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The Cycling Podcast

The Cycling Podcastthecyclingpodcast.com
The Cycling Podcast takes listeners to the heart of professional cycling with weekly episodes and daily coverage of the Grand Tours.

Join journalists Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie – and a few special guests along the way – as they podcast about the latest cycling news and the world of professional cycling.

Founded by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie in 2013, The Cycling Podcast is one of the longest-running independent sports podcasts.

To support The Cycling Podcast, subscribe as a Friend of the Podcast to join our community, listen to special episodes released throughout the year and access our archive stretching back to 2015. Subscribe at thecyclingpodcast.com
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Episodes

S11 Ep38: Stage 2 | Teramo – San Salvo | Giro d’Italia 2023

In this episode of Girovagando, we hear news, interviews and opinion from stage 2 of the Giro d’Italia, with Daniel Friebe and Brian Nygaard on the ground in Italy and Lionel Birnie back at base in the UK. There’s an appearance from the one and only Ciro Scognamiglio – plus our preview of tomorrow’s stage…and review of yesterday’s dinner! The Cycling Podcast is supported by Science in Sport. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast The 11.01 Cappuccino Our...

May 07, 202344 minSeason 11Ep. 38

S11 Ep37: Stage 1 | Fossacesia Marina – Ortona | Giro d’Italia 2023

In this episode of Girovagando, we hear news, interviews and opinion from stage 1 of the Giro d’Italia in Abruzzo, with Daniel Friebe and Brian Nygaard on the ground in Italy and Lionel Birnie back at base in the UK. There’s the (almost) daily postcard from sometime host Larry Warbasse – who’s also riding the Giro for AG2r Citroën – plus our preview of tomorrow’s stage…and review of yesterday’s dinner! The Cycling Podcast is supported by Science in Sport. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycl...

May 06, 20231 hr 4 minSeason 11Ep. 37

S11 Ep36: Girovagando – The XL Giro d’Italia Preview

On Saturday the Giro d’Italia rolls out of Pescara on the Adriatic coast and, as ever, The Cycling Podcast will be there to document every stage, every polemica and every violation of the sacred codes of Italian gastronomy. In this episode, Daniel Friebe, Lionel Birnie and Brian Nygaard present our comprehensive preview of the first Grand Tour of 2023: who is riding, where the race is going and – if you’ll indulge our uncharacteristic speculation – who is likely to be in pink when the peloton ar...

May 03, 20231 hr 48 minSeason 11Ep. 36

S11 Ep35: Vinovagando – The Wines of the 2023 Giro d'Italia

As per what is now an annual tradition, The Cycling Podcast and Dvine Cellars of London have indulged our mutual, overlapping passions and paid homage to the Giro d'Italia by selecting six wines to celebrate this year's race. In this episode, Daniel Friebe is joined by Greg Andrews and Luciana Girotto of Dvine to discuss those wines. The wines are listed below and can be purchased via the Dvine Cellars website . The six wines – the Girovagando selection discussed here – are as follows, in order ...

May 01, 202359 minSeason 11Ep. 35

S11 Ep34: Total Demi-lition

How do you beat SD Worx? That’s the question that Rose Manley, Orla Chennaoui and Lizzy Banks are looking to answer in this month’s episode of The Cycling Podcast Féminin. With the Spring Classics now at an end and with an Ardennes triple in the bag for Demi Vollering, SD Worx already have 13 victories from four different riders this season. What makes their dominance all the more impressive is the nature of those wins, coming from almost every racing scenario possible. The Cycling Podcast team ...

Apr 27, 20231 hr 1 minSeason 11Ep. 34

S11 Ep33: Mighty White

It was billed as a clash of the Titans but Liège-Bastogne-Liège turned into the latest episode of the Remco Evenepoel show after Tadej Pogačar’s early crash. In this episode of The Cycling Podcast, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie are joined by former Liège winner and Pogačar team-mate Dan Martin to reflect on Sunday’s race. We also consider what may be the respective postscripts to La Doyenne - for Evenepoel and his Giro d’Italia bid and Pogačar’s chances of being fit for the Tour de France. In ...

Apr 25, 20231 hr 21 minSeason 11Ep. 33

S11 Ep32: Arrivée | Liège-Bastogne-Liège | men’s race

The spring classics draw to a close with the fourth Monument of the season, Liège-Bastogne-Liège. After a spring dominated by the sport’s biggest names, La Doyenne, the oldest of the Monuments, was shaping up to be a showdown between Tadej Pogačar, winner of the Tour of Flanders, Amstel Gold Race and Flèche Wallonne, and reigning world champion and defending Liège champion, Remco Evenepoel. But how did it pan out? Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie discuss the action. The Cycling Podcast is support...

Apr 23, 202335 minSeason 11Ep. 32

S11 Ep31: Arrivée | Liège-Bastogne-Liège | women's race

Rose Manley and Lizzy Banks serve up their takes on an edition of Liege-Bastogne-Liege that ranks highly on the Belgian waffle-o-meter. SD Worx’s Demi Vollering comes into the race with an Ardennes Classics triple on her mind. But with more teams taking more risks as the Spring season comes to a close, her ascension is anything but a forgone conclusion. Could her closest opponent in fact come from her very own team? The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens and Science in Sport. Follow us...

Apr 23, 202338 minSeason 11Ep. 31

S11 Ep30: Arrivée | Flèche Wallonne

In the time it takes to climb the Mur de Huy half a dozen times, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie discuss the uphill cheese roll, aka Flèche Wallonne. Is it the most predictable race on the calendar, or is there some hidden nuance to the final climb? We discuss how the race panned out and other associated Ardennes trivia before attention turns to the big one, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, on Sunday. Arrivée will return then with Daniel and Lionel covering the men’s race and Rose Manley and Lizzy Banks ta...

Apr 19, 202331 minSeason 11Ep. 30

S11 Ep29: Amstel Gold Ace

In this episode of The Cycling Podcast, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie review the action from the first of the Limburg-Ardennes troika of Classics–- the Amstel Gold Race. To aid them in an ever more desperate scramble for superlatives to describe Tadej Pogačar’s spring, the boys are joined by AG2R Citroën stalwart Larry Warbasse – who’ll be among those trying to prevent a Pog clean sweep at Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. We also hear from and about one of the revelations of recent we...

Apr 17, 20231 hr 21 minSeason 11Ep. 29

S11 Ep28: Service Course | Tech Heaven in Hell

This episode of Service Course was recorded on location at the Hell of the North. Join Lizzy Banks and Tom Whalley for two breathtaking races at Paris-Roubaix and a closer look at some of the bikes being ridden. The pair hear about the rival adjustable tyre pressure systems being used by Team DSM and Jumbo-Visma at the race, Scope Atmoz and Gravaa Kaps respectively, as well as speaking to the creator of Gravaa Kaps, Gertjan van Ginderen. Despite both DSM and Jumbo-Visma having men’s and women’s ...

Apr 13, 202341 minSeason 11Ep. 28

S11 Ep27: Like a Mat Out of Hell

As the dust settles on another cobbled Classics season – and some who made it to the Roubaix velodrome on Sunday are still wiping the grit and in one or two cases tears from their eyes – Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie take a last look back at the Hell of the North in the company of former WorldTour pro and cobblestone connoisseur Mitch Docker. We hear Mitch’s thoughts on another superlative performance by Mathieu van der Poel and also speak to a rider who was making his debut in the race on Sun...

Apr 12, 20231 hr 22 minSeason 11Ep. 27

S11 Ep26: Arrivée | Paris-Roubaix

In our third round of Arrivée podcasts of the 2023 season, Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe recap the action from a fast – historically fast – and frenetic Paris-Roubaix. After his victory in Milan-Sanremo three weeks ago, Mathieu van der Poel looked like the hot favourite – but could his long-time rival Wout Van Aert turn it into a Sunday in Hell for the Dutchman? Lionel was on the ground to find out, & we discuss the main talking points here. The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens...

Apr 09, 202340 minSeason 11Ep. 26

S11 Ep25: Arrivée | Paris-Roubaix Femmes

Join Lionel Birnie and Lizzy Banks in the grandstand at the velodrome in Roubaix as they recap a thrilling third edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes. They spent the day hopping from cobble section to cobble section but made it to the finish in time to see the outcome. The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens and Science in Sport. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast The 11.01 Cappuccino Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe her...

Apr 08, 202336 minSeason 11Ep. 25

S11 Ep24: Men who stare at GOATS

In this week’s regular episode of The Cycling Podcast, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie are joined by long-time contributor François Thomazeau to reflect on Tadej Pogačar’s Tour of Flanders victory at the weekend and look ahead to Paris-Roubaix. Since Flanders, debate has raged about whether Pog will one day complete cycling’s “Monument Slam”. We discuss how much prestige should in fact be associated with such an achievement - and also revisit a few minor controversies thrown up by Sunday’s race....

Apr 05, 20231 hr 17 minSeason 11Ep. 24

S11 Ep22: Arrivée | Tour of Flanders | men’s race

In our second round of Arrivée podcasts of the 2023 season, Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe get together to serve up their hot takes after a memorable edition of the Tour of Flanders. Could Mathieu van der Poel repeat his Milan-Sanremo heroics and thereby equal the career record of three Flanders wins? Would the home favourite Wout Van Aert finally add his name to the roll of honour of Vlaanderens Mooiste? What if Tadej Pogačar thwarted them both? Sunday afternoon would provide answers - and one...

Apr 02, 202341 minSeason 11Ep. 22

S11 Ep23: Arrivée | Tour of Flanders | women’s race

In this episode of Arrivée, Rose Manley and Lizzy Banks dissect the women’s Tour of Flanders. After an imperious start to the season which includes wins for Demi Vollering, Marlen Reusser and Lotte Kopecky, all eyes will be on SD Worx. But with former Flanders champion Elisa Longo Borghini returning to the Trek-Segafredo fold and World Champion Annemiek Van Vleuten racing her final Ronde Van Vlaanderen, who will come out on top? The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens and Science in Spo...

Apr 02, 202334 minSeason 11Ep. 23

S11 Ep21: A Perfect Gent

In this week’s regular episode of The Cycling Podcast, Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe are joined by Renaat Schotte, one of the voices of cycling in Belgium, to review a scintillating weekend of Classics racing - and one that reaffirmed Jumbo-Visma’s supremacy ahead of the Tour of Flanders. We savour an E3 Saxo Bank Classic illuminated by three galáciticos of the pro peloton before going on to discuss an edition of Gent-Wevelgem that will be remembered for its hideous conditions, a stunning perf...

Mar 29, 20231 hr 43 minSeason 11Ep. 21

S11 Ep20: Whole Lotte Love

This month, The Cycling Podcast Féminin team get what they wished for: a fiercely fought battle between two teammates. Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering gunned it out at Strade Bianche with the Dutchwoman eventually crowned the victor after a tense photo finish. Despite being pipped into second, the Italian classic marked yet another chapter in Kopecky’s extraordinary early season in which she has never finished lower than runner-up. Rose Manley, Orla Chennaoui and Lizzy Banks discuss the race an...

Mar 24, 20231 hr 5 minSeason 11Ep. 20

S11 Ep19: The Phonebox, the Ibex & Eight Bowls of Linguine

In this episode of The Cycling Podcast, after our on-the-whistle analysis in Arrivée at the weekend, we revisit Milan-Sanremo in the company of Larry Warbasse of AG2r-Citroën, who was in the thick of the action right up until the moment of Mathieu van der Poel’s race-winning attack on the Poggio. Larry takes Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie inside the peloton, dissecting and demystifying the wiles and vagaries of the first Monument of the season. We also hear the latest news from the Remco-Roglič...

Mar 22, 20231 hr 17 minSeason 11Ep. 19

S11 Ep18: Arrivée | Milan-Sanremo 2023

In this year’s first episode of Arrivée, Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe review the action from Milan-Sanremo aka La Classicissima. Would Tadej Pogačar continue where he left off at Paris-Nice last weekend? Could Van Aert and Van der Poel thwart him? And would Lionel reprise the foccacia-in-cappuccino dunking ritual premiered at last year’s Giro d’Italia? Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast Arrivée by The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens a...

Mar 18, 202338 minSeason 11Ep. 18

S11 Ep17: Service Course | The Worst Kept Secret

In this month's episode of service course Tom Whalley and Lizzy Banks discuss Victor Campanaerts' secret weapon for the spring classics. Lizzy reveals what she's been up to on her secret mission to Girona and speaks to Cannondale's top nerds, Sam Ebert and Nathan Barry. Tom also set out to gain an insight into the process of kit design and spoke to Kate Wagner, Sam Morgan of Paria and our very own Lionel Birnie. The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens and Science in Sport. Sports Podcas...

Mar 17, 20231 hr 16 minSeason 11Ep. 17

S11 Ep16: Jam Tadej

In this week’s regular episode of The Cycling Podcast, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie are joined by former Team CSC and Team Sky press chief and Leopard-Trek manager Brian Nygaard to review the two big WorldTour stage races that concluded at the weekend and look ahead to the first Monument of the 2023 season - Milan-Sanremo. After the usual weekly news round-up, we discuss the latest Pogcineration of Paris-Nice and the Roglication of Tirreno-Adriatico. What do these two results mean for the Gra...

Mar 15, 20231 hr 31 minSeason 11Ep. 16

S11 Ep15: Explore | The Midlife Cyclist

This episode of Explore was recorded in March 2022, when Lionel Birnie travelled to Berkshire to meet Phil Cavell. Lionel fitted squarely into the demographic Phil was writing for in his book The Midlife Cyclist and, as one of the people behind Cyclefit, has spent years trying to make riders more comfortable, more efficient and more powerful on the bike. As the years tick by and the likelihood of aches and pains on and off the bike rises, the middle aged cyclist has to pay more attention to thei...

Mar 09, 20231 hr 10 minSeason 11Ep. 15

S11 Ep14: The Incredulity of Thomas

Lionel Birnie is joined by EF Education-Tibco rider Lizzy Banks and Edward Pickering, the editor of Rouleur magazine, to help see through the dust thrown up by Strade Bianche. Saturday was a day when teamwork came under the microscope. In part one we examine the women’s race which was dominated by two SD Worx riders who had everything worked out except the ending. Demi Vollering seemed as surprised as anyone that her teammate Lotte Kopecky sprinted against her. Then we turn attention to the men’...

Mar 06, 20231 hr 24 minSeason 11Ep. 14

S11 Ep13: A Diamond Thief in the Hornets’ Nest

In this week’s regular episode, Daniel Friebe, Lionel Birnie and Rob Hatch of GCN and Eurosport commentary fame reflect on two thrilling days of racing at Opening Weekend in Belgium. On Saturday, a dominant Jumbo-Visma performance culminated in victory in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad for a rider whose winning moves typically display all the stealth, cunning and deftness of a gemstone heist. This was followed on Sunday by another Jumbo masterclass and success for one of the team’s less prolific yet most...

Feb 27, 20231 hr 11 minSeason 11Ep. 13

S11 Ep12: Kool and the Gang

Comebacks, controversy and new rivalries, there’s plenty for Rose Manley, Orla Chennaoui and Lizzy Banks to discuss in this month’s episode of The Cycling Podcast Féminin. We hear from Charlotte Kool who caused a major upset in taking two stage wins over former teammate and sprinting superstar Lorena Wiebes at the UAE Tour. She tells us what it is like taking on the mantle of leadership in one of the world’s best sprinting teams and going head-to-head against a rider you used to lead out. Newly ...

Feb 24, 20231 hr 16 minSeason 11Ep. 12
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