In this episode, we sit down with one of the brightest young talents in professional cycling — Valentin Paret-Peintre. At just 24, he’s already claimed stage victories at the Giro d’Italia, the Tour of Oman, and made history as the fifth Frenchman ever to win atop Mont Ventoux during his maiden Tour de France. Join us for a relaxed and insightful conversation recorded during pre-season camp, as Valentin opens up about life with Soudal Quick-Step, his favorite alpine climbs, his power-to-weight s...
Jul 24, 2025•37 min
They were just two kids from Wortegem, riding bikes after school, never dreaming they’d one day end up in the pro peloton together. In this episode of the Castelli Podcast, we sit down with Belgian sprint sensation Tim Merlier and his lifelong friend and trusted lead-out man Bert Van Lerberghe, a duo bonded by years of shared rides, muddy cyclocross circuits, and quiet ambition. From their humble beginnings to the world’s biggest races, Tim and Bert take us inside their journey—through the chaos...
Jul 18, 2025•39 min
In this special Tour de France episode, we're joined by two of the sharpest minds in performance cycling: Koen Pelgrim, Head of Performance at Soudal Quick-Step, and Steve Smith, Castelli Brand Manager and driving force behind the Scorpion’s aero innovation. Recorded just ahead of the Tour’s Grand Départ, the episode dives deep into the world of wind tunnel testing and the relentless pursuit of marginal gains. From Tim Merlier’s Tour stage-winning Sanremo S Speed Suit to Remco Evenepoel’s time t...
Jul 10, 2025•21 min
Join us as we dive into the cutting-edge world of aerodynamic cycling apparel with Steve Smith, Castelli Brand Manager, Lifelong Marginal Gainer. From the evolution of the iconic maglia rosa for the Giro d’Italia to the latest innovative firsts, Steve shares how rider feedback, wind tunnel testing, and meticulous design come together to create high-performance gear. We explore the behind-the-scenes logistics of outfitting pro teams, the development process inside Castelli’s Speed Shop and Pro Sh...
May 18, 2025•56 min•Ep. 2
Dive into the thrilling history of the Giro d’Italia and its most iconic symbol—the Maglia Rosa. From its origins in 1909 to the groundbreaking innovations Castelli introduced to the peloton, we celebrate the legends, the legacy, and the evolution of cycling’s most coveted jersey. Discover how the race began, why pink became the color of victory, and how Castelli helped revolutionize performance cycling gear through bold innovation. From historic champions and unforgettable moments to the evolut...
May 13, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1
In this episode, we sit down with Samuel Sánchez, a legend of the sport and Olympic gold medalist, to reflect on his remarkable career and the evolution of the sport over the past three decades. Samuel takes us through his journey from a young aspiring cyclist to Olympic champion, sharing insights into the highs and lows of his career. He talks about his 18 years in the pro peloton, racing for just two teams, the differences in team dynamics from Euskaltel - Euskadi to BMC Racing Team, and the i...
May 06, 2025•1 hr 5 min
Yves Lampaert is more than just a Roubaix warrior—he’s a farmer’s son with deep Belgian roots, a love for tractors, and a passion for the Queen of the Classics. In this episode, we go beyond the finish line to explore the brutal beauty of Paris-Roubaix, Yves’ rise through the ranks at Soudal Quick-Step, and the surprising parallels between farming and cycling. From Tour de France yellow jersey glory to muddy cobbles and homegrown veggies—this is Yves Lampaert like you’ve never heard him before. ...
Apr 18, 2025•52 min
This week, we bring you an inspiring story of resilience, talent, and the relentless pursuit of a dream. Our guest, Kim Le Court Pienaar, is a rising star in the Women’s World Tour, proving that it’s never too late to chase greatness. When Kim turned pro, many riders have already made their mark—Kim wasted no time in doing the same. In her debut season, she secured a stage win at the Giro d’Italia Women, raced in two Grand Tours, and represented her country at the Paris Olympics. In this episode...
Apr 02, 2025•52 min
French sensation Paul Magnier has taken the pro peloton by storm, and now the 20-year-old is set to support Soudal Quick-Step into the northern classics. With his explosive power, endurance, and fast finishing kick, could he be the next Tom Boonen or Bernard Hinault? In this episode, we break down Magnier’s rapid rise, his potential in sprints and Monuments, and how he handles outside pressure to perform. We also explore the history and innovation behind Castelli’s pioneering gear, along with Pa...
Mar 19, 2025•42 min
Whether you’re a passionate cyclocross fan or just curious about the sport, this episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and everything that makes bike racing such a dynamic and evolving discipline. Today, we’re joined by Antoine Huby, a rising talent in cycling from the Brittany region of France. Antoine made a name for himself in cyclocross, winning the U23 French Championship in 2021, before making waves on the road in 2023 with standout performances, including a win at the U23 Course d...
Jan 29, 2025•58 min
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube, and don’t miss your chance to win a VIP experience for the Giro d’Italia Women this July with a chance to meet the ladies of AG Insurance Soudal. Share your favorite moment or quote from this episode in the comments to enter! The winner will be announced in a pinned comment on March 4, 2025, and contacted directly. YouTube: https://youtu.be/dMgIjZLu2xQ ___ In this episode, we sit down with Urška Žigart, an extraordinary Slovenian cyclist carving her path in ...
Jan 25, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Join us for an inspiring conversation with one of Britain’s most versatile and exciting cyclists—Ethan Hayter. In this episode, Ethan reflects on his journey from turning pro with Team INEOS in 2020 to signing with Soudal Quick-Step for the next two seasons—a team with Grand Tour and Classics ambitions, while also working to help Ethan rediscover his best form. With past victories, including the GC at the Tour de Pologne and the Tour of Norway, along with 15 wins across 2021 and 2022, Ethan shar...
Jan 11, 2025•38 min
In this second episode, Nathan Haas shares his inspiring journey from being a young, talented athlete in Australia to racing for some of the sport's biggest World Tour teams. He discusses the challenges he faced transitioning from downhill mountainbiking to road racing, the importance of team dynamics, and the evolution of Girona as a cycling hub. Nathan also delves into his collaborations with architect and designer Richard Pearce, exploring the creative design process behind Castelli’s exclusi...
Nov 18, 2024•38 min•Ep. 2
Nathan is a household name in cycling, having raced at the World Tour level for 10 years, participated in all Grand Tours, and sparked many conversations about the present and future of gravel cycling—all while achieving top results and inspiring others. In this action-packed episode, we sit down with Nathan to explore gravel riding, the best routes around Girona, its coffee culture, cycling community, and why Girona has become a cycling mecca. We also discuss the spirit of gravel, where camarad...
Nov 06, 2024•49 min•Ep. 1
At just 22, Gaia Masetti is already making waves in the women’s WorldTour. With a deep passion for cycling that began in childhood, Gaia has raced in some of the biggest events on the calendar as part of the AG Insurance Soudal team. In this episode, Gaia reflects on her journey from winning her first race at the age of six to turning pro at just 21. She discusses the challenges she faced along the way, the unwavering support of her family, and how cyclocross helped shape her technical skills on...
Oct 21, 2024•37 min
The pressure to achieve ideal weight in cycling and triathlon, hit competitive power-to-weight ratios, and meet physical expectations drives a surprising number of male and female elite athletes into a state of low energy availability. In this series, we explore RED-S, what it entails, and why diagnosing it is so complex. If you missed the first episode, we strongly recommend starting there as these two episodes serve as a comprehensive guide for athletes at all levels looking to enhance their p...
Oct 08, 2024•58 min•Ep. 2
As athletes, we constantly push to hit our peak, whether it’s achieving the ideal weight, nailing competitive power-to-weight ratios, or meeting physical expectations. But this pressure can sometimes lead to low energy availability and, in turn, the critical condition known as Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). Whether you're training for a race or managing your daily workouts, RED-S can seriously impact your health and performance. In our latest two podcast episodes, we dive deep into...
Oct 02, 2024•49 min•Ep. 1
Today's guest is truly inspiring—a superstar admired by millions of fans. We’re joined by NBA Hall of Famer and Olympian Reggie Miller. While Reggie is widely known for his legendary basketball career, today we’ll discuss his love for mountain biking and gravel riding, the cycling community, his missioan to boost diversity in the sport, and his passion for getting more kids and people of color involved. We’ll also explore his efforts to make cycling more accessible for everyone. Joining Reggie i...
Sep 10, 2024•38 min
Join us for a thrilling episode of the Castelli Podcast with João Paulo de Oliveira, a Brazilian racing ace in Japan's Super GT scene. Discover how João uses cycling to stay fit and explore the parallels between these two high-demand sports. Learn how cycling not only keeps João in peak condition but also allows him to explore Japan’s stunning landscapes, from the bustling streets of Tokyo to serene countryside routes and the iconic climb up Mount Fuji. Whether you’re into road cycling, curious ...
Aug 27, 2024•1 hr 20 min
In this episode, we sit down with Belgian female pro-cyclist Justine Ghekiere. She shares her remarkable journey, from discovering eRacing during the COVID pandemic to making her mark in the women's professional peloton. Justine's story is a testament to the rapid pace of her rise in the cycling world, her obsession with indoor training, and the mental grit that fuels her passion for the sport. Join us as we delve into Justine's love for climbing, her favorite rides when she's come in Flanders a...
Aug 13, 2024•20 min
The Castelli Podcast recap is a monthly episode highlighting some of the best bits from one of our past podcast episodes. You can find the full 57-minute episode from November 29, 2023, or at this link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-nutrition-ep2-what-is-the-optimal-diet-for/id1669906821?i=1000636862451 Expert sports performance nutritionist Dani Hofstetter shares invaluable insights on the importance of balanced nutrition, strategies for fueling everyday performance, comparisons ...
Aug 05, 2024•28 min
It's the final Tour de France episode, we're taking a deep dive into the most crucial job in cycling—the soigneur. Are they a butler? A friend? A rider's mum? We chatted with Kevin Verstaen, an experienced soigneur working for Soudal Quick-Step, who described the role as looking after the welfare of team members and being a "cyclist laborer." Soigneur stories often include humorous and challenging moments, and they usually see the riders more than their own family. Ultimately, a good soigneur is...
Jul 19, 2024•37 min
Nutrition is a hot topic in the modern peloton, and for good reason. A grand tour like the Tour de France is an immense challenge for the body. Fail to fuel or eat properly, and you'll pay the price. In this episode, we uncover the latest strategies that pros use to sustain themselves through three weeks of grueling racing. Joining us is Maaike Polspoel, the performance nutritionist for the top-ranked Soudal Quick-Step team. Tune in to this episode for insights and tips that you can apply to you...
Jul 15, 2024•41 min
In this episode, live from the Tour de France, we're joined by Koen Pelgrim, Performance Coach at Soudal Quick-Step and personal trainer to Remco Evenepoel. Remco has had an outstanding first week at the Grande Boucle, securing a stage win and the white jersey with an impressive and consistent performance. As we prepare for the race's second half, discover how Remco and his Soudal Quick-Step teammates have been gearing up for the season's biggest event. We'll explore mastering cycling performanc...
Jul 08, 2024•55 min
In this 'petite' episode, we’re giving you a speedy introduction to La Grande Boucle and its history, along with some fun and incredible facts. We explore its iconic climbs, the introduction of different leader jerseys, and the thrill of watching the race. We also highlight some of the early champions and pioneers, discuss the evolution of team sponsorship over the years, and much more. Hope you’ll enjoy this one! Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:54 2024 Overview and Firsts 03:30 History and Pres...
Jul 01, 2024•15 min
In our series profiling the team behind the riders, it’s all about communication activations, social media, partner marketing campaigns, and mental health awareness. You might have caught a glimpse of today’s guest in the background during rider interviews at races and Grand Tours. His name is Phil Lowe, Press Officer for one of the sport’s biggest and most historical WorldTour cycling teams, Soudal Quick-Step. I brought Phil on to the show because I believe many of us often find ourselves sitti...
Jun 18, 2024•28 min
Born just 31 days apart in the autumn of 1992, Soudal Quick-Step's Tim Merlier and Bert Van Lerberghe are a duo whose fates have long been connected. In the first bunch sprint of the 2024 Giro d'Italia, Tim Merlier made history by becoming the first Belgian in 46 years to win three stages in a single edition of the Giro d’Italia. With help from his childhood friend Bert Van Lerberghe, who ramped up the speed under the flamme rouge to guide Tim to the final meters. Less than a week after their un...
Jun 03, 2024•47 min
The 107th Giro d’Italia kicks off on Saturday, promising three weeks of breathtaking climbs, scenic views, and, above all, great racing. In this episode, we'll delve into some iconic moments in Giro history; the first Maglia Rosa, Marco Pantani's legendary attack to Oropa in 1999, Andy Hampsten's epic day on Passo Gavia in 1988, and Castelli's innovations and marketing stunts during the Giro, such as introducing turquoise Lycra shorts and the evolution of cycling jerseys. CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome ...
May 01, 2024•15 min•Ep. 1
In this episode, I caught up with multiple South African champion Ashleigh Moolman Pasio. We talked about how she ended up in Banyoles near Girona, the Rocacorba Cycling business, her QOM Strava record on the famous Rocacorba climb near Girona, and the challenge she set herself to get the best women's time below 30 minutes. Ashleigh will share her advice on how to pace yourself when aiming for your PR because pushing just a little over your limit for half of the climb will ultimately cost you la...
Apr 24, 2024•58 min
There’s a great deal of excitement surrounding the young US talent Luke Lamperti, but no one – not even himself – knows quite what sort of rider he is or will become as he embarks on his first World Tour season with Soudal Quick-Step. Originally from California, Lamperti began riding dirt bikes at the age of three. Over the recent seasons, he has emerged as one of the most sought-after young riders, showcasing his prowess with numerous victories and promising potential in sprints and one-day rac...
Mar 27, 2024•34 min
