VeloNews Podcasts

Two big storylines are dominating the pro cycling space this week, and on this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast we dive into both. First: The UCI has enacted two unpopular rule changes for 2021, banning the 'super tuck' descending position, as well as the 'invisible aero bars' breakaway position. We delve into the decision and explore which of the positions will be harder for riders to give up (the latter). Then, bike racing and the stars of the sport returned last week at the Etoile de Besseges race in France, which kicked off a month of pro racing in France. James Startt was at the race, and he will be attending the upcoming events in France. Startt offers his perspective on how the cancelation of global races could impact these small French events going forward. Then, Lucinda Brand returns to the podcast to discuss her world championship ride at the recent cyclocross worlds in Belgium. Brand discusses her ambitions for the upcoming road season, and why she doesn't believe her CX worlds win will change much in her approach to pro cycling. All that and more on this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast.

On this week's episode of the VeloNews Podcast Andrew Hood and Fred Dreier discuss the spate of race cancelations in Spain and Portugal due to COVID-19 and the impact they will have on the calendar. The best riders will now look to France and the Middle East for their early season fitness, which could have an impact on the upcoming battles on the cobblestones and at Paris-Nice. Then, U.S. phenom Clara Honsinger joins the podcast to discuss her thrilling ride at the 2021 UCI cyclocross world championships, and her impressive first full season in Europe. All that and more on this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast.

On this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast we dive into two of the biggest stories swirling in the sport: Tom Dumoulin stepping away from pro cycling and NBC's decision to torpedo the Tour de France's U.S. cable television home, NBC Sports Network. First, we discuss the Dumoulin news with longtime Dutch cycling journalist Raymond Kerckhoffs of Wielerflits.nl. Kerckhoffs, who has covered Dumoulin for his entire pro cycling career, discusses the family tragedy that occurred just before Dumoulin announced his decision. Kerckhoffs also explains why he believes that Dumoulin's step away from cycling may be permanent. Kerckhoffs also discusses his recent interview with Dutch sprinter Dylan Groenewegen, who opened up about the terrifying crash at the Tour of Poland that sent countryman Fabio Jakobsen to the hospital for weeks. Groenewegen was banned for causing the crash, and he has new perspective on how it went down. Then, American journalist John Ourand of the SportsBusiness Journal joins the show to discuss the news that Comcast/NBC plans to shutter cable sports channel NBC Sports Network at the end of 2021. NBC Sports Network has been the U.S. television home of the Tour de France since 2012, and every year it broadcasts dozens of hours of Tour coverage to U.S. fans. Ourand explains why NBC is shuttering the channel, and whether or not the Tour will have a home for live television broadcast in the future. All that and more on this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast.

It's Aussie Week on velonews.com and we have stories and interviews that take readers inside the Australian experience in pro cycling. We're continuing that theme on this week's edition of The VeloNews Podcast, which is dedicated entirely to Australian cycling. We have an interview with Cadel Evans, who relives his Tour de France win from 2011. We also hear from up-and-coming rider Lucy Kennedy, who explains how Australia's national federation — and its unorthodox training camp — contributed to her professional career. Before that, Fred Dreier, Jim Cotton, and Andrew Hood discuss the importance of the Tour Down Under, and how the race's cancelation for 2021 could impact Australian cyclists. The guys also rank the top Australian cyclists of all time. This week's episode is sponsored by Synchronicity Hemp Oil, which invites you to take 30% off your first order by going to synchronicityhempoil.com and using the code ADVANTAGE at checkout.

On this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast we catch up with Geraint Thomas, the 2018 Tour de France winner. Thomas shares his thoughts on the 2021 Tour route, and discusses Ineos Grenadiers' rivalry with Jumbo-Visma. He also takes us inside his disappointment after crashing out of the 2020 Giro d'Italia, and explains how he mentally recovered from the setback. Before we hear from Geraint Thomas, Fred Dreier and Andrew Hood link up to discuss the early-season comments from Caleb Ewan, Jasper Stuyven, Lizzie Deignan, and teammates on Bora-Hansgrohe. Ewan opined on whether the peloton would welcome Dylan Groenewegen back with open arms after his suspension. Stuyven has ambitions to win a monument; Deignan has her sights set on Paris-Roubaix; Nibali is eyeing the Tokyo Olympics; and Bora-Hansgrohe must balance the ambitions of Pascal Ackermann and Peter Sagan. All that and more on this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast.

The 2021 WorldTour season has yet to begin and already we have a major story to discuss on The VeloNews Podcast. Earlier this week German team DSM revealed that its Swiss star Marc Hirschi was abruptly leaving the squad. The going story is that Hirschi — one of the breakout stars of the 2020 season — was bought out of his contract by another WorldTour team, likely UAE-Team Emirates. On today's episode we discuss the Hirschi news and explore the dynamic of riders breaking their contracts to shift teams. Then, Chris Froome is in Southern California at the moment embarking on a training bloc and rehab session, in hopes that the extra work will help him thrive during the 2021 season. What's the story behind Froome's rehab, and how to Israel Start-Up Nation directors believe this will help Froome in the coming season? Finally, we catch up with Ineos-Grenadiers workhorse Cameron Wurf. Wurf is one of the stars of the Ironman triathlon circuit as well as a top WorldTour rider. He returned to pro cycling in 2020 after seven seasons in pro triathlon, and he takes us inside his return to the peloton. All that and more on this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast.

The end of 2020 is finally here, and on this week's podcast we look back at the riders and stories that defined a most bizarre year. First up, we name our All-WorldTour team for 2020, comprised of the best riders for each eight spots on a grand tour team. Pogačar or Roglič? Wout or Mathieu? Annemiek van Vleuten or Anna van der Breggen? We argue and hash out each debate to come up with our list of top performers for the year. Then, we explore our favorite stories of 2020 and look back at the reporting that brought these stories to life on velonews.com and in VeloNews magazine. Thanks so much for listening to The VeloNews Podcast in 2020, and we can't wait to speak to you in 2021.

In this final VeloNews Tech Podcast of 2020, Dan Cavallari and Ben Delaney look back on the good, the bad, and the ugly from the year. We highlight the big gear trends of the year, reflect on our favorite bikes and products, and, luckily for you, refrain from singing Auld Lang Syne.

After running her own Continental team in the U.K. for 11 years, Cherie Pridham has moved over to Israel Start-Up Nationa as director sportif. For the cycling world, she is the first female director of a men's WorldTour team. For Pridham, though, she just sees the role as her job. On this episode, Bobby Julich and Gus Morton catch up with Pridham fresh off an Israel Start-Up Nation team camp to talk about 2021. Pridham also talks about her long road to the WorldTour, starting out as a girl in Cape Town, jumping in one of the biggest cycling events in the world, the Cape Town Cycle Tour. "So as an 11 year old, that was my first race," Pridham said. "And then things just went from there. I won my age category, and then won it again the year after that. And then I was completely hooked. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was adamant I wanted to be a pro bike rider."

On this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast we take a dive into two of the bigger news stories from the world of cycling, and hear from U.S. rider Chad Haga. New circulated this week that Ineos-Grenadiers is interested in signing Wout van Aert for 2022. Andrew Hood breaks down why this news is circulating now, and what an Ineos-Grenadiers bid to sign van Aert could do to his value in the pro peloton. How much would Jumbo-Visma need to give up to keep the Belgian star? It's a huge question that could tip the balance of power in the WorldTour. Then, we break down the recent interview given by Wilco Kelderman about the 2020 Giro d'Italia. Kelderman said that Team Sunweb's tactics on the stage over the Passo Stelvio left him feeling isolated. Could Kelderman have won the Giro had Sunweb played its cards differently? One man who has a firm opinion on the matter is Chad Haga, who was part of that Sunweb squad at the Giro. Haga joins the podcast to take us inside the 2020 Giro, and explore whether or not Sunweb's tactics cost Kelderman the win. All that and more on this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast.

One day. Five hundred kilometers — inside. And one cause - World Bicycle Relief. On this special episode of Put Your Socks On, Bobby and Gus check in with Kieran Ronan, a longtime Nike executive and cyclist who is preparing to ride 500km — 310 miles — on December 30 as a fundraiser for World Bicycle Relief. There are the numbers, and then there are the reasons behind the ride. PYSO digs into both. "It's just really an interesting way how somebody of my age has had to adapt, and how the virtual world on social media can actually do good," Ronan says. "And that's that's the big takeaway that I've had in a sense of community with a love of cycling, that can be transported across the globe and bring more people along." If you are interested in supporting or even joining Ronan for part or all of his Zwift ride, you can read more here: https://www.velonews.com/culture/the-grind-up-for-a-challenge-try-500km-on-december-30/

On this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast we discuss the newest wrinkles in women's pro road racing. Then, we hear from all-around phenom Lucinda Brand, who is absolutely dominating the 2020 UCI cyclocross season. In pro racing news, the organizers of the Vuelta a España as well as the organizers of the Tour de France are reportedly both working on separate weeklong stage races for women. The races are slated to occur in 2022. Andrew Hood joins the podcast to discuss the significance of this news, and to discuss why the races could mark a cultural shift for ASO, the French production company that owns both races. Then, we discuss our decision to name Anna van der Breggen our International Cyclist of the Year for 2020, the biggest honor in the annual VeloNews Awards. Van der Breggen won six of the biggest races on the calendar, and her run of success was unmatched in either men's or women's racing this year. Then, we catch up with Lucinda Brand, who takes us inside the 2020 cyclocross season. Brand is leading the way in the women's races, however she has a cadre of young countrywomen nipping at her heels. And Brand has some thoughts on why these talented Dutch youngsters are having so much success at such a young age. All that and more on this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast!

Is the chain the most under-appreciated component on your bike? It sure takes a lot of abuse, and most of us neglect it. Yet the great chain keeps chugging along. Nick Murdick from Shimano knows all about chains — how they're made, how they've changed over the years, what makes a good chain and what makes a not-so-good chain. He joins VeloNews tech editor Dan Cavallari to give us all the info we need to choose the best chain and treat it right.

At the 2006 UCI world championships in Austria, a young Chris Froome walked into the manager's briefing meeting, sopping wet in his cycling kit. He was told he wasn't welcome - the meeting was for managers only. He said he was the manager, and he plopped himself down. And in fact he was. He was Kenya's sole representative in Austria. Earlier that year, Froome had impersonated the Kenya cycling federation president in email to enter himself into the races. There was no one else to support him. He had flown, alone with his time trial and road bikes, to Europe for the first time. He was figuring it out. Two days later, he started the U23 time trial and, just as he was getting underway, collided with a race official on course. Fast forward to today, and Froome of course has won seven grand tours and multiple Olympic and world championship medals. The young man from Kenya found a way. On this episode of Put Your Socks On, Froome checks in from California, where he is training four day a week at the Red Bull Performance Center. Froome talks about what is was like growing up in Africa, the obstacles he faced in breaking into a European sport, and his love for racing.

On this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast we hear the story of L&M Tourers, one of New York City's first clubs for Black cyclists. The club was founded in the early 1970s by sisters Lucille Smith and Mildred Smith-Evans as a way to bring together the city's burgeoning population of Black riders. The club morphed from a social club into an organized group with regular rides, routes, and cycling mentorship programs. Eventually, the group changed its name to the Major Taylor cycling club. Today, New York City's Major Taylor Iron Riders club traces its lineage back to L&M Tourers. Mildred Smith-Evans and Mel Corbett, one of the first club members, join the podcast to tell the history of the club and explain how it grew into Major Taylor Iron Riders. The two discuss the racism and bias they faced as black riders on the roads of New York City. And, they discuss the ways in which cycling can make itself more available to Black cyclists in 2020 and beyond.