The Long Haul

Steve and Jon sit down to review and amazing first season of the podcast!

From the “Kids of Mud” in Manitoba to the world stage, Leah Kirchmann joins the PedalCast for this great two part episode to reflect on a remarkable cycling career. Two-time Olympian, World Championship winner, and Tour de France podium finisher, Leah shares the highs, lows, and life lessons from elite racing, including resilience, teamwork, and the mental approach that guided her from athlete to coach.

In this episode, Leah reflects on her journey from prairie headwinds to the Olympic stage, her role in the growth of women’s racing at the Tour de France, the realities of life on the European pro circuit, and her new chapter helping guide Canada’s next generation of riders.

In this episode — recorded on the eve of the Hulst Worlds — Michael talks about growing up on the Prairies, the unlikely path from Brandon to the World Championships, what it takes to compete in one of cycling's most demanding disciplines, and why he believes cyclocross is one of the best development pathways for young Canadian cyclists across all disciplines.

With the 2026 U SPORTS Track and Field National Championships set for March 5th to 7th at the Jim Daly Fieldhouse in the Max Bell, we’re shifting gears in February and celebrating three legendary Bison athletes who helped define an era on the track and cross-country course. It’s also a tribute to the dominant University of Manitoba men’s teams from 1988–1996, inducted into the Athletics Manitoba Hall of Fame in November 2025, following their earlier enshrinement in the Canada West Hall of Fame.

In the final episode of our series, we catch up with Chris Weber.