Podcasts about Pyrenees

Late one night in rural Iowa, a driver on a routine trip found himself stalked by strange lights that morphed into otherworldly shapes and seemed to close in on his car. In this eerie episode we explore how a simple journey turned into a night of fear as luminous orbs and towering figures appeared out of the darkness, hinting at something far beyond ordinary understanding. We talk about the unsettling dangers of UFO encounters, the unnerving sense of being pursued by something unknown, and what such incidents might reveal about forces that can reach into our world without warning. Then for our Plus+ Members we journey into the mist covered Pyrenees and follow hidden Cathar trails, encounter eerie hooded figures, phantom plasma hands and castles that glow with an unearthly light. MUFON Journal - July 2025 Case # 141236 The Orb Incident: A True Account By E. B. David Strange Creatures From Time and Space The Bill Chalker UFO Encounter: An Australian Researcher's Sighting Experiencing UFO/UAP “hotzones” – Mount Butler, Tyringham A Bizarre Anomalous Zone in the Wilds of Russia Eduardo Fernado de Deugd 1972 The Little Electric Humanoid From Albany Ohio Otto Rahn, Grail Hunter: The Secret of the Cathars and the Return of the White Lady Emerald Cup Ark of Gold: Quest of Ss Lieutenant Otto Rahn Montségur, A Must-Visit Site LinksPlus+ ExtensionThe extension of the show is EXCLUSIVE to Plus+ Members. To join, click HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Simon and Mick on the nearest thing to a hill climb that South London can offer. But will it be a suitable rehearsal for their forthcoming trek in the Pyrenees?

Fluent Fiction - Catalan: Exploring Serendipity: A Journey of Renewal in the Pirineus Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ca/episode/2025-09-08-22-34-02-ca Story Transcript:Ca: Els matins als Pirineus eren màgics.En: Mornings in the Pirineus were magical.Ca: L'aire fresc convidava a despertar-se aviat i sortir a gaudir del paisatge.En: The fresh air encouraged waking up early and going out to enjoy the landscape.Ca: Martí va decidir unir-se a unes vacances de grup per escapar de l'estrès i sentir la natura ben a prop.En: Martí decided to join a group vacation to escape stress and feel nature up close.Ca: El seu objectiu era trobar pau, aclarir la ment després d'un canvi laboral difícil.En: His goal was to find peace, to clear his mind after a difficult job change.Ca: Gemma, en canvi, buscava inspiració per a la seva escriptura.En: Gemma, on the other hand, was seeking inspiration for her writing.Ca: La seva feina com a escriptora freelance li exigia creativitat, però últimament, les paraules l'evitaven.En: Her job as a freelance writer demanded creativity, but lately, words were eluding her.Ca: Pensava que les històries de la gent del grup podien ajudar-la.En: She thought that the stories of the people in the group could help her.Ca: El primer dia, Martí es resistia a participar a les activitats.En: On the first day, Martí was reluctant to participate in the activities.Ca: Preferia estar sol, caminar pels camins de muntanya, escoltar el silenci.En: He preferred to be alone, walking the mountain paths, listening to the silence.Ca: Però, quan el guia va proposar una excursió en grup per explorar un cim proper, alguna cosa el va fer dir que sí.En: But, when the guide proposed a group hike to explore a nearby peak, something made him say yes.Ca: Durante l'excursió, Gemma es va fixar en Martí.En: During the hike, Gemma noticed Martí.Ca: Ell es mantenia a part, observant les flors i el cel blau.En: He kept to himself, observing the flowers and the blue sky.Ca: La Gemma, sempre sociable, es va apropar a ell amb un somriure.En: Gemma, always sociable, approached him with a smile.Ca: "Has vist el llac des de dalt? És com un mirall!", va dir amb entusiasme.En: "Have you seen the lake from above? It's like a mirror!" she said enthusiastically.Ca: "Encara no hi he arribat, però el camí és bonic," va respondre Martí, sorprès pel somriure radiant de Gemma.En: "I haven't reached it yet, but the path is beautiful," Martí replied, surprised by Gemma's radiant smile.Ca: Quan van arribar a un mirador, el grup es va aturar.En: When they reached a lookout, the group stopped.Ca: La vista era espectacular: muntanyes infinites, prats verds i el llac brillant a la distància.En: The view was spectacular: endless mountains, green meadows, and the shining lake in the distance.Ca: Martí i Gemma es van asseure junts, poc a poc compartint les seves preocupacions i esperances.En: Martí and Gemma sat together, gradually sharing their worries and hopes.Ca: Martí va parlar dels seus dubtes, de com anhelava la calma enmig del caos.En: Martí spoke of his doubts, of how he longed for calm amidst chaos.Ca: Gemma, per la seva banda, va explicar les seves dificultats amb l'escriptura i la seva cerca d'inspiració.En: Gemma, on her part, explained her difficulties with writing and her search for inspiration.Ca: Mentre conversaven, van descobrir un vincle entre ells: la necessitat de trobar-se a un mateix i la motivació per avançar.En: As they talked, they discovered a bond between them: the need to find themselves and the motivation to move forward.Ca: Quan les vacances van arribar al final, Martí i Gemma es van intercanviar els seus contactes.En: When the vacation came to an end, Martí and Gemma exchanged their contacts.Ca: Cap dels dos volia que aquella connexió es perdés.En: Neither of them wanted that connection to be lost.Ca: Abans d'acomiadar-se, Gemma va dir, "La teva història és fascinant.En: Before saying goodbye, Gemma said, "Your story is fascinating.Ca: Potser la pròxima vegada que escrigui, podries ser la meva inspiració."En: Maybe next time I write, you could be my inspiration."Ca: Martí va somriure.En: Martí smiled.Ca: "I tu m'has ensenyat que obrir-me als altres pot ser el començament de noves aventures."En: "And you have taught me that opening up to others can be the beginning of new adventures."Ca: Amb això, es van separar, però amb la promesa de continuar donant-se suport mútuament.En: With that, they parted ways, but with the promise to continue supporting each other.Ca: Els Pirineus els havien ofert molt més que paisatges; els havien unit en un viatge personal compartit.En: The Pirineus had offered them much more than landscapes; they had united them on a shared personal journey. Vocabulary Words:the Pyrenees: els Pirineusthe landscape: el paisatgeto enjoy: gaudirto escape: escaparthe goal: l'objectiuto clear: aclarirthe mind: la mentthe job change: el canvi laboralthe freelance writer: l'escriptor/a freelanceto elude: evitarthe people: la gentto hike: excursionarthe peak: el cimto propose: proposarthe lookout: el miradorthe meadow: el pratthe distance: la distànciathe worry: la preocupacióthe hope: l'esperançato long for: anelarthe chaos: el caosthe bond: el vinclethe adventure: l'aventurato support: donar suportthe path: el camíto observe: observarthe inspiration: la inspiracióthe story: la històriato reach: arribarto share: compartir

Our friends told us that in Sant Llorenc the weather changes towards the end of August. Endless days of thick summer heat gives way to something altogether more dramatic. Ominous black clouds the size of cities. Rain drops like translucent grapes. Fork lightening like you see at the cinema. Thunder, that carves open the sky, like unimaginably huge boulders crashing downwards from the high mountain peaks.  We followed the river Muga out of Sant Llorenc, into the valley beyond. Our aim was to reach a reservoir which we thought may be a good place to leave the Lento box to make an overnight recording. Eventually, along rough tracks surrounded by dense trees and noisy cicadas, we reached the water. Our way however was blocked. Two white horses.  Impressive creatures. Standing astride the track. They had their backs towards us. We stopped, and watched, and kept our distance. Despite facing the other way the horses knew we were there. In low voices we shared ideas on what to do, whilst continuing to watch. Both stood firm. They were expressing only the smallest of movements through their tails.  Some time passed. It felt like they were communicating something to us. But what? The valley with all its assorted cicadas seemed, somehow, to have fallen silent. We decided not to try to pass them. Something perhaps in the way they moved their tails said turn back. So we turned back. Returning along the track we entered an area of the valley where the shallow river sounded unusually sonorous. The way the water tumbled over the rocks. the depth, and the particular arrangement of the trees. Just off the track a tree looked down into the gorge, so we tied the lento box to it. It was the perfect place for it to record. Perhaps, if we could have read the tails of the horses, this was what they were trying to say. Record back where you've come. Where it's sheltered. And where the river wrills. There's a storm. Coming.

Long time SFE member Peter is passionate about ultra distance adventures - whether it's hiking, cycling, skiing or running.  Today he joins us to talk about his most recent challenge - The Haute Route Pyrenees, which traverses the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean Coast. Peters planned route would take him along 840km of varying terrain, include 60,000m of elevation, and take a predicted 60 days. However like many great adventure, you have to respond to the conditions that are thrown your way. From high temperatures, storms, having to navigate the effects of glacial erosion and the boulder fields that came as a result, Peter shares his journey - the highlights and the challenges.  Kriss asks him about his go to food choices, his meticulous 'spreadsheet' planning and how his body is recovering now he's home.  An inspirational journey, thank you for sharing it with us.  (00:00) Introduction to The Strength for Endurance Podcast (00:41) Peter's Route Pyrenees Adventure Overview (01:45) Challenges and Experiences on the Route (03:01) Navigating the Central Pyrenees (04:10) Adjustments and Decision Making (08:19) Physical and Mental Toll (11:16) Post-Adventure Recovery (22:20) Lessons Learned and Future Plans (28:45) Conclusion and What's Next for Peter Learn more about Strength For Endurance:

In this episode, I'm sharing my experience traveling through the South of France, following the energy and presence of Mary Magdalene. I felt her especially strongly in the waters, at sacred wells, rivers, and in the land around the Pyrenees. I talk about places like Montségur, the ley lines running through this region, and the deep divine mother energy that feels held and protected here.If you've been feeling called to connect more deeply with your intuition, with the Earth, and with Mary Magdalene's wisdom as a water oracle and prophetess, I'd love to invite you to my upcoming course Oracles of Gaia, starting September 17. Early bird pricing is open until August 19.LINKS Oracles of Gaia - Live course to strengthen your intuition & connect to earth spirits, Early Bird price until AUG 19 Humanity the Reclamation - course on Temple Science & Human History Summer Immersion - Course on Opening Your Heart & Aligning to summer energy Instagram - Follow me on Instagram #marymagdalene #france #montsegur 

Hear about travel to the tiny country of Andorra as the Amateur Traveler talks to musician Eli Lev about this small country in the Pyrenees Mountains, where he lived for three years. Why should you go to Andorra? Eli says, "I just fell in love with the country. First of all, it's in the middle of these magnificent mountains of the Pyrenees, so that means in winter you've got skiing, snowboarding, Aper ski, lots of festivities. Beautiful. In the summer, you've got these incredible hikes and a really special, like Neverland, nestled in the mountains with a lot of nature and really cool culture as well. So all year round." Day 1 – Barcelona → Montserrat → La Seu d'Urgell Pick up a rental car or budget bus in Barcelona, break the 3–4 hour mountain drive with a 3-hour stop at dramatic Montserrat Abbey for the cliff-side basilica, hiking paths, and Black Madonna shrine. Continue north to La Seu d'Urgell to wander its daily produce market and get a first taste of Catalan culture before the border. https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-andorra/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Walk through Paris in August and you'll encounter a curious scene: empty cafés, shuttered bakeries, handwritten signs in shop windows that read "Fermé pour congés annuels." But why does France shut down every summer? In our latest World Radio Paris Presents episode, host Héloïse Daniel explores how France became the first country in the world to grant paid vacation to workers, and more importantly, where the French actually spend their vacations. From the sun-soaked beaches of Corsica and the Côte d'Azur to the charming villages of Dordogne, Ardèche and Provence, or the quiet mountain retreats in the Alps and Pyrenees, French holiday destinations reveal a lot about culture, class, and lifestyle. Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts

Nancy becomes notorious for her courier work and staging prison breaks that she earns herself the code name, The White Mouse, from the Gestapo who were on to her. Join us for Nancy's harrowing escape over the Pyrenees - not that she was done with the fight - in part 2!Sources:Fitzsimons, Peter. Nancy Wake : A Biography of Our Greatest War Heroine 1912-2011. Sydney, Harpercollins Publishers, 2011.Wake, Nancy. The White Mouse. Sydney, Pan Macmillan Australia, 1985.

Street names offer a window into every town's history, culture, and identity. From the structured Eixample grid in Barcelona to the smallest village in the Pyrenees, street names in Catalonia honor important figures, historical events and places. In this week's podcast, we discover the stories behind some of Catalonia's more interesting street names, find out what locals think and explore who names the streets and why some names are more popular than others. Journalists Oriol Escudé and Guifré Jordan join host Beth Cohen to look back through the history of urban toponyms and share a glossary of Catalan street vocabulary.  Miquel Parella, Head of Toponymy at the Catalan Institute of Cartography and Geology, explains how street nomenclature has evolved over time, influenced by politics, Catalan language normalization and events such as the banned 2017 independence referendum. We also take to the streets of Barcelona to test people's knowledge of street names, hear about their personal favorites and discover what names they would choose if given the chance. This week we have a double Catalan phrase, "Anar pel bon camí" versus "Anar pel pedregar." They have opposing meanings; the literal translation is "to go on the right path" or "to walk among stones" and the English equivalent would be "To be on the right track" versus "To be on the road to ruin."

Brian Cox and Robin Ince are limbering up for a high-performance episode all about what it takes to build the perfect athlete. Joining them on the track are physiologist Dr Emma Ross, sports engineer Professor Steve Haake, Olympic rowing legend Helen Glover, and comedian Hugh Dennis - who's getting into gear and reliving his cycling adventures in the Pyrenees. From muscle power and mental grit to high-tech training tools, the team dives into the science of champions. Can we engineer the ultimate competitor? And how do you get back to peak performance after becoming a parent? Helen Glover shares her inspiring story, while Hugh Dennis wonders if he's still got what it takes to get to the top.Producer: Olivia Jani Series Producer: Melanie Brown Executive Producer: Alexandra FeachemBBC Studios Audio Production

Out of the Pyrenees and into the breakaway. The last stage before the final rest day of this Tour de France brought plenty of action, most of it off the front. Plus Pogačar admitted he's been a bit sick and Visma was attacking itself. 

Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano break down the second week of the 2025 Tour de France, where three back-to-back days in the Pyrenees cooked everyone.

Welcome to ROADSIDE presented by Zwift!    In today's episode, Tom and Jet recap stages 13-15. We got our first taste of the mountains through the Pyrenees, with Pogacar stamping his authority and Remco stamping his passport and heading home.   Zwift Mailbag: Send in your questions, hypotheticals, takes and everything in between to thepressroompodcast@gmail.com and we will read the best ones out in the next episode!   -  -    The Roadside Cycling Show is presented by Zwift   Need a trainer? Try the all-new Zwift Ride - zwiftinc.sjv.io/55gL11 Head to https://www.zwift.com/ to start your free 14-day trial today. The Roadside Cycling Show is also supported by FE Sports, the home of premier cycling brands and products such as Wahoo, Pirelli, 100%, Campagnolo and more. Check out their range now - https://www.fesports.com.au/Shop/c_230/Products  Roadside's Tour de France coverage is brought to you by Quadlock! Use Roadside10 for 10% off Quadlock products and listen to our episodes for your chance to win a $200 voucher! https://www.quadlockcase.com.au/

Stage 13: Loudenvielle to Peyragudes – Mountain Time Trial (10.9km)Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) delivered a masterclass in pacing and power, conquering the brutal uphill TT in 23 minutes flat to claim his fourth stage win of the Tour.Racing without a team radio and opting for a lightweight road bike, Pogačar extended his GC lead to +4:07 over Jonas Vingegaard, who finished second on the day.Primož Roglič surged back into podium contention with a third-place finish, while Remco Evenepoel faltered, dropping off the GC podium.Florian Lipowitz and Oscar Onley continued their consistent climbs, now sitting fourth and fifth overall.With gradients peaking at 16%, this rare mountain TT was a pure climber's test—and Pogačar proved untouchable.Stage 14: Pyrenean Showdown – Pau to Luchon-Superbagnères (182.6km)Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) delivered a breakout solo victory on the queen stage of the Pyrenees, attacking on the Col de Peyresourde and holding off the GC titans to claim his first Tour stage win.Tadej Pogačar extended his grip on yellow, outsprinting Jonas Vingegaard for second and padding his overall lead to +4:13.Remco Evenepoel abandoned on the Tourmalet, reshuffling the GC and opening the door for Florian Lipowitz to move into third.Oscar Onley impressed again, climbing to fourth overall.It was a day of high drama, brutal gradients, and a summit finish that crowned Arensman's audacity.  

Lance, George, Sir Bradley Wiggins, and Spencer Martin (aka “The Professor”) discuss Thymen Arensman's incredible ride to win Stage 14 of the Tour de France ahead of Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard on Superbagnères after a tough day in the Pyrenees, which saw Remco Evenepoel leave the race and an elite group of young challengers slot into the top five as they jockey for the final podium spot. They also go through how the day shifted the battle for the Green Jersey, the extreme youth shift in the top ten, and preview tomorrow's stage before taking a few listeners' questions. The Feed: You heard it first on THEMOVE. A better morning for only $3.99 and our listeners save 20% today. No code needed, the discount is automatic. Go to https://thefeed.com Zwift: Zwift just made it easier than ever to get on the virtual roads. All Zwift-ready trainers come with the new Zwift Cog and Click installed, making them ready to ride from the box - no extras needed. Zwift-ready trainers start at just $299, meaning anyone can jump into world-class indoor training without breaking the bank. No excuses. Just ride! https://zwift.com BUBS Naturals: Check out the BUBS Collagen Club Welcome Kit with over $100 of FREE perks when you sign up for a subscription. This includes a 90 day supply of Vitamin C, coffee mug, mix wand, and more. And Use code......THEMOVE for 20% off your next purchase. You can stack those savings. Go to: https://www.bubsnaturals.com/discount/THEMOVE and use the code THEMOVE for 20% off. Ketone-IQ: Take your shot: Get 30% off your subscription, plus a free gift with your second shipment at https://Ketone.com/themove Ekoi: The entire EKOÏ website is currently on sale until the end of July, with discounts of up to 60%. It's hard to find better deals! Special offer With the code THEMOVE15, you get $15 off any purchase of $150 made on the EKOI website until the end of July. https://ekoi.com Ventum: Enter Ventum Trivia of the Day for a chance to win the Grand Prize: $5,000 of store credit towards any Ventum bike. Don't want to leave it to chance, 10% off sitewide using the code THEMOVE10 or 20% off any NS1 road bike build with code NS120  https://ventumracing.com/themove/

Send us a textTadej Pogačar, already four stage wins to the good this year and chasing his fourth Tour de France title at the age of just 26, is busy cementing his status as one of cycling's greatest ever riders, with yet another dominant, cannibal-esque performance at the sport's biggest race.But is Pogačar's relentless dominance hurting the race? And is he just too good? That's the big debate featured on the latest episode of the road.cc Podcast, where Ryan is in the Pyrenees following the Slovenian's exploits this week.Ryan also chats with one of the big stars of the first two weeks of the Tour, Ben Healy, whose swashbuckling, attacking displays were rewarded with a stage win and two days in the yellow jersey. After relinquishing yellow on Hautacam, Healy reflected on his spell leading the Tour and why he's looking forward to getting back to doing what he does best: attacking.

Lance, George, Sir Bradley Wiggins, and Spencer Martin (aka “The Professor”) break down Tadej Pogačar's incredible performance to win Stage 12 of the 2025 Tour de France on the brutal ascent of Hautacam deep in the Pyrenees. The crew discusses the implications of Pogačar's dominant ride, whether this Tour is already over, and if Visma–Lease a Bike's strategy of pressing the pace early in the stage set Jonas Vingegaard up for failure. Before they sign off, they preview tomorrow's critical mountain time trial and take some listeners' questions. The Feed: You heard it first on THEMOVE. A better morning for only $3.99 and our listeners save 20% today. No code needed, the discount is automatic. Go to https://thefeed.com   Zwift: Zwift just made it easier than ever to get on the virtual roads. All Zwift-ready trainers come with the new Zwift Cog and Click installed, making them ready to ride from the box - no extras needed. Zwift-ready trainers start at just $299, meaning anyone can jump into world-class indoor training without breaking the bank. No excuses. Just ride! https://zwift.com   BUBS Naturals: Check out the BUBS Collagen Club Welcome Kit with over $100 of FREE perks when you sign up for a subscription. This includes a 90 day supply of Vitamin C, coffee mug, mix wand, and more. And Use code......THEMOVE for 20% off your next purchase. You can stack those savings. Go to: https://www.bubsnaturals.com/discount/THEMOVE and use the code THEMOVE for 20% off.     Ketone-IQ: Take your shot: Get 30% off your subscription, plus a free gift with your second shipment at https://Ketone.com/themove   Ekoi: The entire EKOÏ website is currently on sale until the end of July, with discounts of up to 60%. It's hard to find better deals! Special offer With the code THEMOVE15, you get $15 off any purchase of $150 made on the EKOI website until the end of July. https://ekoi.com   Ventum: Enter Ventum Trivia of the Day for a chance to win the Grand Prize: $5,000 of store credit towards any Ventum bike. Don't want to leave it to chance, 10% off sitewide using the code THEMOVE10 or 20% off any NS1 road bike build with code NS120  https://ventumracing.com/themove/

Lance, George, Sir Bradley Wiggins, and Spencer Martin (aka The Professor) break down Jonas Abrahamsen's incredible ride to win Stage 11 of the 2025 Tour de France after forming and driving the day's early breakaway, and outfoxing Mauro Schmid while holding off a furious chase from Mathieu van der Poel in the race's final kilometers. They also discuss Visma's continued efforts to make the race hard, including a late attack from Jonas Vingegaard, and Tadej Pogačar's late crash, which sparked debate about whether the GC contenders should have sat up and waited—and if the incident gives Pogačar's rivals a glimmer of hope as the race enters its first key high mountain stages tomorrow in the Pyrenees. Before they take off, they welcome Diaa Nour from Ventum Bikes to review the latest innovations at the brand. Roka: THEMOVE listeners get 20% off. Just go to https://ROKA.com and enter code THEMOVE at checkout.   LMNT: Get your free 8-count Sample Pack with any LMNT purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/themove Be sure to try the new LMNT Sparkling — a bold, 16-ounce can of sparkling electrolyte water.   Join: No race? No problem. JOIN keeps you riding stronger, just for the love of it. Discover your path at https://join.cc/themove Download JOIN today and transform the way you train.   Ketone-IQ: Take your shot: Get 30% off your subscription, plus a free gift with your second shipment at https://Ketone.com/themove   Timeline: If you care about performance, recovery, or just want to stay strong as you age — check out Mitopure. Go to https://timeline.com/THEMOVE and you'll get 20% off.   Ventum: Enter Ventum Trivia of the Day for a chance to win the Grand Prize: $5,000 of store credit towards any Ventum bike. Don't want to leave it to chance, 10% off sitewide using the code THEMOVE10 or 20% off any NS1 road bike build with code NS120  https://ventumracing.com/themove/

In this episode of the Velo Podcast, Mike Levy and Peter Cossins recap Tour de France stages 8, 9, and 10, which delivered a mix of heartbreaking breakaways, sprints that come just short, and all kinds of tactics in the mountains. Stage 8 saw Italian powerhouse Jonathan Milan power to his first Tour stage win, finally breaking through after numerous intermediate sprint efforts. Pete and Mike marvel at his raw, upright sprinting style compared to the finesse of rivals like Tim Merlier. Stage 9 brought drama as Alpecin-Deceuninck teammates Mathieu van der Poel and Jonas Rickaert launched a 173 km breakaway—nearly pulling off a stunning win before being caught just 600 meters from the finish. It was a heartfelt effort, especially from Van der Poel, who wanted to reward Rickaert's years of teamwork. Stage 10 introduced real climbing, with eight categorized climbs and massive shakeups. Ben Healy animated the stage and sacrificed a potential win to claim the yellow jersey, while Simon Yates claimed the day's honors. UAE's weakness without João Almeida became clear, and Visma Lease a Bike showed tactical depth with multiple threats across the board. With the Pyrenees and Alps looming, team tactics are more crucial than ever—and the Tour is wide open. For the latest on the Tour de France from Velo

How do you combine your passion for triathlon with a love for travel? On this episode, we're discovering the perfect balance between training, adventure, and cultural exploration. Join me, as I share my travel stories—from skiing in the Pyrenees mountains of Spain for cross-training to swimming in the stunning Caribbean Sea and planning my next trip to the breathtaking Galapagos Islands. We're also sitting down with Monica Gould, a seasoned traveler and marathoner who recently completed the iconic Tokyo Marathon. Monica shares her experiences running through the vibrant streets of Tokyo and extending her adventure to explore the serene temples of Japan and the vibrant life of Thailand. Get inspired as she tells us how traveling for her passion has added new depth to her running and personal life. This episode is about going beyond your comfort zone, making the most of your travels as an athlete, and discovering the incredible rewards of adapting your training to new environments. Whether running ancient paths, swimming in tropical waters, or cycling through mountain ranges, every trip brings an opportunity to grow, both on and off the course. What's Inside: Tips for blending travel with triathlon training Stories of skiing, swimming, and running across the globe Monica Gould's inspiring Tokyo Marathon and cultural adventures A sneak peek into upcoming adventures like the Galapagos Islands Join the Journey: Travel doesn't mean putting off your athletic goals; it's a chance to thrive, explore, and create unforgettable memories. Tune in to hear how you can transform your travels into a fulfilling part of your fitness lifestyle. Call-to-Action: Subscribe now to Hilary Topper on Air on Apple Podcasts (or your favorite platform), and don't forget to leave a review! We'd love to hear your travel and training stories—tag us on social media or drop us a message. Who knows? You might even be featured in an upcoming episode! Follow Us: Stay connected for more travel tips, athlete stories, and behind-the-scenes updates. Happy training and safe travels!

Tom Baxter is the founder of Bristol Fungarium, the UK's first organic-certified medicinal mushroom farm. A former organic vegetable grower and forest school leader, Tom has spent years foraging in the wild across the Pyrenees, Siberia, and the forests of Somerset. Today, he leads a pioneering operation that not only cultivates native strains of mushrooms but also funds neuroscience research and runs the only dedicated analytical lab for medicinal fungi in the UK.In this episode, Tom joins Robin Harford for a rich and far-reaching conversation about the power, mystery, and challenges of working with medicinal mushrooms. They explore the rise of lion's mane, the pitfalls of the supplement industry, why most mushroom powders are misleading, and what makes a mushroom extract genuinely effective. It's a frank and passionate look into one of nature's oldest and most complex kingdoms.

In this episode of Low Season Traveller Insider Guides, Ged heads to a lesser-known gem of Northern Spain: Lleida, Catalonia's beautiful and diverse region that's still flying under the radar.Joining Ged is Silvia Vidal, a local expert from Outdoor Adventour, who shares her deep love and knowledge of Lleida—from the snow-capped Pyrenees to the fruit-laden plains, ancient Romanesque churches, and Michelin-starred cuisine.Discover why spring and autumn offer the most rewarding and authentic experiences in this region, with tips on:Gastronomic highlights: mountain beef, olive oil, artisanal nougat, and world-class wineSustainable outdoor adventures: Nordic skiing, hiking, e-biking, paragliding, and stargazing in certified dark sky parksCultural treasures: UNESCO churches in Vall de Boí, medieval castles, and the striking Seu Vella CathedralWhy low season travel benefits local communities—and makes your trip even more special

In the first ever live-recorded episode of The LRM Podcast, Land Rover Monthly's Martin Domoney and Steve Miller take to the infamous Salmon Sofa to chat to a roster of no less than six special guests inside the beer tent of the Billing Off Road Show.Kicking off with the confessions of TV's Jimmy De Ville, the guys chat adventures in the Pyrenees, unwittingly smashing up a Series I and the inspiration behind Jimmy's amazing design and fabrication work that makes overlanding in a Defender 90 doable.Next up is Defender Lexi, a name and face you may well be familiar with from her adventures on Instagram. Lexi talks getting pulled over by the police, her ever-growing collection of project Land Rovers and surviving the mud run at The Billing Off Road show – check out her socials @defender.lexiFinally for the Saturday, Mat Allcroft (aka Fitter Mat) brings with him his unique blend of wit and hatred for certain automotive engineers which you've no doubt seen him display across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok – @matallcroft13 and @fitter.matSunday kicks off with an update from Defender Lexi – she fixes her Defender and then promptly breaks it again on the off-road course, but gets it together just in time to head home.Next onto the sofa, a man whose Defender 110 overlander has previously graced the cover of Land Rover Monthly, Jack Watson, aka @Boris_the_Defender. Jack explains the development of his 110 hard top camper, working with Land Rover-based companies and trying to go on adventures without his dog being sick on him.Zach Sheppard is next to grace the salmony goodness, also known as @scout_the_defender – he gives the lowdown on his very cool 90 that he's modified in a way that's very different to the 110 that he's seen with at events, most often on the Oak Ridge Engineering stand alongside Jack. He also imparts a geeky fact about different metallic black paints as used on Land Rovers...Finally, a YouTuber who's not afraid to show some of the struggles of working on Land Rovers, Dale Reubin joins the boys on the sofa. From inspiring Martin to try and retrim a seat to wresting a headlining, Dale's approach to sharing his DIY adventures is truly refreshing and it was a treat to meet him and get his take on the show and admire his colour co-ordinated trousers. Check out his work on YouTube and Instagram @DaleReubinThanks to everyone who came along to watch The LRM Podcast, and a special thank you to our special guests – we had an amazing weekend, and we hope you did too.As always, please do leave a little rating or review on your preferred streaming platform, and send any questions or feedback to editorial@lrm,co,uk – enjoy the episode.

EP-221 CROSSING THE PYRENEES: Nikita Grachev's Solo Journey on the HRP In this episode of the 10Adventures Podcast, we dive into one of the most demanding and spectacular long-distance treks in Europe — the Pyrenean Haute Route (HRP), with hiker and filmmaker Nikita Grachev. Starting with just four days of backpacking experience, Nikita set out to walk across the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Along the way, he navigated unmarked trails, carried everything on his back, and captured the entire journey in a stunning seven-part YouTube series. Nikita shares what makes the HRP special — from remote wilderness and few resupply points to dramatic shifts in terrain and weather. He also opens up about his love for wild places, the joy of solitude, and how he's preparing for his next big trek in Sweden.   To learn more, visit:

Many North Americans would love to catch brown trout in their native environment, and most of us think of the UK or France or Slovenia for wild, native brown trout. But, Spain has a long history of fly fishing in the Pyrenees (Hemingway loved fly fishing in the Pyrenees and called this region "the closest thing to heaven") and for the traveler, there are many rivers with public access. Spain has small freestone mountain streams, lakes, and tailwaters that offer excellent trout fishing and my guest this week, Ivan Tarin [35:59], of Salvelinus Adventures, has spent thirty years exploring these rivers and has many tips to offer.   In the Fly Box this week, we have some interesting questions and also a listener who was upset by my attitude in a recent podcast: Do you have any advice to help me catch more trout on dry flies? Does it matter that jig flies ride upside-down? Why can't I catch a fish on a Pheasant Tail nymph? What is the best color for a background on a fly-tying table? How do you keep track of the leader and tippet you have on a fly line? How long with rivers in North Carolina take to recover from the devastating floods? Why has trout fishing been so lousy in the Northeast this spring? What should I do when trout are feeding on tiny flies? Small dries are too small for me to see. Should I work a small bass river upstream or down? I don't do well on dropoffs. How should I fish them? What is the difference between Helios F and D versions, and what is the difference between the 9-foot and 9-foot 5-inch Helios 5-weight models? A listener takes me to task for making fun of conventional bass anglers.

Send us a textThe path to international mountain running stardom isn't paved – it's steep, muddy, technical, and tests athletes to their absolute limits. Taylor Stack knows this firsthand after his breakthrough performance at the 2025 US Mountain Running Championship Son of Peace Scramble, where he secured third place and a coveted spot on Team USA.What makes Stack's performance remarkable isn't just the result – it's how tantalizingly close he came to winning it all. Leading the race during critical sections and finishing just 10 seconds behind the winner, Stack executed a nearly perfect tactical race. Unlike previous competitions where he'd gone out too aggressively, he deliberately conserved energy during the first lap to unleash his potential on the second brutal climb. This strategic patience paid dividends as he moved through the field and eventually took the lead.The race conditions presented their own character-testing challenges. Two inches of rain had fallen the day before, transforming sections of the course into treacherous, slippery terrain. Adding another layer of difficulty, Stack experienced mysterious vision problems during the final technical descent – a moment that may have cost him the victory but showcased his mental fortitude as he maintained composure to secure his Team USA position. The elite men's field maintained a blistering pace throughout, with gradient-adjusted miles around four minutes, demonstrating the world-class caliber of American mountain running.Stack's performance signals his arrival among America's mountain running elite and sets him up for an exciting season ahead. With his primary goal accomplished, he's now contemplating how to approach upcoming races like Broken Arrow Skyrace, weighing the benefits of competing in multiple events versus focusing on specific distances. Whatever path he chooses, his trajectory in the sport looks incredibly promising as he prepares to represent the United States at the World Championships in the Pyrenees this September.Ready to elevate your own mountain running experience? Our podcast sponsor Ultimate Direction just released their new RaceVest 6 liter and UltraVest 12 liter in stunning new colorways. Grab yours at ultimatedirection.com using code "steep stuff pod" for 25% off!Follow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_podUse code steepstuffpod for 25% off your cart at UltimateDirection.com! 

Episode 52 of Spiked Up is out now!  Recording live from Font Romeu, Rose and Sarah go through two big weeks of training and racing. Rose puts down two stellar weeks of training starting in London and finishing in the Pyrenees. After a solid performance in Morocco Sarah takes us through her journey to France where she nearly got deported from the EU. Then she goes through her training which left her dizzy with lactic.  The episode ends with TWSOITWASA

We are back with another recap episode of our second month living abroad! This one is a little messy and the audio isn't perfect (something must have gotten shifted in the process of moving) but we did our best to give you a solid recap of all our travel this last month. We also chat a bit more about our new apartment and things overall. We are unsure at this point how the structure of episodes will look going forward - please give us feedback if you have requests or input!Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Google form for listener questions and topic ideas!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

668 - Recorded live on May 27, 2025 Ambience for the night: PYRE:NUMEN & Zimoles - From the Šumava to the Pyrenees and Back https://pyrenumenlabelhiddencrypt.bandcamp.com/album/from-the-umava-to-the-pyrenees-and-back **Playlist** 1) Medico Peste - Subversion & Simulacra 2) Grond - Burning Souls at the Place of Eternal Victory 3) Under The Moon - Into The Black Night Of Damnation 4) Isceald - Wędrówka 5) Solitvdo - Etsi mortuus urit 6) Curse All Kings - Beast's Rattle **talk** 7) Dominance - Debauchery On The Corpse Of God 8) Yfel1710 - Zakon Nienawiści 9) Rhadamanthys - Bloody Dreams 10) Skuggor - Meditations Upon the Roots of Infinity 11) Alukta - Kombengi 12) Antichrist - Atomic Winter **talk** 13) Sargeist - Juravit Sanguine Live every Tuesday at 9pm ET on NSTMRadio.com

Ask just about anyone who is a non-hiker to name a long distance hiking trail and chances are they will say the ‘Camino' and by default this means the ‘Camino Frances'. also known as the ‘Way of Saint James' or  the ‘Camino de Santiago', This well-known pilgrimage trail starts in France, crosses the Pyrenees mountains which straddles the border of France and Spain, and continues into Spain for a total distance of 780km long. This trail which was World Heritage Listed in 1993 takes most people around 35 days to walk. But did you know that there are over 200 ‘Caminos' with a handful attracting the attention of keen hikers who want a different experience than that on offer via the Camino de Santiago. In this episode we talk with hiker Sheila Lunter who joined the  828km Camino del Norte (the Northern Way) and the 321km Camino Primitivo (the Original Way) in a ‘choose your own adventure' option to find out about these ‘lesser known' Camino's.   www.australianhiker.com.au   Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms Australian Hiker Facebook Australian Hiker Instagram Australian Hiker Twitter Australian Hiker Threads Australian Hiker Youtube

Send us a textThe mountain running community holds its collective breath as we approach the legendary Soonapie Scramble – the definitive American mountain running championship that will determine who represents our nation on the world stage. This Sunday, June 1st, 2025, Mount Soonapie in New Hampshire becomes the battleground where dreams are made or broken as elite athletes compete for just seven coveted Team USA spots.What makes this year's competition particularly thrilling is the extraordinary depth of talent. The men's field features mountain running royalty like Dan Kurtz and Mason Copey, alongside the legendary David Norris fresh off his Mount Marathon victory. Meanwhile, the women's competition showcases powerhouses Lauren Gregory and Ana Gibson, who recently stunned with a top-15 finish at Zagama against international competition. These athletes aren't just racing for personal glory – they're fighting for the honor of wearing the Stars and Stripes in the Pyrenees against the world's elite mountain runners.Throughout this electric week, we're bringing you exclusive, in-depth conversations with every top contender, revealing their preparation strategies, mental approaches, and personal journeys to this pivotal moment. It all culminates Friday with our comprehensive race preview featuring co-host Nick Tusa and the architect of this brutal challenge himself, race director Tom Hooper. Whether you're a dedicated mountain running fan or new to the sport, you won't want to miss this week's coverage of the event that will crown seven Americans as our nation's mountain running ambassadors. Subscribe now and join us for every breathless step of the journey to Soonapie Scramble glory!

From success to disaster, explore Spain's war effort with Major Michael Hamel. Unpack the state of the Spanish Empire prior to 1789, the outbreak of war, and why Hamel defends Spanish leaders who other historians condemn. A complete account of the Pyrenees front, enjoy this fantastic interview on an overlook conflict! Sponsor: Lingopie Get 55% off a Lingopie subscription to learn French and 11 other languages with movies and TV shows! CLICK HERE Learn More on the War of the Pyrenees The Roussillon Campaign of 1793-94: Spain's Lost Opportunity – Age of Revolutions War Studies Journal 2 The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an ad-free feed, a community discord, a reading club, and tonnes of exclusive bonus content, you're missing out! Do your part for as little as half a cup of coffee per episode! It's the best value on the internet, with the best people too! ⁠⁠Join Now And Support the Show⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Make a one-off donation⁠⁠ Contact Me Send your questions, praise, and scorn ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ Newsletter ⁠⁠Sign Up⁠⁠ for Free Bonus Episode Follow on Social Media: ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ Advertising Please contact ⁠⁠sales@advertisecast.com⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on Grey History: The French Revolution and Napoleon. All members of the Grey History Community have an ad-free version of the show. Support the show ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. About Grey History: The French Revolution and Napoleon is a podcast dedicated to exploring the complexities of our history. By examining both the experiences of contemporaries and the conclusions of historians, Grey History seeks to unpack the ambiguities and nuances of the past. Understanding the French Revolution and the age of Napoleon Bonaparte is critical to understanding the history of the world, so join us on a journey through a series of events that would be almost unbelievable if it weren't for the fact that it's true! If you're looking for a binge-worthy history podcast on the Revolution and Napoleon, you're in the right place! Disclaimer The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual and do not reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Army, the United States Military Academy, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Victories and triumphs! Surrounded, betrayed, and seemingly on the brink of collapse, the summer of 1793 was a dark era for the Republic. However, in a series of desperate battles, armies of citizen-soldiers defied the odds. Unpack the dramatic turning points of the War of the First Coalition — a story of blunders, brilliance, and battlefield miracles. This episode examines the Battle of Hondschoote (1793), the Battle of Wattignies (1793), and the Second Battle of Wissembourg (1793). Early Access Don't wait! Support the show and listen to Episode 1.90 Spain & The War of the Pyrenees with Michael Hamel now! Available for all True Revolutionaries and above! The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an ad-free feed, a community discord, a reading club, and tonnes of exclusive bonus content, you're missing out! Do your part for as little as half a cup of coffee per episode! It's the best value on the internet, with the best people too! ⁠Join Now And Support the Show⁠ ⁠Make a one-off donation⁠ Contact Me Send your questions, praise, and scorn ⁠here⁠ Newsletter ⁠Sign Up⁠ for Free Bonus Episode Follow on Social Media: ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠X⁠ Advertising Please contact ⁠sales@advertisecast.com⁠ if you would like to advertise on Grey History: The French Revolution and Napoleon. All members of the Grey History Community have an ad-free version of the show. Support the show ⁠here⁠. About Grey History: The French Revolution and Napoleon is a podcast dedicated to exploring the complexities of our history. By examining both the experiences of contemporaries and the conclusions of historians, Grey History seeks to unpack the ambiguities and nuances of the past. Understanding the French Revolution and the age of Napoleon Bonaparte is critical to understanding the history of the world, so join us on a journey through a series of events that would be almost unbelievable if it weren't for the fact that it's true! If you're looking for a binge-worthy history podcast on the Revolution and Napoleon, you're in the right place! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Ag Net News Hour's Lorre Boyer and Nick Papagni, “The AgMeter” highlighted some news from China about a change in a trade leadership could be a turning point when it comes to negotiating tariffs between the U.S. and China.  Nick then had an interview with Kings River Packing regarding Georgia citrus growers coming to California and touring their operation. The California citrus market is thriving, with Kings River Packing handling over 22 million boxes. The company faces challenges from tariffs, particularly in Canada, but sees opportunities in domestic product demand. The lemon market is expected to improve, with increased demand in summer. The tour hosted just over 20 visitors. ​The USDA is considering significant changes to its Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation, and Risk Management Offices, including potential closures and staff consolidation. A proposal from the Office of Management and Budget aims to cut fiscal 2026 funding, reduce research and conservation efforts, and trim program budgets. The plan includes moving staff from Washington, D.C., to rural areas and forming state committees to oversee local operations. Concerns have been raised about the impact on county committees and the ability to accommodate farmers without internet access. The 2018 Farm Bill requires USA to notify Congress before closing any FSA office. ​This segment is brought to you by the highlighted some news from China about a change in a trade leadership could be a turning point when it comes to negotiating tariffs between the U.S. and China. Nick then had an interview with Kings River Packing regarding Georgia citrus growers coming to California and touring their operation. The California citrus market is thriving, with Kings River Packing handling over 22 million boxes. The company faces challenges from tariffs, particularly in Canada, but sees opportunities in domestic product demand. The lemon market is expected to improve, with increased demand in summer. The tour hosted just over 20 visitors. The USDA is considering significant changes to its Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation, and Risk Management Offices, including potential closures and staff consolidation. A proposal from the Office of Management and Budget aims to cut fiscal 2026 funding, reduce research and conservation efforts, and trim program budgets. The plan includes moving staff from Washington, D.C., to rural areas and forming state committees to oversee local operations. Concerns have been raised about the impact on county committees and the ability to accommodate farmers without internet access. The 2018 Farm Bill requires USA to notify Congress before closing any FSA office. This segment is brought to you by the Almond Board of California. In the latest episode of the Almond Journey podcast, Chuck Fleck of Sierra Gold Nurseries discusses the challenges and advancements in almond breeding. He explains the slow cycle of almond hybridization, which can take up to three years to test for self-fertility. Fleck highlights the importance of breeding for resistance to the navel orange worm, which caused significant industry issues in 2023. He also notes the introduction of new self-fertile varieties like Shasta and Pyrenees, which have improved crop management but can be demanding on rootstocks. The conversation underscores the need for resilient almond varieties as pesticide resistance and regulatory changes may impact future production.California. In the latest episode of the Almond Journey podcast, Chuck Fleck of Sierra Gold Nurseries discusses the challenges and advancements in almond breeding. He explains the slow cycle of almond hybridization, which can take up to three years to test for self-fertility. Fleck highlights the importance of breeding for resistance to the navel orange worm, which caused significant industry issues in 2023. He also notes the introduction of new self-fertile varieties like Shasta and Pyrenees, which have improved crop management but can be demanding on rootstocks. The conversation underscores the need for resilient almond varieties as pesticide resistance and regulatory changes may impact future production.

In this week's episode of Witch Hunt podcast, Josh and Sarah translate to English when the guest speaks in Spanish. Please enjoy this new experience like we have.. We welcome Spanish documentary photographer and filmmaker Judith Prat. With a background in human rights law, Judith powerfully examines the persecution of women accused of witchcraft in the Pyrenees during the early modern period.Judith discusses her documentary film "Decían Que Era Bruja" (They Said She Was a Witch), which pays tribute to the innocent women targeted during the witch hunts in Spain. She also shares insights about her photography exhibition "Brujas" and accompanying photobook featuring 67 striking images that document the landscapes of the Pyrenees and the women who inhabit them today.Through her work, Judith challenges the stereotypical portrayal of "witches" as old hags, revealing instead the truth about ordinary women who were unjustly persecuted. Join us for this fascinating conversation about memory, justice, and reclaiming historical narratives through art. Judithprat.comArticle:Dénia reflects on femicide with the documentary 'They said she was a witch' by Judith Prat Purchase Judith Prat's Photo Book: Brujas Listen to episode:Secrets of the Basque Witch Hunt with Jan MachielsenEnd Witch Hunts U. S. Nonprofit OrganizationSign up for our NewsletterDonate to Witch Hunt Podcast Conference Fund

Join host Craig Dalton and Trek Travel's Rich Snodsmith as they take you on an exhilarating journey through the heart of gravel cycling in Italy. In this episode of The Gravel Ride podcast, they share their recent experience at the Strade Bianche Gran Fondo trip organized by Trek Travel. With over three decades of friendship, these two avid cyclists reminisce about their chance meeting at the Lugano Cycling World Championships in 1996 and their shared passion for the sport. Throughout the episode, Rich and Craig discuss their incredible adventures, from vintage bikes at L'Eroica and witnessing the Strade Bianche professional bike race, to participating in the challenging 140-kilometer Gran Fondo alongside 7,000 other riders. They also share their encounters with pro cyclists and the camaraderie of the Trek Travel group. If you're looking for an immersive and unforgettable gravel cycling experience, this episode will inspire you to find dirt under your wheels and explore the breathtaking landscapes of Italy. Topics discussed: Introducing the Strade Bianche Gran Fondo trip with Trek Travel  Riding an international Gran Fondo  Experiencing the energy and spectacle of professional bike races  Meeting pro cyclists and gaining insights into the sport  Challenges and rewards of gravel riding in Italy  Stunning scenery, castles, and brick towns on the route  The supportive and well-organized nature of Trek Travel trips  Exciting plans for future cycling adventures Full Transcript: Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:00:03 to 00:00:33 Hello and welcome to the Gravelride podcast, where we go deep on the sport of gravel cycling through in depth interviews with product designers, event organizers and athletes who are pioneering the sport. I'm your host, Craig Dalton, a lifelong cyclist who discovered gravel cycling back in 2016 and made all the mistakes you don't need to make. I approach each episode as a beginner to unlock all the knowledge you need to become a great gravel cyclist. This week on the show, we welcome Rich Snodsmith from Trek Travel. Rich is one of my oldest cycling friends. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:00:33 to 00:01:00 We met over 30 years ago, actually, in Italy. As you'll hear from our story, Rich and I were recently in Siena in Italy for the Strada Bianchi Gran Fondo trip. With track travel, we were able to watch both the professional bike race as well as participate in a 140 kilometer mass start. Gran Fondo across the white roads, the white gravel roads of Siena. Fantastic trip. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:01:00 to 00:01:10 I can't wait for you to hear more of the details. With that said, let's jump right into the show. Hey, Rich, welcome to the show. Hey, Craig, good to see you. Thanks for having me on. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:01:10 to 00:01:36 Yeah, absolutely. You and I just shared a magical experience on the roads and trails of Italy, which is the purpose of you joining this call. But you, you and I have a rich history, no pun intended, of cycling experiences in Italy. That's right. We met randomly in 1996 at the Lugano Cycling World Championships and have stayed friends ever since. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:01:36 to 00:01:51 Yeah, fortunately I. I eventually moved to San Francisco a few years later. So we were able to ride together, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, we were able to ride together for. Gosh, it's hard to believe it's three decades at this point, which is crazy to think about. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:01:51 to 00:02:14 My end of our Lugano story was I was working in Italy and my colleague, who we both know, Jeff Sanchez, said to me, going to go to the World Championships and oh, by the way, we have to go pick up Rich. He's going to be at the Duomo in Milan on the way. Pre cell phones, be there at 5:00. Don't be late. Yeah, exactly. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:02:14 to 00:02:34 So super fun to finally go back to Italy together. Obviously, we've been riding on the roads and trails of Marin county for a long time, but to finally have the stars align on this trip was fantastic. Yeah, it was great to get out there and do that again. We also saw another World Championships together in Richmond, Virginia. That's right, yeah. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:02:34 to 00:02:40 The thing for the World Championships, you've. Seen a few and we've got a future one. I Think in our plans, right? Oh, yeah. Montreal 2026. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:02:40 to 00:02:55 Let's go. There we go. See you there. So this, you put the idea of this trip in my mind probably December of last year. And the trip, to be specific, because I don't think we've mentioned it, although I probably mentioned it in the intro. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:02:55 to 00:03:09 Is the Strada Bianchi professional bike race trip with Trek Travel. Was it me that put it in your mind? I was asking you where you were going to go. I thought you. I thought you convinced me, but I was down as soon as you suggested it. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:03:11 to 00:03:52 It's interesting. Obviously, we're on a gravel cycling podcast and this is sort of a. A hybrid trip almost because we're road riding, but we're riding on the Strada Bianca, the white roads of Tuscany outside Siena. And for those listeners who are fans of both professional road racing and gravel cycling, I think Strada Bianchi is the race that gets us most excited because we see the coverage, we see the professional road riders riding on gravel, and the visuals are just awesome. And they're kind of like what we experience as gravel racers and riders routinely. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:03:52 to 00:04:19 But so cool to see all the pro bike teams go through and participate in the event. So I was super stoked, obviously. I'd been on a Trek Travel gravel tour in Girona a couple years prior, so I'd had that experience with Trek, but this is the first kind of pro bike race enabled tour that I'd ever been on. Yeah, I mean, it's really interesting to blend those things together. I mean, you being more of a gravel rider, me being more of a road rider. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:04:20 to 00:04:59 But the last few trips I've taken with Trek Travel have been gravel trips. You know, getting out there and trying new things, trying the Vermont trip, trying the Dolomites last year, this was just a really cool experience to put like my fandom of the road cycling and racing world along with this, like, almost instant classic. The race has only been around for 20 years and it's like, become a real fan favorite. Yeah, I was, I was looking up some of the history of the race and I didn't realize that it started out with Laroica, which is a. An event that many people have heard about where you ride vintage bikes on this course. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:04:59 to 00:05:18 And the professional bike race emerged. So the loraca started in 1997. In 2007 is when the professional bike race emerged. So it's interesting. And obviously being in that region and riding in that region, we saw signs of Loraka all over the place, right? Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:05:18 to 00:05:38 Yeah, we Even ate at the Laroica Cafe. That was incredible. Yeah, exactly. And I came home with a Loracha sweatshirt as well. And then the, the, the cool thing, and we probably failed to mention it at this point is there's the Gran Fondo the day after, after Strada Bianchi, which was awesome. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:05:38 to 00:05:59 So we actually get to go on a 140 kilometer rides. A ride on the similar roads as the professionals. Yeah, it's not the full men's road course, but it's pretty close to the women's road course and we cover all the last, you know, climbs, you know, that the. Both the men's and the women's race covered. That was really cool. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:05:59 to 00:06:21 Especially after seeing them finish the day before and then going out and riding those roads, seeing where Poga crashed and then, you know, doing that last 20k of climbs is just bananas, beautiful and hard. It was pretty rewarding that ride. I can't wait to get into that details a little bit more of the event later. I did. I'm. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:06:21 to 00:06:46 As I'm speaking, I misspoke because I have been to Europe once before around the Tour of Flanders and did the Tour of Flanders grandson do, which I noted. And in speaking to the Trek travel guides, you've got a series of awesome trips that month in Flanders of a similar vein. Right. You do have Perry Roubaix and. Or a Flanders trip. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:06:46 to 00:06:57 Yeah. You can choose the whole Holy Week, you could do both Flanders and Roubaix or you can break it into chunks and do one or the other. So it's. Yeah. If you're a pro race fan, that's a nice companion to Strat Bianca. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:06:57 to 00:07:10 The. The Flanders Roubaix ultimate weekend or ultimate week there. And then one of the highlights of the year, presumably for Trek travel is your Tour de France tours. For sure. We take over a couple hundred people there every year. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:07:11 to 00:07:19 We do usually do five or six trips through the Alps and the Pyrenees. It's. That's a pretty exciting one too, if you've never been to the Tour. For sure. Yeah. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:07:19 to 00:07:45 Well, let's talk through the trip a little bit that we participated in because I think it'll give people a flavor. I've talked about my, my experience with track in Girona and my general love of gravel travel. But more extensively, I love traveling by bike and having these experiences because it's just, it's just so much fun. So we start off the trip, it's a pretty quick trip relative to some others because in a five day timeline. Right. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:07:45 to 00:08:01 So we flew over. You'd Already been in Europe, but I flew over to Florence and met you the night before. And day one, we basically just get picked up by our guides and head on over to Siena, which is about an hour and a half away. Yep. And then the bikes. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:08:01 to 00:08:21 Yeah, straight onto the bikes. And the beauty of. The beauty of this trip and all the truck travel trips is they've got bikes already set up for you, so you send your measurements and if you want to ride your own saddles or pedals, you can, you're welcome to bring those, but they'll basically get it dialed. And that. That first day, I think we went for maybe an hour and a half shakeout ride just to see how the bike. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:08:21 to 00:08:31 30 miles. Yeah, yeah. And how many people were in our group. We had 19 with us and then three guides. Okay, so is that pretty typical on these pro bike? Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:08:31 to 00:08:46 Sort of. They tend to sell out. They're pretty popular. And guests will go back and forth between the Strada Bianca or. I think quite a few of the guests or folks that were on our trip had done the ultimate Holy Week trip before with Flanders and Roubaix and some had done the tour as well. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:08:46 to 00:09:03 Yeah. It was pretty fascinating talking to some of the men and women on our trip to learn just how many trips they had done with you guys. Yeah, it was neat to like show up and kind of already have the camaraderie of. A lot of the guests on that trip had been with Nick or Viba or Gio on previous trips. So they were. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:09:03 to 00:09:21 There was already sort of a built in fan base there. Yeah. And I suppose it's. I suppose it's the nature of this type of trip, but I felt like everybody in the crew was quite competent on the bike and there were some people who were faster than us, some people slower than us, but everybody was mostly faster. Yeah. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:09:21 to 00:09:25 There's an impressive riders on this trip. It was pretty, pretty great. Yeah. Yeah. And the. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:09:26 to 00:09:45 And the guides were equally impressive both, you know, across the week. Just getting to know them personally, seeing their fitness. A, but B. And more importantly, they're just understanding of all the sectors and the roads that we'd be riding and their, their love of Strada Bianchi. Yeah, the knowledge and passion for the race was definitely evident. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:09:45 to 00:09:57 It was pretty cool. Yeah. So we got a shakeout ride on the Monday or, sorry, on the first day of the trip. Yeah. And then the second day we went a bit longer and kind of got our first real look at some of the. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:09:57 to 00:10:19 The white roads. Yeah, we think it was a 50. It was a nice lead up to the Fondo because it was like a 30 mile day one, a 50 mile on day two, which was pretty challenging. It was, but not like back breaking. And then we went to the race to view the race viewing day, which was like a gentle 30 miles before the Fonda, which was kind of a nice way to structure the week. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:10:19 to 00:10:42 Yeah. When I think when I first looked at that mileage, I'm like, gosh, I'm going all the way to Italy. I just want to ride my ass off. But as, as it came down to it between like travel fatigue, it being earlier in the year, and the punchiness of those climbs we were experiencing on day two, like that was enough in sort of those first couple days. And I felt totally satisfied. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:10:42 to 00:10:56 Yeah, you can put in if you're doing the big options every day. You get 200 miles in, in four days, plus the race viewing. So it's, it's, I think it's a really well designed trip. It's, it is compact. But it's surprising how tired you can be after doing those four days. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:10:56 to 00:11:10 Yeah, yeah, a hundred percent. The elevation is pretty. Every day has a nice chunk of elevation gain. Yeah. And I think for, for us, like we don't have a ton of rolling hills around where we live, they said they tend to be more sustained. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:11:10 to 00:11:28 So it definitely felt different to me. I was feeling a little underprepared that, that 50 mile day, thinking, Gosh, we've got to do 90 plus in the Gran Fondo. It's going to be a long day out there. I'm not gonna lie. I don't think I said it during the trip, but I was a little worried after the first two days. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:11:28 to 00:11:39 I was grateful for the race watching like cool down day before the Fondo. It all worked out. But yeah, yeah, yeah. So we should, I mean, we should talk through a little bit. We'll get into race day next. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:11:39 to 00:12:05 But you know, basically every day after the ride, you just leave your bike and the team cleans it, takes care of it, puts it away. You've got really nothing to do but show up and eat and enjoy yourself in Siena. Yeah, take a nap, whatever you need. We, we stayed at a great hotel, the Hotel Athena, just right outside, like in Siena, but just outside the wall. So it was easy to walk like 10 minutes into town. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:12:06 to 00:12:24 Really, really great location. I mean, one of the best things about the Fondo day was waking up to a completely clean, like just power wash, power dried, chain lubed. It was like a brand new bike getting Ready to ride out to the start. It was pretty great. Clean bike is a fast bike, so I appreciate that. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:12:24 to 00:12:40 And shammy time's training time. That's right. But yeah, those guys work their butts off to keep those bikes in great shape every morning when you show up. Yeah, no doubt about that one. Sort of topography. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:12:40 to 00:12:50 Topography note. Siena is up on a hill. Yeah. And you know, that was like warm down. There's no warm down and there's no sort of. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:12:50 to 00:13:08 In the, in the early mornings when we were rolling out, we're going downhill for 5, 10 minutes no matter what. So it was quite cool on the road out in the rollout in March, for sure. We lucked out. We, the guides every day were saying, it's not usually like this. Like it was. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:13:08 to 00:13:18 We had like mid-60s during the day, every day. And it was. Fortunately we saw almost zero rain, which was great. Would have been tough to ride those roads in the mud. A hundred percent. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:13:18 to 00:13:38 And I think it just would have taken away from how much fun we had out on the course on the third day, which is. So we, we did ride maybe 15, 20K out to, I think sector number two on the women's and men's road course. Got to see the women come through, which is a lot of fun. Right, right on one of the. Those gravel roads. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:13:38 to 00:13:49 Cheer them on. We had ridden that road the day before and then we went to a cafe. Totally overwhelmed. This local cafe with 23 people needing locusts. Yeah. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:13:49 to 00:14:07 Yeah. I think ebay went in there and basically said, I will buy your entire rack of baked goods. And he just walked him outside and he's like, get the cappuccino machine going and keep them going until we say stop. Yeah, that was great. It was a nice break between the women's and the men's race. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:14:07 to 00:14:26 It was incredible to see, like the riders go through, but then you just see the apparatus of like all the, the sort of security cars, then all the team cars. And at a certain point, both of our videos, all you can see is dust. When you're on the gravel, when everybody's raging by in the team cars, it's like, there they go. And here come. Here comes the caravan, the follow caravan. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:14:26 to 00:14:40 It's pretty cool when the safety motorcycles come by and sort of just casually brush people a little bit further to the side of the road. Get, get closer to the curb, will you? Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was interesting. I mean, we didn't. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:14:40 to 00:14:53 We couldn't see much of the run up of the women's race, but there was Seemingly a fracture. Even at the point in which we started watching, I think there might have been a crash before the women's race. Pretty broken up outside of the main pack. Yeah, yeah. So it was cool. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:14:53 to 00:15:21 Yeah, they were going slow enough that you could kind of really see your, your favorite athletes cruise by, which is a lot of fun. And to your point, it is always cool seeing all the support the professional athletes get in the team cars. Yeah, it was interesting to see the breakaway. You know, in the men's race you had like a two or three minute breakaway. To see them go by first and then their car, their follow cars and then seeing the, the whole peloton and like UAE on the front clearly just ready to rip it. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:15:21 to 00:15:43 It was pretty cool. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And we should mention that the, the night before with this trip, we had the opportunity, right, to meet the Lidl track team and we got to go on the, the, the tour bus, as I would call it, the, you know, the big bus that the riders hang out in before and after the race. No photos. Yeah, I was really excited to do some photos. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:15:43 to 00:15:53 Yeah. And they said no photos, no photos. And, and then we saw the, you know, the, the mechanics van with all the bikes. Mobile service course. That was incredible. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:15:53 to 00:16:01 Like. Yeah. How many bikes, wheels, chain, chain sets, tires. It's just like a. Incredible organization to get that all set up. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:16:01 to 00:16:09 Yeah. And then it was cool meeting. We got to meet the women's team and some of the men's team members. Do you remember who we got to talk to? We talked to the whole women's team. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:16:09 to 00:16:28 They all kind of came out. We sort of had dinner that night with them in the hotel. So we got to talk to mostly Ena Tutenberg, the director, Retta Hansen, great domestique. And then Lizzie Danan was pretty, they were pretty engaging, pretty, pretty fun to see them all chatting up and answering questions from our group. And we got to met. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:16:28 to 00:16:39 It was a little bit different with the men. They kind of came and went. But we got to meet the previous year's second place finisher Tom Scoins. That was really interesting to talk to him about his race. I think you talked a bit to Quinn Simmons. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:16:40 to 00:16:53 So we got to meet like a little bit of the whole team there, which was really cool. Yeah, it was cool. And probably not giving away any secrets. Say they, they had a buffet that was separate from our meal. They had scales to weigh their food. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:16:53 to 00:17:10 They were quite a bit more disciplined than our 19 person group. Yeah, that was, I was surprised to see that as well. I was with my back to them. So they're weighing their food, really, as I'm. As I'm shoveling my pescatarian options in. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:17:12 to 00:17:39 Um, so then we going back to race day, we see the men in the same location, then we ride ourselves back to Siena that day. Um, and I think we were able to go back to that. Well, I know we were able to go back to the hotel and then make it into the piazza for the time that the women were going to be finishing, which was awesome. We couldn't have timed it better. Yeah, it was great to get back to the hotel, drop off the bikes, grab a quick shower, and then head over there. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:17:39 to 00:18:06 To watch the last, like, 20k and see him come into the finish line was super, super exciting. It's just such a beautiful, scenic place to finish a bike race. We'll get into. I mentioned that it's up at the top of a hill, so we'll talk about what it's like finishing there, but just you've got this square that's not that big, a great, beautiful clock tower. And the imagery is just stunning. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:18:06 to 00:18:24 When they come around the final corner, there's people up in their apartments cheering them on from around the corner. And then you see a rider emerge or a sprint emerge to a slight downhill to the finish line. It's just an incredible scene. Yeah, it's pretty iconic. Like, if you think about, like, that finish line, compared to. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:18:24 to 00:18:44 You could compare it to, like, the finish in Roubaix on the velodrome or the finish on the Champs Elysees in France. It's a super, super different way to finish a bike race up that steep, the Santa Catarina steep climb into the compos. Just really unique. And we were able to get, I mean, super close to the. To the women's finish. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:18:44 to 00:18:51 Yeah, it was. That was sort of shocking how few people were there. It's sort of a bummer. We were there for the women's race. We're just going to say that now. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:18:51 to 00:19:16 So we were excited to be so close and to see the podium ceremony afterwards. But you got some great shots of Demi Vollering winning. And then we were standing right where they all finish, and they're all kind of, like, bottlenecked into this little corner and their whole team is surrounding them and people are congratulating them, and they all just look destroyed, and you're just like, wow, how can you get this close to such amazing athletes? But it was. It was really, really cool. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:19:16 to 00:19:36 Yeah, super cool. And then so we watched the celebration as they got their trophy and sprayed the champagne. We're almost close enough to get hit with champagne. I feel like that was cool. And then the track team had secured a lunch spot right on the piazza in one of the restaurants with the massive flat screen tv. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:19:36 to 00:20:02 So we were able to roll over there, joined lunch that was already in progress and watch the men's race on TV for a few hours. Yeah, that was like a really cool setup to see the women's finish go stuff our faces and, and keep track of the race while we did it and then be able to run right back outside to see the men finish in the same way. I mean it was pretty remarkable. I think we like getting kind of itchy with about 15, 20k to go. We're like, you ready? Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:20:02 to 00:20:35 Let's get out there, stake out our spot along the finish line. It was awesome. You know, being in North American, we don't always get to watch these events live as they're unfolding. So just sort of feel the energy and watch on the TV obviously that the Tom Pickock Pagachar breakaway was happening and we were all, I think all eyes were on the television at the point where they've got this great shot of Tade ripping around this corner and just hitting the deck. And I didn't think he was going to get up. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:20:35 to 00:20:47 I don't know about you. It looked, and the first time I saw it, it looked like he really wailed his head and he rolled far into the grass. Got catapulted into the grass. Yeah, yeah. I was absolutely shocked he was able to get up. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:20:47 to 00:21:22 And then it was nice to see Tom Pickock do the gentlemanly thing and you know, he, yeah, kind of shook his head after the crash but you know, clearly just soft pedaled until today came back to him. It was, it's incredible when you're either in the restaurant or like on the square with the Jumbotrons and something like that happens and you hear the whole crowd gasp, you know, like that, that like collective gasp of a few thousand people right next to you is like pretty like wow, that just happened. Exactly. A shocking mid race events for sure. Yeah, totally. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:21:22 to 00:21:50 And then once it was back on, like you said, I think with, with, you know, 15k today attacked maybe with 18k to go. And by 15 or 10k we were like, we gotta get out there and get on the streets and get right by the finish line again to see this. Yeah, it was incredible to see him come over the line first all battered and bloodied and he had, was so full of Adrenaline. He didn't say much until he got into the interviewing room. It's like right before he was going to go get his trophy that it kind of hurts now. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:21:50 to 00:22:15 It's like he had so much adrenaline to attack and finish the race, but as soon as the race is done, he's like, oh, I'm really scratched up. Yeah, he was totally tore up. And then the other interesting thing for me at the finish line was that, you know, not a lot of people actually finish the race, which is. I mean, as a professional, I get it. Like, you do your job, and then you and I will talk about how hard it is to get to the finish and. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:22:15 to 00:22:25 And why, if. If you weren't required to get there, maybe you don't get there. So I think maybe only, like, 20, 25 riders finished. Does that feel right to you? That sounds about right. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:22:25 to 00:22:39 Once. Once you're out of contention, there's not a whole lot of reason to struggle through. It was. It was incredible to stand there and watch the finishes that come through that just covered in dust, sometimes dust and blood and just looking shattered. Uh, and, yeah, was a little scary. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:22:39 to 00:22:53 Thinking about what we were going to do the next morning didn't help the nerves. No. Real quick shout out to Tade. I thought it was so classy. When he was being interviewed after the finish, they're like, hey, you're the first world champion to. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:22:53 to 00:23:00 To win Strada Bianche. And he's like, no, Lada Kapeki won last year. She was the champion. I love. I love that. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:23:00 to 00:23:08 It was so great. It's just, like, such a classy guy and sort of respect for the sport and his fellow athletes. Pretty cool. Yeah. 100%. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:23:09 to 00:23:26 Well giddy with our. Our race day experience, we then kind of went off to dinner and back to the hotel and needed to get our heads around what 140km on that course was going to look like for us in the gran fondo with 7,000 of our closest friends. Yeah. I'm not gonna lie. I was a little nervous about that start. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:23:26 to 00:23:33 Just not. Not about the. Well, okay. Maybe a little bit about the distance and the elevation, but just. Yeah. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:23:33 to 00:23:48 Do you want to talk about what that was like? Yeah. Like a starting bell go off and 7,000 people take off. I know you've done, like, SBT and Unbound, so it's probably not that different, but the scale was pretty large. Yeah. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:23:48 to 00:24:02 Yeah. I think, you know, the guides did a really good job of one, previewing us some of the terrain we were going to be on. Yeah. They gave us a lot of confidence that the Trek van was going to be there. So we, we had multiple drop bag locations. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:24:02 to 00:24:31 We knew they were going to be there for us, that we didn't have to go to the mass, you know, rest stop areas, which was a super luxury. So we're on the Trek Checkpoint SLR bikes with 45C gravel tires on them. So, you know, pretty robust bicycle for this kind of event. When you compare to what a lot of people were riding. I think the professionals were still on 28 or 30s and full slicks. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:24:31 to 00:24:46 So interesting from an equipment perspective. And that'll come up, I think, in our conversation. But we get up at 6am we go down to breakfast. You and I are roommates. We go down to breakfast at like 6:01 and every single table is occupied. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:24:46 to 00:25:02 We're sort of fighting for space. This is clearly everybody's fueling up. There's, you know, dozens and dozens and dozens of people in the hotel who are going to go on the same journey we are. I think our rollout time from the hotel was 7:00am does that sound right? That sounds right. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:25:02 to 00:25:12 Yeah. Yeah. So we, we had to go down a hill. This detail wasn't clear in my mind morning of. But we had to ride somewhere to start the event. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:25:12 to 00:25:29 And of course, being in Siena, we had to ride downhill. And then right back then we, and then we rode back up to another part of town. And there were multiple different staging areas based on a color on your number plate. So we kind of fumbled around. Maybe there was five or five different colors out there. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:25:29 to 00:25:41 I think we were in the, the green sector and there's. There had to have been 1500 people in our sector alone. Yeah, it was. I think it was based on distance you were doing and maybe the speed you were going to ride. I'm not sure. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:25:41 to 00:26:10 Yeah, yeah, there could be something like if you're demonstrably a fast person, you're going to go in a different color than us. But, you know, we've been, we be in particular had mentioned, like, it's crazy town to begin with in this event. And I think in addition to 7,000 people being around you, we started with a massive downhill. Yeah, there were a lot of people going really fast. It was good advice. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:26:10 to 00:26:30 He was saying, you know, kind of keep your space and kind of stay to the right because people are going to want to pass on the left. And they were certainly doing that. So, yeah, I think we stayed together or within close proximity just to, you know, for the first. Like you said, the first Hour or so to navigate some of that. But once we hit that first section of dirt, I saw the. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:26:30 to 00:26:46 I saw the robot eyes go on, and you were gone. You're like, dirt. My comfort zone. I wasn't so comfortable with all these people flying around me. I remember at one point you and I were sort of casually riding maybe like three feet apart. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:26:46 to 00:27:07 Yeah. And someone just splits the middle. And I was like, okay, I guess we gotta ride closer if we're gonna discourage these people from dive bombing. And they were dive bombing left, right, and center, no matter what we did. Yeah, there was a lot of passing on the right, passing in weird places, and a lot of people just sinistra passing on the left. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:27:07 to 00:27:13 I'm on your left. I'm going hard. It was like. And. And my problem is I never internalized which one was right or left. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:27:13 to 00:27:22 So I would just kind of keep it a straight line whenever possible. Hold still. Yeah. So, yeah, there's. I mean, I think blissfully in terms of the amount of mileage we needed to cover. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:27:22 to 00:27:57 It was nice that there was, I don't know, call it 20k of riding on pavement to break things up a little bit before we hit the first dirt section. First dirt section was 2.1km long. Still pretty packed in terms of people being around, but definitely, like, I felt more personally in my comfort zone at that point. I knew that from an equipment perspective, with the 45C tires, I had a lot more control than a lot of the. My Italian compatriots who were riding 25s and 28s on their full arrow road bikes. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:27:57 to 00:28:16 There were a lot of flat tires in that first couple hours. Yeah, yeah, no doubt there was. There was some parallels with the unbound experience where it's just crazy and flat tires are happening all the time. That was the nice thing about the checkpoint. Like, the tires are, you know, a little bit bigger, but no, no one on the ride got a flat. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:28:16 to 00:28:30 And that's just really comfortable. Like in a ride like that where it's. It can be pretty challenging, both from a elevation perspective, but also just a terrain perspective, just getting bounced around a bit. It was, if I felt pretty. Pretty good at the end, surprisingly. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:28:30 to 00:28:48 Yeah. I think for. I think for. For people who haven't done a ton of gravel riding, it was a confidence inspiring choice to set them up that way because you could go in as someone who's ridden on the road a ton and ride that gravel and not feel like the bike was all over the place. Yeah. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:28:48 to 00:29:06 Totally sketchy. I mean, it's Totally stable under you. Yeah, I witnessed some sketchy, sketchy stuff out there with people and not nothing to do with their bikes handling talents. It was just equipment choice. They like literally could not stay on their line because of their tires being. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:29:06 to 00:29:29 So much smaller and rim brakes on some of those things. The descents, I mean there's. We talk about the climbs but like even some of the descents were, you know, somewhat challenging to navigate, especially with a group. It really kind of opened up once you made the turn to the, the longer part of the event. The, the full fondo and then it kind of really opened up for us like where there was riders but not nearly. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:29:30 to 00:29:51 Yeah, yeah, a hundred percent. And I think it's a good, it's a good point. On the descending it definitely was. You could definitely see the people who had either just confidence warranted or unwarranted or the right bike for the situation. Yeah, because I was, you know, there were definitely stutter bumps from all the riders out there. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:29:51 to 00:30:11 So you definitely got into situations where you were, you were getting a lot of feedback from the trail. Yeah, it's amazing to have ridden some of those roads in the first couple of days. I think they actually go through and they grade it before the race. Like they try to kind of smooth it out a little bit. But after, you know, two races go through with all the cars and all the riders, the conditions have changed in one day pretty significantly. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:30:11 to 00:30:23 It was pretty interesting. Yeah. Yeah. In total there's 10 different gravel sectors in this event over the 140km. I think there's 50km of gravel riding. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:30:23 to 00:30:43 So it was a nice mix of. Felt like more in a good way. Yeah, for me, for me I was just like, I was way more comfortable on the. Not way more comfortable, but I was having way more fun. Yeah, I think you alluded to like after the, after the two, first two gravel sections I would just hit one and be like, okay, it's on. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:30:43 to 00:31:07 And I was having, I was just having a blast. And yeah, some of these climbs, I mean they were 15, 18% grade, both up and down and a lot of. Them are in the last 20k. Yeah, that's for sure. I remember one, one sector I was just kind of talking to myself and having fun because most everybody speaks Italian and I didn't. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:31:07 to 00:31:35 So I remember at one point a writer just closed the door on the left hand side to another rider and I, I sort of jokingly said, but fairly loud, I guess that door is closed. And it turned out the guy was from the UK and He was just dying laughing because I think he was having the same experience with me. Like, nothing I said really landed with anybody. So it's hard to kind of. You just sort of make noise to make yourself aware and obviously ride as safely as possible. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:31:35 to 00:31:55 Yeah, it was, it was a super, like, challenging experience, but it was like. I don't know if you felt the same as super rewarding, especially like getting through that last 20k and hitting, you know, the Toll Fe climb, getting up the Santa Catarina, like, those are. Those are steep climbs. I don't talk about that experience that you had coming up. A couple of those. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:31:55 to 00:32:19 Yeah, for sure. I mean, those were later in the day. And we're talking 10 kilometer long sectors at this point, which was cool because the earlier ones were shorter, you know, as I mentioned, like 4k, 5k. So to get on the longer ones and then some of the. You were just looking at these beautiful gravel roads going through the Tuscan hillsides. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:32:19 to 00:32:34 Yeah, it was super cool. And we, we sort of hadn't mentioned in the previous days we'd seen castles and old brick towns and, like, we definitely had this. It was, it was a beautiful ride. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Even when you're suffering, at least you got something to look at. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:32:35 to 00:32:45 That's pretty. Exactly. And I didn't know enough about the route. Like, I didn't agonize over it. Like, you know, I might have done unbound to try to figure out, like, how am I going to survive this thing? Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:32:45 to 00:33:06 It was kind of more by the seat of our pants. And that, that one long climb up. I think it's the Tofe pass where we met Gio in the van. Like, that was more than I had expected because it was like, just felt like a long gravel grind. And it was interesting just experiencing that and seeing the fans on the side of the road encouraging you. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:33:06 to 00:33:21 And then you, you kind of crest out on the ridge line back onto the pavement. Yeah. And the van's there and you're just. Like, oh, great, thank goodness, just where you're supposed to be. And you could look back watching everybody coming up the hill. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:33:21 to 00:33:33 And it was so funny. So you, you hadn't arrived yet. We had gotten separated for a bit, and an Irish rider comes up with two friends. And he. And he's like, hey, do you guys have any tape? Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:33:33 to 00:33:44 Oh, yeah, yeah. Maybe you were there. Gio's like, well, what do you need tape for? And he's like, my, my look pedal. The entire back end of the pedal has fallen off. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:33:44 to 00:33:54 So basically he's got Zero purchase. Yeah. And he's like, my friends are tired of pushing me up these hills. Do you have any tape? And Gio's like, don't be ridiculous. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:33:54 to 00:34:06 Like, tape's not gonna do anything. How about breaking away? Yeah. How about we give you a set of pedals, a set of cleats, you just return them. Back in Siena, we're all going to the same place. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:34:06 to 00:34:12 Yeah. Yeah. Such a nice gesture. The guy sat there, put his cleats on, then ended up finishing the race. That was cool. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:34:12 to 00:34:34 Or the ride. Yeah. That's super cool. Gio also mentioned that Quinn Simmons, the professional rider from Lidl Trek, he had flatted out of the race the day before. And it turns out he showed up at the Trek van because he was riding the Gran Fondo with his mom and dad, and he had yet another flat, and Geo gave him a tube to kick him down the road. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:34:35 to 00:34:51 Mobile bike shop. Yeah. Gotta love it. And that. Once we got on that ridgeline, it was awesome because we did have a substantial amount of road riding ahead of us for a while, which I'm sure I could speak for both of us was a bit of a relief to just be able to cruise. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:34:51 to 00:35:00 It was a lot of downhilling at that point. We got into some good groups, and we were just. Just kind of motoring and putting some kilometers under our belt. And you can start to see the city. So you. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:35:00 to 00:35:12 You got your sight line for your finish. Yeah, it's pretty cool. And then I think we were in good spirits. We rolled up with a couple of our. Our trip mates along the way, which was fun to kind of ride with those guys. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:35:12 to 00:35:17 Roll up. Patrick and Perry. Exactly. Good guys. Very strong. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:35:17 to 00:35:23 Yeah. Roll up to that van. And we're like. They're like, great. You know, great you guys are here. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:35:23 to 00:35:34 Let's get you situated. What do you need? Let's get you some more food, et cetera. And then it kind of dawned on, I think, both of us that we knew how much elevation we were needing to have done. I think It's. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:35:34 to 00:35:45 Was it 7,000ft over the course of the day? Yeah. And we hadn't yet hit 5.5,000ft of. Climbing, and there wasn't much longer to go. Yeah, I'm like, there's a. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:35:45 to 00:36:07 There's a big disconnect here. I got a big problem because it seems like we don't have a lot of mileage, and we've got a lot of vertical feet to cover. So that was a little bit of a heady moment, but it was nice to like, have sort of had a reset, get some food, get a little more warm clothes on if we needed it, and then head off on those last sectors. It's like, yeah. That's why I knew I could make it. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:36:07 to 00:36:15 I knew it was going to be hard, but I was like, okay, I'm just going to kind of strap in. Let's go. Yeah. Yeah, we had that. I think both of us misunderstood. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:36:16 to 00:36:41 We had asked about this steep climb we had ridden two days before and how far up it was, and I think they were thinking about the dirt sector, and we were talking about this vicious road, and it was right after the rest stop. Yeah, it's right after the rest stop. Like, oh, there it is. It's right here. And this was like the type of climb, even fresh, you sort of think about doing the paper boy weave back and forth on the course. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:36:41 to 00:36:50 When you. You can see it from a half mile away, you're like, oh, no. Is that where we're going? Yeah. And then a couple more tough gravel climbs after that point. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:36:50 to 00:36:55 Yeah. Then we got into. Really. Yeah, it was. It was. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:36:55 to 00:37:05 Yeah. And it's funny, I mean, that very much felt like, to me, like the. The end of a big gravel event. Where, you know, you're like almost single tracky. Like, when you get up to the ridge, there was kind of. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:37:05 to 00:37:24 Yeah. Switch back, little single track, kind of super cool. I got some good pictures of you and Perry coming up there, and. And then we kind of. We get into some small towns and starts feeling like we're getting close to Siena because we'd ridden back into Siena a few times, cruising, riding with Patrick and a few other guys. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:37:24 to 00:37:42 And then we hit the climb into Siena, and. Holy God. I mean, this thing is, I don't know, maybe 16, 17% at the end. You kind of climb up the pavement just to soften your legs up a little bit. You go through one of the gates of Siena, one of the. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:37:42 to 00:38:13 From the wall of Siena, and then you. These big cobbles, and you're riding up this chute that you just see probably a quarter mile up ahead of you, and there's fans on the side of the road, there's riders struggling to get up. And it's just this epic scene that you have seen now from watching the pro bike race. You'd seen the riders go up it. And I just remember feeling like just very part of the cycling community and cycling world in Siena at that moment. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:38:13 to 00:38:26 Yeah, it was fun. There are a lot of friends and family for tons of those riders out there. So they Were still cheering people on late in the day. So it kind of felt like you were like wrapping up your own personal strada bianchi race. A lot of people shouting at you to keep, keep pushing. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:38:26 to 00:38:41 It was really fun to kind of come into the city like that. I had a little bit of a break in my story because I kind of crusted that climb. And then we came to an intersection and there was riders going both ways. And I took a left and I'm. And then I. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:38:41 to 00:38:48 I'm riding and like, this doesn't feel right. And I. I asked some riders, I'm like, is this the way to the finish? And they're. They were. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:38:48 to 00:38:57 It was English as a second language. They're like, no, this is the pasta party. I didn't hear, Jesus. Oh, Jesus. I went the wrong way. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:38:57 to 00:39:17 So I turned around and then rolled around the corner. And then you roll into the piazza. You got this, you know, the big clock tower. You go across the same finish line as the pros that we watched before. Just super cool conclusion to an amazing day out there. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:39:18 to 00:39:25 And you get your metal, your finisher metal. Got my meter. Yeah, exactly. The 10 years of the Gran Fondo. Yeah, that was pretty. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:39:25 to 00:39:33 That was a pretty nicely designed metal. I didn't realize it was the 10th anniversary. That was pretty cool. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then I think everybody. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:39:33 to 00:39:47 Everybody on the team finished. Yeah, on our crew, we had some doing the. The medium length one, some doing the long one, which we did. I think everybody, at minimum has some great stories to tell their friends when they went home. Yeah, it was. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:39:47 to 00:40:08 It was a big day, but it was definitely worth it. I think everybody. I think no one really said anything the night before, but I think a few people were a little bit nervous about it, but everybody was, like, super just stoked to arrive in the compo after the ride and just be like, that was amazing. Especially after watching the race the day before. Yeah, a hundred percent. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:40:08 to 00:40:19 Yeah. In hindsight, like, it was. It was a week that was packed with. Packed with things to do. There was a nice progression of the mileage. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:40:19 to 00:40:34 We didn't overcook my grits prior to the event, so I gave myself the best chance of having a good day out there. Yeah, it was hard and intimidating, which I loved. Right. But totally doable and. And certainly well supported along the way. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:40:34 to 00:40:49 Whether it was from the. The Gran Fondo organizers or Trek's additional support level. Like, it just felt like a great accomplishment and felt it couldn't be more satisfied with my trip to Italy. Yeah, I'm Glad to hear it. It was great to have you there. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:40:49 to 00:41:06 It was 30 years in the making, so, yeah, it wouldn't have been nearly as fun without you there, so. Exactly. Well, it was fun reminiscing a bit, as I'm sure we'll continue to do over the years. It's such a monumental trip we had. And thanks for coming on. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:41:06 to 00:41:42 Thanks for everything you guys do at Trek Travel, for sure. I think you're the third Trek travel person we've had over here. I've appreciated, as I've advocated to the audience, like, Trek's put a lot of energy into gravel tourism and gravel travel, and it's a great way to go see some of these communities you've read about. And particularly in the. For me, the European trips, just to experience the culture and have the guides with local knowledge has always been this, like, additional bit of je ne sais quoi about what that European experience is like. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:41:42 to 00:41:52 Yeah, there's a lot of great gravel over there. Yeah. Check us out, travel.com a good pitch. Lots of good trips in the States and in Europe, so. Yeah, exactly. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:41:52 to 00:42:03 And if you're interested in Strada Bianca, it is a trip that sells out. It's obviously in March every year. I think you can already sort of reserve a spot on Trek Travels website. It's getting close. Yeah. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:42:03 to 00:42:12 You can sort of put yourself on a wait list. Yeah. And there's still. I don't know if there's still room in the Holy Week trips to Flanders and Roubaix. Okay. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:42:12 to 00:42:19 That one goes fast. Like, we're pretty close to sold out for that one. You got to get in early. And same with the Tour. It's pretty well booked. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:42:19 to 00:42:42 Even the Tour de Familes, the Women's Tour de France, is nearly sold out for this year, which is really exciting. Amazing. And I can't wait for you to have some gravel race trips in the future as well. I think it would be a fun way of doing some of these events. People who aren't necessarily racing but want to go to somewhere like SBT or to Unbound or. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:42:42 to 00:42:53 I know you already have a trip to Bentonville, but it is kind of an interesting idea. I think you guys should play around with, connect the two. Yeah. Yeah. What would it be like to bring a group of people who just want to experience that. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:42:53 to 00:43:04 That area in a deeper way and have a little bit of extra support in some of these milestone gravel events? Yeah, for sure. I think Unbound would be an interesting one, for sure. Yeah. Cool. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:43:04 to 00:43:15 All right, well, I will let you go. Hopefully I even see you this weekend and we can do some riding and reminisce some more. Yeah. See you up in up in Marin. Sounds good. Rich Snodsmith (Guest) | 00:43:15 to 00:43:31 Take care, Craig. Good to see you. That's going to do it for this week's edition of the Gravel Ride Podcast. Big thanks to Rich for coming on the show. And a big thanks to Trek Travel for all the great gravel cycling experiences they offer around the world. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:43:31 to 00:44:13 Top notch organization that's dedicating a lot of time and energy into the gravel world. So if you're a fan of professional bike racing and want to have an experience like I did at Stradabianca, go check them out@trektravel.com obviously they've got the other spring classics and the Tour de France, both men and women, as options for you, but also a bunch of fantastic gravel trips to Bentonville, to Switzerland, to Vermont, to Girona, all over the world. So again, go hit them up@trektravel.com and let them know that the Gravel Ride podcast sent you. Until next time, here's to finding some dirt under your wheels. Craig Dalton (Host) | 00:44:27 to 00:44:27 SA.  

Okay, so you're a rocket scientist. Good morning. Today is Wednesday, March 26th. It's 6 a.m. Good morning and welcome to Cadenación. Good morning, Javi and Mar. Good morning, Maramater. Good morning, Javi Nieves. Cadenación. Well, we start this Wednesday with the information you tell us. José Real, good morning. Hi, Javi, hi, Mar. How are you? Good morning. It's less cold in the early hours of the morning. This is how this Wednesday, March 26th, begins, in which we will see rain, but in a weaker way, through the Cantabrian and Pyrenees, with more sun, clearer throughout the southern half and ...

Ever wondered how to plan a leisurely trip to France? In "How to Plan a Leisurely Trip to France with Carol Handel," host Annie Sargent explores the art of slow travel with guest Carol Handel from Sydney, Australia. Together, they dive into the joys of taking your time to explore France's charming destinations. Get the podcast ad-free Carol shares her journey from meticulous trip planning to creating her blog, French Views. She offers insights into selecting the perfect locations for a week-long stay, allowing travelers to immerse themselves in local culture. Discover tips for cycling through picturesque landscapes like Provence and the Pyrenees, and learn how to bring your own bike for a familiar, reliable ride. Annie and Carol discuss the thrill of experiencing the Tour de France in person. Carol provides practical advice on finding the best viewing spots and enjoying local festivities. They also delve into the logistics of traveling with bikes, including renting a van and finding accommodations with essential amenities. For those who love Paris, Carol reveals her favorite arrondissements and hidden gems. Her blog features detailed guides, offering a unique perspective on the city's allure. Throughout the episode, Annie and Carol emphasize the importance of slow travel, encouraging listeners to savor each experience and connect with France's culture and people. Join Annie and Carol as they explore the hidden gems of France and the art of slow travel. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or planning your first trip, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration. Subscribe to Join Us in France for more immersive travel experiences and tips on making the most of your French adventure. Table of Contents for this Episode Today on the podcast Podcast supporters Magazine segment Introduction and Greetings Starting a Blog About France Planning Long Trips to France Cycling Adventures in France Challenges and Logistics of Traveling with Bikes Introducing the Blog ‘French Views' Planning the trips Deciding How Long to Stay in Each Place Rental agencies Favorite Places for Leisurely Cycling Exploring Paris: Tips and Experiences Summer Travels and the Tour de France Planning Your Tour de France Experience French Travel Tips and Cultural Insights Getting Along in French Concluding Thoughts and Recommendations Thank you, patrons! One weekend with my sister-in-law in Paris Walking the Streets of Paris Next week on the podcast Copyright More episodes about going off the beaten track in France

Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie return to discuss the latest racing and news in professional cycling - this week in the company of Tudor Pro Cycling ace Larry Warbasse aka ‘The Motown Maestro'.  Fresh(ish) from finishing Tirreno-Adriatico, Larry delivers his verdicts from The Race of the Two Seas. Who, if anyone, was hot in the often frigid weather conditions? And who still has work to do ahead of Milan-Sanremo on Saturday.  Daniel spent the week on the other side of the Med at an even soggier Paris-Nice. We discuss a successful title defence for Matteo Jorgenson there and other highlights. There's also the latest instalment of ‘Coorevits Corner', plus some pre-Sanremo speculation.  Sponsored by Sports Tours International The Cycling Podcast is proudly sponsored by Sports Tours International. Whether you want to ride, or watch the best in the world in action, Sports Tours International can take you to the heart of some of the world's biggest cycling events. Choose from a VIP experience at the Tour de France or one of the major classics, or riding events such as the Étape du Tour or Marmotte, you can travel in style with Sports Tours International. Go to the Tour de France Grand Départ in Lille, or see the race in the Alps, Pyrenees or on Mont Ventoux with one of Sports Tours International's package trips. Alternatively, enjoy a VIP experience in Paris, or even a once-in-a-lifetime journey in an official Tour de France vehicle, getting you as close to the action as possible. Let Sports Tours International take charge of all the planning and logistics so all you have to do is enjoy the ride. Go to sportstoursinternational.co.uk for full details. EPISODE SPONSORS Saily If you are travelling abroad and want to reduce or even eliminate roaming charges you need an eSim from Saily, brought to you by the creators of NordVPN. ⛵Download the SAILY app and use our code cycling at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase. Or go to saily.com/cycling for full details TRIBUTE TO RICHARD MOORE AT GENT-WEVELGEM Friend of the Podcast Charlotte Elton is raising money to pay tribute to our friend and co-founder Richard Moore at Gent-Wevelgem by painting his name on the road. She's crowdfunding to pay for the paint and any additional funds will be donated to Sir Chris Hoy's Tour de 4 charity. You can donate to the cause here. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to new special episodes every month plus a back catalogue of more than 300 exclusive episodes. The Cannibal & Badger Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our new virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in. The 11.01 Cappuccino Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it's after 11am). The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

With old grudges and new rivalries playing out on the gravel roads of Tuscany, Strade Bianche offered up plenty to talk about in this month's episode of The Cycling Podcast Féminin. Rose Manley and Denny Gray are joined by cycling broadcaster Rebecca Charlton to discuss all the juicy details, plus they look ahead to the return of Milan-Sanremo with a mini-feature about the race's predecessor, the Primavera Rosa. Ever since Demi Vollering's move to FDJ-Suez and Anna Van der Breggen announced her return to the peloton last year, anticipation of a fierce rivalry between the pair has been rising. After Strade Bianche and their first meeting at Setmana Valenciana, it is fair to say that the match-up has already more than exceeded expectations. Van der Breggen has proven to be the only rider in the peloton capable of matching Vollering for power and tactical nous, although Vollering has thus far always come away with the spoils. Strade Bianche also saw former world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot take third place, in her first spring Classic since 2018. Plus the race was a welcome showcase for the top riders in the peloton after something of a stalemate at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad which saw a surprise victory for Lotte Claes.  In anticipation of the inaugural Milano-Sanremo Donne, we take a look back at the race's precursor – the Primavera Rosa – which ran for seven editions from 1999 until 2005. The race took place on the last 118 kilometres of the men's Milan-Sanremo, on the same day and included the same Poggio and Cipressa climbs and Via Roma finish. We offer up a potted history of those editions and hear some first-hand accounts from people that were there including Marion Clignet, podium finishers Chantal Beltman and Ina Teutenberg, 2005 champion Trixi Worrack and photographer Mario Prato. Also on the agenda, hippopotamus races, bumping into your ex with 30 toilet rolls and the battle of the names: Nienke Vinke vs Lotte Claes. Sponsored by Sports Tours International The Cycling Podcast is proudly sponsored by Sports Tours International. Whether you want to ride, or watch the best in the world in action, Sports Tours International can take you to the heart of some of the world's biggest cycling events. Choose from a VIP experience at the Tour de France or one of the major classics, or riding events such as the Etape du Tour or Marmotte, you can travel in style with Sports Tours International. Go to the Tour de France Grand Départ in Lille, or see the race in the Alps, Pyrenees or on Mont Ventoux with one of Sports Tours International's package trips. Alternatively, enjoy a VIP experience in Paris, or even a once-in-a-lifetime journey in an official Tour de France vehicle, getting you as close to the action as possible. Let Sports Tours International take charge of all the planning and logistics so all you have to do is enjoy the ride. Go to sportstoursinternational.co.uk for full details. EPISODE SPONSORS Indeed If you are looking to hire someone for your company, maybe the best way isn't to search for a candidate but to match with Indeed. Go to indeed.com/cycle now to get a £100 sponsored job credit and get matched with the perfect candidate fast. SEE AMARATERRA LIVE IN LONDON Cozze, by Amaraterra, has been the theme tune for our Giro d'Italia coverage since we began daily coverage in 2016. They are playing live at Brixton Jamm on Saturday, March 15 and would like as many podcast listeners to join them. You can buy tickets here. TRIBUTE TO RICHARD MOORE AT GENT-WEVELGEM Friend of the Podcast Charlotte Elton is raising money to pay tribute to our friend and co-founder Richard Moore at Gent-Wevelgem by painting his name on the road. She's crowdfunding to pay for the paint and any additional funds will be donated to Sir Chris Hoy's Tour de 4 charity. You can donate to the cause here. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to new special episodes every month plus a back catalogue of more than 300 exclusive episodes. The Cannibal & Badger Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our new virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in. The 11.01 Cappuccino Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it's after 11am). The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

Lionel Birnie, Rob Hatch and Brian Nygaard recap Strade Bianche, where Tadej Pogačar recovered from a crash, picked himself up from the adjacent field and still managed to see off a spirited challenge from Tom Pidcock. We ask whether Pidcock should have waited – and whether, indeed, waiting was what he did – and discuss what the rest of the peloton can do to stop Pogačar when he's in such irrepressible mood. With the peloton split between two week-long stage races, Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico, this week we keep an eye on the likely storylines, including an aggressive start to the Race to the Sun. Sponsored by Sports Tours International The Cycling Podcast is proudly sponsored by Sports Tours International. Whether you want to ride, or watch the best in the world in action, Sports Tours International can take you to the heart of some of the world's biggest cycling events. Choose from a VIP experience at the Tour de France or one of the major classics, or riding events such as the Etape du Tour or Marmotte, you can travel in style with Sports Tours International. Go to the Tour de France Grand Départ in Lille, or see the race in the Alps, Pyrenees or on Mont Ventoux with one of Sports Tours International's package trips. Alternatively, enjoy a VIP experience in Paris, or even a once-in-a-lifetime journey in an official Tour de France vehicle, getting you as close to the action as possible. Let Sports Tours International take charge of all the planning and logistics so all you have to do is enjoy the ride. Go to sportstoursinternational.co.uk for full details. EPISODE SPONSORS NordVPN Get NordVPN two-year plan + four months extra ➼ https://nordvpn.com/tcp It's risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee. SEE AMARATERRA LIVE IN LONDON Cozze, by Amaraterra, has been the theme tune for our Giro d'Italia coverage since we began daily coverage in 2016. They are playing live at Brixton Jamm on Saturday, March 15 and would like as many podcast listeners to join them. You can buy tickets here. TRIBUTE TO RICHARD MOORE AT GENT-WEVELGEM Friend of the Podcast Charlotte Elton is raising money to pay tribute to our friend and co-founder Richard Moore at Gent-Wevelgem by painting his name on the road. She's crowdfunding to pay for the paint and any additional funds will be donated to Sir Chris Hoy's Tour de 4 charity. You can donate to the cause here. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to new special episodes every month plus a back catalogue of more than 300 exclusive episodes. The Cannibal & Badger Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our new virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in. The 11.01 Cappuccino Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it's after 11am). The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie are back to review the latest news and racing in the world of procycling, assisted this week by ace commentator Rob Hatch.  ‘Opening Weekend' may not have lived up to all the hype but both Omloop het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne did serve up some juicy talking points. Among the hottest topics in the Belgian media were Visma-Lease a Bike's toils - and they're also on the agenda in this week's ‘Coorevits Corner', our weekly check-in with Flandrian cycling oracle Hugo Coorevits. In part three of the episode, we look ahead to Strade Bianche and Paris-Nice at the weekend. One of the favourites for overall victory on the Promenade des Anglais a week on Sunday, Pavel Sivakov, also shares some childhood memories of “The Race to the Sun” and discusses newfound confidence since joining UAE Team Emirates last year.  Sponsored by Sports Tours International The Cycling Podcast is proudly sponsored by Sports Tours International. Whether you want to ride, or watch the best in the world in action, Sports Tours International can take you to the heart of some of the world's biggest cycling events. Choose from a VIP experience at the Tour de France or one of the major classics, or riding events such as the Etape du Tour or Marmotte, you can travel in style with Sports Tours International. Go to the Tour de France Grand Départ in Lille, or see the race in the Alps, Pyrenees or on Mont Ventoux with one of Sports Tours International's package trips. Alternatively, enjoy a VIP experience in Paris, or even a once-in-a-lifetime journey in an official Tour de France vehicle, getting you as close to the action as possible. Let Sports Tours International take charge of all the planning and logistics so all you have to do is enjoy the ride. Go to sportstoursinternational.co.uk for full details. EPISODE SPONSOR Indeed If you are looking to hire someone for your company, maybe the best way isn't to search for a candidate but to match with Indeed. Go to indeed.com/cycle now to get a £100 sponsored job credit and get matched with the perfect candidate fast. TRIBUTE TO RICHARD MOORE AT GENT-WEVELGEM Friend of the Podcast Charlotte Elton is raising money to pay tribute to our friend and co-founder Richard Moore at Gent-Wevelgem by painting his name on the road. She's crowdfunding to pay for the paint and any additional funds will be donated to Sir Chris Hoy's Tour de 4 charity. You can donate to the cause here. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to new special episodes every month plus a back catalogue of more than 300 exclusive episodes. The Cannibal & Badger Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our new virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in. The 11.01 Cappuccino Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it's after 11am). The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

It's the equivalent of Christmas Eve in Flanders, the night before Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the opening cobbled classic of the spring season. Join Lionel Birnie and Rob Hatch as they preview the race and wonder who can stop Visma-Lease A Bike winning four in a row. There's a wistful meander down memory lane recalling past editions, an attempt to capture the elements that make Omloop such an eagerly-anticipated race, and a bit of light speculation ahead of Saturday's race. Sponsored by Sports Tours International The Cycling Podcast is proudly sponsored by Sports Tours International. Whether you want to ride, or watch the best in the world in action, Sports Tours International can take you to the heart of some of the world's biggest cycling events. Choose from a VIP experience at the Tour de France or one of the major classics, or riding events such as the Etape du Tour or Marmotte, you can travel in style with Sports Tours International. Go to the Tour de France Grand Départ in Lille, or see the race in the Alps, Pyrenees or on Mont Ventoux with one of Sports Tours International's package trips. Alternatively, enjoy a VIP experience in Paris, or even a once-in-a-lifetime journey in an official Tour de France vehicle, getting you as close to the action as possible. Let Sports Tours International take charge of all the planning and logistics so all you have to do is enjoy the ride. Go to sportstoursinternational.co.uk for full details. SEE AMARATERRA LIVE IN LONDON Cozze, by Amaraterra, has been the theme tune for our Giro d'Italia coverage since we began daily coverage in 2016. They are playing live at Brixton Jamm on Saturday, March 15 and would like as many podcast listeners to join them. You can buy tickets here. TRIBUTE TO RICHARD MOORE AT GENT-WEVELGEM Friend of the Podcast Charlotte Elton is raising money to pay tribute to our friend and co-founder Richard Moore at Gent-Wevelgem by painting his name on the road. She's crowdfunding to pay for the paint and any additional funds will be donated to Sir Chris Hoy's Tour de 4 charity. You can donate to the cause here. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to new special episodes every month plus a back catalogue of more than 300 exclusive episodes. The Cannibal & Badger Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our new virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in. The 11.01 Cappuccino Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it's after 11am). The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie are back to review the latest news and racing in the world of procycling, assisted this week by Tudor Pro Cycling stalwart Larry Warbasse aka ‘The Motown Maestro'. Tour de France rivals Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard both began their seasons last week - both with instant success. Pogačar's GC win in the UAE Tour came thanks to stage victories in the two mountain stages to Jebel Jais and Jebel Hafeet, while Vingegaard left it late with his final-day TT triumph in Portugal. In part three of the episode, Larry updates us on an encouraging start to his season. We then premiere a new feature for the Classics season – Coorevits Corner – starring veteran Belgian reporter Hugo Coorevits. Sponsored by Sports Tours International The Cycling Podcast is proudly sponsored by Sports Tours International. Whether you want to ride, or watch the best in the world in action, Sports Tours International can take you to the heart of some of the world's biggest cycling events. Choose from a VIP experience at the Tour de France or one of the major classics, or riding events such as the Etape du Tour or Marmotte, you can travel in style with Sports Tours International. Go to the Tour de France Grand Départ in Lille, or see the race in the Alps, Pyrenees or on Mont Ventoux with one of Sports Tours International's package trips. Alternatively, enjoy a VIP experience in Paris, or even a once-in-a-lifetime journey in an official Tour de France vehicle, getting you as close to the action as possible. Let Sports Tours International take charge of all the planning and logistics so all you have to do is enjoy the ride. Go to sportstoursinternational.co.uk for full details. EPISODE SPONSORS NordVPN Get NordVPN two-year plan + four months extra ➼ https://nordvpn.com/tcp It's risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee. SEE AMARATERRA LIVE IN LONDON Cozze, by Amaraterra, has been the theme tune for our Giro d'Italia coverage since we began daily coverage in 2016. They are playing live at Brixton Jamm on Saturday, March 15 and would like as many podcast listeners to join them. You can buy tickets here. TRIBUTE TO RICHARD MOORE AT GENT-WEVELGEM Friend of the Podcast Charlotte Elton is raising money to pay tribute to our friend and co-founder Richard Moore at Gent-Wevelgem by painting his name on the road. She's crowdfunding to pay for the paint and any additional funds will be donated to Sir Chris Hoy's Tour de 4 charity. You can donate to the cause here. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to new special episodes every month plus a back catalogue of more than 300 exclusive episodes. The Cannibal & Badger Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our new virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in. The 11.01 Cappuccino Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it's after 11am). The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

Even though Maddy Reynolds was not a runner, COVID-19 spurred her and her homebound friends to start running around the limited area they were allowed to in their neighborhood in Sydney, Australia. On a lark, they decided to run their own marathon. Once racing resumed, Maddy ran an actual marathon. Then she was encouraged to try trail running and next racing. You can see where this is going. Maddy eventually took the risky leap, quitting her secure job as an investment banker to become a full-time runner. By 2023, successes started to accrue. After a runner-up finish in the Six Foot Track Marathon, one of Australia's most prestigious races, Maddy was chosen to represent her country at the World Mountain and Trail Championships in Austria. Her crowning result for the year was winning the UTMB Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko 50K. She followed up that ascendent year with a string of top-10 trail race finishes in 2024, including a win at the Trail de Lac d'Oô in the Pyrenees. Like any upward trajectory, there were bumps in the road. Maddy suffered a stress fracture in her calcaneus, or heel bone, following Kosciuszko. The most serious, though, was after she sustained a serious bacterial eye infection due to a contact lens mistake. Doctors considered removing her eye, but were able to save it, although her vision was severely fogged over. Amazingly, Maddy continued to progress despite very limited depth perception, certainly a huge impediment for a trail runner, leading to numerous falls, including a cracked kneecap. Just last week came a double-dose of positives. First, Maddy's doctors got her a new kind of contact lens that has restored her sight. A truly “Holy Crap, I can see” moment. Ironically, it's the same kind of lens that has also salvaged my vision. Using her new visual acuity, Maddy finished second in New Zealand's UTMB Tarawera Ultra-Trail 52K. Although the race buildup did not go without some crazy, maybe even hilarious, hiccups, as you'll hear. None of these incidents can deter Maddy, who explains the big chance she took on herself, and led her to move to France with her boyfriend to advance her career. She is a font of positivity, and feeds upon the community that is running. She has some huge days ahead of her, and we had a very fun and engaging chat, so I hope you'll enjoy this and follow her as she establishes herself as a force in the trail running world.Maddy ReynoldsInstagram @maddyreynolds98Bill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram and Threads @stahlor and @we_are_superman_podcastYouTube We Are Superman Podcast

Want to go on a motorcycle tour? Then Emma and Cat have got a trip for you. The Dolomites, Tuscany, Pyrenees or the Julian Alps are all going to be good bets for great roads and great food. And to sweeten the pot, a coach from Yamaha Champions Riding School will be on the trip to give you tips and feedback on your riding skills. Keith from YCRS joins us to talk about becoming a better rider, and the skills needed to ride like a champion on these amazing trips. With Miss Emma, Stumpy John, Mycah, Charley, Cat, Brian, Henry, Dima and Bagel. https://ridelikeachampion.com/ https://www.leodescapes.com/ breakingawayadventures.com/misfits-rally-vol-3 motorcyclesandmisfits.com/shop Join our Discord at discord.gg/hpRZcucHCT www.motorcyclesandmisfits.com motorcyclesandmisfits@gmail.com www.patreon.com/motorcyclesandmisfits www.zazzle.com/store/recyclegarage www.youtube.com/channel/UC3wKZSP0J9FBGB79169ciew

Today I have two stories to share - one of them actually from my own experience of cycling across the Pyrenees. I did this trip in 2023 and cycled from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean Sea. If you want to see what that experience was like check it out now on YouTube where I have uploaded it as a 3 part series. Our YouTube channel is Seek Travel Ride and you can access the playlist here: The second part of our episode features listener Jake Field sharing what it was like during one day of a bike adventure cycling through Tanzania. You can keep up with Jake's adventure's via his instagram account - @jakefield_99Support the showBuy me a coffee and help support the show!Sign up to the Seek Travel Ride NewsletterFollow us on Social Media!Instagram - @SeekTravelRideWebsite: Seek Travel RideFacebook - Seek Travel RideLeave me a voicemail message Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist available now on both Spotify or Apple Music Thank you to RedShift Sports for supporting the show! - Check them out here

“The breadth and depth of your book is awe-inspiring—a compilation of ancient wisdom, Christian lore, and European history. It's an amazing tour-de-force, reflecting years of careful study and devoted attention to detail. Your music adds even greater dimensions of appeal. Congratulations on creating this classic!”—MARGARET STARBIRD, author of The Woman with the Alabaster Jar and Mary Magdalene Bride in Exile◆◆◆HISTORY, MYSTERY, and ENCHANTMENT await the reader in this captivating journey down the Paris Meridian, and its antiquity as a Dragon Path, a network of ancient sites that existed long before scientists measured the meridian.Mystical encounters with the “Guardians” of standing stones, temples of Egyptian and Greek deities, and hidden sanctuaries of Maria Magdalena—you'll enter an enigmatic landscape of mysteries revealed for the first time.Discover the ancient Way of the Stars, a pilgrimage predating the Camino de Santiago by an astonishing five millennia! Learn how this initiation path overlays the author's stunning discovery of an ancient landscape cross spanning the Pyrenees, defined by megalithic temples aligned with the stars, constructed 6,000 years ago.Enhance your reading experience with Ani's special-release album, “Guardians of the Dragon Path,” songs composed during her quest to these ancient sites, with a bonus interactive map, “Path of Songs” with music videos of the sites and “Guardians” featured in the book, all accessible through the author's website, www.aniwilliams.com.Ani Williams is best known for her music recordings, distributed world-wide for decades. She is a composer, harpist, singer of cross-cultural sacred music, and a pioneer in Sound Medicine. Guardians of the Dragon Path is her first non-fiction book, a stunning compendium on ancient cultures and myths in the Pyrenean region of France and Spain. A special music album of the songs composed on her journeys and videos filmed at the ancient sites are both available on the author's website.Currently living in southern France, she was born in Los Angeles of a lineage of respected poets and authors, a legacy that is evident in her enchanting and engaging writing style. Williams' long-awaited book is the result of a life of world travel, eighteen years of walking the lands surrounding the Pyrenees, extensive scholarly research, and a series of uncanny dreams that guided her quest of discovery—a shining example that “truth is indeed stranger than fiction.” This is the first in a trilogy. You can contact her through her website.www.aniwilliams.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/earth-ancients--2790919/support.