Technically yet again it’s not a rest day; the Giro d’Italia 2026 has just been won. As the dust settles on Rome, Matt Stephens reflects on the final week of racing from behind the scenes at the Breakaway studio for TNT Sports / HBO Max Studio. Expect opinions, views and points of view throughout the final six stages, before Matt shares his thoughts on this year’s Giro on the whole, and looks forward to the prospect of a mouthwatering Tour de France showdown between a rampant Jonas Vingegaard an...
Jun 01, 2026•45 min•Season 1Ep. 177
It's a rest day at the Giro d’Italia, so Matt Stephens is back with another podcast reflecting on the previous week of racing, as well as all the peculiar goings-on in his life in the Breakaway studio for TNT Sports / HBO Max Studio. The past week has seen every type of race stage with an individual time trial, some rolling stages, a proper GC mountain stage, and a much-debated Milanese city circuit to finish the week. You can expect expert opinions, live finish line reactions, along with equall...
May 25, 2026•49 min•Season 1Ep. 176
Matt Stephens is back on Breakaway duty for another week of racing from the TNT Sports / HBO Max Studio, and for the first time ever at an external broadcast featuring a live studio audience at the Sigma Sports store in Hampton Wick. It wouldn’t be Matt Stephens without some unpredictable tangents, and this week’s spanner in the works comes in the shape of a fractured Metatarsal. Brave Matt soldiers on to tell us about Thai curries, Toblerones, the merits of automatic vehicles while sporting an ...
May 18, 2026•56 min•Season 1Ep. 175
This year, Matt Stephens is more nomadic than ever, as he presents his Rest Day Reflections podcast mini series from the TNT Sports / HBO Max Studio, in-store at Sigma Sports, and from the Giro d’Italia itself. In this episode, Matt looks back at stages 1-3 of the 2026 Giro d’Italia as it kicked off in Bulgaria. Exciting finishes, an almost untimely end for a Stockley Park duck, and of course those two horror crashes in stages 1 and 2 all feature. With cameos from Adam Blythe and Orla Chennoui, ...
May 11, 2026•42 min•Season 1Ep. 174
Belgian cyclocross star Niels Vandeputte joins Matt Stephens to unpack a huge season of 40 races, breakthrough podiums, and the challenge of going head-to-head with legends like Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. The Alpecin-Premier Tech Development Team rider shares insights into the demands of elite cyclocross racing, how training camps and setbacks shaped his form, and why consistency might be his greatest strength. They also dive into his Belgian gravel championship win, ambitions on th...
Apr 17, 2026•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 173
Carlton Kirby chats to Matt Stephens about their first encounter in the Eurosport commentary booth together over 10 years ago. His love of cycling might have been born in a French biscuit factory, but it was in the years after that summer job that saw him DJ in Tuvalu, become a breakfast broadcaster, and have an unfortunate encounter with the world’s biggest dog. If you think Matt is tangential, just wait till you hear some of Carlton’s stories! Warm, funny, and full of behind-the-scenes detail,...
Apr 03, 2026•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 172
Sports broadcaster and journalist Anders Mielke joins Matt Stephens to share his journey from junior cyclist in Denmark to one of the most exciting young voices in cycling media. Anders reflects on the moment he realised a pro career wasn’t for him, how he built a podcast from scratch, and the path that led him to the commentary booth. He also lifts the lid on creating Chasing Cobbles, his behind-the-scenes documentary with Mads Pedersen, offering a unique insight into trust, storytelling and li...
Mar 20, 2026•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 171
Former Irish road race national champion Imogen Cotter joins Matt Stephens to discuss a cycling journey defined by grit, ambition and resilience. From funding her racing career while working as a postwoman in Belgium to winning the Irish National Championships in 2021 and signing her first professional contract, Cotter’s rise was hard-earned and rapid. But just weeks into life as a pro, a serious collision while training in Girona changed everything. In this episode, Imogen speaks candidly about...
Mar 06, 2026•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 170
Swiss powerhouse Stefan Küng joins Matt Stephens from Tudor Pro Cycling’s training camp in Spain to reflect on a career built on consistency, curiosity, and quiet ambition. Küng opens up about leaving Groupama-FDJ for a new challenge, the vision behind Tudor’s project, and why the Classics success still drive him. The conversation dives into racing with instinct in an era of marginal gains, evolving nutrition and technology, and the balance between innovation and safety in modern cycling. Stefan...
Feb 20, 2026•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 169
Matthew Riccitello is one of the most exciting young climbers in the WorldTour. Fresh from a breakthrough fifth place at the Vuelta a España, the 23-year-old American joins Matt Stephens from altitude camp in Sierra Nevada to reflect on his journey so far and his move to Decathlon CMA CGM Team. In this episode, Matthew discusses GC ambition, training philosophies, racing without a power meter, and why consistency and confidence are his greatest strengths. Matt learns about life in his hometown T...
Feb 06, 2026•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 168
Double Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee joins Matt Stephens from his home in Yorkshire for a wide-ranging conversation about life after elite triathlon. Brownlee reflects on retiring from professional sport, the pressure of delivering at a home Olympics, and why daily movement still matters as much as ever. The pair dive into Alistair’s growing love of gravel racing, sibling rivalry with brother Jonathan, and that unforgettable moment at the 2016 World Triathlon Series. There’s also time...
Jan 23, 2026•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 167
Former world champion Julian Alaphilippe joins Matt Stephens from Tudor Pro Cycling’s training camp near Calpe to reflect on a career defined by courage, instinct and unforgettable moments. Julian opens up about leading the Tour de France, the pressure of wearing the rainbow jersey, and why that period was both a peak and a personal challenge. He discusses becoming a father, finding balance beyond results, and why joining Tudor has reignited his motivation. The conversation also explores modern ...
Jan 09, 2026•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 166
2025 Pan American Cyclocross Champion Andrew Strohmeyer joins Matt Stephens from his European base in the Netherlands to discuss racing World Cups, funding a full European season, and chasing a professional career. A multiple US national champion and Pan-American title holder, Andrew explains the “Mud Fund,” the impact of gravel’s boom in the US, and the technical skill gap between American and European racing. He breaks down his impressive 12th place at the Tábor World Cup, the demands of elite...
Dec 19, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 165
Portugal’s finest export since the pastel de nata, João Almeida joins Matt Stephens for a brilliantly honest conversation that dives into the life and mindset of one of the most consistent GC riders in the modern peloton. Matt also digs into what it’s like sharing a team with superstars Tadej Pogačar, Juan Ayuso and rising talent Isaac del Toro. Does riding for UAE Team Emirates limit his personal ambitions, or unlock even more potential? What did he really say in that infamous Tom Pidcock momen...
Nov 28, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 164
Matt Stephens chats to ultra-distance bike racer, content creator and charity fundraiser Chris Hall about his recent challenges for Movember. Despite atrocious weather conditions, Chris completed a lap of Britain unsupported during the summer of 2025, learning valuable lessons along the way. With a history of severe depression, Movember is a charity close to his heart and this monumental effort is documented superbly in Chris’ film “Bikepacking the Perimeter of Britain”. Cycling has played a hug...
Nov 14, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Season 1Ep. 163
Matt Stephens chats to Emma Pooley about her incredibly varied career, which spans from professional cycling through long distance running and triathlon, to a victory on University Challenge and some Geotech Engineering thrown in for good measure. The very definition of a multi-disciplinary champion, Emma talks candidly about her struggle to retire from pro sports and how her love for the mountains is undying. The former UCI Individual Time Trial world champion and Olympic Silver medalist shares...
Oct 31, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 162
Matt Stephens chats to Amy Hudson, known as amy.cycling.adventures on social media channels, about her struggles with mental health and the role cycling has had in her recovery. While working as a Mental Health Nurse for the NHS, Amy began suffering with anxiety and eating disorders, with thoughts of suicide. Her husband bought her a road bike, and it slowly changed her life. Now, with the goal of raising funds for mental health charities, she has completed the entire men’s Tour de France route ...
Oct 10, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 161
Filippo Conca races in the Maglia Tricolore with UCI WorldTeam Jayco–AlUla - but just three months ago, that seemed like a distant dream. Out of contract at the end of 2024, he found salvation in SWATT club, an Italian amateur team known for offering cyclists a fresh start with a mix of road and gravel racing. In this podcast, Filippo explains how it feels to win an Italian national road race championship as what he calls ‘a normal rider’, how his engine was suited to gravel racing, what he has ...
Sep 26, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 160
With his unique mix of mayhem, tangents and honest analysis, Matt Stephens looks back on the final week of the 2025 Vuelta Ciclista a España drawing this season’s Rest Day Reflections mini series to a close. There was redemption for Egan Bernal, Pidcock on the Podium, a birthday Kuss, and of course the great Dane dominating the race with Vingegaard looking good in red on the top step. But this is a Matt Stephens podcast, so you can expect clips from inside a revolving door, an origin story about...
Sep 15, 2025•50 min•Season 1Ep. 159
From Juan Ayuso’s contract to Mads Pedersen’s anatomy, Matt Stephens leaves no stone unturned in his analysis of stages 10 to 15 of the 2025 Vuelta Ciclista a España. With the race in the balance, this informal look back at the previous week of racing is the perfect rest day listening. Expect the usual from Matt however, as he gets distracted by Orla Chennaoui’s theme song, carp (again), and an eerily silent room! www.sigmasports.com EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/unplugged Make a ...
Sep 08, 2025•55 min•Season 1Ep. 158
Fresh from the TV studio, Matt Stephens reflects on the first nine stages of the 2025 Vuelta Ciclista a España as they happened. Expect expert opinions on a jam-packed first week of racing that included everything from a mini Giro d’Italia to a sprint finish with a disqualification. And since this is Matt’s podcast, you can also expect him to provide updates on wooden foot bridges and for him to get distracted by carp. www.sigmasports.com EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/unplugged Le...
Sep 01, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 157
Reporting from the mix zone, the motor bike, and a McDonald’s, Matt Stephens brings us a unique look at the Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift 2025. After hot-footing it from stage 19 of the men’s race, Matt didn’t want to miss a beat of the women’s competition. And what a race it turned out to be. With so much French interest in their homegrown riders the fans at the roadside brought the atmosphere, and the peloton brought the theatre. With a final word from Pauline Ferrand-Prévot fresh from her ...
Aug 04, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 156
Live from behind the scenes at the Tour de France, Matt Stephens shares his experience of the final week of racing at the men’s competition before jetting off to watch the Femmes. In this episode you can expect the usual shenanigans alongside some more detailed race analysis and a reflection on how the Tour de France unfolded. So if you like a cocktail of excitable European accents reviewing their fancy French dinners, and Adam Blythe mildly panicking about toilet access while on moto duties - t...
Jul 28, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 155
He’s armed with a portable recorder and he’s still not afraid to use it! Matt Stephens is back at the Tour de France 2025 to bring us a series of vignettes from behind the scenes, as well as his thoughtful reflections on how the men’s race has been ridden over the course of stages 11-15. So if you like thoughtful reflections, panic in ski gondolas and plenty of references to classic pop music - then this is the Tour de France podcast for you. www.sigmasports.com/podcast EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼...
Jul 21, 2025•58 min•Season 1Ep. 154
From behind the scenes at the 2025 Tour de France, Matt Stephens has got his portable recorder at the ready to capture the atmosphere, and his own reactions to the biggest men’s bike race in the world. From the grand depart in Lille to the unpredictability of Bastille day, there are a whopping ten stages to get stuck into. So if you like tiny toilet reports, caravan float roulette, and time trial recces on Bromptons - then this is the Tour de France podcast series for you. www.sigmasports.com/po...
Jul 15, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 153
After what many are describing as the best Giro d’Italia of all time, Matt Stephens looks back at the final week of action from stages 16 - 21 2025. Stepping out of the TNT Eurosport Discovery TV studio to record his clips, Matt’s reactions are immediate, honest and fresh - with takeaways from each stage that retell the story of the grand tour in his unique way. You can also expect to hear about bees, swashbuckling, snakehips, low-budget Mission Impossible movies, and German Fathers’ day, - afte...
Jun 02, 2025•50 min•Season 1Ep. 152
Looking back at stages 10 - 15 of the Giro d’Italia 2025, this special episode of Sigma Sports Presents Matt Stephens Unplugged is another fantastic installment of his Rest Day Reflections mini series. After each stage of the Giro, Matt pops out of the TV studio to give us his raw reflections on how the race went that day. Expect wet and wild time trials, Lidl Trek dominance, the surprising demise of a race favourite, and (this being Matt Stephens); water polo cousins, goose attacks and a taxide...
May 26, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 151
Live from Stockley Park, Matt Stephens steps out of the TNT Eurosport Discovery TV studio and delivers his opinions on the Giro d’Italia as it happens. In this episode, Matt reacts to a thrilling week of racing when the Giro landed on Italian soil, as he focuses on stages 4 - 9. There was a little bit of everything to reflect on; flat stages with frantic finishes, impressive climbing from grand tour debutants, and the pink jersey changing hands four times in the past week. Not to mention a thril...
May 19, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 150
For the 2025 edition of the Giro d’Italia Matt Stephens has a live in-studio role providing commentary and analysis for TNT Eurosport Discovery. But he’s taken his pod-mic along and will give us his daily reactions to each stage, right after it happens. In this episode, Matt looks back at the first three stages in Albania, which saw some pretty hectic racing right from the very start of his favourite Grand Tour. Matt being Matt, this podcast features tips on how to eat well with only a hotel ket...
May 12, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 149
Matt Stephens chats to Paul Double about his journey from development rider at Zappi’s Racing Team to winning World Tour stages for Jayco AlUla. Unlike recent trends, Paul’s route to the top tier of pro cycling has been a steady development over many years of racing through the ranks, only signing his first World Tour contract at 28. He’s a gritty, determined climber with a decent sprint - so he’s certainly one to watch if he’s chosen for this season’s Giro d’Italia. Not only is he a fantastica ...
May 02, 2025•57 min•Season 1Ep. 148
