Join Rose Manley and Denny Gray as they pick apart all the action from this year’s Flèche Wallonne Féminine. After a surprise result for a late breakaway at Amstel Gold Race, everything was to play for at the second race of the Ardennes Classics.
Despite a much-hyped expected comeback to the race, seven time winner Anna Van der Breggen didn’t take to the startline after suffering from illness last week. But with defending champion Kasia Niewiadoma and 2023 champion Demi Vollering already proving to be in top form this season, the race was set to be fiercely contested. Or could a new champion be announced at the top of the infamous Mur de Huy?
Sponsored by Laka
The Cycling Podcast’s coverage of the spring Classics is supported by Laka. Laka offers specialist bike insurance that goes further than you think. It’s powered by a collective of cyclists who all have each others’ backs. They won’t charge a fixed sum, instead, they calculate your monthly contributions – up to a maximum capped amount – based on the collective’s claims. There’s no excess so you won’t be penalised when it comes to making a claim. Laka is back as a proud sponsor of The Cycling Podcast. Listeners can get their first 30 days free by signing up with the code TCP30 at laka.co/tcp
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The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.
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33:37
S13 Ep33: Arrivée | Flèche Wallonne men
Join Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie for their post-race analysis following the best three minutes of the cycling season (that takes place on a Wednesday afternoon, in spring, in Wallonia).
Yes, it’s the annual uphill cheeseroll competition (copyright Friebos). But just how far can we stretch the cheese analogies? What would win? A giant Camembert or 30 Mini Babybels? And what has New Year’s Eve in New York got to do with anything?
There’s serious tactical discussion and lots of nonsensical talk about sunglasses too. You wouldn’t expect anything else.
Sponsored by Laka
The Cycling Podcast’s coverage of the spring Classics is supported by Laka. Laka offers specialist bike insurance that goes further than you think. It’s powered by a collective of cyclists who all have each others’ backs. They won’t charge a fixed sum, instead, they calculate your monthly contributions – up to a maximum capped amount – based on the collective’s claims. There’s no excess so you won’t be penalised when it comes to making a claim. Laka is back as a proud sponsor of The Cycling Podcast. Listeners can get their first 30 days free by signing up with the code TCP30 at laka.co/tcp
Follow us on social media:
Twitter @cycling_podcast
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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 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 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 Cycling Podcast is on Strava
The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.
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37:01
S13 Ep32: Marginal Dane
Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie are back to examine the latest headlines and talking points from the world of pro cycling, this week aided by TNT commentator Rob Hatch.
The Classics have migrated (slightly) south to the hills of Limburg and the Ardennes, with the Brabantse Pijl and Amstel Gold kicking off the final phase of the spring season last week. In the former, Remco Evenepoel completed a stunning return from injury to outsprint Wout Van Aert. Amstel saw an even more surprising denouement, with Mattias Skjelmose proving too quick - just - for Tadej Pogačar and Evenepoel.
We ponder what this all means for the remainder of the Ardennes Classics, with a detour via Coorevits Corner. There’s also a look back at the life and times of British cycling legend Barry Hoban.
Sponsored by Laka
The Cycling Podcast’s coverage of the spring Classics is supported by Laka. Laka offers specialist bike insurance that goes further than you think. It’s powered by a collective of cyclists who all have each others’ backs. They won’t charge a fixed sum, instead, they calculate your monthly contributions – up to a maximum capped amount – based on the collective’s claims. There’s no excess so you won’t be penalised when it comes to making a claim. Laka is back as a proud sponsor of The Cycling Podcast. Listeners can get their first 30 days free by signing up with the code TCP30 at laka.co/tcp
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Get NordVPN two-year plan + four months extra ➼ https://nordvpn.com/tcp It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee.
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 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 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 Cycling Podcast is on Strava
The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.
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49:57
S13 Ep31: KM0: The Beast In The East
The Cicle Classic is England's answer to the spring classics. Paris-Roubaix is the Hell of the North so perhaps this ought to be known as the Beast in the East.
The race celebrates its 20th anniversary this month, with the 2025 edition taking place on Sunday, April 27. Held in the East Midlands, the race criss-crosses the countryside, taking in rough, rutted farm tracks. If it was created today it would be considered a gravel race. The Tour of Flanders has the Koppenberg, Gent-Wevelgem has the Kemmelberg, Paris-Roubaix has the Arenberg – the Cicle Classic has Somerberg.
Lionel Birnie explores the history and character of the UK's highest-ranked one-day race and hears from the founder Colin Clews who had the idea, Matt Stephens, who was third in the first edition two decades ago, Conor Dunne, who won in 2016 and James McCallum, who was on the podium in arguably the most dramatic and certainly the muddiest edition in 2012.
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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 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 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 Cycling Podcast is on Strava
The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.
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42:59
S13 Ep30: Sierra Yankee
Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie return to review the latest headlines and talking points from the world of pro cycling, this week in the company of Tudor Pro Cycling ace Larry Warbasse, aka ‘The Motown Maestro’.
While the Classics leave the flatlands of Flanders behind and head south towards hillier terrain, Larry has been getting ready for his big goal of the spring, the Giro d’Italia, in Spain’s Sierra Nevada. We hear what he’s made of the duel that has provided the central plot of the Classics so far, Pogačar versus Van der Poel, and also about high-altitude Giro prep.
There’s also Coorevits Corner and a look back at another remarkable week for team UAE Emirates, crowned by João Almeida’s victory in Itzulia.
Sponsored by Laka
The Cycling Podcast’s coverage of the spring Classics is supported by Laka. Laka offers specialist bike insurance that goes further than you think. It’s powered by a collective of cyclists who all have each others’ backs. They won’t charge a fixed sum, instead, they calculate your monthly contributions – up to a maximum capped amount – based on the collective’s claims. There’s no excess so you won’t be penalised when it comes to making a claim. Laka is back as a proud sponsor of The Cycling Podcast. Listeners can get their first 30 days free by signing up with the code TCP30 at laka.co/tcp
Episode sponsor: 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.
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 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 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 Cycling Podcast is on Strava
The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.
The Cycling Podcast takes listeners to the heart of professional cycling with weekly episodes and daily coverage of the Grand Tours.
Join journalists Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie – and a few special guests along the way – as they podcast about the latest cycling news and the world of professional cycling.
Founded by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie in 2013, The Cycling Podcast is one of the longest-running independent sports podcasts.
To support The Cycling Podcast, subscribe as a Friend of the Podcast to join our community, listen to special episodes released throughout the year and access our archive stretching back to 2015. Subscribe at thecyclingpodcast.com (https://thecyclingpodcast.supportingcast.fm)
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