Podcasts about pro cycling

Sprint day! It was a hot one in central France and Jonathan Milan won the drag race up a slight rise to take his first Tour de France stage. Did Alpecin-Decueuninck back the wrong man? And is Pogačar a threat for the green jersey? Caley, Jonny, and Iain break it all down and then extol the virtues of a Bergadou breakaway and discuss Feed Zone Gate. 

For the record, we had our episode title before the Cycling Podcast did. Pogačar had this one circled on this calendar, and there was no denying him. Caley and Jonny are joined by Iain, just in from Norway, to chat through the stage (which was fun), whether it means anything for the GC battle (not really), and look ahead to a big haul across the middle of France this weekend. 

We thought it would be a breakaway day, and indeed it was. Ben Healy put on a show, sneaking away at just the right moment to take his first Tour stage win. Behind, weird decisions from UAE and Visma left the pod crew with many questions. Caley and Jonny are joined by pro photographer Zac Williams and reporter Chris Marshall Bell to break down the motivations of those big teams, how Healy pulled it off, and plenty more. 

Time trial day! It's Ronan's Christmas, birthday, and birth of his first child all rolled into one. The man could not be more excited. Jonny and Caley, in contrast, are just hoping for literally anything interesting to happen. Lucky for us, it did. Jonas Vingegaard underperformed (or did he?), Remco Evenepoel smashed it, and sweet Kevin Vauquelin (or is it VauqueliCAN) rode his way into the top three. 

Another lumpy finish, another string of attacks, another brave French boy, and Pogačar's first (and 100th) stage win. Caley, Jonny, and Ronan come to you from Rouen where they discuss the finale, Evenepoel's motivation level, Ralph Denk's aura farming, and much more. 

A whole lot of nothing, then lots all at once. That was the feeling from stage 3 of the Tour de France, where a processional day was punctuated by a nasty crash and the exit of Jasper Philipsen, then even more crashes in a hectic finale in Dunkirk. Caley, Jonny, and Ronan break down the stage, bring you news from Bryan Coquard and the Cofidis bus, and more. 

The French boys were so brave today. Caley, Ronan and Jonny bring you the latest from stage 2 of the Tour de France, where Mathieu van der Poel soared to the stage win and was handed the yellow jersey by Alpecin-Deceuninck teammate Jasper Philipsen. Elsewhere, we've got the latest on Remco Evenepoel heading to the exit door at Soudal-Quick Step, and likely off to Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe.

Visma-Lease a Bike is not going to roll over this week. Stage 1 of the 2025 Tour de France was a cracker, for a sprint stage, with wind and crashes playing a role in setting early GC gaps and Jasper Philipsen pulling on the first yellow jersey of the Tour. Caley, Jonny, and Ronan join you from a canalside in Lille, 50 meters from the Visma bus. We hear from Matteo Jorgenson on his team's plan and how it was executed, do a little Echelon 101 schooling, and smell a few smells. 

It's Tour de France eve. Caley is back, joined by Jonny, Ronan, and special guest Matt Stephens to discuss the Jonas Vingegaard's press conference, why Kaden Groves is at the Tour, and lots more. 

Cycling's a beautiful sport. It's also a nightmare for new fans to get into – a mess of jargon, history, and tactics. Journalism professor (and new cycling fan) Holly Johnson has questions, and together with Iain Treloar, is on a mission to decipher pro cycling. In the first episode: a chat with Jonathan Vaughters about how teams work.

Welcome back to the Tour Daily! These are our daily Tour de France episodes, brought to you by the same crew as Spin Cycle. We're on the ground in France, Lille specifically, to take in the vibes, ask questions at press conferences, and generally get this bike race started. In this first Tour episode, Ronan, Jonny and Chris Marshall-Bell gather on a grassy field next to a bar to cap off what has been an inauspicious start to the 2025 Tour de France for Escape Collective. Nevertheless, they bring you the latest from the pre-Tour press conferences and Ronan has been wandering around sniffing out some tech truffles.

Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by MAAP It's July, which means we're just days away from the Tour de France. I don't know about you, but I am absolutely frothing for this year's race to kick off. My heart is racing just thinking about it…and that's exactly what this month's episode is all about; my heart. Guys, this month's episode of Life In The Peloton is one for all you training geeks out there. It's time for me to take another look ‘under the hood' and get my ticker checked out, so I headed back to the lab for a catch up with my old mate Dr. Andre Le Gerche. If you don't recognise that name, Andre is one of the world's leading experts in Sports Cardiology, whose research and clinical work focuses on the effect of exercise on the human heart.  Since the start of my professional cycling career all those years ago, I've been seeing Andre every few years to take part in a study he's conducting on elite athletes' hearts, heart function, and heart health. I last recorded with Andre back in 2022, so if you haven't heard that ep get across and bring yourself up to speed on the study, and what my last round of testing showed just after I retired from Pro Cycling. If you don't know, the UCI makes sure that every pro rider undergoes a series of heart tests on their heart every off season ‘with an aim to reduce - as far as possible - the risk of sudden cardiac death during sporting activity' - scary stuff, right? Andre's study goes one further, looking to understand the longer term effects of a life of endurance sport.  I won't lie, guys, this is a big topic - and I won't pretend I'm an expert on Sports Cardiology! But, what I really love about working with Andre and his team is the way they explain the results of their findings to nuffies like me. I hope you like this episode, guys - hopefully, you get a better idea of what goes on under the hood of these elite athletes you're about to watch rip around France for the next month. My next round of testing with Andre isn't until 2030, now, so I'll see you in 5 years, Andre! Cheers! Mitch ----more---- If you didn't catch it, Andre and I first sat down about a couple of years ago to chat all things athlete's heart — what years of racing does to it, how it recovers (or doesn't) after retirement, and why some ex-pros might need to “de-train” their hearts. That ep lays the groundwork for this follow-up, so if you're keen to hear how it all started, you can check it out here. This episode is brought to you by our mates at Saily – the simple mobile app that makes managing your subscriptions dead easy. Whether it's race passes, streaming services, or random apps you forgot you signed up for, Saily tracks it all in one place and even helps you cancel the ones you're not using. Clean, easy, and actually kind of fun to use.

It's Tour de France time! This is the last regular episode of Spin Cycle before it turns into the Tour Daily. Caley, Jonny, and Dane run through the weekend's national championship stories and then dive into a preview of the upcoming Tour de France, with a heavy focus on a wild first week. We've got picks (Fantasy and otherwise), guesses, even some rampant speculation. This is Free Week at Escape Collective, so everybody gets access to After Dark this week. Today, we've got a look at Patrick Lefevere's reaction to our story about a rift in his team last week, an intense discussion of how much we'd pay for photos of his feet, plus member meetups in Lille, and a little tease of a story coming this weekend. 

Today on the Spin Cycle podcast, Caley, Dane, and Jonny discuss quel le fuq is going on in French cycling at the minute, buttering you up before we descend into the topic of whether monsieur moins sept is trying to worm his way back into cycling.We then have some transfer rumours to update you on and a weird doping story to finish things off.

Send us a textIn this six-part series, De Dataloog joins forces with the Wolfpack Howls, the official podcast of the AG Insurance Soudal and Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team to explore how data and technology are transforming the world of professional cycling. Together with data analyst Paul van Herpt (Transfer Solutions) and hosts Phil Lowe and Walter van der Scheer, you'll get a unique behind-the-scenes look at one of the most forward-thinking cycling teams in the world.Each episode, featuring a unique blend of insights from riders, coaches, experts, and team leadership, dives into a different aspect of elite sports and data. Learn everything about the use of data to optimize training and race results, nutrition, and scouting. Welcome to a world where numbers make the difference but human performance wins the race.In this episode, Soudal Quick-Step performance nutritionist Ben Price takes us into the data-driven world of high-performance fueling. What does it take to fuel Tour de France stage winners? Ben explains how rider-specific energy forecasts, based on power output, past race data, and predicted course demands, enable the team to build tailored fueling strategies for each stage. From training to race day, every gram of carbohydrate is planned to align with performance goals, recovery needs, and rider preferences. Tim shares his own evolution in this process: from riding on gut feeling to embracing a structured nutrition plan that supports peak output and recovery.Together, they show how trust between rider and nutritionist is backed by real-time data, analytics dashboards, and predictive modeling and how good preparation results in great results..Theme: data-driven nutrition, performance modeling & fueling for sprint successGuests: Ben Price (performance nutritionist), Paul van Herpt (data analyst, Transfer Solutions)Hosts: Walter van der Scheer & Phil LoweDe Dataloog is de onafhankelijke Nederlandstalige podcast over data & kunstmatige intelligentie. Hier hoor je alles wat je moet weten over de zin en onzin van data, de nieuwste ontwikkelingen en echte verhalen uit de praktijk. Onze hosts houden het altijd begrijpelijk, maar schuwen de diepgang niet. Vind je De Dataloog leuk? Abonneer je op de podcast en laat een review achter.

Send us a textIn this six-part series, De Dataloog joins forces with the Wolfpack Howls, the official podcast of the AG Insurance Soudal and Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team to explore how data and technology are transforming the world of professional cycling. Together with data analyst Paul van Herpt (Transfer Solutions) and hosts Phil Lowe and Walter van der Scheer, you'll get a unique behind-the-scenes look at one of the most forward-thinking cycling teams in the world.Each episode, featuring a unique blend of insights from riders, coaches, experts, and team leadership, dives into a different aspect of elite sports and data. Learn everything about the use of data to optimize training and race results, nutrition, and scouting. Welcome to a world where numbers make the difference but human performance wins the race.For this episode, we're joined by one of the world's top sprinters, Tim Merlier of Soudal Quick-Step. Currently training at altitude in Sierra Nevada, Tim shares what it takes to prepare for the Tour de France, how cyclocross shaped his racecraft, and why data isn't everything but trust in your team is.We explore how data supports (but never replaces) race intuition and preparation. Tim shares:How he uses power data selectively to benchmark sprint performanceWhy accurate equipment (like Shimano power meters) changed his training approachHow he trains for 90g+ carbs/hour intake to fuel peak effortsThe role of data-informed recovery and nutrition strategies in stage racesWhy teammate positioning and lead-out execution matter more than raw wattsWhile Tim doesn't obsess over TrainingPeaks charts, his success is built on a deeply optimized environment. From predictive models supporting race pacing to real-time feedback from trusted performance staff.This episode offers a grounded view into how data enhances performance without overshadowing the craft and feel that define winning sprints.De Dataloog is de onafhankelijke Nederlandstalige podcast over data & kunstmatige intelligentie. Hier hoor je alles wat je moet weten over de zin en onzin van data, de nieuwste ontwikkelingen en echte verhalen uit de praktijk. Onze hosts houden het altijd begrijpelijk, maar schuwen de diepgang niet. Vind je De Dataloog leuk? Abonneer je op de podcast en laat een review achter.

Send us a textIn this six-part series, De Dataloog joins forces with the Wolfpack Howls, the official podcast of the AG Insurance Soudal and Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team to explore how data and technology are transforming the world of professional cycling. Together with data analyst Paul van Herpt (Transfer Solutions) and hosts Phil Lowe and Walter van der Scheer, you'll get a unique behind-the-scenes look at one of the most forward-thinking cycling teams in the world.Each episode, featuring a unique blend of insights from riders, coaches, experts, and team leadership, dives into a different aspect of elite sports and data. Learn everything about the use of data to optimize training and race results, nutrition, and scouting. Welcome to a world where numbers make the difference but human performance wins the race.What happens when raw power meets smart preparation? In this episode, we speak with Soudal Quick-Step head trainer Koen Pelgrim for an inside look at how data shapes elite training without losing the human edge.We explore how pro cyclists prepare for the biggest races of the season. Koen shares how training programs are personalized to fit each rider's physiology, racing role, and mindset, using power meters, HRV, and structured benchmarks to guide decisions.Theme: data-driven training, balancing metrics with mentalityGuests: Koen Pelgrim (head trainer, Soudal Quick-Step), Paul van Herpt (data analyst, Transfer Solutions)Hosts: Walter van der Scheer & Phil LoweDe Dataloog is de onafhankelijke Nederlandstalige podcast over data & kunstmatige intelligentie. Hier hoor je alles wat je moet weten over de zin en onzin van data, de nieuwste ontwikkelingen en echte verhalen uit de praktijk. Onze hosts houden het altijd begrijpelijk, maar schuwen de diepgang niet. Vind je De Dataloog leuk? Abonneer je op de podcast en laat een review achter.

In this episode of Spin Cycle, Caley Fretz, Jonny Long, and Dane Cash discuss the rising chaos at UAE, the UCI's new gear limits, and Pidcock going really fast.

Well, some of the knee-jerk predictions made last Friday didn't last very long, did they? Tadej Pogačar showed everyone who's boss at the Dauphine, and we wait with baited breath to see if he somehow messed something up going into the Tour de France. Caley's back from a successful foray into lobstering and is joined by Jonny and Kit to break down the weekend's racing. Then the three turn their attention to the other big story from the weekend, an incoming ban on a number of go-faster gear, including narrow handlebars. Has the UCI even lost Caley on this one, a man who thoroughly hates the narrow bar trend? Seems so. 

Jonny Long, Dane Cash, and Kit Nicholson offer some kneejerk reactions to a single time trial at the Critérium du Dauphiné and ponder sponsorship activation opportunities for cosmetics brands in the latest episode of the Spin Cycle podcast.

This episode was originally released for Friends of the Podcast subscribers earlier this week. However, on Thursday the UCI confirmed the calendars for the men's and women's World Tours for the next three-year cycle and there was no place on it for the One Cycling project, effectively kicking it into the long grass if not killing it completely. Much of the second half of the episode was about where the sport goes from here, including Jonathan's hope that the One Cycling project might finally give some coherence to the professional sport's structure. Jonathan asked if we could make this conversation available more widely and so, for a limited time, it will be on our free feed, with our thanks to our Friends of the Podcast subscribers who help to fund our coverage. Jonathan Vaughters is the general manager of the EF Education-Easy Post team and in this conversation with Lionel Birnie, he begins by talking about the conclusion to the Giro d'Italia. Richard Carparaz finished third overall after that thrilling stage over the Colle delle Finestre but Jonathan explains the tactics were designed with only victory in mind. From there, it's a freewheeling discussion about the state of pro cycling in 2025. Is Tadej Pogačar's dominance good for the sport, the One Cycling project, the Netflix effect, even the possibility of AI's influence on racing.

Jonny Long, Kit Nicholson, and Dane Cash debate the merits of sprint stages and ponder the media-friendliness of today's peloton.

Welcome back to Spin Cycle, everybody. This week, Caley, Dane, and Jonny bring you:Dave Brailsford is making a return to cycling after being shuffled from his day-to-day role at Man United, potentially focusing more on the cycling team. His return prompts discussion about Geraint Thomas's potential management role upon retirement, first reported by Escape Collective in March. The exact nature of Thomas's role is ill-defined, with speculation ranging from something like head sports director or director of racing, or perhaps stepping into a role providing human connection and emotional intelligence for the riders, given that he doesn't seem to relish internal politics.The Criterium du Dauphine is upon us, set to be a mano a mano a mano battle featuring Vingegaard, Pogacar, and Evenepoel in the same stage race for the first time this year. Jonas Vingegaard was spotted training with hairy legs and short socks.Netflix's "Unchained" series concludes, with the third and final season trailer released by Netflix France. The season is dropping really, really late on July 2nd, just before the Tour de France starts.Plus: A look at the Dauphine route, which is backloaded with difficult stages and has almost no flat days.

UNBOUND 2025 was one for the books — and Ian was in the thick of it. Fresh off a Top 10 finish, Boz takes us through the energy of this year's event — from the expo to the start line, to everything in between. Hear from Wahooligan athletes, ambassadors, racers, and fans with an on-the-ground look at what makes UNBOUND the pinnacle of what gravel racing has become.

Welcome back to Spin Cycle. This week, the crew dissects a thrilling conclusion of the Giro d'Italia. Was it won by Simon Yates or lost by UAE Team Emirates? Perhaps somewhere in between? What is absolutely sure is the deployment of Wout van Aert via the Wout Signal was yet another example of why he's the rider you want on your Grand Tour team. Plus: meeting the pope, Mads Pedersen's new underwear, and what Tibaut Pinot got up to over the weekend. 

Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down the final mountain stage of the Giro d'Italia, where Simon Yates turned the race on its head.

One weekend remains at a fantastic Giro d'Italia. We won't try to guess what happens, because that's impossible, and that's why the race is so good.Caley, Jonny, and Dane discuss the stories of the week, including Ayuso's bee sting, Carapaz's form, and Lance's toilet investment. Plus, we hear from Luis Lemus on the impact of Isaac del Toro on Mexican cycling. 

It's the last rest day of the Giro d'Italia, and two bits of GC news dominate conversation: Isaac Del Toro is officially UAE's leader now, and Primoz Roglič might pull out entirely. Caley, Jonny, and Kit are joined by Intern Nick to discuss Primoz Roglič's inevitable move to Israel-Premier Tech, Juan Ayuso's inevitable move to Movistar, and Del Toro's ability to put on a jacket. Plus much more besides, of course. 

Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down the GC battle two weeks into the Giro d'Italia, after a stage 15 that saw some changes in the standings ... and the narrative, too.

Head to Escapecollective.com/member to sign up today.Welcome back to Spin Cycle, where no news is too big and no joke too small. We're about halfway through the Giro, and what a Giro it's been. Caley, Jonny, and Kit take a moment to appreciate a Grand Tour without Pogačar in it, and then look ahead to the next one he'll be in. The Tour de France finish in Paris has changed, and it's way harder. Can Pogi win it? Should the classics men get excited? Plus, a one-night stand could land you in doping jail. Beware! 

The Giro d'Italia's mini Strade Bianche had everything: A winner everybody can hear for, a precocious young talent, GC crashes, dust galore.In this episode of Spin Cycle, Caley, Jonny, and Kit break down a spectacular weekend of racing, look back at some of our favorite Grand Tours stages of the modern era, downsize Big Jim to Medium Sized Jim, and wonder how UAE will handle yet another leadership question. 

Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down the dramatic ninth stage and the rest of the key points from the first "week" of the 2025 Giro d'Italia.

Primoz Roglič showed the Giro how to hang off a race director's car on Thursday and Mads Pedersen probably had to go on a boat even though he fell down. The Giro is going to Giro, always. Caley, Jonny, and Kit jump on to chat through the last few days of racing and concrete reporting that Total Energies and Ineos are about to become a new chemical romance. Plus, some kind words for the Giro TV crew and Mathias Vacek, who is so good it's actually quite scary. 

Cannondale are changing the endurance game, Are Campagnolo relevant again and Chris rides Zwift for the first time

If there's one thing we've learned over the first three days of the Giro d'Italia, it's never make a bet with Mads Pedersen. The Lidl-Trek rider is on fire, trimmers in hand. In today's episode, Caley, Jonny, and Kit break down the Giro's opening weekend, question the morality of one of a big newspaper, learn the fate of the Tro-Bro Leon pig, and introduce the Farce-O-Meter. 

The Giro d'Italia is upon us! Chris Marshall Bell rings in from Albania with the answers to cycling's biggest questions - whose legs are good? Who will be taking it day by day? We've got everything you need to know about the year's first Grand Tour. Plus, there's been a massive shakeup at GreenEdge. Longtime director Matt White is out. What are we hearing? 

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. 

Marketing, activate! Red Bull's "groundbreaking" new feature is just a sprint point, but what does the company's increasing involvement in pro cycling mean going forward? That question is far more interesting. Caley, Dane, and Intern Nick are back to discuss Red Bull's latest, whether prologues are good, and we hear from Lachlan Morton on his decision to race Unbound XL.  

In the arc of a life – especially one as rich and eventful as Greg LeMond's - certain stories get lost to the grander narrative. But in 1987, the bigger story was still unwritten. That year – soon after he'd won his first Tour de France, in the prime of his career – Greg LeMond was shot, and almost died.A Grand Tour champion, violence, drugs, intrigue, rehabilitation, and redemption: this is that story.We're running this first episode across our network, but future episodes will only be found on the Rabbit Holes channel. Subscribe to Rabbit Holes on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Production and sound design by Will and Stuart at Redbricks Media. Music from EpidemicSound. Thanks to Chris Marshall-Bell.Escape Collective is an entirely independent and member-funded publication, and this content is only possible through the support of our members. To subscribe, go to www.escapecollective.com/join.

Who would you want on your Tour de France tandem? Would Pogi and Almeida beat Vingegaard and Jorgenson? These are other important questions answered on this episode of Spin Cycle. Caley, Kit, and Dane run through Liège, Remco Evenepoel's very bad day, Ben Healy's breath of fresh air, and Demi Vollering's disappointing spring. Plus, Chris Froome retirement news and an appreciation for good kit, from Kit of course. 

Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano take a closer look at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, where there was more to break down than you might expect for a race won so convincingly.

Head to Escapecollective.com/member to sign up today.The best indicator for Fleche Wallonne victory seems to be whether or not you drink a podium beer at Amstel. Caley, Dane, Ronan, and Intern Nick break down the mid-week Classic, look ahead to Liege, discuss Uno-X's excellent new 7-11 kits, and wonder aloud where all the olds have gone. 

Head to Escapecollective.com/member to sign up today.Is Tadej Pogačar tired? Amstel Gold sure seemed to suggest it. Caley, Dane, and Intern Nick break down the weekend's racing, a crazy story about Lucho Herrera, the One Day Oscars, and lots more. Then, Joe Laverick joins to discuss a new take on road racing that looks like a lot like an old take on road racing. 

Head to Escapecollective.com/member to sign up today.Time to pivot to the Ardennes! By the time you listen to this, Brabantse Pijl will be wrapped up, and with it the return of Remco Evenepoel to the pro peloton. Caley and Dane are joined by Iain Treloar to put a bow on the cobbled classics and look ahead to the hilly one-days coming up. Plus Iain brings news of a new scam on the Internet. 

Caley, Ronan and Jonny come to you live from the Roubaix velodrome to break down the action and discuss the long-term narrative implications for what was a day out on the cobbles of northern France that will live long in the memory.

The Spin Cycle crew talks Paris-Roubaix. Caley Fretz, Jonny Long, Dane Cash, Ronan Mc Laughlin, and Zac Williams discuss all the storylines and field a few member questions ahead of the big race in front of a live audience in Kortrijk, Belgium.

Head to Escapecollective.com/member to sign up today.Flanders is the best of bike racing, and Sunday did not disappoint. Caley, Jonny, and Dane sit down in Oudenaarde's old square to discuss Pogačar's villain arc, Kopecky's biceps, and how there was very little anybody could do about today's outcomes. 

Head to Escapecollective.com/member to sign up today.The crew is back in Belgium! Caley, Jonny, Dane, and special guest Nick are on the streets of Ghent and focused on De Ronde, the Tour of Flanders coming on Sunday. They break down the two key protagonists and who might upset the apple cart, plus bring a healthy dose of Belgian flavor throughout. Then, a look a the shrinking podiums in mountain bike racing and what the racers are doing about it and what Visma should have done about the strawberry in their Mustard.