The Cycling Podcast

WorldTour racing is back with the Tour Down Under underway in Australia. The Cycling Podcast returns to recap the action from the first three stages and the latest news from the pro peloton.
Daniel Friebe, Lionel Birnie, and our very own in-house professional cyclist Larry Warbasse discuss UAE Team Emirates’ rip-roaring start to the year, as well as the predictions we didn't get from Larry last week. There is a detailed meditation on Larry’s 14-year search for the perfect training formula—and the peloton’s broader search for equilibrium in a sport that is increasingly data-obsessed, sometimes at the expense of mental and physical wellbeing.
Derek Gee-West certainly experienced his share of emotional turmoil while attempting to change teams last autumn. We hear from Lidl-Trek’s newest recruit on that saga and how close he thinks he can get to the likes of Pogačar and Vingegaard.
Artwork photograph: UAE Team Emirates XRG / ph. SPRINT
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The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

Gather around The Cycling Podcast Féminin crystal ball and try (and mostly likely fail) to take a look into the future of the 2026 road season. Yes it is that time of the year when we bring out our ‘bold’ predictions for the racing ahead. This time the team are taking safety in numbers as Rose Manley is joined by a bumper number of co-hosts in Denny Gray, Rebecca Charlton and Jo Rowsell.
Who will be tipped for success in the Classics? Which rider might be headed for a Giro-Tour double? Who is looking likely for a big bounceback? Before the team inevitably squabble over what is to come, they’ll first be taking a look at how they fared with their predictions last year. 
But enough conjecture, the team will also be taking a close look at the first Women’s World Tour race of the season, the Tour Down Under. There’s plenty to talk about after Team UAE-ADQ squandered a three-versus-one advantage over Noemi Ruegg to grant the Swiss rider her second consecutive title at the race. Plus we discuss the recently announced UK Grand Depart for the Tour de France Femmes in 2027.
Also on the agenda: the correct pronunciation of ‘Leeds', giving birth before Gent-Wevelgem and a cheese knife that will turn your family against you.
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The Cycling Podcast is on Strava
The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

The first regular episode of the year is traditionally our excuse to indulge in some rare speculation ahead of the coming season – and Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie are back to uphold the time-honoured ritual here. 
In addition to our hosts’ often leftfield prognostications, we hear what our international carousel of regular contributors is expecting from the next few months. Which one of our regular guests, for example, reckons that Primož Roglič won’t win a single race in 2026? Who reckons that Jonas Vingegaard will complete the Grand Tour Grand Slam before Tadej Pogačar? And what on earth is a Noni fruit – and what ‘juice’, exactly, does Daniel have on their miraculous ability to boost performance? 
All of this and more will be revealed! 
Episode art created with Nano Banana Pro. 
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This episode of The Cycling Podcast is brought to you by Bikmo cycle insurance – because let's face it, things happen. Whether it's a crash landing, the heartbreak of a stolen bike, or the ultimate facepalm moment of reversing over your prized aero wheel, Bikmo has you covered. Flexible policies that you can cancel anytime, 50% off extra bikes in your household, protection for your kit, race entries, and even damage while travelling to your next epic ride – they've thought of it all. Protect your ride before it's too late – head to Bikmo.com to get covered.
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Follow us on social media:
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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 new 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.

This episode is KM0 is free for everyone to listen to thanks to the support and generosity of our Friends of the Podcast subscribers. You can get an annual subscription at thecyclingpodcast.com which will give you access to an archive of more than 330 special episodes released since 2015.

The final stage of the 2025 Lloyds Tour of Britain marked the end of an era for British cycling. It was the final road race of Geraint Thomas's long career, taking the Welshman on roads he has ridden since he discovered cycling as a child. The stage began at the velodrome in Newport that has been named after him and finished in his home city of Cardiff.

On the run-in to the line, the peloton passed the outdoor velodrome at Maindy where Geraint's journey began. From riding laps of the track as a youngster he went on to win world and Olympic titles and the 2018 Tour de France.

At the start of the year, Lionel Birnie took a trip to Cardiff to meet the people who founded and built the Maindy Flyers, a club created specifically for children and teenagers to learn how to ride and race. When the club was founded, 30 years ago, there were very few clubs in the UK that truly welcomed children. In a way, the Maindy Flyers ruffled feathers and showed what was possible if young talent was encouraged and nurtured.

In this episode of The Cycling Podcast, we continue to round up the biggest stories from the ‘Costa crawl’ of pre-season training camps, with our spotlight this week falling on Lidl-Trek and their new star signing Juan Ayuso. 

Before Dani Arribas reports back from Ayuso’s curious ‘welcome’ press conference in Spain, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie give their impressions on the newly unveiled 2026 Vuelta a España route. On paper it may be the hardest Grand Tour in recent memory. But will that make for exciting racing on the road?  

The second and third parts of the episode feature exclusive interviews with Ayuso and also one of the men charged with coaxing the best out of him in his new team: Lidl-Trek’s Head of Performance, Josu Larrazabal. 

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 new 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.