Velo Podcast

Gravel cycling's Super Bowl is this coming weekend, and on this week's episode we take a deep dive into Unbound Gravel. We preview the race and discuss the stacked fields for the men's and women's events. Plus, we examine gravel cycling's wait-or-race debate, which is whether or not elite riders should stop at feed zones or proceed ahead. There are plenty of storylines to discuss about Unbound Gravel, from the race's COVID-19 safety protocols, to the event's name change, to the tech and gear used by the athletes. Our own Ben Delaney is competing this year, and Ben takes us through his setup for the race. Then, Kristi Mohn of Unbound Gravel and LifeTime joins the podcast to talk about the race's safety protocols and registration numbers ahead of the event. All that and more on this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast.

The GC picture at the 2021 Giro d'Italia has come into view, with Egan Bernal proving himself to be the strongest rider in the race. On this week's podcast we examine Bernal's dominance, and discuss what it means for the wider dynamics within the sport. Does Bernal have what it takes to challenge Tadej Pogacar at the Tour de France in the future? While the maglia rosa is firmly on Bernal's back, the fight for the two spots on the podium is hardly decided, with five riders sitting within two or so minutes of each other. Unsung hero Damiano Caruso is battling with GC stars to stay in second place, and we discuss which riders have the best shot at finishing second and third. Then, Larry Warbasse joins us again from the Giro d'Italia's second rest day to answer your questions. What gear ratio did Larry use on Monte Zoncolan? What did people think about the truncated 16th stage? Larry answers your questions. All that and more on this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast. This week's episode is brought to you by the new Outside+, our membership program that includes an Outside Magazine subscription, a membership with Gaia GPS, an elite package with FinisherPix, and the other perks included in the Active Pass membership. For more information go to velonews.com/outsideplus.

We're recording a day later than normal this week so that we can discuss the Giro d'Italia's awesome stage 11 — the one held on those gravel strade bianche roads! Ineos Grenadiers took control of the race, Egan Bernal was a huge star, and Remco Evenepoel lost steam. On today's podcast we break down all of the storylines and takes from the thrilling with Andrew Hood and VeloNews Podcast newcomer Sadhbh O'Shea! Then, Larry Warbasse is back on the podcast to answer your questions. Larry is racing his fourth Giro d'Italia, and he fields your questions about breakaways, water bottle zones, and rainy weather. All that and more on today's episode of The VeloNews Podcast. This week's episode is brought to us by the new Outside+, our new $99 annual membership package that includes Outside Magazine, Gaia GPS, and all of the cool perks from Active Pass.

The 2021 Giro d'Italia has begun, and we already have plenty of storylines to discuss. James Startt gives us a taste of what it's like to attend this year's race, from the security measures and the mood of the riders, to the size of crowds along the road. American Joe Dombrowski became just the 10th American to win a stage of the Giro on Tuesday, and we break down his historic victory, and analyze the significance of the win for Dombrowski's career. The GC picture is beginning to take shape after the stage 4 suffer fest in the rain, and we analyze how Egan Bernal, Remco Evenepoel and the other stars look on the road. Then, American Larry Warbasse joints the podcast from inside the Giro d'Italia to field your questions about this year's race. Got a question for Larry? Email it to us at mailbag@velonews.com!

It's time for the Giro d'Italia, and we have your complete audio guide for following the 2021 race. On this week's podcast we present our top-15 storylines to follow during the 2021 Giro, from Remco Evenepoel's comeback, to Peter Sagan's sprinting legs, to the likelihood of bad weather, shortened stages, or even a rider protest. Fred Dreier, Jim Cotton, and Andrew Hood each come into this week's podcast with their top-5 storylines to follow, and they hash out each story on today's pod. You can follow along with the Giro d'Italia at VeloNews.com with in-depth analysis, on-the-ground reporting, and gear and tech stories all month.

We have a packed episode of The VeloNews Podcast this week, featuring interviews with Mike Woods and Annemiek van Vleuten, plus our analysis of Liège-Bastogne-Liège and our final takes on the 2021 classics season. Who won the Spring classics? It's the question of the week now that Liège-Bastogne-Liège has concluded. Wout van Aert, Marianne Vos, Annemiek van Vleuten, and the entire Deceuninck-Quick-Step squads can all claim victory this year. In truth, no one team or rider dominated classics season in 2021, bucking the trend that we've seen in past years, when Peter Sagan, Philippe Gilbert, and Quick-Step all crushed. Why were the classics so evenly fought? We discuss this topic on today's podcast. Then, Mike Woods joins the show to take us inside his Ardennes campaign, with detailed insight into Liège-Bastogne-Liège, as well as the slog up the Mur d Huy at Fleche Wallonne. What's it like to be in the front group up the Mur de Huy? Woods gives us a detailed explanation of that final surge up the iconic climb. Then, Annemiek van Vleuten joins the show to discuss her first few months at Team Movistar, and how her transfer to the Spanish team has created additional parity in the Women's WorldTour. All that and more on this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast!

The spring classics are speeding toward their conclusion, and on this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast we take a deep dive into the action and dynamics shaping the big one-day races. First up, we break down Amstel Gold Race, and the two thrilling finales we saw this past weekend. Wout van Aert and Marianne Vos brought Jumbo-Visma two big wins, and both wins came by the thinnest of margins. Did Ineos-Grenadiers play its cards wrong in the men's race, and what do we make of the cat-and-mouse games between Kasia Niewiadoma and Elisa Longo Borghini? Then, U.S. rider Kiel Reijnen takes us inside Trek-Segafredo's pre-race planning for the classics by interviewing team staffer Luc Meersman. Meersman maps out all of the cobbled classics races, drives the routes, and then presents the courses to the team in the lead-up to each race. Finally, U.S. champion Ruth Winder joins the podcast to take us inside her thrilling victory at De Brabantse Pijl. The win could have major implications on Winder's Olympics ambitions. All that and more on this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast!

Primož Roglič scored a masterful victory at Spain's Itzulia Basque Country race this past week, taking the overall win on the final stage after embarking on a daylong breakaway. On this episode of The VeloNews Podcast we analyze Roglič's impressive win at a WorldTour race that is often overshadowed by the cobbled classics. Jumbo-Visma often win by seizing an early lead and then snuffing the life out of its rivals. But last week the Dutch team ceded the lead to Brandon McNulty of UAE-Team Emirates and then employed a strategy of aggression, attacking relentlessly on the final stage until McNulty cracked and his teammate, Tadej Pogačar, was forced to wait. What implications does this win have for the Tour? We break it down. Then, Mark Cavendish is back to his winning ways at the Tour of Turkey, and the British star has now won multiple stages at the race. What does this mean for Cavendish's career and his chances of racing the Tour de France? Finally, Mike Creed of Aevolo Cycling joins the podcast to discuss the state of the U.S. professional domestic racing scene. The COVID-19 pandemic stopped the domestic racing scene in its tracks in 2020, and racing has yet to start again. For Creed and Aevolo cycling, the only opportunity to race is overseas, so Creed too his team to Greece to race the Tour of Rhodes. Don't forget, Amstel Gold Race is this weekend, and you can watch all of the spring classics streaming live and on demand at Flobikes.com. Go to Flobikes.com/VeloNews to sign up for your subscription today!

On this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast we analyze every inch of Sunday's Tour of Flanders. Plus, American rider Leah Thomas of Team Movistar takes us inside Annemiek van Vleuten's thrilling victory in the women's race. Contributor James Startt was at the Tour of Flanders this year, and Startt gives us a detailed report on what the race was like without fans. Plus, Startt got a first-hand view of Mathieu van der Poel battling Kasper Asgreen and Wout van Aert. All that and more on this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast.

The Tour of Flanders is coming up this weekend, and North American fans can watch the action live on Flobikes. To sign up for a subscription go to www.flobikes.com/velonews. We're in the midst of the 2021 cobbled classics season, and on this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast we're joined by a true legend of cobbled racing — and of cycling in general. Marianne Vos returns to the podcast, this time to take us inside her thrilling victory at Gent-Wevelgem, and to share her thoughts on the major issues shaping women's pro racing in 2021. In men's racing, the 2021 classics season has been defined by parity, with multiple riders and teams winning the big one-day events. This parity bucks the assumption that many of us had that Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel would dominate. On today's podcast we examine the recent win by Deceuninck-Quick-Step at E3 Saxo Classic and by Wout van Aert at Gent-Wevelgem. Both victories are a sign that team strength can overcome the might of one individual in these punishing races. Then, we examine what these races tell us about what to expect at Sunday's Tour of Flanders. With Paris-Roubaix in doubt, Flanders could be the biggest race of the spring. All that and more on this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast.