but the ones who aren't don't carry guns and know to get down when things get funky," I bantered."I vouch for her," he insisted. Juanita came running back into the room."Cool beans. I don't know you either.""You apparently know my service history," he volleyed."Yeah. Ten years a foreigner in the service of France, then you went straight into a university which turns out Jesuits," I riposted."What turned your life around?" he evaded. That was okay. I'd gotten what I wanted. I was willing to bet he had read every bit of public information about me and it was rumored the heavy Catholic membership in the FBI had its benefits to the Church as well. Not so much as to give them insight into JIKIT, but,"Someone risked their life for me. It's been pretty much downhill from there," I confessed. It was the truth. After Katrina gave me the life line on Day Two, it had all spiraled to the revelation of my heritage, Dad's death, Summer Camp, the Hamptons, Romania and Aya's kidnapping."A person, a soldier, died saving my life," the bishop empathized. "Her story is similar. She seeks redemption. She is not suicidal. I am staking both our lives on it."Did he mean him and Mathias, or him and me? I wasn't certain. Still, it was good enough for now. I'd gotten a look at their emotional make up, even the relatively quiet Swiss."Very well," I agreed. "I have to go see the President about my new job description. I'll catch up with you at your car." To the SD team leader, "Take them to the garage. I will join the group of you very soon.""Yes Ishara," she nodded. I exited the room, Juanita in tow. Two SD entered. I was gone before the Papal team left. Upstairs we went, with one last chore to discharge. I had to check on Ms. French to be absolutely freaking sure it was Shawnee, because anyone else would spell disaster.{8:30 am, Monday, September 8th. Last day}A Room full of asistants:Well, there it was, the office of the Executive Director to the President, and not 'Executive Assistant', because this was Katrina's final 'fuck you, no, just her final 'fuck you' before the Great Hunt got underway. I shouldn't assume things, dang it!Anyway, according to the gray-haired matron running gatekeeper to the Office of the President, this was where I was supposed to show up. I shot Juanita a worried look. She glanced my way and shrugged, momentarily willing to not give me shit about the past 24 hours because where I was situated would determine how easily she could do her job.In we went. In the suite were three desks, the 'big' desk situated at the far end of the office space and two far more modest ones on either side of the entryway. The room expanded beyond the chokepoint formed by the two closest desks into a cluttered area. The walls were cluttered with inset bookshelves and portraits of women. Facing one another were a loveseat on my left with bookend plush chairs in an 'L' facing and a full sofa on the right. There were end tables at the ends of the sofa and the corners between the loveseat and each chair.As the door opened, I hadn't knock as this was my office, or so it seemed, the occupants, who had all been sitting in quiet conversation in the central section, began reacting. Oh look ~ Constanza! I nearly had a heart attack before I realized there were three other Amazons also in the room. Sadly, none were behind the 'big desk', so I couldn't tell who was in charge. Two of the other three choices weren't too much better. First off,"Ishara," Marilynn Saint John stood to greet me. I'd last seen her when I'd dedicated her grandmother's (Hayden's) spirit to the halls of my ancestors, not hers, after forcing the political crisis leading to Hayden's suicide ~ her taking herself to the cliffs and in doing so, destroying the Amazon Cult of Blood Purity. Marilynne was clearly still bitter with me. Umm, I could still incite passion in women I hadn't slept with, yet, woot?"Cáel," the senior-most and only friendly face in the room spoke next. Thank goodness it was Beyoncé Vincennes, Head of House Hanwasuit and House Ishara ally."Cáel Ishara," the third individual was deferential which I wasn't sure how to take as the last time I'd encountered her, yeah, things hadn't gone well either."Beyoncé," I started off with a smile. From there, I had to figure out, ah, Beyoncé's eyes flickered to Constanza then Sabia. I knew Marilynn, with her young age, had the least seniority, "Constanza, Sabia, Marilynn. How's tricks?"Glum faces by everyone except Beyoncé. I didn't ask about Sabia's particular well-being. It had been months since I'd beaten her into the mats of the Full-blooded gym. She'd attacked Yasmin, the Brazilian Hottie and my Brazilian Jujutsu sparring buddy, and I'd retaliated by ambushed her when she turned her back on us. Besides, she'd been giving me shit before I even could see straight.Constanza was minus her left eye because of her dire insult to me. If she wasn't capable of working, she wouldn't be here. If she appreciated my 'mercy' in sparing her life ~ her insult was worthy of her death ~ Constanza hid it well. I hadn't spared her expecting a change of heart. I hadn't felt words alone warranted anyone's death. I was a big boy and could take a few insults. House Ishara, as represented by me, could care less. These days, my sisters would be less understanding despite them knowing my heart."Constanza Landau of House Jaya and Marilynn Saint John of House Anahit are Assistants to President Shawnee French," Beyoncé eased things along, "so will be working closely with us, at least for the short term. Sabia Noel of House Guabancex, who I now think you know as well, has joined you as the other 'Assistant' to the 'Executive Director to the President', (that would make me an 'adept', but adept at what?), and since two of the three Regents are unfamiliar with the workings of Havenstone proper, Shawnee has asked me to perform in that role."Beyoncé was, or had been, Havenstone HQ's CFO (Chief Financial Officer). From what I was quickly piecing together, she would essentially be making all the day-to-day decisions concerning the running of Havenstone (how the Host made the majority of its money) until the Regents got up to speed.Only Buffy had actual experience with the New York office and, from what she had told me, solely within Executive Services. While ES knew 'who' did what inside Havenstone, they weren't aware precisely how those Amazons got their jobs done. That would have been an impossible task. Katrina could do it, but she knew it was beyond the ability of most of us 'mere mortals'. Since we were currently at war, the Host needed Katrina completely focused on her duties as Chief Spy-mistress, not baby-sitting the adults.Shawnee indeed had much gravitas among the other House Heads. Not only had she risen up to lead a First House, she had performed heroically during the final days of the last Secret War. Afterwards she had moved into the realm of Amazon jurisprudence and mediation. Until yesterday, she had lived in a House Arinniti freehold in Minnesota's Great Lakes region thus her desire for the 'Training Wheels' period.The Regency would not rule through telecommunication (the upper echelons feared being eavesdropped upon beyond the standard Amazon (read: paranoid) levels) and Havenstone: New York was the center best situated for the current war-fighting operations, so here she lived. I was sure a team from Executive Services was buying, outfitting/spy-proofing and fortifying a dwelling suitable for the President of a Fortune 500 company. Hayden's home would remain the domicile of Sydney thus Marilynn.The same rigmarole would be done for Rhada and Buffy (though I imaged Buffy would bitch endlessly). Publically, they were VP's of a company worth hundreds of billions of dollars and they had to present the public trappings of such leaders.Why did the Amazons do this ~ unmask their leadership to public exposure? Legal-simple: they could request and expect all levels of public and private security for their executives who happened to also be important officials of the Host. Certainly not all executives at Havenstone were officeholders, House Heads, or House Apprentices, but the high level of competence which permitted one often led to the other.Beyonce:As an example: Beyoncé wasn't the most 'bad-ass' lethal chick in House Hanwasuit. As she was preparing to be casted, her intelligence, creativity and diligence at her future craft, finances, was noted by the Host and the members of her House. In due time her name was circulated as Apprentice and the elders approved. When her elder cousin, the prior House Head, took herself to the cliffs, Beyoncé assumed the top spot. Beyoncé wasn't even one of that woman's three daughters.Mirroring her advancement in her House was her advancement in Havenstone's Accounting, Acquisitions and Banking Divisions until she was appointed CFO Havenstone HQ ~ the supreme financial authority inside Havenstone, though the individual regional branches had a greater degree of autonomy than you might normally expect from a 21st century conglomerate, or a Bronze Age autocracy.I had to constantly remind myself, despite the near-constant feuding, Amazons exhibited a phenomenally higher level of trust than I'd ever found in any other society I'd ever witnessed, or read about, before. Though technically Beyoncé could have gone to President Hayden to enforce her decisions ~ or now the Regency ~ she was far more diplomatic in her approach in dealing with the other 'continental' CEO's and CFO's.That meant she had to wrangle the aspirations and resources from:North America (including Latin America, the 'Canadian Arctic' and the North Pacific Ocean),South America (includes both the South Atlantic and South Pacific as far as Samoa),Europe (mostly Central Europe these days plus Antarctica, the 'Russian' Arctic and the North Atlantic),Africa (mostly West-central Africa),India (the subcontinent plus the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean) and,Southeast Asia (which includes Australia)All of which suggested Havenstone hadn't redrawn the Amazons' geographic demarcations since the late 19th century. As an example, an East African venture, say in Tanzania, was as likely to be under the purview of Havenstone: India (due to its control over the Indian Ocean) as Havenstone: Africa (which traditionally had no East Coast holdings due to their constant struggles versus the Arabic slave trade).Returning to Beyoncé: initially she had held the proper 'conservative' (aka man-hating) mindset. My behavior during that first Board Meeting began to change her opinion of me and the New Directive. After the Archery Range incident, Beyoncé became a vocal proponent of the New Directive and faced challenges within her ranks. House Heads do not have to accept challenges and Beyoncé didn't, reasoning with her detractors they had no alternatives save the 'Old Ways' which spelled doom for the Amazon Race.Bing-bang-boom ~ I became the Head of a resurrected House Ishara by the Will of the Ancestors and Beyoncé was vindicated. Not necessarily in the New Directive, but in her support of me thus the rebirth of a sister First House. The purge following High Priestess' Hayden's death was her ultimate absolution. The Ancestors and Destiny had spoken and shown Beyoncé had been piloting House Hanwasuit along the proper course all along.Back to my current circumstances:Oh, why was I Assistant to the Executive Director to the President? It gave me direct access to the finances of Havenstone which was a critical leg of the war-fighting stool ~ people, morale, money and equipment. As Chief Diplomat, I helped with all four of those in varying degrees, allied troops, allied victories, allied bank accounts and allied armaments.The Great Khan, my spiritual 'Blood-Brother', was ramping up his logistic support for my Amazons in Africa, Asia and the Americas. We were 'Allies in the Struggle' and he wasn't going to wait for the Condottieri to begin coordinating with the Seven Pillars to declare them to be his enemies. They were already fighting the Amazons and 9 Clans, his allies, so their fates were sealed.In Japan, my Amazons provided small yet highly effective strike groups which the Ninja families furnished all the support services for. Everything from food to bullets to medical attention as needed. Without reservation, we shared their death-grapple with the Seven Pillars.From the dispatches I was getting back from my family members and envoys in Japan, we were making serious diplomatic inroads with the Ninja. Once again, it was the Amazons shocking capacity for violence as well as their fanaticism, professionalism and proficiency which all impressed our hosts and terrified our enemies, and this from people of a philosophical mindset which had them historically battling samurai.The Black Lotus were running around like rhesus monkeys on crack cocaine unleashed in a China Shop and given RPG's. While the Amazons couldn't help them in China, Indochina & Thailand ~ the Khanate could and was. The Amazons were of more help in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, where the Black Lotus and Amazons were going everywhere on the offensive against the Seven Pillars while the normal tight cohesion and iron-clad confidence, traits which made the 7P's so dangerous ~ were shaken by their horrendous losses in the 'Homeland' aka Mainland China.Less we forget, the 'military intelligence' wing of their organization had been decimated by the Khanate's Anthrax attack due to members of the Earth & Sky sacrificing themselves by being injected with the toxin then allowing themselves to be captured, which always ended in torture and death.Furthermore, the People's Republic of China, while having a scary 18% of the population either captured, imprisoned, dead, or displaced due to the Khanate invasion, that had come with the loss of 63% of their landmass (they had lost all of Nei Mongol, Ningxia & Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Regions, Qinghai and Gansu as well as 90% of Yunnan, 80% of Sichuan and 20% of Shaanxi provinces) to the Khanate and the 'abomination' that was a free Tibet.Then came the Russian 'stab in the back' which entailed the loss of another 10% of their people falling under foreign dominion as well as losing 8% of their most industrialized territory, Manchuria (Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces ~ the Nei Mongol portion of 'Manchuria' was in the Khanate's greedy clutches, from the viewpoint of a Seven P's warrior).Don't get me wrong, they weren't about to throw in the towel. If anything, they were becoming more dedicated to trying harder, digging deep into their knowledge of every atrocity, inhumanity and perversion now deemed necessary to re-chart history back onto its 'correct' path. It was this willingness to act in an even greater sociopathic manner which was being used against them. After all, the 7P's had plenty of proxy allies, who were starting to get really nervous about what their paymasters were now asking them to do,We Amazons were getting some extra special help too. The Booth-gan (Do not call them Thuggee ~ the confederate 9 Clan member based out of India though long since ensconced within various Hindi enclaves across the Globe) had created an all-female group of ultra-fanatical Kali-devotees ~ a gift for the upcoming battle fomented by the Will of the Goddess herself.While Aya was our Queen and the Regency would rule until she wished to assume command of the Amazon People, the nuts-and-bolts of the Host's activities were handled by Saint Marie as Golden Mare (our Minister of War) (technically she held the top spot due to our State of War, though no Golden Mare had ever exercised such authority over a Queen (and she definitely believed Aya was our Queen)), Katrina (as Minister of Intelligence and Security), Beyoncé (as Havenstone (the multinational corporation) ~ our Treasurer/Economic Tsarina) and me (our Foreign Minister).Saint Marie had decided to forgo a public face in order to better facilitate her moving around to various battle fronts and holding clandestine meetings with her junior regional commanders. Her Havenstone corporate title was 'Chief of Security Training and Certification'. As an extra level of deception, the head of Security Services wasn't even a Director-level position, instead being folded into the duties of the Office of the President.To my current circumstances ~ I had been given Constanza's house name which could only mean she wasn't currently assigned to the Security Detail; a fact that couldn't have made her bad attitude any better. Marilynn had completely lost her way as an Amazon when I first met her, burying her pain and confusion in endless partying and intoxicants. I believed only her grandmother's status as High Priestess kept her from the severest of reprimands, or death. I didn't even know what Marilynn's caste was. Sabia,"While I'm sure you are both far more qualified than I, precisely how did you two get these jobs?" I had to ask my two non-coworkers. Constanza glowered. Marilynn flinched."I have an in depth knowledge of Havenstone security procedures and resources," Constanza replied."Shawnee requested me," was Marilynn's comeback. "I also have intimate knowledge of the City of New York and its environs.""Actually, Buffy Ishara recommended you both to Shawnee," Beyoncé corrected their misconceptions. I knew the score. I'd be working intimately with the tight community around the President (Shawnee) and Vice Presidents (Buffy & Rhada). Buffy wanted me to be surrounded by women who hated my guts, so I wouldn't end up boinking them. It rarely worked that way. All too often ladies who hated my still-beating heart ended up punishing me with sex. I wasn't sure why that happened, but it did."Beyoncé, didn't the Chief Diplomat of the Host have her own office? I'm pretty sure Troika had one before her unfortunate collision with Saint Marie," I felt entitled to inquire."Do you feel you've earned that office space?" she riposted."Oh, fuck no!" I waved my hands one over the other to accentuate my denial. "I was just wondering where I could stick Juanita while I'm hanging around, here.""She has the desk right outside the door, Cáel," Beyoncé smiled knowingly. "So there is no way you can sneak past her.""Oh," I grunted. "Buffy again?""No. Pamela Pile put in that particular request.""Oh, Sweet Mother of God, now she is conspiring against me too?""Yes. Some of us realize the greatest hazard to your health is yourself, Ishara," Beyoncé chided me. "We'd like to keep you around, so we listen to those charged with that nigh impossible task.""Is she going to be hanging around the office often?" Constanza asked, either myself, Juanita, or Beyoncé; I wasn't sure. She = Pamela."Please, Constanza," I attempted to intervene, "don't make Pamela kill you. It will upset Mona." Constanza's scowl was accentuated by the eyepatch covering her ruined left socket, the one Pamela had carved out when Constanza had insulted me and House Ishara on our first day of rebirth. I didn't tell Juanita this, because Juanita might just shoot Constanza over the insult before Pamela got a chance to finish the job.The tension was palatable."Mona and I have talked, about Romania, and other things," Constanza grudgingly allowed. It took me a second to realize there was a hidden meaning to what she said. Mona was part of my personal Security Detail bodyguard unit. If she felt Constanza, the woman who had raised her after her birth-mother had died, was a threat to me, she'd feel duty-bound to snuff Constanza first. Amazons were hard-ass bitches alright and I think Mona had made that clear."I hope things can improve between us," I offered to Constanza. "Beyoncé, I just stopped in to say 'hey'. I'm off to JIKIT and I've got three of the Pope's people waiting on me in the garage so,""Vice President Varma requested a moment of your time," Beyoncé smirked. "She is in 2604.""Who?""Vice President Rhada Varma, a moment of your time, alone?" she clarified."Sure thing," I backed out of the office. Once I had some space, I turned to Juanita. "Give me three minutes then bust in and say, I don't know, a tsunami is about to overwhelm the city, or something. Otherwise, I won't get out for at least an hour and I think I've put the Bishop and his people through enough delays as it is.""Are you actually asking me to stop you from having an in-office liaison?" she studied me intently as we walked in the direction of Rhada's office."Yes. It's not likely to happen often, believe me.""Oh, I do, in that you won't ask me to do it often," she grumbled. I'd deal with Juanita's morale problem later. Right now, I had to gird my loins so they wouldn't do anything else with Rhada. I had work to do, damn it!Rhada was sitting at her desk, working on something, stylus raised up so she could chew on the end. Her hair was pulled back in a half-ponytail, the type that captured the rear half of the hair in a ponytail while leaving the front and bangs free to flow down. Rhada's blouse was white & billowy and, as I was soon to discover, her pants were ultra-tight and contour hugging."Mr. Nyilas," she greeted me. "I would like a moment of your time," she relayed what I already knew. She was more than a tad nervous to boot."Vice President Varma," I started off."When in private you may call me Rhada," she interrupted."Rhada, you look more ravishing than ever."That got up her and coming around her desk, which revealed her ultra-tight pants with no sign of her wearing underwear. Yikes! My cock was preparing to do what a cock was meant to do and I just didn't have the time, Really!"Do you have any time?" she let her bosom heave."Not today, ugh," I groaned. See, Rhada took the stylus and dragged it down her chin, throat and in between her bountiful mounds.All of which exposed the top of her black bra."Are you sure, Master?" she enticed me by turning around and then leaning over her desk, point that ass in my direction. My mouth began salivating and my groin ached. I found myself quick-stepping to her and giving those buttocks two firm slaps, one on each cheek."No, damn it, though I'm going to make you pay for this when I get back," I rumbled."Master will make me wait?" she taunted me."That will cost you even more," I growled. "I have business which simply won't wait and here is my captive teasing me with the treasures of her flesh. Bad, war captive," I spanked her yet again, hard. "Bad!" and I spanked her a fourth time. With each beating, Rhada gasped in pain and then exhaled in pleasure."If I've been bad, Master must be extra harsh with me when he returns in triumph from the Great Hunt," she gloated. Rhada had gotten what she wanted, which was another affirmation of my lust for her and our 'game'. I could provide her the release she so desperately craved while allowing her the safety of remaining in the Amazon fold. It was a perfect pairing, for her.I had other problems, such as all the other baby mamas in my life plus the extra-marital affairs I was contemplating. I still took the moments we had to snuggle with Rhada, her grinding that tush into my rod while I held both her arms tightly to her side while raining kisses down onto her neck and head."Sir! A giant tsunami is approaching the city!" Juanita exploded through the door."What?" I coughed. I had a face full of hair."Huh?" Rhada pushed up and away from me. I let her go."Right now," Juanita insisted. She really needed to stop taking me so seriously when I gave her such advice."Really?" from Rhada. She shot me a curious look so I shrugged. What else was I supposed to do with such a flimsy lie forcing our separation? At least I got out of there on time?{9:50 am, Monday, September 8th ~ Last day}(JKIT HQ)"Is this a common occurrence?" Sister Rafaela Sophia whispered to the closest woman, who happened to be Wiesława, the Polish Amazon. Since she hadn't arrived with us from Havenstone, the nun might have assumed she was with the 'Americans', or British."What?" Wiesława responded evenly."Weapons combat, they look real," the nun clarified."They are real. We always practice with real weapons.""Really?""Of course," Wiesława smiled at her. "We believe a few cuts and scrapes now will save lives when the true tests come.""Oh, you are with, Havenstone?" Rafaela clued in."Yes. I am Wiesława of House Živa. I am currently assigned to Unit L, Cáel's unit within JIKIT," she offered her hand to shake. Despite being a full-blooded Amazon from a freehold, her 'human' skills were progressing nicely. The nun shook it."I am Sister Rafaela Sophia of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, that is a Roman Catholic Religious Order." Pause. "Do you hate Catholics too?""Yes. We have lived beside your people for many centuries and found your clergy to be much more dangerous than your pagan predecessors. Still, Cáel thinks you can be relied on and he's proven we can trust outsider women, which I was raised to believe was unlikely, and outsider men, which was basically anathema, so I'm willing to set aside my prejudices and judge you as an individual," the Pole imparted."Outsider men?" Rafaela mumbled."Well, yes," Wiesława smirked. "You are a nun, right?""Yes.""So you set aside the World of Men to live mostly among women, right?""Not entirely," the nun chose her words carefully. "We still rely on priests for religious rights and of course obey the life teachings of Christ and follow the leadership of his Holiness, the Pope, a man.""No one is perfect," the Amazon bantered back."Do you know the teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ?" Rafaela ventured into dangerous waters."Yes. He was the semi-historical Son of your supposed One True God. We are not monotheists. We are Polytheists. Živa is my House's matron Goddess. It is also the name of the first woman to lead the House, her birth name surrendered to Destiny so all the daughters who came afterwards would be equals.""Oh, is Mr. Nyilas also pagan?" she inquired."I am unsure. From what I have been told, he has commended the spirit of his fallen father to your Jesus in a sacred ceremony then, in the presence of your Trinity and the Goddess Ishara, brought in new members to his House. I suspect he may be both," Wiesława reasoned. "Why don't you ask him?""Because he's fighting for his life?" Rafaela looked my way.See, the entire time their discussion had been going on, I had been sparring in a spare room at JIKIT HQ with Estere Abed, the Hashashin assassin (rather redundant ~ like saying the Sahara Desert). I had two tomahawks while she had a scimitar and curved dagger. While we sparred using the furniture as obstacles, Agent-86 was briefing me on various World events to get my input.Addison Stuart (CIA) and Lady Fathom Worthington-Burke (MI-6) were having a chat with Bishop Nicolé de Santis, verifying for themselves he was worth adding to the team. Juanita was having a similar discussion with Rikki Martin (US State Department) concerning my earlier encounter with the Papal team. Nicolé's buddy, Wachtmeister Mathias Bosshart of the Swiss Guard, was getting acquainted with the other security personnel.In comparison, those two had it easy. Both men were in their elements. Nicolé was a spook who pretended to be a diplomat for the Pope and was well acquainted with terms like 'deniable assets', 'plausible deniability' and your direct superior referring to requests concerning your identity/diplomatic status by saying 'I never heard of him and if I had, I have no idea what he was doing when you caught him doing what I don't know what he was doing', or something like that.Mathias was in the company of military-security specialists, brother professionals who were introducing him to his 'sister' professionals. Our Homeland Security gang were almost entirely former military by now. They got along with our JSOC folks and both had gained a limited acceptance with the Amazon security contingent.They bonded over the fact they were forced to work with really shady characters ~ the 9 Clans menagerie ~ who didn't always appreciate JIKIT operational security. Without going into particulars, the Wachtmeister was given the impression the abnormal was the norm and if you didn't think there was a 'down-side' to being able to carry your personally favorite bang-bang (the SG 552-2P Commando in his case) with some serious attachments (read: grenade launcher) around in downtown Manhattan, you probably didn't belong on this team.Back in the room,"He's not fighting for his life," Estere laughed. "He is fighting for mine.""Right," I responded sarcastically. We went through a flurry of exchanges, ending up with me kicking a chair at her. Estere stepped over it, colliding with me.I blocked her dagger, disarmed her scimitar and,"You are dead," she panted down at me, smiling. I was on my back, her straddling me. She had a belt-knife to my throat. I hadn't see her draw it. The scimitar 'disarm' had been a distraction."Woot!" I exhaled."But you're dead," Sister Rafaela misunderstood my good humor."He survived a minute and thirty-four seconds more today than his previous record," Estere responded. She slithered off of me, doing my arousal no good whatsoever, then offered me a hand up."And that's better?""He's a rank amateur with a few months on the job. I've been training to kill people for nearly two decades," Estere smiled. "Care to have a go?""With him, or you?""Either," Estere offered."I don't have a knife, or any hand weapons," she stated."We'll need to remedy that," Wiesława stated. "You should at least carry a knife.""Really? Why?""It is a nearly universal tool," I verbally stepped up. "Even if you are disarmed, you should be able to find one relatively easily, people are less likely to miss a stolen knife than a purloined gun, and a concealed blade could come in handy.""Do you train in knife-work?" Rafaela eye-balled me."Absolutely. It is part of my culture," I grinned."Okay. Can we spar, hand-to-hand?""Sure," I nodded. I put my tomahawks in their harnesses then put my harnesses aside. Estere gave me a wink before giving us the fighting space."So," Rafaela began to circle, "are you Christian?""By your definition, or mine?""By the definition of the Catholic Church."Oh cool, she went for a Savate stance. This was going to get ugly.My "no," was followed by her kick and my block, lunge and grapple. She wasn't nearly as good as Felix. I had her down and in a choke hold within fifteen seconds.Perhaps she thought I'd take it easy on her. She tapped out. I released her, retreated and flowed back to my boxing stance. It took her a moment to realize this was 'practice', not 'an interview'. She hadn't failed in anyone's eyes. We were both doing this to get better."See, I really, truly believe I have talked to supernatural entities ~ some who are considered divinities," I continued. This time she was more careful, trading jabs and blocks with me. "They don't claim to be the One True God. I believe in such a thing, but I also believe having been given the Message, Humanity has been left to muddle things out for ourselves."Whoops, she popped me one."The Woman-Thing this morning?""Yep," I evaded another flurry. She got cocky and I landed three blows, dropping her to the ground. I didn't help her up. Instead, I withdrew and let her get back up on her own before deciding if she wanted to continue. She did."I believe I've seen dragons and ghosts. I have felt legions of my ancestors give me quiet encouragement when I needed it. I know the dead have been brought back to life," I came at her. This time we both went for body blows, knees, elbows and fists. She was not SD-caliber and she needed to be. I grappled and she was forced to tap out again. After she regained her feet, she held up a hand for a pause."Do you believe any of that?" she addressed Estere."I am an adherent of Ismaili Islam yet nothing Cáel has encountered is contrary to my belief system. The Universe is a complex place and the Divine Light is often seen through a fractured lenses," she counseled the nun."Among the escapees were lawyer Francisco Luemba, Catholic Priest Raul Tati, economist Belchior Lanso Tati and former policeman Benjamin Fuca who are serving jail sentences of between three and six years each for supposed links to the rebel group FLEC (Frente para a Libertaé'o do Enclave de Cabinda), which carried out the attack on the Togolese football team at the start of the Africa Cup of Nations in January, 2010," Agent-86 read off yet another bit of global minutia."We need to get to them," I half turned. Sister Rafaela punched me in the gut and I folded up."Oh!" she gasped. "I'm sorry.""Okay," I mumbled. I had to keep with the plan. "Those men. We need to contact our Coils people in Kinshasa and the Warden of the Mountain Ways ('she' was the Amazon Host's leader of Africa ~ in the ancient times, the mountain ways had been the routes of southern vulnerability for the Amazon tribe thus the name).""Okay," both Agent-86 and Estere answered."Why?" 86 added."The Coils and the Host have had a serious problem with no nation in Africa giving them even back room recognition so we are going to take over our own country, Cabinda. It's been struggling to be free of Angola since 1975 and, by latest estimates, we've got strike elements of over 2,000 Amazons ready and waiting next door in Cameroon, Gabon and the Republic of Congo.""So you are going to go to war with Angola?" Estere frowned. "Don't we have enough enemies?""Au contraire," I grinned wickedly. "The resistance movement is genuine," I ticked off my points, "they have tons of offshore oil, and after we set off some spectacular explosions in the two main Angolan ports which are just down the coast, we allow global panic to bully the UN into intervening before the Angolan military launch an effective counter-offensive ~ considering the Angolan Armed Forces (I'd been reading up on a ton of CIA & MI-6 briefings) will most likely involve attrition warfare since they can't beat us in a stand-up fight.""They, the Angolans, have no overland access, they are separated by 60 kilometers of territory belonging to the Democratic Republic of Congo over some sad ass roads Plus the Congo River itself which is freaking huge by the time it gets that close to the Atlantic, Cabinda rests on the Atlantic Ocean by the way. No bridges. The Angolan Navy is anemic. Let me think."I began pacing."Hmm, they have no paratroopers though they have some Special Forces, we will need to hit as many of them in the barracks as we can. Their last invasion was from the north, overland, from the Republic of the Congo, in 1975, not likely to happen this time, though I may have my 'Brother' weasel up a battalion of Indian paratroopers to act as convincing peacekeepers after the initial take over.""Perhaps we can recruit some Vietnamese. I'm sure they'll love fighting in someone else's jungle for a change. We'll need some of 'our' guys to seize the port of Soyo, it is on the wrong side of the river, but has the major refinery the Cabindans will need. Since the entire surrounding province are the same ethnic make-up as the Cabindans, we'll have to take that too.""Man-o-man, I bet by the time this is over they'll really wish they'd given little Cabinda independence back in 1975. As for their other refinery, it is in their capital, Luanda, a few big explosions there too will get the markets jittery. Check that ~ the complete and utter destruction of their major petroleum facility will create a stampede for Peace," I continued. I walked over as our resident computer intelligence genius worked his magic."Blowing things up, you mean killing people," the nun blanched."Yes. This is what I do," I spared her a sympathetic glance. "I've got a madman roaming around in my head who provides me truly epic military advice which normally, but not always, means blowing shit up and killing folks. Welcome to the team," then as the data appeared, "Holy Shit! Did they build their oil refinery in the midst of their ghetto?" I was staggered. The refinery in Soyo was isolated from the town so it could be easily (and safely) seized. It was the one in Luanda which was the 'Holy Shit' site."It looks that way," Agent-86 agreed nonplussed. "Hmm, yeah, here is the port facility then your neighborhood of shoddily constructed one- and two-story dwellings between the refinery and the inland storage tanks, the perimeter barrier appears to be a chain link fence. I'd hate to be their Chief of Security.""Oh yeah," I choked. Estere slipped around to get a look."Whoops," she snorted."What are these people thinking?" I continued. "The whole shebang is exposed to the northern quarter of the city. The storage tanks have residential dwellings on all four sides with numerous side streets. Two teams with RPGs and four rounds apiece, Holy Crap. Sorry Sister.""But I want to save lives," she sputtered."Limiting the collateral damage could be pretty tough," Estere frowned. She toggled throw a series of maps to multiple pictures."Oh, look (dripping sarcasm); they light up the refinery at night. You can sit off the coast in a speed boat under cover of darkness and attack from there," she noted."Damn. Those are a lot of lights," Agent-86 agreed."24-7 operation," I suspected."We will need some experts," the government agent nodded."Or we are going to kill a fuck-load of innocent people. Not just the workers, but can you imagine a fire spreading to those neighborhoods? Shit," I muttered."You can't seriously be contemplating doing something like this," the nun sputtered. "It is inhumane. Think of the families, the children.""Lady, yes I am. Do you have any idea what the Human Rights record of the Angolan Army in Cabinda is? It is truly horrific and in case you missed it, one of the guys in dire need of rescuing by me, due to him being a huge rebel leader who has managed to escape, is also a Catholic priest. He's going to be part of the new government we are going to install once we kill a few hundred Angolans ~ mostly soldiers (more like well over a thousand).""We are going to kill a few hundred so a few hundred thousand can live free, democratic lives without worrying about the local police and political establishment torturing and murdering them. It is all part of the plan.""I think I need to talk with the Bishop.""Hang on. Let me finish," I forestalled her. "He'll get briefed along with everyone else. After all, it is a majority Roman Catholic country as is Angola, so I'm sure your guy can be of immense help.""The people you are putting at risk don't deserve this," she protested."They never do," I nodded in agreement with her. "It rarely stops terrible crap from happening to them though."I felt sorry for the Sister. She thought the Bishop was going to put a stop to this. Poor girl; he was going to do the exact opposite. See, the two competing forces at play here were a communistic kleptocracy (currently ruling Angola) and Catholic liberation theology united with a Cabindan national identity dating back to 1885. At stake was 900,000 barrels a day of petroleum. That was a bunch of funding for somebody. Last I checked, the state run energy conglomerate had misplaced $32 billion, in just three years.Mind you, the Coils of the Serpent and the Amazon Host didn't want to help the People of Cabinda out of the goodness of their hearts either. They wanted cover for the importation of weapons and other war-fighting material so they could kill the Condottieri in Africa. If the rebel leaders-turned-legitimate government didn't play ball well, the Coils were in the 'assassinating people' business and somewhere along the line the survivors would figure out keeping 'us' happy kept them alive. Problem solved.It was Bishop Nicolé de Santis' job to facilitate that understanding. If certain people with Vatican credentials explained the 'facts of life' to the new regime a lot more lives could be saved, Catholic lives. In turn, he could work to make sure the new group in power wasn't nearly as corrupt as the gang we were tossing out. Better education and quality of life, improved infrastructure & security and a nice shiny cathedral, or two.We, as in JIKIT and our component members, didn't want to rule the country and dominate the people's lives. We needed the ports and the airfields with a blind eye turned to our skullduggery. Sure, there would be future considerations. Amazons and Coil members would be fighting and dying for these people's freedom ~ public recognition definitely not required. No; the Amazons wanted to be left alone in their deep jungle homes which was an isolation they basically already had. This was a future chit which said 'don't come looking'.The Coils? Let's just say in the future Cabinda would have embassies around the globe and if occasionally they wanted someone to slip through under diplomatic cover ~ they were good for it. And if the Cabindans ever needed help in the future they knew they had friends in dark places who were now invested in Cabinda's survival. It was a win-win-win, unless you were an Angolan big-wig, or one of their foot-soldier currently serving in Cabinda. Amazons weren't big on taking prisoners, or even giving the opposition the option of giving up.For me, it wasn't lunch yet and here I was plotting to overthrow yet another government in yet another country ~ though in only two, small provinces this time. Thank the Goddess I had the rest of the week

Is Brollan being an elite IGL not enough confusion for you? No, well don't worry, Stewie2k is back and he's just recorded the greatest map of his career.On this week's Overtime on Inferno, Sam and Elliott discuss the return of NA's most impactful player, siuhy's new team, and the fact that they're already tired of Vitality being good and would rather talk about MOUZ being good instead.Join the discord:https://discord.gg/tldrCheck out Logan's new project:https://thestratbook.gg

This episode is part of our Think&Drink Series in collaboration with the Georg-Simmel-Centre for Urban Studies working with the Humboldt University Berlin. Today's speaker is Andrei Semenov, an assistant professor at the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan. Authoritarian urbanism has recently become a buzzword applied to different settings and situations. Andrei attempts to clarify the conceptual foundations of this term by using a combination of political science and urban sociology analytical frameworks. He shows that the authoritarian part refers to the dictators' response to two key challenges to their rule: elite factionalism and mass uprisings. While a wide set of strategies is available to dictators, the instruments and practices of urban development constitute one possible way of responding. More specifically, he argues that authoritarian urbanism simultaneously aims at two (not always compatible) goals: providing rents to ensure the elites' loyalty and satisfying the mass demand for housing and a comfortable urban environment. He illustrates these features with examples from Eurasian countries and concludes with some further research questions.

A expectativa era imensa e o final não fez jus. O primeiro final de semana das clássicas belgas foi interessante, mas muito menos empolgante do que soava. Dois sprints entre os homens, duas fugas entre as mulheres. O RADIO da semana traz um apanhado do que mais importante aconteceu no ciclismo e a expectativa para a Strade Bianche no próximo sábado. Destaque para Ayuso a la Pogacar na França, a confirmação do retorno de Henrique Avancini e a ótima briga entre Astana e UNO-X no ranking mundial.Chegue junto!

We're ready for the second weekend in February with a heayweight main event in England, plus, star lightweight Keyshawn Davis joins us on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview."Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael return for their insight and takes.First, the preview Saturday's Queensberry main event from Manchester, England, asDerek "War" Chisora takes on Otto Wallin in an IBF heavyweight eliminator for the  No. 2 position. Both are vets with Chisora being a British fan favorite and we'll see if some good action comes of it?Then, Dan talks with Keyshawn Davis, who hedlines the Feb. 14 Top Rank ESPN card at Theater at MSG and he challenges Denys Berinchyk for his WBO lightweight title. Hear Keyshawn's mindset headed into his first world title shot and his goals should he be victorious this weekend. Next in the News:Dan has done his own reporting on Canelo-Jake Paul now in talks for spring & has the update on why Canelo- Terence Crawford fight won't be happening for now.We talk more on Ryan Garcia – who is back with Eddy Reynoso training and disgustingly for Dan, his fight with Rolly Romero slated for May 2 will be for the WBA “regular” welterweight tite? WHAT. ARE. WE. DOING. HERE?!Also, Janibek Alimkhanuly will defend his WBO/IBF middleweight title against Anauel Ngamissengue in a homecoming bout on April 5 (ESPN+) in Astana, Kazakhstan. Dan has more.Finally, some nostalgiaFeb. 5, 2005 — 20 years ago on Wednesday – Zab Judah went to Cory Spinks' hometown of St. Louis, MO and the 20K sold out downtown arena. And, Judah KO'd him to avenge his loss and win the undisputed welterweight title.Plus we say Happy Birthday from Feb.4 to legend Oscar De La Hoya, as he turned 52. We give a little Golden Boy appreciation!It's all on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!  

Pete takes Ned on a pointless but very funny round trip, chasing and loosing Cees Bol. Then Alex Dowsett and David turn up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Lanteren Rouge Cycling Podcast Patrick and Benji preview the 2025 team of XDS Astana.This show is sponsored by JOIN Cycling. Lanterne Rouge listeners can access JOIN Cycling with an exclusive risk free 30-day free trial period. Head over to our website for more information: https://join.cc/lanternerouge/Timestamps: 00:00 Intro00:50 2024 recap04:45 XDS joins as sponsor11:10 Transfers30:00 Predictions & hot takesOur merch has dropped! Custom designs painstakingly crafted by Louemans on t-shirts, mugs and hats with all your favourite catchphrases from the podcast. Check it out at ⁠⁠https://shop.lanternerouge.com⁠⁠If you enjoy LRCP please support us by subscribing and leaving us a like and comment! You can also send us a tip here https://ko-fi.com/lanternerougecyclingpodcast

This week on the Velo Podcast, we have something a little different for you as former Pinkbike editor extraordinaire Mike Levy joins the show to talk gravel and road bikes. Some of you are no doubt asking yourself right now: “Wait, isn't he the mountain bike guy?” Right you are. He's a multi-faceted person though who has spent the last year exclusively riding road and gravel bikes and has fallen in love with the drop-bar world, taking on some monster rides along the way and learning what a carb is. In this special episode of the podcast, Levy is joined by yours truly Will Tracy, and tech editor Alvin Holbrook to discuss the pressing issues of our times in gravel and road biking. We start out with a discussion of some of the latest news, including what a possible SRAM smart trainer means for the market, the transition of Astana to Chinese manufacturer XDS bikes, and Alvin's review of the Factor Ostro VAM. Other topics include the emergence of carbon spokes and their impact on performance, as well as the unique features of the Kona Ouroboros and Santa Cruz Stigmata gravel bikes that the team has been riding recently. Finally, we get to the main segment: reflections on personal cycling experiences and the lessons learned throughout the year. We learned a lot on the bike in 2024 (or so we like to think) including knowing when to quit or solider on and how to maintain and in some cases rekindle the joy of cycling, as well as the importance of proper nutrition and fueling and the supportive community found in cycling.

Turns out it *really* is really, really cold in Kazakhstan... Matt Davies-Adams has got Jessy Parker Humphreys, Liam Twomey and a whole load of special guests all the way over in Almaty as Chelsea made their longest ever trip for European competition - and came out on top with a comfortable 3-1 win in arctic conditions. We speak to fans from far and wide about their love for the club - and what made them make the 3000+ mile journey to follow the Blues abroad! Attention then turns to Sunday night's showdown with fellow West Londoners Brentford, who rather enjoy playing at Stamford Bridge... Plus - Jessy brings us up to speed with the latest goings on for the women's team - and we do a quiz! We'll be back on Monday with our reflections on the visit of bogey team the Bees and a look ahead to the final Conference League group game against Shamrock Rovers! HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey and Jessy Parker Humphreys PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Johan Bruyneel and Spencer Martin discuss how Tom Pidcock's recent comments about his Ineos team complicate their delicate truce, what Tadej Pogačar's comments about wanting to improve in 2025 mean for the upcoming season, and Astana's new partner before answering a few listener questions. StoryWorth: With StoryWorth I am giving those I love most a thoughtful, personal gift from the heart and preserving their memories and stories for years to come. Go to https://www.StoryWorth.com/themove and save $10 on your first purchase! That's StoryWorth.com/themove to save $10 on your first purchase!