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Why is Lotte Kopecky skipping the Tour and has women’s racing now reaching a financial tipping point?

Why is Lotte Kopecky skipping the Tour and has women’s racing now reaching a financial tipping point?

The spring Classics are over and the Grand Tours are looming, starting with the Vuelta Femenina, which kicks off this weekend. But before we get into the Vuelta Femenina and ask if Demi Vollering can win for the first time this season, there’s another huge women’s story in town: that of world champion Lotte Kopecky deciding to bypass the Tour de France Femmes in August — something which would have been unthinkable even a year ago — in favour of the Paris Olympic Games. We examine the reasons behind the world number one's decision to miss the biggest race of the season in order to target gold in three events at the Paris Olympic. We hear from her French rival Audrey Cordon-Ragot, who explains why she isn't surprised to hear the news about Kopecky's change of focus. This leads us on to a wider issue... With reigning Tour de France Femmes champion Demi Vollering reportedly set to move from SD Worx to FDJ Suez next season on a salary rumoured to be around one million euros, we ask whether this growth rate of women’s cycling is sustainable? Is it going to create an even bigger divide between the rich and poor in the women’s peloton? Next up is a preview of the week-long Vuelta Femenina, where Vollering will be chasing an elusive first win of the season. Movistar team director Tim Harris tells us what he's expecting from the season's first Grand Tour and also reveals his hopes for his own team, which will feature Movistar leader Liane Lippert for the first time this season after her recovery from a December leg break. Staying with the women's elite, we speak to Britain's Lizzie Deignan, another rider who's on the way back after breaking a bone, in her case an arm in a crash at the Tour of Flanders. The Lidl-Trek rider also has her focus on the Olympics, where she hopes to better the silver medal she won at London 2012. She outlines her programme leading into Paris, talks about her confidence in her ability to get into the form she needs, and about Britain's emerging strength as a road race power, which could benefit her this summer. In our 'How to Make Cycling Better' feature, we hand the microphone to French veteran stage racer and recent Liège-Bastogne-Liège runner-up Romain Bardet, who offers an intriguing proposal that he believes would help to reduce the control of the major teams on racing, making the sport more unpredictable and exciting. And, finally, was there ever a time when French financial services company Cofidis was not sponsoring a bike team? Once again, the team’s contract has just been renewed, ensuring that there will be a Cofidis jersey in the peloton until at least 2028. So what’s the secret of their staying power? We ask French journalist Pierre Carrey, the cycling correspondent Swiss paper Le Temps, about the French team and whether there's anything to those widespread rumours linking them with French star Julian Alaphilippe, whose contract is up at the end of this season. This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle. Music provided by HearWeGo Marion - High Hopes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episodes

Why is Lotte Kopecky skipping the Tour and has women’s racing now reaching a financial tipping point?

Why is Lotte Kopecky skipping the Tour and has women’s racing now reaching a financial tipping point?

The spring Classics are over and the Grand Tours are looming, starting with the Vuelta Femenina, which kicks off this weekend. But before we get into the Vuelta Femenina and ask if Demi Vollering can win for the first time this season, there’s another huge women’s story in town: that of world champion Lotte Kopecky deciding to bypass the Tour de France Femmes in August — something which would have been unthinkable even a year ago — in favour of the Paris Olympic Games. We examine the reasons behind the world number one's decision to miss the biggest race of the season in order to target gold in three events at the Paris Olympic. We hear from her French rival Audrey Cordon-Ragot, who explains why she isn't surprised to hear the news about Kopecky's change of focus. This leads us on to a wider issue... With reigning Tour de France Femmes champion Demi Vollering reportedly set to move from SD Worx to FDJ Suez next season on a salary rumoured to be around one million euros, we ask whether this growth rate of women’s cycling is sustainable? Is it going to create an even bigger divide between the rich and poor in the women’s peloton? Next up is a preview of the week-long Vuelta Femenina, where Vollering will be chasing an elusive first win of the season. Movistar team director Tim Harris tells us what he's expecting from the season's first Grand Tour and also reveals his hopes for his own team, which will feature Movistar leader Liane Lippert for the first time this season after her recovery from a December leg break. Staying with the women's elite, we speak to Britain's Lizzie Deignan, another rider who's on the way back after breaking a bone, in her case an arm in a crash at the Tour of Flanders. The Lidl-Trek rider also has her focus on the Olympics, where she hopes to better the silver medal she won at London 2012. She outlines her programme leading into Paris, talks about her confidence in her ability to get into the form she needs, and about Britain's emerging strength as a road race power, which could benefit her this summer. In our 'How to Make Cycling Better' feature, we hand the microphone to French veteran stage racer and recent Liège-Bastogne-Liège runner-up Romain Bardet, who offers an intriguing proposal that he believes would help to reduce the control of the major teams on racing, making the sport more unpredictable and exciting. And, finally, was there ever a time when French financial services company Cofidis was not sponsoring a bike team? Once again, the team’s contract has just been renewed, ensuring that there will be a Cofidis jersey in the peloton until at least 2028. So what’s the secret of their staying power? We ask French journalist Pierre Carrey, the cycling correspondent Swiss paper Le Temps, about the French team and whether there's anything to those widespread rumours linking them with French star Julian Alaphilippe, whose contract is up at the end of this season. This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle. Music provided by HearWeGo Marion - High Hopes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why Rod Ellingworth left Ineos Grenadiers

Why Rod Ellingworth left Ineos Grenadiers

After being at the forefront of British success for two decades, masterminding the development of superstars such as Mark Cavendish, Geraint Thomas, Bradley Wiggins and Tom Pidcock, Rod Ellingworth has left WorldTour to oversee the reboot of the women’s and men’s Tour of Britain. In an exclusive interview trackside at Manchester velodrome, Ellingworth reveals why he left Ineos Grenadiers, how he has a bold vision to grow British Cycling’s national tours — and whether he’ll be giving Dave Brailsford advice on who to bring off the bench at Old Trafford… Sandwiched between the pavé and the Giro d’Italia are the Ardennes Classics, hilly one-day races in the elevated lands of the Netherlands and Belgium, the setting this coming weekend for a heavyweight clash between Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel. In our preview of the weekend's major racing action, Ardennes Classics veteran Dan Martin, winner of Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 2013, tells us what makes these races so special and about the qualities required to win them. We also hear from Bahrain-Victorious's Pello Bilbao on how you go about beating Tadej Pogačar. While Van der Poel and Pogačar have been hogging the victories and the headlines at the very top of the sport, it's also become increasingly difficult to ignore the feats of 21-year-old Briton Joe Blackmore. Winner of the Tours of Rwanda and Taiwan, 4th against the big guns at Flèche Brabonçonne, and victorious again at the under-23 edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Blackmore has just signed a 2-year contract with Israel-PremierTech. In our profile of this hugely exciting talent, we hear from Joe Blackmore himself, who tells us what kind of rider he sees himself as and about his motivations as a racer. In our regular feature on "Ways to Make Cycling Better", former pro and now EF Education-EasyPost team director Tejay van Garderen tells us why he'd like to see names and numbers on riders' jerseys. This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle. Music provided by HearWeGo Marion - High Hopes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bora boss Ralph Denk on Roglič's state of health, Red Bull's stake in his team, links to Wout van Aert & Cian Uijtdebroeks' disappointing departure

Bora boss Ralph Denk on Roglič's state of health, Red Bull's stake in his team, links to Wout van Aert & Cian Uijtdebroeks' disappointing departure

The frenzy of the cobbles are just about behind us, the Ardennes Classics now lie in wait and soon the high mountains of races like the Tour of the Alps and, of course, the Giro d’Italia will fill our screens... Meanwhile, off the road, the UCI has just announced that it is bringing in a new face to lead the fight against technological fraud….but who is this guy…? We profile and hear from Nicholas Raudenski – a former criminal investigator who has also worked for the US Department of Homeland Security – who's about to head up the UCI's beefed-up battle against motor doping. We also reveal the main focus for Raudenski and this new initiative, which is being driven by UCI president David Lappartient. Continuing our series of interviews with the managers of the peloton's leading teams, we speak exclusively to Bora-hansgrohe boss Ralph Denk. In a wide-ranging discussion, Denk reveals the latest on team leader Primož Roglič’s recovery from his Itzulia Basque Country-ending crash, Red Bull's increased investment in the team and potential links to Red Bull-sponsored Wout van Aert, why he'd like to see budget caps on top teams, his disappointment with Cian Uijtdebroeks' departure to Visma-Lease a Bike and his suggestion for improving the sport. In the wake of the horrific Itzulia crash, we also speak to Safe Cycling CEO Markus Laerum, whose company acts as a safety consultancy to many major races including the Tour France. He opens up on pre-Itzulia concerns about safety on that race, his conversation about dodgy Basque descents with Jonas Vingegaard, and about how receptive race organisers are to Safe Cycling suggestions and initiatives. Plus, after making his journalistic debut at Paris-Roubaix last weekend, our intrepid presenter Chris Marshall-Bell talks Hell of the North with Cycling Weekly's Tom Thewlis. This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle. Music provided by HearWeGo Marion - High Hopes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Safety first at Paris-Roubaix with Arenberg chicane, One Cycling project in limbo, fears grow over Israel-PremierTech's presence

Safety first at Paris-Roubaix with Arenberg chicane, One Cycling project in limbo, fears grow over Israel-PremierTech's presence

It’s time for Paris-Roubaix: the race that every kid dreams of winning, but that half the pro peloton hate. After last weekend’s chaos on the Koppenberg in the Tour of Flanders, what lies in wait in the ‘Hell of the North’?One thing that's already clear is that race organisers ASO and the riders' union the CPA are determined to put a strong emphasis on safety, most specifically with the introduction of a chicane right before the entrance to the most notorious section of cobbles in the Arenberg Forest.We hear from CPA president Adam Hansen, who reveals what drove this initiative and why he believes it's "wonderful". But, we ask, does it also alter the essence of this legendary race?The hot topic over the off-season, the One Cycling project is now on the back burner. Has it hit the buffers and come to nothing as some are claiming? Or is there still some life in it? We've been gauging the current attitude within the sport to the scheme and reveal how close it was to happening and what, ultimately, stymied it. Since the start of the 2024 season, another issue concerning the sport has been Israel-PremierTech’s presence in races and the risk that poses to the peloton given the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. We report on growing anxiety within some teams and how IPT have responded to being the potential target for protests.Plus, we hear from Cofidis's Harrison Wood on his way to make cycling better, while our new quiz reveals the answer to the question: what's the lowest kilometric amount of cobbles to feature on the route of Paris-Roubaix?This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle.Music provided by HearWeGo Marion - High Hopes Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Tadej Pogačar the greatest of all time? Plus, our Tour of Flanders preview and the latest on the Women's Tour of Britain

Is Tadej Pogačar the greatest of all time? Plus, our Tour of Flanders preview and the latest on the Women's Tour of Britain

Another bike race, another Tadej Pogačar exhibition. The Slovenian didn’t just win the Volta a Catalunya, one of cycling’s toughest week-long stage races, he completely annihilated the opposition.Pogačar’s only 25, but already he counts 69 victories on his palmarès, including two Tours de France and five Monuments. Is there anything he can’t do? Is he now knocking on the door of eternal greatness?We put that question to the man himself in Catalonia, where Pogačar tells us that he's stepped up a level this year and is now going into every race determined to win, and always with a smile on his face.We also also hear from George Bennett and Guillaume Martin, who admit that the rest of the peloton are now racing for second place almost every time Pogačar takes to the start line.We also look ahead to this Sunday's Tour of Flanders, where there's also one name on everyone's lips, that of two-time champion Mathieu van der Poel. With Pogačar not defending his title and Wout van Aert and Jasper Stuyven now sidelined by broken collarbones sustained in this week's Dwars door Vlaanderen, the world champion is the outstanding favourite for a third Ronde success.We hear from Mads Pedersen, Michael Matthews, Jordi Meeus and Matteo Trentin on if and how Van der Poel can be beaten.And, finally, as Tour de France Femmes goes from strength to strength, what is happening with the British women’s scene? Cycling Weekly's Tom Thewlis reveals the latest on the Women's Tour of Britain, which now, of course, has former Ineos team manager Rod Ellingworth as its race director.After a period when it appeared that the Women's Tour might not take place in 2024, there are growing reasons for optimism, with a route taking shape that includes two opening stages in Wales.We also speak to Ford Ride London Classique technical director Kevin Nash on the strides being made by that three-day May race, and hear from Britain's emblematic road racer Lizzie Deignan, who highlights the continued growth and wider popularity of women’s racing in Britain and how the scene has changed since she won silver in the road event at the 2012 London Olympics.This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

British Grand Départ on ice, Pogačar's plan for Sanremo, Paris-Nice set for big freeze

British Grand Départ on ice, Pogačar's plan for Sanremo, Paris-Nice set for big freeze

The WorldTour’s Big Four stage racers – Vingegaard, Pogačar, Evenepoel and Roglic — are all on the road at last, as the European season really gets going. We start, though, with the news that the much-rumoured British Grand Départ, set to take place in 2026, has been shelved. UK Sport deputy CEO Simon Morton tells us, "We are not actively pursuing hosting in 2026," as the funding crisis in local government takes hold and cuts are made to government-backed sporting events in what's an election year. Yet after this latest gloomy development for British cycling, Morton suggests there is still some hope that the Tour and/or Tour de France Femmes could return to the UK, perhaps in 2027.After his demolition derby on his rivals at Strade Bianche, Tadej Pogačar is now turning his attention to Milan-Sanremo, one of two Monuments he's still to win. His 81km solo ride to success on Tuscany's white roads underlined once again that the UAE Team Emirates rider can create his own script for one-day races, but can he do that for Sanremo, the most predictable of the lot? We speak to Jayco-AlUla DS Matt White, who believes that the Slovenian is likely to make another early attack, but won't find is as straightforward to hold on when he does.In our final story, we look ahead to the finale of Paris-Nice, which is once again threatened by a big freeze as it heads towards high finishes in the southern Alps just inland from the Côte d'Azur. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Opening Weekend preview, Women's Tour of Britain latest, Cofidis pro Zingle saves friend's life following race crash

Opening Weekend preview, Women's Tour of Britain latest, Cofidis pro Zingle saves friend's life following race crash

Had enough of sandstorms, palm trees and camels at the roadside? Get ready then for beers and techno, bergs and burgers: it’s time for Opening Weekend...We start with a preview of Saturday's two editions of Het Nieuwsblad and Sunday's Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. The men's edition of Het Nieuwsblad will see Visma-Lease A Bike start with a stacked team that features the race's last two winners, Dylan van Baarle and Wout van Aert, and very much tagged as favourites. We hear from Sep Vanmarcke, who won this race in 2012 against an equally powerful BMC team and is now director for Israel-PremierTech in the Classics. Vanmarcke explains the hurdles facing Visma-LAB and reveals his hopes for the young IPT line-up.The women's Classics campaign also starts at Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday. We speak to Human Powered Health's Audrey Cordon-Ragot, who tells us about the significance of this race and why she's hoping it'll be wet and wild this weekend. The French racer also reflects on the latest more optimistic news for the Women's Tour of Britain.With that event in mind, we also hear from Cycling Weekly's Tom Thewlis, who provides an update on the latest developments for the Women's Tour of Britain, which has returned to the UCI calendar as a four-day event and, assuming British Cycling can fulfil the financial and logistical requirements, is likely to run as a "hub" race based on one or two cities.Finally we turn to a quite astonishing story. It’s a tale that could have had an absolutely awful outcome, but which ended up with Cofidis pro Axel Zingle perhaps saving the life of one of his close friends, Yael Joalland, during the GP Marseillaise race in France last month. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Exclusive interview with dsm-firmenich PostNL boss Iwan Spekenbrink, plus the SafeR initiative and the intro of yellow and red cards for racing offences

Exclusive interview with dsm-firmenich PostNL boss Iwan Spekenbrink, plus the SafeR initiative and the intro of yellow and red cards for racing offences

Adam Yates, Lotte Kopecky, Mads Pedersen – the big names are already winning the big races. But as we look ahead towards Strade Bianche, Paris-Nice, the spring Classics, other issues come into play – just as they do every season. Issues like race safety, rider responsibilities, ethics and money...With these issues very much in mind, we speak at length to dsm-firmenich PostNL team manager Iwan Spekenbrink, who talks about why his team remains part of the Movement for Credible Cycling, why cycling needs more doping controls to boost its credibility, and about the exciting talent that is racing in his team's colours, including Dutch sprinters Fabio Jakobsen and Charlotte Kool, and fast-rising Britons Oscar Onley, Max Poole and Pfeiffer Georgi. We also lift the lid on the latest developments within the SafeR (Safe Roadcycling) initiative designed to raise security standards among race organisers and prevent riders from behaving badly. We reveal that the project will lead to the introduction of yellow and red card penalty system in elite racing in the second half of this season, while Adam Hansen, president of the CPA riders' union, explains the benefits of SafeR and why riders will be making a financial contribution towards the project. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

British Cycling's big plans for national tours, how Brexit hit UK racing, teams split over SafeR initiative

British Cycling's big plans for national tours, how Brexit hit UK racing, teams split over SafeR initiative

Ten years after the Grand Depart of the Tour de France in Yorkshire, road racing in Britain is in crisis. We examine two strands of that state of affairs...We start by interviewing British Cycling CEO Jon Dutton, who has announced a rescue plan for the men's and women's national tours. Dutton explains how the newly formed British Cycling Events will set about saving these two emblematic races, but admits that they may not be as substantial as they previously were, in the short term at least. He also provides an update on the Tour de France's mooted UK start in 2026...Next we turn to Brexit... While the British government insists that leaving the European Union is going swimmingly, there's plenty of evidence of the negative effect Britain's decision has had on many facets of life. Cited as one of the reasons for the collapse in the UK's elite road scene, we examine the specifics of Brexit's impact, speaking to the former Tour of Britain organisers, the Dave Rayner Fund that helps aspiring Brits find club teams in Europe, and to Bingoal-WB new pro Tom Portsmouth, who's spent three years dealing with its complexities.Our final story takes us, once again, into elite racing's political netherworld, and specifically the SafeR (SafeRoadcycling) initiative that was established last year by the sport's key stakeholders to making racing safer. Everyone agrees it's needed, but no one can agree on who should run it. Almost inevitably, Visma Lease a Bike are at the centre of this storm. From there, we move swiftly into the latest knockings from the One Cycling saga, and explain why it may happen soon... or maybe in the long term... or even not at all... Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Where it went wrong for the Tour of Britain; Ineos sets its sights on the Tour without Brailsford; Australian GC hope Luke Plapp on his next steps towards the top

Where it went wrong for the Tour of Britain; Ineos sets its sights on the Tour without Brailsford; Australian GC hope Luke Plapp on his next steps towards the top

So the training camps are over, WorldTour racing is under way, and already the European calendar has kicked off. But it’s a bumpy road in professional cycling and, while some riders and races thrive, others are already finding it hard going. On the new RadioCycling podcast...Is it already too late for the Tour of Britain? With grave doubts hanging over the future of Britain's national tour, we hear from Hugh Roberts, the CEO of Sweetspot, who organised the race for the last 20 years but have now gone into liquidation. Roberts tells us about the risk he took in deciding to put the race on in 2023 without a primary sponsor, admits he's partly to blame for the event's tragic demise, and givers his perspective on its future, while we also discuss the reasons behind the Tour of Britain's demise and its likely impact on the future of road cycling in the UK.Dave Brailsford is still in cycling says Grenadiers new CEO John Allert: We hear from the new CEO of the Ineos Grenadiers, who explains that the team's former boss has not cut himself off from cycling completely after taking up a new position at Manchester United, talks about the team's fresh start under his leadership, and underlines that the team's primary focus will be winning the Tour de France title again.Luke Plapp on leaving Ineos to become a Grand Tour leader: Hailed as Australia's next big hope for success in the sport's biggest stage races, recently crowned national road and TT champion Plapp explains how his two years at Ineos have prepared him for this challenge, says his primary goal at new team Jayco-AlUla is to learn what he can from co-leader Simon Yates, and takes aim at what is shaping up as a stellar Giro d'Italia.Plus, we have news of a podcast produced by one of our editorial team that you definitely shouldn't miss...This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Exclusive interview: Visma-Lease A Bike boss Richard Plugge on One Cycling, drawing on Dave Brailsford for inspiration, the Hessmann doping positive & losing Primož Roglič

Exclusive interview: Visma-Lease A Bike boss Richard Plugge on One Cycling, drawing on Dave Brailsford for inspiration, the Hessmann doping positive & losing Primož Roglič

Taylor Swift, Lionel Messi, Novak Djokovic and Tom Cruise. No, that’s not the new backroom staff at Manchester United. Those are the names of the global superstars that front up the entertainment choices that we all make, each and every day. So how does five hours of road racing in the rain in Flanders compete against A-listers like that? Well, in this RadioCycling special, we meet Richard Plugge, head of the world’s teams organisation the AIGCP, and the hugely successful manager of the Jumbo-Visma team that won all three Grand Tours last year – but also, crucially, the man telling cycling that it must change… or it will die.In this interview, we quiz Plugge on the One Cycling project that he is adamant must be introduced in order to maintain cycling's position as a focus for popular sporting entertainment.We ask him about the accusations made by rival team managers of "poaching" and a conflict of interest after Visma-Lease A Bike's signing of Cian Uijtdebroeks from rivals Bora-Hansgrohe.Plugge also provides an update on the doping case involving the team's Michel Hessmann in which he reveals the basis of the young German racer's defence.And, of course, we ask him about the loss of his team's most emblematic rider, Primož Roglič, and hear about the constantly evolving five-year plan designed to keep the Dutch team at the top of the WorldTour pecking order.This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Remco Evenepoel on riding the Tour de France, Fabio Jakobsen on his new leadership role, Tour of Britain latest

Remco Evenepoel on riding the Tour de France, Fabio Jakobsen on his new leadership role, Tour of Britain latest

While northern Europe is swept by blizzards and freezing temperatures grip the landscape, in the relative warmth of Spain's Costa Blanca cycling's elite teams are making their final pre-season preparations and, as part of that, have been meeting the press. We joined this welcome migration and this pod features three of the peloton's biggest names...We start with Belgium's most feted sporting star, Remco Evenepoel, one of the "big four" who are due to clash at the Tour de France this summer. We ask the Soudal-QuickStep leader about whether he can end his country's 48-year Tour drought on his debut in the race, how his team is shaping up to this challenge, and about his post-Tour hopes for glory at the Paris Olympics.Fabio Jakobsen has removed himself from the ever-growing shadow Evenepoel casts over his teammates at QuickStep by joining dsm-firmenich PostNL. We ask the Dutch sprinter about why he wanted this move, hear about the goals he has set himself for the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, and about his aim to knock long-time rival Jasper Philipsen off the top of the sprinting tree.We also reveal the latest news on the Tour of Britain and Women's Tour, which both face an uncertain future following the breakdown in the relationship between British Cycling and race organisers Sweetspot. There are reasons for optimism, we understand...We end with "Dave watch", a look at the latest movements of Ineos director of sport Dave Brailsford, featuring a brief cameo from the man himself... This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What future for the Grenadiers after Ineos's Manchester United takeover? Mathieu van der Poel – untouchable on the bike and off it? Remembering Melissa Hoskins

What future for the Grenadiers after Ineos's Manchester United takeover? Mathieu van der Poel – untouchable on the bike and off it? Remembering Melissa Hoskins

Happy New Year to all of you — here’s to 2024. There's so much to look forward to: the Classics, Grand Tours, the Paris Olympic Games, plus the intrigue, rumour and spectacle of professional cycling...Sadly, we start, though, with the distressing story of the death of Australian Olympian Melissa Hoskins in Adelaide on New Year’s Eve. Her husband, two-time world time trial champion Rohan Dennis, was subsequently arrested on charges of causing death by dangerous driving. We look back on Hoskins' garlanded racing career, which included a world record and world title on the track and multiple sprint victories on the road.In an examination of what's next for Dave Brailsford and the Ineos Grenadiers after Jim Ratcliffe's Manchester United takeover, we speak to Matt Slater, who reports on finance in football for The Athletic. We hear about Brailsford's likely role at Man Utd following the £1bn deal, the reaction to the takeover in Manchester and beyond, and what impact this massive investment and Brailsford's key part in it could have on the future of the franchise's cycling team, the Ineos GrenadiersIn our final story we focus on Mathieu van der Poel, fined for spitting at fans during a Cyclo-Cross World Cup race, and discuss whether the world and cyclo-cross world champion has attained untouchable status off the bike as well as on it. We also gauge the reaction to the incident from his peers, including Wout van Aert and Sven Nys. RadioCycling has also been shortlisted for Best Sports Talk Podcast 2023!! You can vote for us (and we'd be extremely grateful if you would) at sportspodcastgroup.com – just look for RadioCycling under the ‘best sports talk podcast’ category.This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tours of Britain in jeopardy, Tadej Pogačar on riding the Giro and his favourite pizza, and our wrap of the 2023 season

Tours of Britain in jeopardy, Tadej Pogačar on riding the Giro and his favourite pizza, and our wrap of the 2023 season

Christmas is coming but there's still enough time for us to squeeze in one final podcast before we're all submerged in discarded wrapping paper. These are our headlines... Tours of Britain reach the end after Sweetspot mainstays retire: The breaking news is that Mick Bennett and Hugh Roberts, promoters of the men’s and women’s Tour of Britain, are to retire. We reveal what's known so far, discuss what it could mean for UK cycling and whether the British Cycling federation has a new strategy for the country's two national tours.Tadej Pogačar talks Giro d'Italia and Tour de France: We hear from the peloton's most multi-talented and exciting racer as he reveals his plans for a Giro debut and his hopes that he can follow success in Italy with a third victory in the Tour de France. We also talk pizza toppings with Pogi, who reveals a taste for the exotic – kiwi fruit anyone?RadioCycling's wrap of the year: Before thinking ahead to the new season, we’re looking at the one we’re leaving behind and picking out a few of our highlights, featuring our Ukraine special, Sylvan Adams on Chris Froome, a tribute to Gino Mäder, the One Cycling saga, and the Pinot Ultras on their passion for Thibaut.We've now got another highlight too as RadioCycling has just been shortlisted for Best Sports Talk Podcast 2023!! You can vote for us (and we'd be extremely grateful if you would) at sportspodcastgroup.com, just look for RadioCycling under the ‘best sports talk podcast’ category.This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Cavendish talks 2024, as do Lidl-Trek leaders Tao Geoghegan-Hart & Giulio Ciccone, plus a big step for the One Cycling project

Mark Cavendish talks 2024, as do Lidl-Trek leaders Tao Geoghegan-Hart & Giulio Ciccone, plus a big step for the One Cycling project

Do they know it’s Christmas? Well, no, not at most pro team training camps, where thoughts are a million miles away from brandy cream and mince pies. We sent our intrepid reporter to the Costa Blanca to get the latest from the peloton's stars...Mark Cavendish says he's ready for his final hurrah: Motivated by the desire of his Astana-Qazaqstan to see him race for one more season and also by his competitiveness at this year's Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, the Manx sprinter says he's happy and relaxed as he goes into what is likely to be his final season. He also admits he's humbled at being described as the best sprinter of all time. Lidl-Trek’s GC hopes pinned on Tao Geoghegan-Hart: The Briton tells us that he's recovered well from the pelvis fracture that he sustained at the Giro and will go into 2024 with his focus set very squarely on the Tour de France, where his objective is nothing less than the yellow jersey. We also hear from Italian climber Giulio Ciccone, who believes he's got the qualities to challenge for victory in the Giro d'Italia, thanks to his team's increased investment in training preparation and tech.One Cycling’s sense of déjà vu: Last week's WorldTour seminar in Lausanne led to further developments in the project to revamp the men's professional scene. We detail the latest, including the rumoured sidelining of Jumbo-Visma boss Richard Plugge, the emergence of a new player at the project's head, and, in another significant shift, reports of contact with the women's side of the sport...This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Safety first for Israel-PremierTech after u-turn; we meet EF Education new hope Lukas Nerurkar and Lidl-Trek's unsung hero Toms Skujins

Safety first for Israel-PremierTech after u-turn; we meet EF Education new hope Lukas Nerurkar and Lidl-Trek's unsung hero Toms Skujins

The first pre-season training camps are under way, and we've got news from three of the teams sure to be in the heart of the action when racing restarts in January... We start at Israel-PremierTech, where there's been quite a u-turn since we spoke to team owner Sylvan Adams just a fortnight ago. Back then, we asked him if — given the tensions fuelled by the conflict in Gaza — he had any concerns for the safety of his team’s riders and staff, to which he replied: “What are we supposed to do? Cower? We're just going to go about our daily business.” Two weeks on, IPT riders are being issued with blank training kit due to safety concerns.We also meet Lukas Nerurkar, son of one of Britain's best marathon runners, who is on the verge of stepping up into the WorldTour with EF Education-Easy Post. The 20-year-old tells us about his journey to the top, via Brighton, Ethiopia and South London, his qualities and weaknesses as a climber and his flat share with Ben Healy. We also get the inside line on Nerurkar from EF team director Charly Wegelius. Plus, we have a second exclusive interview with unsung hero Toms Skujins, the experienced Latvian who’s key to Lidl-Trek’s success. Speaking from his home in Andorra, Skujins, one of the most intellectual and thoughtful riders in the peloton, discusses his team's major off-season signings, offers his take on One Cycling's attempt to revamp the structure of the sport, and offers praise for CPA president Adam Hansen's attempts to get the riders talking with one voice on key issues.This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ineos view on 18yo American racing sensation AJ August; another step forwards for One Cycling; the Algerian with more wins than Remco Evenepoel & Jonas Vingegaard; the Uzbek team behind a Grand Tour coup

The Ineos view on 18yo American racing sensation AJ August; another step forwards for One Cycling; the Algerian with more wins than Remco Evenepoel & Jonas Vingegaard; the Uzbek team behind a Grand Tour coup

Teams rosters are all but finalised and the first gatherings prior to the 2024 season are now just days away. In this new episode, the RadioCycling team looks ahead, initially by focusing on a new name in the WorldTour peloton, a rider who looks set to be America's next big thing...Have the Ineos Grenadiers found the next American superstar in 18-year-old Andrew "AJ" August? We hear from the British team's coach Dario Cioni, who reveals the long courtship between Ineos and the teenage sensation from New York state, what makes August such an outstanding prospect, where he's likely to shine in the future, and how his racing programme is likely to shape up in 2024. Plus, we get the lowdown on his extraordinary physiology – is the young American's VO2 max really a superhuman 92?One Cycling picks up speed: The group behind the radical proposal to shake up cycling by revamping the calendar and, crucially, the redistribution of revenues has taken a further step forwards. We lift the lid on what's going on behind the scenes and what it could mean in both the short- and long-term.Better than Pogačar, Vingegaard and Evenepoel: We meet Algerian sprinter Yacine Hamza, who notched no fewer than 17 wins this season. He tells us about his route to success this season and his family's rich cycling heritage. Plus, our special guest, Global Peloton's Dan Challis, reveals why Hamza has been overlooked by the sport's elite teams despite his obvious talent and explains why Algeria looks set to become a new force in road racing.The Asian team causing a stir in the women's peloton: The Tashkent City team will be unknown to most racing fans, but that's soon likely to change as the Uzbek outfit have earned the right to an invitation to every event on the 2024 Women's WorldTour, including the Tour de France Femmes. Dan Challis tells why and how they've done it, and about the organisational shenanigans in Uzbekistan that have pushed French continental teams to make complaints to the UCI. This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Israel-PremierTech boss Sylvan Adams on the war in Israel, security concerns, using cycling for reconciliation & Chris Froome's bike set-up; plus, Spain's latest doping scandal

Israel-PremierTech boss Sylvan Adams on the war in Israel, security concerns, using cycling for reconciliation & Chris Froome's bike set-up; plus, Spain's latest doping scandal

Our latest episode features an exclusive, hard-hitting and sometimes confrontational interview with Israel-PremierTech boss Sylvan Adams. It's an encounter that's sure to create debate and shouldn't be missed.With the world's attention on the ongoing warfare in Israel, the Israeli-Canadian billionaire reveals the impact the conflict has had on his team and offers an extremely robust defence of his adopted country's military response to the horrific terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas. Adams challenges the suggestion that the IPT riders and staff might require more security when racing and training as a consequence of the hostilities and says that none of his riders have expressed concerns about appearing in IPT colours.Adams talks about how sport and particularly cycling could act as a means of reconciliation in the future, highlighting the ways that it can create mutual understanding.The Israel-PremierTech boss also discusses the situation of erstwhile team leader Chris Froome, offering his perspective on the four-time Tour de France winner's recent complaints about his bike set-up and adding that the British rider can still find a way back to the Tour if he can rediscover the necessary racing condition. Our second story is a focus on the Spanish doping investigation that has embroiled the Caja Rural team. Operation Ilex has already resulted in Miguel Ángel López first being released by Astana and then suspended, and now Spanish investigators have more riders in their sights. We detail the extensive background to this case and likely next steps.This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tour of Britain in limbo; the struggle to boost cycling participation in Palestine; as Manchester United line up Dave Brailsford, what next for the Ineos Grenadiers?

Tour of Britain in limbo; the struggle to boost cycling participation in Palestine; as Manchester United line up Dave Brailsford, what next for the Ineos Grenadiers?

In the latest podcast from the RadioCycling team, the headlines are...Tour of Britain in limbo – Following British Cycling's sudden and dramatic termination of its 10-year agreement with Tour of Britain promoters Sweetspot, we examine the probable repercussions and hopes for survival of both the men’s and women’s races.We hear from the journalists who broke the story, Cycling Weekly's Tom Thewlis and The Guardian's Jeremy Whittle, who explain the financial dispute that led to the apparently terminal breakdown in this long-standing relationship and the likely ramifications for both parties. The pair also examine the future of both the Tour of Britain and the Women's Tour, and highlight reasons for optimism in both cases.The past, present and future of Palestinian cycling – In an exclusive report on the cycling scene in a country that's currently beset by conflict, we speak to Sohaib Zahda, the Palestine Cycling Federation's director of development and planning. He describes the challenge of fostering a sporting culture within a population that's perennially affected by unrest and warfare, and the everyday restrictions and dangers that combine to make racing and training so difficult, undermining efforts made by the UCI and other national federations to support grassroots cycling projects in the West Bank.Dave Brailsford back in Manchester? – Having played a fundamental role in turning the national velodrome into a medal factory, it's our understanding that Britain's former performance director is heading back to Manchester to play the key managerial role at Manchester United, who are on the verge of being taken over by Ineos boss Jim Ratcliffe.We discuss what the loss of the man who oversaw now fewer than seven Tour de France victories could mean for the Ineos Grenadiers, a team that's losing five major talents and hasn't made a single big-name signing.This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Doubts and dismay over One Cycling's plan to revamp racing; the Parisian climb that's key to Olympic glory; Tour de France set for return of split stages?

Doubts and dismay over One Cycling's plan to revamp racing; the Parisian climb that's key to Olympic glory; Tour de France set for return of split stages?

Road racing may now have ceded centre stage to cyclo-cross, but there's still plenty of major stories and issues for the RadioCycling team to pick over in our latest podcast. We begin with...One Cycling – the latest on the plan that could rock world road racing. Since lifting the lid last week on the scheme put together by Jumbo-Visma boss Richard Plugge and Soudal-QuickStep majority owner Zdeněk Bakala, we've been gauging reaction and opinion across the sport. We hear from the race organisers likely to be affected by the mooted restructure of the calendar, from the women's teams who haven't been sounded out at all, and hear why this, the latest in a long line of racing revamps, has got an awful long way to go before the major stakeholders might climb on board.We also speak to Alex Duff, author of Le Fric: Family Power and Money, the business of the Tour de France, who explains why Tour organisers ASO won't be jumping into bed with One Cycling any time soon.Paris 2024 – we have the lowdown on Rue Lepic, the key climb that could decide destiny of the medals in next year's Olympic road races, which has a many-storied history. Eulogised in song by legendary French actor Yves Montand (and, yes, his crooning paean does feature), it starts next to the famous Moulin Rouge caberet and rises past the former home of artist Vincent van Gogh and the cafe where Amélie worked in the eponymous movie as it climbs the Butte de Montmartre, a Flanders-like hill that will have the cobbled Classics specialists salivating.Split stage renaissance? Largely absent from major events since that late 1980s, the split stage will make its Grand Tour return at next year's Tour de France Femmes. We hear from Audrey Cordon-Ragot on the very particular challenge of racing twice in one day, recall the day that a defiant Bernard Hinault led a rider protest against split stages at the Tour, and assess whether the TDFF's experiment might lead to their reintroduction at the Tour de France.This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices