The Rouleur Podcast

“Jean de Gribaldy said no sex for two weeks before a one-day race, no sex four weeks before a big tour, so you never had sex! There was that fear that it would take energy away from the riders.” We were honoured and delighted to have Greg and Kathy LeMond as our special guests for the entirety of the Rouleur Classic. They were both on absolutely sparkling form throughout the three days of the show, and we are truly indebted. Hear from the LeMonds on coming to Europe as young Americans and shaking up the traditions of a staid sport, steeped in tradition and superstition. From eating pizza to playing golf to million-dollar contracts to what went on – or not – in the bedroom, Greg and Kathy questioned every silly rule in the book and won. Greg also tells us how he hid the severity of his near-death hunting accident in 1987 to protect his job and family – remarkably coming back to win two more Tours de France to add to his 1986 title. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Pidcock launched his new team Trinity Racing before launching into a full season of racing in the mud and dirt of top level cyclo-cross on the Continent. The reigning under-23 ‘cross world champion had a decent road season too – first at Paris-Roubaix espoirs, stage and overall at Tour Alsace, and a terrific performance with the entire GB team at Tour de l’Avenir before a horror crash on a stage 6 descent knocked him out. But there was no way he was going to miss the opportunity of a medal on his home roads of Yorkshire in the World Championships.  “I love being around bike riders. That’s the amazing thing.” Allan Peiper, one of Australia’s pioneers in the pro peloton, is a hugely respected directeur sportif in the sport whose prostate cancer has returned this year. In an emotional interview with Rouleur editor Andy McGrath, Peiper tells us how the cycling family has closed around him and how riders – some well-known to him, some not so much – have been in touch to offer support.  Ian Parkinson visits Santini in Italy to get up to speed with their latest developments. Hairy vests, anyone? Think punk-era mohair jumpers, but for cycling. Stuart Clapp tells us what he’ll be up to at the upcoming Rouleur Classic, plus Kenny van Vlaminck, another special guest at the Classic, has some mixed news, mostly involving peas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Cavendish, Caleb Ewan and Owain Doull guide us through the upcoming Six Day London at the Lee Valley Velopark.How does Cav make sense of the Madison? Can Caleb find his track legs in his first ever Six? And can Owain and the vastly experienced Cavendish topple the talented Italian duo of Viviani and Consonni?Ian Parkinson visits Christian Dagnoni in Milan to marvel over his family’s stunning collection of pacing - or ‘stayer’ - motorbikes and Dernys, featured in issue 18.8. It’s an exhilarating discipline, with 78kph covered in one hour at the Vigorelli stadium back in the day…Plus, Stuart Clapp is back from the Worlds in Yorkshire with a dose of ‘Harrogate fever’ and is still marvelling over Annemiek van Vleuten’s stunning solo win. He has a survival guide for the upcoming Rouleur Classic and a fun anecdote featuring an autograph hunter. Wlll he get to the end? Probably not… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yorkshire is once again the centre of the cycling world and the podcast comes direct from Rouleur's temporary home - the Corner Haus Belgian bar in Harrogate. Ian Parkinson is joined by Ned Boulting and Rebecca Charlton, looking back at the championship so far and looking ahead to the star events - the men's and women's elite road races. Will Vos be unstoppable or will the home crowd cheer home Yorkshire's own Lizzie Deignan for the win. And can anyone stop Mathieu van der Poel from leading that last sprint past Betty's Tea Room. One thing is certain, both races are going to be long, brutal and probably wet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Parkinson travels to Spain to meet Joseba Arizaga from Orbea and ride their brand spanking new Orca OMX. Proudly Basque, cooperatively owned and backers of Fundación Euskadi, they do things differently at Orbea.  Our man Stu Clapp is back from his travels and full of beans, just for a change. Apart from holidaying in Japan, he’s been getting up close and personal with some classic supercars for the next Desire shoot. Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches abound, but the Fiat 500 and the Vespa are more Stu’s bag. And Cycling Mole, who you probably know from our daily Top Mañana punditry for La Vuelta, tells us how he analyses every stage in great detail before deciding who is the likely winner. Unsurprisingly, there’s far more to it than meets the eye. And the Vuelta is extremely hard to predict... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yanto Barker explains how 20,000 hours of riding as a pro inspired his quest to make better kit with his clothing brand Le Col. "I'm one of those rare people who will say the customer is wrong, which my team find really uncomfortable, but the fact is I am an expert." And we hear from the first non-European to wear the Maillot Jaune, the Australian great Phil Anderson. More than forty years since he took the Yellow Jersey after an epic day in the Pyrenees he can still remember every detail. What's more surprising is that it was his first Grand Tour, and his first ever taste of riding in the big mountains. "My teammate said, no don't look down the road, you've gotta look up there and I looked above the clouds at these misty peaks of the mountains, and I'd never seen anything like that before." Phil, one of the guests at this year's Rouleur Classic event, recalls that seminal day and other highlights from his career with host Ian Parkinson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not many former pros can boast as varied a career as Rob Hayles. The former Cofidis rider and British national champion holds Commonweath and Olympic medals, and track World Championships golds in the team pursuit and Madison (with Mark Cavendish). On retiring in 2009, Hayles slipped seamlessly into a commentating role for television and radio, but also repairs carbon frames and, interestingly, now makes jewellery with cycling at its core - carbon and titanium loom large. Rob tells us what he’ll be bringing to the Rouleur Classic in London, and recalls what life on the GB squad was like in the cash-strapped pre-Lottery funding days. It’s not all glamour, as you might guess…Café du Cycliste make some of the loveliest garments in cycling. Morgane Bigault from the quality French kit makers discusses the brand’s inspirations - from Morocco to the avant-garde.Your host is Ian Parkinson, and Executive Editor Ian Cleverly chips in with news of the Rouleur Classic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A very special Desire edition of the podcast as we reach for the sky at Biggin Hill airport with Spitfires and Hurricanes as a backdrop. Talking over the mighty roar of Rolls Royce Merlin engines are Desire editor Stuart Clapp, Claire Beaumont from Condor Cycles, photographer Benedict Campbell and your host, Ian Parkinson. Claire explains how a medium-sized shop in London competes with the major manufacturers, tells us what's hot this summer, and why the JLT-Condor team, started in 2007, was disbanded after an amazing run in the UK racing scene. We have some beautiful bikes to shoot, which Benedict balances on extremely valuable historic aircraft. And Stu gets emotional over Steve McQueen's jeep. Chocks away. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An honest and revealing interview with Jonathan Vaughters of EF Education First."I realised what my performance could be with EPO and I realised what it could be without it. Once you realise that, any time you're racing without it....you kind of give up."Jonathan Vaughters has always been one of the most outspoken voices in pro-cycling and, in his new book One Way Ticket, he talks frankly about doping - past and present, depression and the "five percent of joy" that keeps him in love with the sport. He stopped off on his way to Brussels to talk about the book and his career with Ian Parkinson.Meanwhile, Rouleur Editor Andy McGrath reflects on one of the sport's greatest ever teams - the multi-coloured classic champions of Mapei. How did an Italian bathroom grout manufacturer end up creating a team that's still remembered with affection by fans and riders nearly two decades after their last race? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"To have that jersey hanging up in the wardrobe, in the context of who has won it subsequently and before – Simpson, Wiggins, Cavendish, Thomas – to be on the trophy and on that list of names that I admire is very special.”Matt Stephens recalls the feeling of being British national champion, a title he took in 1998. He was then promptly fined £500, and spilt tea down his gleaming white jersey, the stain stubbornly visible to this day. Ned Boulting and Ian Cleverly share the anecdotes and a few laughs along the way.Lisa Brambani knows all about national champion’s jerseys - she claimed a remarkable four in a row in the 1980s. Now with her daughter Abby-Mae Parkinson making a name for herself on the road racing scene, Lisa is now more likely to be referred to as “Abby’s mum”. But that’s how she likes it: “I’m not one for blowing my own trumpet.”And how do you top being national champion? The 20-year-old Mandy Jones from Rochdale caused a major upset winning the 1982 World Championships at Goodwood. How was that, asks Ian Parkinson? "Absolutely fantastic, euphoric, and the best moment of my life.”Plus Desire Editor Start Clapp is reading a fine book by Paul Fournel. Will he finish telling Ian about it before we lose the signal from deepest Essex? Probably not... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.