The Cycling Podcast

The 2027 Tour de France routes were presented on Thursday in Paris – and we, like everyone else in cycling, were impatient to see what Christian Prudhomme had in store for Tadej Pogačar and the men who’ll try to take his crown next July. 
Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie first turn their attention to the other big news stories of the week. Picnic-PostNL have had a bruising year, and their troubles continue with Dutch national broadcaster NOS making damning claims about the culture in the team. We give our view in the episode. It’s also been a busy few days in both the scrap for UCI rankings points and the transfer market. You’ll get updates on both here. 
The majority of this week’s dispatch is of course dedicated to the men’s Tour route unveiled on Thursday. Daniel and Lionel can’t quite make up their mind whether it’s a stinker or a belter. But they certainly have plenty to say on the matter…  
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The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

Join us on the transfer merry-go-round as Rose Manley, Rebecca Charlton and Lizzy Banks take a closer look at all the big deals at play in the women’s peloton.
Kasia Niewiadoma’s transfer after nine years at Canyon SRAM may have felt like a long time coming but will Lidl-Trek really offer the former Tour de France champion the fresh start she is looking for? And how will Movistar balance their potential leadership duo of Marlen Reusser and Paula Blasi if the Spaniard’s rumoured move comes off? Plus other notable changes for Pfeiffer Georgi, Cedrine Kerbaol and Lily Williams.
Also on the agenda: losing our balls, teamwomanananship and exploding ovens.
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Friends of the Podcast
Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to new special episodes every month plus a back catalogue of more than 300 exclusive episodes.
The 11.01 Cappuccino
Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it’s after 11am).
The Cannibal & Badger
Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in.
The Cycling Podcast is on Strava
The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

Cycling’s 2026 Monuments concluded with Il Lombardia in Italy at the weekend – and the “Race of the Falling Leaves” duly gave us the latest opportunity to fawn over cycling’s brightest rising star, Paul Seixas. 
Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie review the “Seixocet’s” historic and emphatic victory in Como at the weekend and ponder what it means for the sport, Seixas himself and Tadej Pogačar. We also look at two very different, much less successful performances from the other two pre-race favourites, Remco Evenepoel and Isaac del Toro. 
In other news, Primoz Roglič and Egan Bernal may be retiring…or may not. We meditate on that as well as Giulio Ciccone and Filippo Ganna respectively leaving and joining Lidl-Trek.  
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⛵Download the SAILY app and use our code cycling at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase. Or go to saily.com/cycling for full details.
Bikmo
The Cycling Podcast is supported by Bikmo, cycle insurance built for cyclists who actually ride.
Whether it's a crash, a stolen bike, or your pride and joy arriving at baggage reclaim in three separate pieces – it's covered. Flexible policies you can cancel anytime, 50 per cent off extra household bikes, plus protection for your kit, race entries and travel.
Follow us on social media:
Twitter @cycling_podcast
Instagram @thecyclingpodcast
Friends of the Podcast
Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to new special episodes every month plus a back catalogue of more than 300 exclusive episodes.
The 11.01 Cappuccino
Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it’s after 11am).
The Cannibal & Badger
Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in.
The Cycling Podcast is on Strava
The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

One of the busiest weeks of the racing season serves up a handful of big races to review, a Monument on the horizon…and what feels like a necessary discussion about whether the calendar is, indeed, much too busy. 
The UCI’s consultation on the future of the sport has certainly given us food for thought. Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie give their reaction to the findings published this week and a few suggestions of their own. 
There’s also a look back at Remco Evenepoel’s Euros road race victory, analysis of the glut of Italian semi-classics over the last few days, plus some closing thoughts on the career of Nairo Quintana.  
Episode sponsors
NordVPN and PriceMice
Shop around for the best prices when booking hotel rooms with PriceMice from NordVPN. Get NordVPN two-year plan + four months extra ➼ https://nordvpn.com/tcp It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bikmo
The Cycling Podcast is supported by Bikmo, cycle insurance built for cyclists who actually ride.
Whether it's a crash, a stolen bike, or your pride and joy arriving at baggage reclaim in three separate pieces – it's covered. Flexible policies you can cancel anytime, 50 per cent off extra household bikes, plus protection for your kit, race entries and travel.
Follow us on social media:
Twitter @cycling_podcast
Instagram @thecyclingpodcast
Friends of the Podcast
Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to new special episodes every month plus a back catalogue of more than 300 exclusive episodes.
The 11.01 Cappuccino
Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it’s after 11am).
The Cannibal & Badger
Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in.
The Cycling Podcast is on Strava
The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

Just a few days on from Brandon McNulty’s surprise victory in the World Championship road race in Montreal, his national team-mate Larry Warbasse takes us inside a rainbow jersey-winning performance by Team USA. 
Larry leads us behind the scenes of the American team’s pre-race meetings, their on-the-road tactics and, of course, also the after-party. He has his say on whether banning race radios could improve all races and not just the Worlds, plus those rumours a secret McNulty-Del Toro accord. 
Episode sponsors
HexClad
Find your forever cookware @hexclad and get 10% off at hexclad.co.uk/cycle Offer excludes bundles and other items already on sale. #hexcladpartner
Follow us on social media:
Twitter @cycling_podcast
Instagram @thecyclingpodcast
Friends of the Podcast
Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to new special episodes every month plus a back catalogue of more than 300 exclusive episodes.
The 11.01 Cappuccino
Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it’s after 11am).
The Cannibal & Badger
Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in.
The Cycling Podcast is on Strava
The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.