You don’t have a career in pro cycling as long as Matteo Trentin’s without being strong, smart, and totally dedicated to the sport. I was so excited to sit down with Matteo when I was across in Europe during the Spring Classics and find out more about the life and career of one of the wiliest riders in the peloton.

That’s right, guys, this month’s ep sees me spinning a yarn with Matteo Trentin over a crisp acqua frizzante - it was in between Wevelgem and Flanders, after all - and hearing the story of his career on the bike. 

Since turning professional with Quickstep at the end of 2011, Matteo’s bounced between some of the biggest teams in the sport; from Greenedge to CCC, through to UAE Emirates and now riding for Tudor Pro Cycling. Along the way he’s bagged himself three stage wins at the Tour de France, four stages at the Vuelta, a stage at the Giro, AND, as if that wasn’t enough, a European Championships title ahead of none other than Wout van Aert and Mathieu Van Der Poel. 

But he’s not just good on paper. Watch any classic bike race, and more often than not you’ll see Matteo right there in the thick of the action during the decisive moment. He never misses. Over a decade and a half in the sport, he’s built up a reputation as being one of the most intelligent racers in the whole bunch, and I loved hearing about his mentality in the races, his ability to surf the bunch, and how he always looks out for ‘the watch dog’. 

At just 17 years old, Matteo served a short ban for a salbutamol positive. I wanted to find out how this shaped the rest of his career, and Matteo’s open and candid answer speaks volumes about his professionalism and his mindset as a rider. 

This is a real racer’s episode. We talk about the grit and grime of the sharp end of the Spring Classics, the harsh reality of coming back from injury and disappointment, and what it takes to have a long and successful career like Matteo’s. 

I absolutely loved my chat with Matteo, and I hope you do too. If you followed this year’s classics then you’ll know, sadly, a few days after recording this ep Matteo hit the deck at the Tour of Flanders and broke his collarbone…for the first time in his career - which, if you ask me, is a pretty good ratio in 16 years pro. He’s on the comeback trail now and is getting ready to return to the pelo again and show those young guns how the vintage riders do it; with race craft, dedication, and a touch of Italian flair.

Crack open a bottle of vino, plate up the antipasto, and get your ears around this awesome chat with Matteo Trentin. 

Cheers

Mitch

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That’s right, Harry & Stu are back at the races to bring you all the sounds, sights, and smells from the roadside to take you on the journey with them. Here’s what the boys had to say about their adventure:

Harry: Tro-Bro Léon – what a delight. Stu and I had a blast in Brittany, shucking oysters, shopping in Decathlon and cheering on Lewis Askey and Fred Wright. My personal highlight? Meeting 'Mr Pig' himself Laurent Pichon, legendary rider from the area and all-round nice guy. Bring on the Route d'Occitanie!

Stu: Ribin-who? I only heard about this race a couple of years ago, and I’ve wanted to go ever since. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint... If only all races were this wild! This is France like I’ve never seen it before. Pure Breton passion, hard racing, great crowds. Mitch knows how to pick em! See you there next year?

I only did this race once in my career, and for some reason EF gave me the green light to be the team’s leader and go for a result. How did it go? Well, let’s just say I’ve never won Tro-Bro…not even close. 

This is a real bastard of a race, but that’s why it’s loved so deeply by the fans. The iconic piglet prize presented to the best placed Breton rider is just one of the weird and wonderful things about Tro-Bro Léon, but after you listen to Harry & Stu’s latest adventure it’ll all make sense.

Of course, none of this would be possible without support from our presenting partner SHOKZ. If you’re after the best sports headphones - be it for cycling, running, or even swimming - get across to SHOKZ’s website, and enjoy a cheeky discount for being a LITP listener. 

Guys, you don’t need me to tell you…but I’m going to anyway; this is a banger of an ep. Harry and Stu are just like you and me - real bike racing fans. Their passion is infectious, and after hearing this episode, I’m so pumped to get back roadside watching some live racing. If you enjoyed this one, drop the boys a line at raceradio@lifeinthepeloton.com and let them know!

You’ll next hear from Life In The Peloton’s Race Radio presented by SHOKZ at La Route d'Occitanie in June - another niche race, but one that - in 2010 - saw one f the greatest stage victories of all time. Stay tuned.

Cheers,

Mitch

👉 https://lifeinthepeloton.substack.com/about

The Spring Classics are done and dusted for another season. When I was a pro, I used to absolutely love these races. The grit they demanded of you as a rider, the passion of the fans in Belgium, the race craft you had to possess just to survive…man, I lived for it.

This month’s episode of The Life In The Peloton Chronicles is all about exactly that - surviving and thriving at the Spring Classics. Sveino may not have enjoyed the races quite as much as I did, but he gave them a bloody good go throughout his career, and shares that deep understanding of what’s required to even just get to the finish line of these races, let alone win them.

If I had to summarise the Spring Classics in a word, it would be ‘Passion’. You need to have passion for these races, for these roads. You have to be prepared to basically die for every single corner - that’s how intense the fight to be at the front at the key moments is. If you don’t have that passion, you’ll never win that fight, and you’ll be spat out the back quicker than you can say ‘Kwaremont’,

Svein and I are just a couple of old guys, really, so we spoke to some young talent to see if the demands of these races that left such a deep impression on us as riders are still there for the next generation.

Kell O’Brien has just wrapped up his fifth go around the Spring Classics circus as a pro. Hailing from Melbourne and riding for Jayco, I see a lot of myself in Kell. He came across as a young man, and did his time taking a real beating in these races - learning the hard way just like I did. Now he’s been around for a few years, he’s starting to carve out his spot in the bunch and get more and more out of these races. I loved chatting to Kell and hearing just how much it means to be a part of these prestigious, historic, crazy events and how much he’s grown as a person not just on the bike, but off it as well because of it.

Sveino caught up with the young American prodigy Riley Sheehan from team NSN. Riley tasted success at the classics before his pro career had even started, winning the late season classic style race Paris-Tour when he was just a stagiere! A trainee getting their hands in the air is rare enough as it is, but to do so at a race with gravel sectors and all the fighting and chaos as a Belgian classic shows just how much potential there is. Naturally, that kind of result puts a lot of pressure on a young rider, and repeating that kind of success in races that some riders take years to crack is no easy task. Fortunately for Riley, he absolutely loves the fight and the pure racing that plays out on the roads, cobbles, and bergs of Belgium and Northern France.

As always, I loved chatting to Svein and having a yarn like we do every month. Being able to relive these races and hear about the experience of a couple of talented young riders only makes me love them even more. Only 345 days until Roubaix 2027!

Guys, thanks for being part of the Pelo and getting behind everything we’re doing here at Life In The Peloton. You’ve done a great job keeping the echelon rolling throughout the crosswinds of the Spring, and now we’re only a few weeks away from chasing back on through the valleys of Italy together…after being dropped in the mountains.

Cheers,

Mitch

Guys, the cobbled classics are over for another year - and what a Spring we’ve had! Although the cobbles may be behind us, we still have the Ardennes to look forward to over the next week! Who better to wrap up the cobbles and preview the Ardennes with than my old mates Luke Durbridge and Tom Southam right here on this month’s Race Communiqué.

We kick this month’s episode off by rounding up the Spring so far; from Pogačar’s dominance at Flanders right through to Van Aert’s redemption at Paris Roubaix, there’s been heaps of racing to get stuck into. One race I didn’t manage to follow too closely was the Tour of the Basque Country, where young Paul Seixas absolutely dominated from start to finish. Fortunately, Southam was there on the ground in the EF team car, so he gives us the scoop from Spain, and just how good Seixas really is. 

The Ardennes classics have already kicked off, with Remco Evenepoel dusting Skjelmose in the sprint to win the Amstel Gold Race. Southam was in the convoy dealing with a unique….pretty gross situation that he’s never come across in his career. Safe to say Remco’s shape is ominous ahead of Liège - the 4th monument of the year - which is only a few days away. With Pog, Remco, and Seixas all on the start list it looks like we’re in for an epic showdown. We go through the course and pick our favourites.

Durbo’s just got back after a few days off the bike following Paris Roubaix, and that’s what this month’s PeloChat is all about; keeping mentally fresh and taking time away from cycling. As you all know by now, Luke’s just announced that he’s hanging up the wheels after national champs in January 2027. He’s riding out a long, distinguished career of 15 years - so this advice is worth listening to.

Talking Tactics is all about that head to head to head we’re getting hyped about at Liège-Bastogne-Liège; how do Remco and Seixas overthrow Pogi who, on paper, is probably the favourite. Southam gives us his thoughts. 

Finally - of course - it’s the Communiquiz; this month I’m quiz master and we’re talking monuments. Who’s DNF’d more monuments; me, Durbo, or Southam? You’ll have to listen to find out. 

The cobbles may have finished but there’s still heaps of great racing to enjoy, so give this ep a listen and get hyped up for the Ardennes. Not long to go until we can talk Grand Tours, and the Giro - Mama Mia, that’s come around fast! 

Cheers,

Mitch

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PARIS ROUBAIX! What. A. Race. Holy hell, guys - what have we just witnessed. 

That was the best Roubaix’s I’ve ever seen…that was the best race I’ve ever seen! I couldn’t wait till Wednesday to talk through this one, so I sat down with Durbo in person right here in Roubaix after the race to go through the dramatic, emotional, epic edition blow by blow. 

I was sector hopping at Paris Roubaix today - from the first cobbled sector, to the Carrefour de l’Arbre, then on to the iconic Roubaix velodrome to watch the women’s sprint finish. Meanwhile, Durbo was out there on the stones getting stuck in. We’ve both had pretty epic days, although I think Luke’s earned a few more post race beers than me. 

I had to take the opportunity whilst I’m here in Europe to sit down with Luke, recap the race, dive into the key moments that made this edition one for the history books, hear from inside the bunch direct from Durbs, and - of course - squeeze in a cheeky Roubaix Communiquiz. 

Guys this is a special emergency podcast from someone who’s just raced - as I’m sure you’ll agree - what was one of the best races of all time. Enjoy.

Cheers,

Mitch

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It’s Paris–Roubaix week, and it felt like the perfect time to bring back one of the interviews I’d wanted to do from the very start of Life in the Peloton. Sitting down with Tom Boonen at his place in Mol is still one of my favourite conversations we’ve had on the pod, so I thought this was the right moment to share it again.

When it comes to the Cobbled Classics, Tom’s palmarès are mind blowing. He’s the joint record holder for wins at both Flanders (3) and Roubaix (4), as well as the outright record holder for the most wins at E3 (5). Just one of those victories would define most careers, but Tom can also count three Gent–Wevelgems, a couple of Scheldeprijs titles and a world championship for good measure.

This was an extra special pod for me personally. Tom’s career wrapped up in 2017, which meant I spent a big part of my own racing career lining up against him at the Classics and getting my legs blown off by his attacks. He was the wheel everyone wanted to be on when the racing got serious. I managed it once… have a listen to hear how that went.

I was lucky enough to sit down with Tom at his home in Mol and really get stuck into chatting about the races that we both love so much. He’s a fantastic interviewee, and I got a real buzz from the excitement he still clearly feels when talking through the ups and downs of his biggest wins and defeats.

As well as revisiting some of the most legendary Classics moments of the last decade, I also got to ask a few questions I’d always wanted to know the answers to. What was it really like being a superstar in such a cycling-mad country? How did he handle the pressure of becoming world champion at just 24? And we also talked about a comeback story that often gets overlooked alongside Matt Hayman’s incredible ride at the 2016 Paris–Roubaix.

Honestly, I could have stayed chatting about the microscopic details of the Arenberg sector for hours if I could. There’s so much in this one, and with Roubaix coming up this weekend it felt like the right time to bring it back.

Cheers!

Mitch

Check out our new Substack! It’s a new place for us to go a bit deeper — home to Tom Southam’s Director’s Cuts, my Pelo Journal, and stories from inside the peloton… and a bit beyond it too - https://lifeinthepeloton.substack.com/

Guys, as if you need me to tell you, we are deep in the heart of the Spring Classics. My favourite races…hell, EVERYONE’S favourite races. I’ve got myself across to the motherland, in amongst it in Belgium, to soak it all in.

I want to take you with me on the road and show you why these races are so special. This week is bigger than any one race - it’s a part of the culture here in Belgium, and it’s woven into their very DNA. Even people who don’t ride get out there at the roadside and watch the classics race by. I want to peel back the layers and bring you along for the ride in a way that makes you think “Holy shit I have to get out there next year”.

I’ve been putting this episode together since I arrived last weekend, just in time for Gent Wevelgem or, as it’s now called, In Flanders Fields - From Middlekerke to Wevelgem, and hitting record to capture all sorts of rider interviews, roadside atmosphere, across the whole week through Waregem until the big one; De Ronde Van Vlaanderen.

I spoke to some really important characters in the Spring Classic story -both old and new - across my week at the races. Young, up and coming talent like Laurence Pithie and Bob Donaldson, Belgian hero Dries de Bondt, and legends from generations gone by like Sep Vanmarcke and Luke Rowe. Not just the riders, there’s an amazing cross section of fans from Belgian and beyond who have travelled out to the hallowed ground of Flanders to embrace it all.

From Wevelgem to Waregem, the Kemmelberg to the Kwaremont; this episode covers a lot of ground. Just like the Tour of Flanders itself, we twist and turn all over Belgium - covering bergs shoulder to shoulder with the classics riders who make these races so special.

Make no mistake, these races are hard. They’re aggressive, chaotic, fast - they chew you up and spit you out. But, as a professional rider, I loved being a part of it. The noise of the crowd, the smell of the beer, and the passion of the Belgian fans right there on the roadside are something I’ll never forget. I had to get in amongst it and see if it lived up to the hype. I’ll tell you right now, it far exceeded it.

Crack yourself a Belgian beer - be it a light pilsner, a sturdy blonde, a dark dubbel, or the full tripel - make sure you pour it into the correct glass, and enjoy this Classics episode.

This episode is sponsored by JOIN Cycling and SHOKZ.

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👉 https://lifeinthepeloton.substack.com/about

Sitting down and having a yarn with my mate Sveino is one of my favourite marts of the month. Sharing a huge chunk of my pro career with Svein and travelling the world racing our bikes together feels like a lifetime ago now, and sometimes we land on a topic that really brings home just how far the sport has come in the time since we both hung up our racing wheels.

This month is no different. Guys, welcome back to the Life In The Peloton Chronicles, exclusively for you Pelo members.

After knocking out an epic 240km ride as part of MAAP’s Equinox Experience and Curve’s Border Run on the weekend that saw me absolutely creeping up to the Victorian border with New South Wales, I wanted to talk about nutrition in bike racing.

Fuelling in cycling - more specifically, how much carbohydrate riders can consume every hour - has transformed in the last few years. Back in my day, we’d have a gel here, a bar there, and sip on a couple of bottles throughout a stage - don’t want to eat too much, right? Might get fat…

Nowadays, pro cyclists are getting through 120g of carbohydrates an hour - or even more. It’s totally changed the game. Riders have more energy, so they can push harder day after day after day. Who would have thought having more energy would make you go better on the bike?

I caught up with an old mate of mine - Kevin Poulton. Kevin is my old coach, and now plies his trade at UAE Emirates XRG with some of the best riders in the world. Kev’s been in the sport for over a decade, and has a really good head on how fuelling has evolved at the top level, and some of the misunderstandings about the golden 120g/h number that we hear so much about these days.

At the end of the day, it’s all about training. Just like how you train your legs, you need to train your gut as well. There’s some gems in this ep, and hopefully you learn a thing or two - as well as enjoy hearing Sveino and I spin a yarn and swap stories from our time in the bunch.

Guys, as you know, these episodes are exclusive to you Pelo members. As always, I want to give you all a massive ‘Chapeau’ for pulling this bunch along and supporting me and the Life In The Peloton team. If you like what we do tell your mates and get them across to join this paceline.

Until next month!

Cheers

Mitch

This year’s Milan San Remo might be the craziest race I’ve ever seen. All the tension and build-up, the favourites crashing with just 30km to go, the epic chase back from Pogi, and the fantastic duel for the win on the Via Roma. What. A. Race. Where do we even start to unpack all that?!

Fortunately, as always, I’m joined by World Tour Pro, Luke Durbridge, and EF Education EasyPost Sports Director, Tom Southam, to dig into what we’ve just seen at San Remo, look ahead to the rest of the Spring races, and, of course, share a few good laughs along the way. 

Obviously, this episode kicks off with Southam, Durbo, and me digesting the men’s Milan San Remo that saw a battle-scarred Tadej Pogačar clinch victory in the sprint against Tom Pidcock, with a resurgent Wout Van Aert hanging on for 3rd behind, ahead of a raging Mads Pedersen leading home the bunch. There were so many absolutely crazy moments and amazing rides from heaps of different guys in the bunch - I can’t even begin to wrap it up here; you’ll just have to hear us yarn all about it.

This month’s PeloChat is all about bunch positioning. Durbo gives us his insight into how important a rider’s positioning in the peloton is, and the best ways to avoid the chaos and carnage. It was surprising to hear him say that the back of the bunch isn’t actually as bad as we all thought…

Southam’s Talking Tactics focus this month is…well…talking tactics! How do sports directors and team leaders communicate their plans amongst the riders, and how do they ensure other teams don’t find out before crunch time? Southam tells all.

Our new segment returns: “Yeah…nah…”. This month is all about Cafe culture. Pre-ride coffee stop? Helmet on at the cafe? Lunch in your knicks? Yeah….nah.

Finally, of course, it’s the CommuniQuiz. This month it’s Durbo’s turn to be quiz master, and it’s a full-on ‘Ashes’ edition; Australia VS The UK. I take on the role of Shane Warne, and Southam has a go at being…I don’t know, some Pommy. 

Guys, monument season is well and truly here, and what a way to start it on the weekend with a truly historic Milan San Remo. Not long to wait until Holy Week and everyone’s favourite races; Flanders & Roubaix. I. Cannot. Wait.

Cheers,

Mitch.

The Race Communiqué is brought to you by TrainingPeaks!

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Check out our new Substack! It’s a new place for us to go a bit deeper - home to Tom Southam’s Director’s Cuts, my Pelo Journal, and stories from inside the peloton… and a bit beyond it too!

Oh boy, we are just days away from Milan Sanremo. La Primavera, the first monument of the season, La Classicissima - whatever you want to call it - this race is guaranteed action every single year. 

This month’s episode of Life In The Peloton is an absolute bumper sized deep dive into this perfect bike race from the people who know it better than anyone. We’ve got previous winners, podium finishers, and passionate riders that dedicate their season to this race - plus experts who know the history of this monumental affair better than anyone.

We kick off with some context from master stat man - Dr Cillian Kelly. He teaches me a thing or two about the history of this race, where it sits compared to the other monuments, and why it is - statistically - the perfect bike race. 

Next, a guy who is possibly the most passionate person on earth about Sanremo; Max Sciandri. Max raced MSR 13 times as a professional, and has driven the race as a sports director at least the same number of times. His best finish as a rider was an agonising 4th place behind Colombo in 1996, but he dedicated his career to trying to win this beautiful race. Is there anyone who knows the 300 odd kilometers between Milan and Sanremo better than Max? I don’t think so.

OK That’s the cruisy first 150km of the ep - now we’re over the Turchino and onto the coast for the build up to the finale; it’s time to hear from some riders. John Degenkolb, Matt Goss, Heinrich Haussler, and Michael Matthews. If you know Sanremo, you know that these guys are total legends of the race. Between the 4 of them they’ve got 2 wins, 4 podiums, and 5 other top 10 placings. What’s the key to getting up there on the Via Roma? These guys will tell you.

Guys, this is an episode I’m so excited about because it really feels like it takes you inside the Peloton. I only raced San Remo 2 times in my pro career, so talking to these guys who are so experienced in and passionate about this beautiful, iconic race was really eye opening. 

This ep will take you from your first espresso of the day right through to your evening aperitivo and tell  you everything you need to know about the first monument of the season to get you hyped up for the weekend. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed putting it together. 

Cheers,

Mitch

This episode is sponsored by JOIN Cycling. Train smarter with adaptive plans and efficient workouts. Maximise progress, avoid overtraining, and seamlessly connect with favourite apps and devices. Perfect for cyclists of all levels.

For 30 Days JOIN Cycling FREE, head across to join.cc/litp

A reminder too that we’ve started a new chapter for Life in the Peloton on Substack.

It’s a home for deeper stories, longer thoughts, and conversations that don’t have to fit into an hour-long pod — from Tom Southam’s Director’s Cuts to my own Pelo Journal. Some of it’s always free, and if you want a bit more, the paid membership is really just like shouting Tom or me a pint once a month to help keep Life in the Peloton rolling: https://lifeinthepeloton.substack.com/

👉 https://lifeinthepeloton.substack.com/about

Guys welcome back to the Life In The Peloton Chronicles - exclusively for you Pelo members who go that extra mile supporting me.

I love getting the chance to sit down and have a yarn with old Sveino, and this month’s episode is a real banger. It’s a long one, but well worth it.

Svein and I were both professional athletes for a bloody long time - about 30 combined years experience between us. One thing you really need to be in control of when you’re an athlete is your ego, and when you retire, it’s something you need to learn all over again; keeping the old ego in check and not getting too big for your boots.

Ego is one thing, stubbornness is another - and the two are different sides of the same coin. If you’ve read Sveino’s book ‘We Will Never Be Here Again’, you’ll know about his absolutely epic, totally crazy trips up into the Alaskan wilderness when he was a younger man before his career as a bike rider. Living in cabins, having run ins with grizzly bears, really pushing his limits because it was what he wanted to do. That’s stubbornness in a nutshell.

Take that mentality on to racing, combine it with natural talent - which Sveino had in bucket loads - and you’ve got a dangerous combo; the stubborn headed work ethic applied to training and mixed with physical ability is a recipe for success.

We’ve got some great guests on this ep. High level sportsmen from different sports to get their take on what’s required to be an athlete at the highest level, and how you can learn from that in your everyday life. Chris Collins - a local AFL legend - Alec Janssens, former elite speed skater.

But before we get to them, Sveino and I kick things off with a good old catch up. As always when we sit down together, it quickly turns into a pretty wide ranging yarn. From skunks causing chaos at Sveino’s place over in Canada, to both of us realising that even though the racing days are behind us, that competitive instinct never really disappears.

We start digging into that mindset and where it actually comes from. Is it something you’re born with? Is it something that gets built into you over years of sport? Or is it just stubbornness that gets reinforced over time?

Even now we both catch ourselves slipping straight back into that mentality. Whether it’s a ride with mates, a parkrun on a Saturday morning, or a climb that suddenly turns into a bit of a test. You tell yourself you’re just going to roll around and take it easy, but the moment someone pushes the pace that little switch flicks and you’re racing again before you even realise it.

That’s really what this episode is all about. Trying to understand that competitive mindset a bit better, and hearing how athletes from other sports have experienced it as well. What drives people to keep pushing themselves, where that stubborn edge comes from, and how that mentality carries through long after the professional career is finished.

Like always with these Chronicles episodes it’s just a relaxed yarn between mates, digging a little deeper into the mindset behind sport and the experiences that shaped our time in the peloton.

Thanks heaps for supporting the Pelo and getting behind me and the team here at Life In The Peloton. You guys are the real super domestiques, putting Nils Politt, Victor Campanaerts, and Carlos Verona to shame. The real MVPs.

Cheers,

Mitch

Opening Weekend was a total monster start to the Spring Classics! It had everything: dramatic moments, dominant performances, and a healthy dose of that beautiful Belgian charm we’ve all missed over the winter. Man, it’s good to be back…on my sofa watching.

Whilst I was at home catching the replay on the TV with a coffee (I’m looking forward to a cleansing Jupiler when I’m there in person for De Ronde), my old mates Harry Dowdney and Stuart Downie were right there on the ground getting in amongst the action for Race Radio. They crossed the English Channel, braved the Flemish weather, and got stuck in across the weekend at Omloop Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne to bring you this amazing first episode of this new and exciting series, and I’m pumped to share it with you. 

Here’s what you can look forward to in this episode, from the men behind it themselves:

Harry: I love the smell of cobbles in the morning! Especially after a wakeup call from our old friend Juan Antonio Flecha, surely the best Spanish classics rider of all time, and an absolute gentleman to boot. But there’s more – we met a couple more legends of the sport on our now-customary pitwalk, but I won’t spoil that just yet. We also had a bit of fun putting together a dramatic re-enactment of an edition of Kuurne that you’ll probably never see the likes of again.

Stu: What a way to start the year. I purposefully avoided watching anything live, knowing that my first fix was going to be live and direct into my eyeballs at Opening weekend, and it did not disappoint. I know some folks think MVDP turning up at the last minute is dull, but I totally disagree – there’s nothing like seeing a living legend surf a wall, against one of the sport’s most iconic backdrops. Unbelievable scenes. It also helps to have a boss who can point you in the direction of a really good beer, so this was truly a great start to a year of racing. We hope you love it as much as we did.

Life In The Peloton’s Race Radio presented by SHOKZ is taking it up a level this year; the boys are going to be right there at the roadside throughout the year, soaking it all in and sharing it with you guys. The coolest races, for the real bike racing fans. I loved listening to this episode; it really did take me back to the Motherland. I could almost smell the frites and taste the grit in between my teeth.

Of course, none of this would be possible without support from our presenting partner SHOKZ. If you’re after the best sports headphones - be it for cycling, running, or even swimming - get across to SHOKZ’s website, and enjoy a cheeky discount for being a LITP listener. 

Also, if you want to be in with a chance to WIN a pair of SHOKZ headphones, fill in the survey below and you could bag yourself one of three pairs up for grabs: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQjNx-Xyc1jjj8cqVrWLrORQq-VDa6WZIniD_x4R__BYx3tg/viewform 

Guys, I know I always say this, but I really hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I do. If you live and breathe all things Flandrien and loved hearing about it from Harry & Stu, drop the boys a line at raceradio@lifeinthepeloton.com and let them know! Harry & Stu’s next outing will be in May to one of my favourite races – the hipster’s Paris-Roubaix, Tro-Bro Léon. I can’t wait.

Cheers,

Mitch

Here we go, guys, we’re just a few sleeps away from Opening Weekend! Just thinking about these races gets me absolutely pumped. I can smell the Belgian chaos already; the embrocation, the frites, the beers! What better way to prepare for the return of proper bike racing than sitting down with my old mates Tom Southam and Luke Durbridge for this month’s episode of The Race Communiqué.

Before we jump into a quick preview of Omloop and Kuurne, we look back on the early season races that give us a good insight into who’s going well, and who’s got work to do. Of course Remco Evenepoel won’t be racing this weekend, but we discussed what on earth happened to him in the UAE! He had such a strong start to the season, to see him burst like that on the steep desert climbs was pretty surprising!

Omloop kicks off the classics season this Saturday, and it is set to be an absolute pearler. The start list is absolutely stacked with talent, but there are two big names still waiting to start their road season; Pogi and Van Der Poel. Without these big five star favourites, the race is actually pretty open. I go through my picks in the preview, so have a listen and send me some praise when one of the twelve or so riders I mentioned probably does OK. 

My favourite thing about Omloop is the finish; the Muur - Bosberg double that used to be the finale of the Tour of Flanders, but was dropped years ago in favour of the Kwaremont - Paterberg combo we see today. These climbs have everything; double digit gradients, brutal Belgian cobbles, and - most importantly - atmosphere. I can’t wait to see throngs of Belgies at the roadside soaking it all in (along with Life In The Peloton’s Race Radio p/b SHOKZ’s own Harry & Stu recording their first episode of the season!)

In this month’s Talking Tactics, Southam gives us the lowdown on his opening weekend; Faun-Ardèche Classic and Faun Drome Classic. These are new-school French one day races that are a notch below Omloop, but still absolutely stacked with big name riders looking to start their seasons; Jorgenson, Simmons, Skjelmose, Morgado, Bernal, Healy, and - the best rider in the world - Scaroni.

Durbo’s Pelochat has some great insight this month. He’s been keeping a close eye on some of the new tech nuggets from inside the Pelo, as well as how the new UCI rules on things like aero helmets are going down. 

Guys, this month I wanted to introduce a fun new segment I’ve called “Yeah…Nah.”. You know when you hear something, and you think it sounds like a good idea at first…then you give it a bit of thought and - actually - na. 

“Hey Mitch, you gonna go to Durbo’s party on Saturday?” 

“Yeah…….nah”

You get the idea. I give the boys a few ideas to get their take. Breakfast beers? Working the gate in the echelon? Sitting on in the Grupetto? 

Of course, we wrap things up with the CommuniQuiz. It’s Southam’s turn to be quiz master this time, and he’s written his quiz on his absolute favourite topic - something he’s totally, unequivocally obsessed with; UAE Team Emirates. It’s a great one and I actually learnt a thing or two about the history of the best team in the bunch right now. 

Guys get yourself a few Trappist beers out the fridge to come up to temp, make sure you’ve got plenty of mayo ready for your frites, and get ready for the classics to begin; I know I’ll be watching. 

Until next month,

Cheers!

Mitch

P.S.  Don't forget you can also watch The Race Communiqué over on our Life In The Peloton YouTube channel. You won't want to miss the reactions to Luke's Pelo Lingo in this one!

The Race Communiqué is brought to you by TrainingPeaks! Track, plan, and train smarter - just like the pros.

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Check out our new Substack! It’s a new place for us to go a bit deeper — home to Tom Southam’s Director’s Cuts, my Pelo Journal, and stories from inside the peloton… and a bit beyond it too - https://lifeinthepeloton.substack.com/

Guys, get yourselves ready, this is a banger of an ep. I got to sit down with the man himself, the Sweendog. The 16 Wheeler. Sweet 16. Harry Sweeny He’s one of the strongest riders in the pelo right now. They don’t call him ‘The Truck’ for nothing.

I spoke to Harry in person over in Adelaide at this year’s Tour Down Under and picked his brains about everything from his journey into the sport, his transition from Lotto to EF Education Easypost, how his neurodiversity makes him a better bike racer, and heaps more. 

Harry’s a super interesting guy. He’s a consummate professional and leaves no stone unturned in his hunt for being the best athlete he can be. Hearing Sweendog talk through how he prepares for every single race, and the level of detail with which he plans every gel, every corner, every meter of road covered really opened my eyes as to how hard he works.

Up until this point, Harry’s cut his teeth in the bunch riding as a domestique; turning himself inside out for team mates to great success - pulling guys like Ben Healy to monument podiums and the Yellow Jersey at the Tour de France. But, after a conversation with his team boss Jonathan Vaughters, Harry’s finding the confidence to ride for himself and show how strong he can be. As JV put it, ‘being 10% more of an arsehole’.

Not long after we recorded, Harry’s efforts were rewarded with an absolutely stellar podium finish at the Tour Down Under - his first World Tour GC Podium. It’s a fantastic result, and - I think - marks a real shift in focus; he knows he’s got the engine to go toe-to-toe with the big guys, and now he’s proved it out there on the road. 

I loved chatting to Harry, and I hope you guys enjoy listening to one of the most hard working, enthusiastic pros out there. 

Prefer to watch along? This episode’s up on our YouTube channel too. 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@lifeinthepeloton

Cheers!

Mitch

----more----

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Check out our new Substack! It’s a new place for us to go a bit deeper — home to Tom Southam’s Director’s Cuts, my Pelo Journal, and stories from inside the peloton… and a bit beyond it too - https://lifeinthepeloton.substack.com/

The Digger and The Doughboy are back, live from the Tour Down Under.

We’re back. Ian Boswell (The Doughboy) and I (The Digger) got back together for a one-night-only live show at the Tour Down Under, sitting down with some big names from the peloton for an open, no-filter chat about all things cycling. From the cobbled Classics to the Grand Tours and of course the Tour Down Under, we wanted to make sure we covered it all.

We kicked things off with Laurence Pithie and Luke Lamperti, diving deep into their experiences in the brutal but beautiful world of the cobbled Classics. Laurence reflected on his breakout years with Groupama-FDJ and how things have evolved since moving to Red Bull Bora hansgrohe, while Luke shared his take after racing with Classics royalty at Soudal Quick-Step. We also put them on the spot with some big Grand Tour predictions.

While we had the boys up, we went full tech nerd mode with the tool-wrenching oracle himself, Dave Rome. Fresh from wandering the team zones, Dave unpacked the latest tech trends and gave us a sneak peek at what teams are rolling out, including early looks at bikes heading toward 2026.

To wrap it all up, we brought on veteran Michal Kwiatkowski from INEOS, Aussie superstar Luke Plapp from Jayco AlUla, and Picnic PostNL Director Sportif Matt Winston. Together, we broke down the Tour Down Under stages and dug into how Jayco were planning to bounce back and move forward after a tough Nationals campaign.

This was a live recording, one of those nights you really had to be there for. But if you couldn’t make it, this episode is the next best thing. Jump in and soak up the vibes.

Cheers!

Mitch

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Check out our new Substack! It’s a new place for us to go a bit deeper — home to Tom Southam’s Director’s Cuts, my Pelo Journal, and stories from inside the peloton… and a bit beyond it too - https://lifeinthepeloton.substack.com/

👉 https://lifeinthepeloton.substack.com/about

Guys, welcome back to another year of The Life In The Peloton Chronicles.

It’s been a hectic start to 2026; I hit the podcasting ground running over in Adelaide at the Tour Down Under to start the year with a bang, so it was great to get back to Melbourne, slow down, and recharge with a catch up with my old mate Sveino.

I wanted to chat to Sveino about a topic that always comes up at this time of year; goal setting. Whether or not you write it down, we all come into a new year with goals we want to achieve throughout the season - we did it when we were racing, and we still do it now.

One thing I want to get back into the habit of this year is meditation, and that’s something Svein and I have a bit of a yarn about in this episode.

If you know anything about Svein, you know that he is one cool cat - super mellow, always chilled out. It really surprised me that actually he doesn’t meditate! He’s a big believer in channeling his negative energy and stress out through movement and activity, rather than dedicating time to sitting down with his thoughts.

Meditation isn’t something that came naturally to me. In my early days as a pro, I used to laugh at the idea of sitting there with my eyes shut just…thinking. That was until I was roommates with a guy called Taylor Phinney. 

The Phin Dog is probably the only guy I know who’s more chilled out than Sveino. From the mountains of the hippie haven of Colorado, Taylor grew up surrounded by spirituality and, after a life changing crash at the US national championships in 2014, he found meditation through his recovery. Years later, when we became team mates, he showed me the way when we were in a Belgian hotel room racing the spring classics. I tried to be open minded and, with Taylor guiding me, I started to get it - finding the calm in the chaos.

I gave Taylor a call to catch up and chat to him about meditation and how he practices it now he’s retired from a life as a pro rider - which is pretty stressful at times. 

Guys, this is a chilled one, but it was super interesting chatting to Svein and Taylor about tuning out the noise and finding peace through meditation, setting goals for the new year, and heaps of other pieces to kick off this season of Chronicles. 

Sit back, shut your eyes, take a deep breath, relax, and get your ears around this enlightening episode of Life In The Peloton: Chronicles.

Cheers,

Mitch!

The Tour Down Under is done and dusted for another year, and it was an absolute banger. I was lucky enough to get in amongst it right there at the roadside all week and, to make it better, I was joined by my old mate - the Doughboy himself - Ian Boswell. 

For this episode, I wanted to take you guys inside the Tour Down Under; not just the racing, but the atmosphere around the race and the vibe that gets cooked up in Adelaide every year. The racers lining up for the first time, getting use to their new teams and equipment, the fans at the side of the road, and all the sweet little events that go off each morning out of Adelaide. 

Ian and I kicked off our week with a big bang, getting stuck into the cut and thrust of the short, sharp prologue from inside the team car! I hopped in the NSN passenger seat to follow Ethan Vernon - who actually went and finished 2nd on the stage, missing the win by less than a second…maybe his DS was a bit distracted?

In the paddocks, we got a chance to catch up with some of the riders who’ve come Down Under to start their 2026 racing season. Guys like the new Natty champ Pat Eddy, British up and comer Matty Brennan, the 16 wheeler himself Harry Sweeny, and heaps more. We spoke about the race, as well as some general questions about their seasons and - of course - a cheeky little mini CommuniQuiz to keep them on their toes!

Of course, this race is defined by the fans. People have travelled from far and wide to be here - one girl I spoke to even made the journey all the way from Texas in the USA! It was great chatting with people up and down the roadside about their TDU experience - and meet loads of LITP listeners in person. 

This is a chokka block episode with loads of great little soundbites you only get from being right there at the races live and in person. I hope Boz and I managed to capture the vibe so you can sit back, crack a frothy, and pretend you’re right there under the baking Adelaide sun with us.

Cheers!

Mitch ----more----

This Episode is sponsored by Saily! Get an exclusive 15% discount on Saily data plans!

Use code PELOSURF at checkout. Download the Saily app or go to https://saily.com/pelosurf Check out our new Substack! It’s a new place for us to go a bit deeper — home to Tom Southam’s Director’s Cuts, my Pelo Journal, and stories from inside the peloton… and a bit beyond it too - https://lifeinthepeloton.substack.com/

We kick off with the man himself, Turbo Durbo, giving us the inside line on the Aussie National Champs. If you watched the race, then you’ll know Luke came pretty close to bagging himself the top step, but it didn’t quite work out that way. He gives us a bit of insight into how the race unfolded and how Jayco AlUla reacted to the final result. 

In this month’s PeloChat, Luke goes through every single Aussie in the men’s World Tour bunch. From neo pros to old hands, Luke shares a bit of info and his thoughts on all the riders to see who’s representing the land Down Under overseas in 2026. 

Southam’s Talking Tactics takes a deep dive into the rest of UAE. Away from Pogačar and his Tour de France A-Team, what are the rest of the team going to do? That squad is stacked with absolute hitters, so how are they going to manage themselves and make sure everyone’s happy? Tom gives us his thoughts. 

You know what’s coming next, we round it out with a classic CommuniQuiz. We’re honouring the soon-to-retire Aussie legend, Simon Clarke, with a quiz all about his awesome 17-year career. How many Grandys did he race? Which monument did he only do once? What teams has he ridden for in his pro career? You’ll have to listen to find out! 

Guys, I’m so excited to kick off the 2026 season. I’m on the ground at the TDU picking up heads of eps with some really special riders so keep your eyes peeled for those dropping soon. 

Cheers,

Mitch

P.s. If you want to see our ugly mugs in the studio, head over to Life In The Peloton’s YouTube channel to watch!

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It’s been a long season, but we’re here, we’ve made it, it’s the final pod of 2025! I’m joined by EF sports director, Tom Southam, and Jayco Alula pro cyclist - and Aussie national road champion - Luke Durbridge, for one last Race Communique to wrap up the podcasting year. 

I wanted to kick off by running through the season we’ve just witnessed. There’s so much racing going on from January at the Tour Down Under right the way through to Lombardia just last week, it’s easy to forget just how great the racing has been. Durbo, Southam, and I discuss our favourite wins of the year - some quite obvious ones and some that you might have forgotten about. Then, we go through some quick-fire awards: best kit, worst kit, most overhyped rider, biggest loss to the peloton, and more! 

Of course, we’ve got our regular PeloChat - where Durbo rounds up all the retiring riders this year - and Talking Tactics - where old mate Southam gives us the final scores on the doors for this year’s relegation battle, which was thrilling right down to the final day of racing. What does WorldTour promotion mean for UnoX? We’ll have to wait and see…

But, for the season finale, I wanted to give the CommuniQuiz WorldTour status for this episode and let my guests…I mean co-hosts…take a segment each. This is a bumper quiz that’s peppered throughout the episode, so listen closely and play along at home. 

Guys, the monthly Communiques have been a real highlight of the year for me. Catching up with Southam and Durbo, having a yarn about the racing, and - of course - some great banter has been great fun, and I hope you can hear how much we love recording these episodes. 

Thanks to Tom Southam and Luke Durbridge for joining me every month for these episodes. Their insight and expertise makes the Communique, and I can’t wait to have them back after the off-season to kick off 2026. 

Guys, it’s been a hell of a year. Thanks for listening to the Race Communique and all the other podcasts we put out here at Life In The Peloton. Put your feet up tans crack a few frothier this winter, and I’ll speak to you next season. 

The Race Communiqué is brought to you by TrainingPeaks! Track, plan, and train smarter - just like the pros.

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I’ll be heading to Adelaide this January for the Santos Tour Down Under - chasing the racing, riding the bunches in the morning, and soaking up all the summer vibes the city has to offer. Hope to see you there.

🎧 Timecodes

• 0:00 Intro
• 08:57 Race Recap & Quickfire Awards - Best kit, worst kit, most overhyped rider & more
• 38:19 Communi-quiz Part 1
• 45:14 World's Quickest Pelo Chat
• 49:47 Communi-quiz Part 2
• 54:47 Talking Tactics - Southam breaks down the relegation battle
• 1:07:29 Communi-quiz Part 3

Cheers,

Mitch

These guys have had a great season; they’ve been on form from January right the way through to October, and they’re really finishing on a high. 

Here’s what old mate Harry had to say about this final episode of LITP’s Race Radio:

"The 2025 season is over, so it’s time to remind ourselves of the amazing racing we enjoyed throughout the year. Stu and I decided to keep it fun in this last ep – not that being serious has ever been our forte – with a few games that you can play along to while listening, including cryptic headlines and picking our teams of the year. Thanks to Mitch for the incredible opportunity this year, and we hope you’ve all enjoyed our podcasts. See you on the road."

As always, I really hope you’ve enjoyed having Harry and Stu in your ears these past 10 months as much as I have. I’ve been out of the peloton for a few years now, but having these two boys with their finger on the pulse of the racing scene, some amazing connections and great interviews, and heaps of enthusiasm for the sport we all love has really been one of the highlights of my year. 

Harry, Stu - thanks for a great season. Put your feet up and enjoy a few cold ones this winter; you’ve earned it. 

Cheers

Mitch

Guys, it’s here - the final episode of Life In The Peloton for 2025! This season has absolutely flown by; it feels like yesterday I was cracking open a Coopers at the Tour Down Under back in January getting warmed up for the year ahead, but here we are, the Il Lombardia of the podcasting calendar.

I wanted to round the season out with a bang, so I’ve got a couple of very special guests this month. My old mates Daniel Friebe and Lionel Bernie - perhaps better known as the masterminds behind The Cycling Podcast - are on the pod, and we’re going through everything cycling & podcasting from Armstrong to Zubeldia. 

These guys are true legends of cycling journalism. They’ve been there on the ground at the Grand Tours for a decade now, and even before that have been covering races like the Tour de France since the 1990s! They have the sort of depth of knowledge that you only get when you’ve been inside the sport for generations, and their podcasts really show that.

Long time listeners of either pod will remember when LITP was actually hosted by The Cycling Podcast way back in 2020 & 2021, from 2021 to 2024 the guys had me out in France making daily The Cycling Podcast episodes on the ground with other guest presenters like Ian Boswell, Richard Abraham, and Graham Willgoss. I learnt absolutely heaps from lifting the curtain seeing how these guys operate, and I feel like my own podcast stepped up a level thanks to their influence.

In this ep, we go through the whole timeline of The Cycling Podcast, from the early days before the boys knew each other, right through to today and what’s next! I feel like we really dig into how the sausage is made…

Of course, The Cycling Podcast itself was founded by Lionel, Daniel, and the late - and very great - Richard Moore, who sadly passed away in 2022. Richard was a hero of mine, an innovator in podcasting, and an absolute pillar of cycling media. His influence can still be felt on the pod, and I loved hearing Daniel and Lionel’s old stories of the total legend.

There’s a few Talking Luft style questions thrown in there for the boys too - worst ever meal on a bike race, best ever podcast guest (me, obviously…), cycling heroes, and more! 

Guys, this year’s been another absolutely massive one for the pod - and I’ve had a mega time producing these episodes for you to enjoy. Thanks so much for lending me your ears every month and listening to me yarn away with a whole host of guests.

Don’t despair - we’ve still got an episode of Life In The Peloton’s Race Radio and The Race Communique to come before the end of October, then it’s time to hang the mic up for a few months and enjoy an off season filled with bike riding, a few frothies, and making plans to make the pod even better in 2026. 

Cheers!

Mitch

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I’ll be heading to Adelaide this January for the Santos Tour Down Under - chasing the racing, riding the bunches in the morning, and soaking up all the summer vibes the city has to offer. Hope to see you there.

This month’s communique focuses on the World Champs over in Rwanda. It is an absolutely brutal course this year; almost 270kms with over 5000m of climbing. Whoever wins this is going to be a thoroughly deserving winner. Remco’s already got himself a rainbow jersey in the TT; can he double up with another road race title? 

What about Pog? He looked pretty knackered in the TT at the world champs, didn’t he? Still cooked from the Tour or just reaching the end of his rope? I can’t quite believe I’m saying this, but there’s a big question mark over him ahead of the road race! But just watch him make me look like a cock knob and win by 9 minutes solo now. 

There’s some strong looking underdogs in the mix too; Del Toro, Healy, Carapaz, McNulty, Pidcock, and loads of other in form hitters that could spring a surprise and overcome the two main favourites. We discuss all the favourites as well as make our predictions. 

In this month’s PeloChat, Turbo Durbo gives us some insight into the end of a pros season - limping or striving through the last few races. Usually, a rider gets their provisional calendar at the start of the year, and it runs through to the Vuelta. After that, it’s a case of “we’ll see”. There’s still races to go, but so many riders are sick, injured, or just cooked - so pulling together a decent squad to knock out the last few races of the year becomes a tricky task. Riders have to be adaptable throughout the whole season. 

Southam’s talking tactics dives into UAE’s record breaking season - the most wins in 1 season by any team ever. How have they managed this? How does the team manage so many world class riders? How have they won so much but still lost the Giro on the last day, and seemingly piss the Vuelta away by hunting stages? Tom shares his take on UAE’s questionable tactics at points throughout the year that still haven’t stopped them winning almost everything. 

The quiz this month is all about the world’s TT. I’m quiz master, and the boys go head to head. Brace yourselves, I’m thinking next month’s season finale is going to be a bumper CommuniQuiz edition. 

Guys, I hope you like listening to this month’s communique as much as I love recording it. Sitting down and spinning a yarn about bike racing with some mates - does it get any better?

Cheers

Mitch

The Race Communiqué is brought to you by TrainingPeaks! Track, plan, and train smarter - just like the pros.

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I’ll be heading to Adelaide this January for the Santos Tour Down Under - chasing the racing, riding the bunches in the morning, and soaking up all the summer vibes the city has to offer. Hope to see you there.

🎧 Timecodes

00:00:00 – Intro

00:08:38 – Race Recap (World Championships preview)

00:33:44 – Pelo Chat (What's it like at the end of a pro season?)

00:49:09 – Talking Tactics (UAE’s record-breaking year)

01:02:24 – CommuniQuiz (World Champs TT Special)

The anti-Israel protests that impacted the race so much really shone a light on how fragile and vulnerable bike racing is. There were some hairy moments out there on the road, and – although the bunch made it to Madrid – the riders were robbed of the traditional podium ceremony. But, in this disruption, we saw one of the coolest, old school, grassroots style podiums I’ve ever seen in Pro Cycling.

Our British Boys, Harry & Stu, have put together a banger of an episode for this month’s ep of Life In The Peloton’s Race Radio. Here’s what old mate Stu Downie has to say about this month’s Race Radio:

With La Vuelta ending in what could be both the best and worst podium we’ve ever seen, we invited our mate Sean Hardy along to chat – why? Because he was in that very car park to witness the madness of the day unfold. Sean has been Lidl-Trek’s photographer for a few years now, earning the trust of the riders – including fan favourite and points jersey winner Mads Pedersen – and making some of the best pictures in racing. We hear about the day, get a severe case of FOMO, and get the lowdown on life in the Lidl-Trek bus. We also consider the history of protest in cycling, talk about racing’s place within wider culture, and wonder aloud when the UCI will do something about the more severe cases of sports washing. A nice light chat to start the weekend, no?

Guys, I hope you like this episode as much as I do. I can’t believe we’re coming to the end of the race season, with just the World Champs in Rwanda and Lombardia left to go!

Catch up soon,

Cheers,

Mitch

Mike Woods has achieved a lot in his cycling career. Despite not turning pro until he was 30, he’s won stages at the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España, and stood on the podium at Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the World Championships. A proud Canadian, Woodsy’s represented his nation at the Olympics and the Worlds, and flown the Maple Leaf jersey as natty champ. 

Earlier this year, Mike announced that 2025 would be his final year in the pro peloton, and he was going to come across to the world of retired pro cyclists. He’s under no illusion that the sport is only getting harder, and made the call to leave the young megastars to it, put his family first, and continue enjoying the bike - and his running - with a more relaxed mindset.

We were teammates for a few years back on EF, and I loved training hard in the mountains of Andorra with Woodsy back in the good old days before 120 grams of carbs an hour. A three-time guest on the pod, I wanted to catch up with him in the last few weeks of his career before he hangs it up for good for one last ep. of Life In The Peloton.

We talk about all sorts of things in this one, guys. There’s some heavy-hitting questions to find out more about what makes Woodsy tick, and he gives me a quick lesson in Canadian Ice Hockey team politics. I also impart a bit of wisdom on Mike to let him know what he’s in for as he leaves the world of pro cycling behind and adjusts to life on the other side. 

Guys, I hope you enjoy this pod. I really wanted to speak to Mike one last time, and I hope you enjoy hearing his honest thoughts about all things pro cycling and beyond. 

Woodsy - congrats on a great career, mate. Enjoy your last races and being able to bring the curtain down back home in Canada. Can’t wait for a death ride out of Andorra soon.

Cheers,

Mitch

This episode is brought to you by our mates at Shokz – the world leaders in open-ear, bone-conduction headphones. Head to shokz.com and use the code LITP for a special listener-only discount.

I’ll be heading to Adelaide this January for the Santos Tour Down Under - chasing the racing, riding the bunches in the morning, and soaking up all the summer vibes the city has to offer. Hope to see you there.

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The Vuelta a España is the grand tour I started the most in my career, racing 7 Vueltas over the years. It was my first grand tour way back in 2012, and I have really fond memories of racing in Spain. The atmosphere, the culture, the relaxed vibe at the end of the season; I had some hard moments at the Vuelta, for sure, but on the whole it was always a great race for me. I am a massive fan.

Speaking of massive fans, it’s time to check in with the Race Radio boys, Harry & Stu. They’ve recovered after their trip to the Tour, and they’re back with their old mate Cillian Kelly in tow, bringing you all the stats you could ever possibly need. Here’s what the bald bonced bandit Harry has to say about this month’s ep:

‘With La Vuelta underway, we thought we’d invite our good friend Cillian Kelly on the show this week. Cillian is TNT’s official statman, providing the race commentators with all manner of fascinating facts and curiosities to read out at the grand tours. He shares a few of his Vuelta-related gems with us – including revealing one Merckx-related fact that shocks us to our core – before we go on to discuss strange sprints, how we ‘consume’ cycling, and baking bread on the Muur.’

I loved hearing the boys yarn with Cillian. If you like what you heard, you can check out their other pod ‘DNF’ where Harry, Stu, and Dr Kelly break down some of the wildest statistical gems in the sport. I also spoke to Cillian back in July for a special episode of Life In The Peloton all about the financial stability of pro cycling so if you missed that, get back across and give that a listen, too.

Guys, I hope you enjoy this month’s episode and the Vuelta! It’s maybe the one race I really miss - mainly because I could usually get away with a few pequeña cervezas in the evening.

Catch up soon!

Cheers,

Mitch

Download the SAILY app AND use our code PELOSURF at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase, or visit the website saily.com/pelosurf and your code will be automatically added at checkout.

I love the Vuelta - it’s the Grand Tour I raced the most in my career, and I’ve got to say it’s my favourite. Southam and Durbo disagree, so we kick off by having a three-way head-to-head: Giro VS Tour VS Vuelta. Which is best, and why? I made my case for the Vuelta, the hardest Grand Tour by a long way…as far as I’m concerned. Luke reckons the Tour is the best because, well, because it’s the Tour. The Giro’s case was made by Southam, who just loves the drama - he’s obviously never watched the Vuelta!

In this month’s PeloChat, Durbo goes through this year’s transfers and gives us his take on who’s going where, why they’re moving, and what it might mean for the sport. Remco to Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe is the biggest move of the year, and the young Belgian superstar has definitely raised some eyebrows by moving. Will he clash with Roglič? Will they be able to support him to win the Tour de France? Only time will tell. Luke’s teammates Dylan Groenewegen and Elmar Reinders are stepping down to TDT Unibet - a second division ProTeam! An interesting move in an effort to get the young Dutch squad to the Tour de France in the next few years. He’s also got some insight into Tom Pidcock’s Q36.5’s squad and their signings; some big riders heading that way too. Lots of moves, but Durbo’s across it.

Southam’s diving into the modern breakaway in this month’s Talking Tactics. Things have changed a hell of a lot over the last few years in the breakaway; we don’t see 20-minute time gaps any more, and the breaks are kept on a much tighter leash. As the level gets higher and higher, the quality of the lower division teams is getting better and better, and smaller riders are more of a threat in the breakaways these days. It’s great, and I love the exciting racing where the breaks actually have a chance, but shit, it looks so hard.

Of course, we wind up with the Communiquiz. Tom’s quiz master this week, and it’s about Summer Classics. You’ll have to listen to the episode to hear how this goes, but let’s just say…I had a bit of a shocker.

Guys, I hope you like this episode. I love catching up with Durbo and Southam, especially when they’re in the midst of the racing season; bringing you this insight is what it’s all about.

Cheers,

Mitch

The Race Communiqué is brought to you by TrainingPeaks! Track, plan, and train smarter - just like the pros.

Get 20% off TrainingPeaks Premium now at trainingpeaks.com/litp

Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by MAAP.

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🎧 Timecodes

• 00:00:00 – Intro
• 00:09:49 – Race Recap (Which is the best Grand Tour? You decide!)
• 00:36:58 – Pelo Chat (Durbo's Transfer Gossip)
• 00:48:08 – Talking Tactics (The Modern Breakaway)
• 00:58:18 – CommuniQuiz (Summer classics conundrums - Mitch has a mare!)

I love riding my bike with my son. My boy Marlow and I head out when we can and boost around LanVegas on the bikes, and he loves it. It’s great to spend time together and see the little man starting to enjoy bikes and being outdoors as much as I did when I was a kid. 

But, my guests on this month’s episode of Life In The Peloton take on father-and-son cycling adventures. Based over in the North of England, Rich and James Rothwell are an adventurous, off-road, ultra-cycling father and son duo who have undertaken some massive rides together. 

Rich, a lifelong mountain biker, coach, and experienced ultra racer, got his son James into cycling from a young age. Still only 14 years old, James has already ticked off some absolutely huge rides on some world-renowned trails like the Highland Trail 550 and the AZT800 out in the USA. 

I really wanted to chat to these guys to hear how they started riding together, what their epic adventures look like, and just how far a young talent like James will go in the world of cycling. I found it really inspiring to hear Rich’s relaxed, supportive approach in helping James keep the enjoyment, and I also loved hearing how young James supports his old man out there on the trails, too! 

I hope Marlow can pick up a thing or two and give me a push or a spoonful of peanut butter when I’m in a bit of a hole next time we head out on the bikes. 

Guys, I hope you like this episode. To the mums and dads out there, it’s a great listen if you want to get your kids into bike riding and kids, if you’ve ever wanted to get out on a cycling adventure with your parents, I hope this inspires you. 

Cheers

Mitch

This episode is brought to you by our mates at Shokz – the world leaders in open-ear, bone-conduction headphones. Head to shokz.com and use the code LITP for a special listener-only discount.

It’s also supported by Restrap – makers of seriously tough, technical bikepacking bags and accessories, which come with a lifetime warranty. I’ve used their gear on some of my biggest adventures, and it’s never let me down. Check them out at restrap.com.

I’ll be heading to Adelaide this January for the Santos Tour Down Under — chasing the racing, riding the bunches in the morning, and soaking up all the summer vibes the city has to offer. Hope to see you there.

So I've jumped back on the mic with my guest...I mean co hosts, Tom Southam and Luke Durbridge to get stuck into all the goss from this year’s race.

It’s a big one - we cover everything!

The drama, the chaos, the tactics, the crashes, the wins, the "wish I was anywhere but here" moments. And believe me, Durbo’s got a few of those...

From Pogacar blowing the race apart on the Col de la Loze, to Ben Healy’s heroics, and even the almighty mess of the groupetto on Stage 20 - this is the full Race Communiqué debrief you’ve been waiting for. Your perfect look behind the curtain of this massive event.

We each pick our favourite stages, highlight standout performances (Durbo reckons Harry Sweeney deserves a nickname after Stage 10), and of course, we wrap it all up with the ever-chaotic Communiquiz.

Honestly, it’s one of my favourite pods we’ve done all year. There’s plenty of laughs, a bit of behind-the-scenes insight, and some real moments of “can you believe that actually happened?”

So grab a post-Tour beer, stick your feet up, and enjoy the chat.

Cheers,

Mitch

The Race Communiqué is brought to you by TrainingPeaks!

Track, plan, and train smarter - just like the pros.

Get 20% off TrainingPeaks Premium now at trainingpeaks.com/litp

Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by MAAP.

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🎧 Timecodes

• 00:00:00 – Intro
• 00:07:47 – Race Recap (Behind the scenes at the Tour)
• 00:39:51 – Pelo Chat (Have ASO just given up?)
• 00:52:46 – Talking Tactics (How did Ben Healey’s stage win come about?)
• 01:01:22 – CommuniQuiz (Tom forgets his questions…)

Look forward, because it’s time for the Femmes. We’re signing off from France, but we’re not leaving you empty handed, no – tune into Race Radio for a preview of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift with Rouleur’s Rachel Jary to hear what’s happened so far and what to expect in the coming days, a word with Zwift’s Director of Strategy Kate Veronneau on the future of the sport, and we catch Dominque Powers right after she photographs podcast favourite and absolute GOAT of cycling, Marianne Vos. 

A lot to get stuck into here: have it!

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🚴‍♂️ This episode is powered by our friends at JOIN Cycling The AI-powered training app that helps you ride smarter, not harder. Miss a session? Life’s chaotic? JOIN adapts — so your training still makes sense, even when your week doesn’t.

🇦🇺 And supported by the 2026 Tour Down Under Adelaide, January. All the WorldTour teams. Sunshine, cold ones, and not a bad coffee in sight. Start planning now: the racing (and the vibes) will be world-class.

Well, well, well, if it isn’t a bumper edition of Race Radio to finish an outstanding Tour. We get out of bed early to recon the Montmartre climb, eat a hearty business luncheon with a punchline or two before heading to watch the finish, topped off with another pit walk, where we find out if this spectacular stage was as fun for the riders as it was for the fans (hint: it was not). But don’t take our word for it, hear it from the coureurs themselves.

Don't miss it!

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🚴‍♂️ This episode is powered by our friends at JOIN Cycling The AI-powered training app that helps you ride smarter, not harder. Miss a session? Life’s chaotic? JOIN adapts — so your training still makes sense, even when your week doesn’t.

🇦🇺 And supported by the 2026 Tour Down Under Adelaide, January. All the WorldTour teams. Sunshine, cold ones, and not a bad coffee in sight. Start planning now: the racing (and the vibes) will be world class.

Race Radio’s Harry and Stu bring the pit walk to the peloton – where they catch old mate Tom Southam for a quick chat about the cricket, plus some words from Oscar Onley’s DS Matt Winston (also about the cricket) – before taking to the final climb to experience the publicity caravan in its somewhat reduced fullness and a bit of a scramble to the top to see their second summit finish in as many days.

Now it’s just a 15-hour bus ride back to the start at Albertville (only 19km away). Pray for them!

Get into it!

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🚴‍♂️ This episode is powered by our friends at JOIN Cycling The AI-powered training app that helps you ride smarter, not harder. Miss a session? Life’s chaotic? JOIN adapts — so your training still makes sense, even when your week doesn’t.

🇦🇺 And supported by the 2026 Tour Down Under Adelaide, January. All the WorldTour teams. Sunshine, cold ones, and not a bad coffee in sight. Start planning now: the racing (and the vibes) will be world class.

Harry and Stu are finally on the ground in France and kick things off with a monster day on the mighty Col de la Loze. Armed with a pair of Bromptons, a bag of pastries, and boundless enthusiasm, they pedal into the clouds for the Queen Stage of this year’s Tour.

Expect mist, mayhem, and mistimed gear shifts—as well as a quick chat with cycling photographers Zac Williams and Harry Talbot, who share tales from the road and their plan to shoot the day’s action from 3km out. There’s mountain magic, gondola bureaucracy, Tour Down Under dreams, and a whole lot of fan energy (plus a bit of a beef with the Cycling Podcast convoy).

One of the wildest, most atmospheric days of the Tour—and an unforgettable summit finish from Betteo.

Get into it!

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🚴‍♂️ This episode is powered by our friends at JOIN Cycling The AI-powered training app that helps you ride smarter, not harder. Miss a session? Life’s chaotic? JOIN adapts — so your training still makes sense, even when your week doesn’t.

🇦🇺 And supported by the 2026 Tour Down Under Adelaide, January. All the WorldTour teams. Sunshine, cold ones, and not a bad coffee in sight. Start planning now: the racing (and the vibes) will be world class.

The sport of professional cycling has everything. Dramatic storylines, heroic champions, tear jerking wins, and more. But, one thing it seems to be lacking is cash. 

Every year, it seems like teams have to fight harder and harder to get sponsorship to pay their riders. Compared to the likes of soccer and other mainstream sports, budgets in cycling are a drop in the ocean. 

I wanted to find out how professional cycling is able to keep rolling despite the financial struggles, and see if there’s anything teams can do to increase their revenue and grow the sport as a whole, so I spoke to some key stakeholders in the sport to find out more. 

In this special edition of Life In The Peloton, I speak to my first team boss and manager of Team Picnic Post NL, Iwan Spekenbrink, General Race Director of Flander’s Classics, Scott Sunderland, current pro seeing out his last season after 17 years as a rider, Simon Clarke, Bas Tietema, owner of TDT Unibet Rockets - the new kids on the block looking to redefine the fan - team relationship through storytelling alongside chasing results, and finally Dr Cillian Kelly; a master statistician with the cold hard facts on the situation to see if it is really as bleak as it seems. 

Guys, this episode is a deep dive into the sport we all love to find out if it has a future that’s financially sustainable, or if teams are always going to be scratching around for sponsorship or closing altogether. 

Thanks to all my interviewees for speaking to me, and the wider Life In The Peloton team for helping pull this mammoth episode together. I hope you enjoy it!

Cheers!

Mitch

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This episode is exclusively being brought to you by the Tour Down Under, stages are set, the 2026 stages have been announced! The most exciting and hardest edition of TDU in its 25 year history! Come and feel the rush! Check out the stages and the race here: https://tourdownunder.com.au _______________ This episode is brought to you by our friends at Saily. If you're heading overseas for your next ride or trip? Avoid nasty roaming fees and get set up with Saily, the eSIM app from the legends behind NordVPN.

Download the app and use the code PELOSURF for 15% off your next data plan — or hit https://saily.com/pelosurf to score yourself a special listener-only discount.

_______________

This episode is powered by Shokz, the world leading open ear headphones pioneer. Want the most comfortable and safest headphones for cycling? Check out https://shokz.cc/LITP-2505

_______________

🎄 Christmas in July? You bet. We’re running a massive 50% off over at the Life in the Peloton shop all month long!

Use code JULY50 at checkout to score half-price tees, caps, and beer cozies – the ultimate kit to keep you cool (and your tinnies cooler) this summer.

Support the pod, save some cash, and rep the vibe - https://www.lifeinthepeloton.com/shop

The Tour de France kicked off last weekend and oh boy what a race we’ve had already! There've been some amazing stage winners, some crazy crashes, and some signs that we are in for one hell of a July. I’m enjoying this year’s race purely as a fan from the comfort of my sofa. But, when it comes to fans, there’s none bigger than old mates Harry and Stu over at Life In The Peloton’s Race Radio. 

These guys love it and, as always, I get to share their enthusiasm with you guys for this month’s ep. Here’s what the brilliant baldie, Harry Dowdney, had to say about this month’s episode:

Le Tour is Here!

The greatest on earth has kicked off with a series of great stages in the north of France. Stu and I discuss the mayhem of the crashes, marvel at the Alpecin-Deceuninck machine, and give some insights into two big name riders we've made films with recently - Jasper Philipsen and Ben O'Connor. 

Then, we dial in pro cycling photographer Zac Williams for a chinwag about how his race is going so far. Allez!

The Tour is The Tour - it’s as big as it gets, and there’s so much to talk about it can sometimes be hard knowing where to start when you’re trying to catch up; but the Race Radio boys do a stellar job of cutting through the noise and bringing you the insights that only they can. I love it, and I hope you do, too.

The Race Radio boys will return LIVE from The Tour - recording direct from the Alps in the third week, and sticking around to bring you coverage from the roadside of the Tour de France Femmes! I can’t say I’m not a little bit jealous of them getting boots on the ground over in Europe, but I can’t wait to hear what they come up with.

Cheers!

Mitch

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This episode is brought to you by our mates at Saily – the simple mobile app that makes managing your subscriptions dead easy. Whether it’s race passes, streaming services, or random apps you forgot you signed up for, Saily tracks it all in one place and even helps you cancel the ones you’re not using. Clean, easy, and actually kind of fun to use.

Download the app and use the code PELOSURF for 15% off your next data plan — or hit https://saily.com/pelosurf to score yourself a special listener-only discount.

We’re into July, and the Tour is about to kick off. The Tour De France is the biggest bike race in the world in terms of exposure and the sheer number of eyeballs watching the action but, at just over 3000k, it’s dwarfed by the monster that is the Tour Divide. 

A much smaller spectacle, with supporters watching dots on a screen rather than glossy TV coverage, but at 4000k in length and the added challenge of racing entirely self supported across the entire USA, The Divide is arguably the toughest race going. 

If you caught last month’s Chronicles, you’ll know that Sveino was gearing up to head to the start in Banff, Canada, with 200 or so other crazy riders and tackle this absolute monster of a race. Well, Sveino’s back home after having a stab at the Tour Divide and in this month’s chronicles ep we’re unpacking just what went down along the Continental Divide. 

Sveino gave it his all, and prepped for this race like he was a full time pro again! But, in the world of bike racing, you can be totally prepared and still get thrown a curveball. In the words of Mike Tyson: “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.” 

What happened to Svein out there? Well, you’ll have to listen to find out. Sveino, mate, fair play for giving it a crack - what an epic journey. 

The race was eventually won by Swiss ultra racing legend Robin Gemperle who absolutely smoked the record and finished in 11 days, 19 hours, and 14 minutes. That is ridiculously fast - and self supported, too?! Rather you than me, buddy. Chapeau. 

Guys, thanks as always for being a Pelo Member. I really hope you enjoy these yarns between me and old Sveino as much as I do. 

Cheers!

Mitch

P.S. 🚨 Tickets for The Pub to Pub and The Dirty Docker are LIVE so don’t miss out! 🏃🚴

It’s July, which means we’re just days away from the Tour de France. I don’t know about you, but I am absolutely frothing for this year’s race to kick off. My heart is racing just thinking about it…and that’s exactly what this month’s episode is all about; my heart.

Guys, this month’s episode of Life In The Peloton is one for all you training geeks out there. It’s time for me to take another look ‘under the hood’ and get my ticker checked out, so I headed back to the lab for a catch up with my old mate Dr. Andre Le Gerche. If you don’t recognise that name, Andre is one of the world’s leading experts in Sports Cardiology, whose research and clinical work focuses on the effect of exercise on the human heart. 

Since the start of my professional cycling career all those years ago, I’ve been seeing Andre every few years to take part in a study he’s conducting on elite athletes' hearts, heart function, and heart health. I last recorded with Andre back in 2022, so if you haven’t heard that ep get across and bring yourself up to speed on the study, and what my last round of testing showed just after I retired from Pro Cycling.

If you don’t know, the UCI makes sure that every pro rider undergoes a series of heart tests on their heart every off season ‘with an aim to reduce - as far as possible - the risk of sudden cardiac death during sporting activity’ - scary stuff, right? Andre’s study goes one further, looking to understand the longer term effects of a life of endurance sport. 

I won’t lie, guys, this is a big topic - and I won’t pretend I’m an expert on Sports Cardiology! But, what I really love about working with Andre and his team is the way they explain the results of their findings to nuffies like me.

I hope you like this episode, guys - hopefully, you get a better idea of what goes on under the hood of these elite athletes you’re about to watch rip around France for the next month. My next round of testing with Andre isn’t until 2030, now, so I’ll see you in 5 years, Andre!

Cheers!

Mitch

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If you didn’t catch it, Andre and I first sat down about a couple of years ago to chat all things athlete’s heart — what years of racing does to it, how it recovers (or doesn’t) after retirement, and why some ex-pros might need to “de-train” their hearts. That ep lays the groundwork for this follow-up, so if you’re keen to hear how it all started, you can check it out here.

This episode is brought to you by our mates at Saily – the simple mobile app that makes managing your subscriptions dead easy. Whether it’s race passes, streaming services, or random apps you forgot you signed up for, Saily tracks it all in one place and even helps you cancel the ones you’re not using. Clean, easy, and actually kind of fun to use.

Download the app and use the code PELOSURF for 15% off your next data plan — or hit https://saily.com/pelosurf to score yourself a special listener-only discount.

Big thanks also to Shokz for supporting this episode. I’ve been using their bone conduction headphones on the bike, and I’ve gotta say — they’re a game changer. You still get great sound, but your ears stay open so you can hear traffic, bunch chatter, or just soak up the ride. Super light, super comfy — I’ve been loving them.

🎧 Check out the range and grab a pair at shokz.com

You can also watch this episode over on my YouTube channel here!

We’re coming to the end of June, and in the world of cycling, that can only mean one thing…it’s almost time for the Tour! It’s all been leading up to this - the biggest bike race of the year. I’ve got my old mates Tom Southam and Luke Durbridge back on The Race Communique to help me preview this massive race and, oh boy, it’s set to be an absolute banger. 

Durbo kicks off this month with PeloChat, where he takes us through his TrainingPeaks data from the Tour de Suisse so we can see just how hard the racing is these days. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again - I am so glad I retired when I did; oh my god, the racing is just so brutal in 2025! Some of these numbers are crazy! And hey, Durbs, we all saw you splitting the bunch up with 70k to go on stage 1, so don’t you start complaining about how tough it is out there these days…

Before the Tour de Suisse, of course, we had the mini Tour de France - the Critérium du Dauphiné. This is where we saw ‘The Big Three’ go toe to toe (to toe) with each other. Remco, Jonas, and - of course - Pogi. It was an amazing race, and Tadej came out looking absolutely dominant, but there was a pretty big question mark over his form after a quite frankly pathetic 4th place after the time trial. We know Jonas is still on the comeback trail from his crash back in Paris Nice, so with another few weeks of solid recovery, I think we’re in for an absolutely massive battle this July.

After we discussed the warm-up races, we got stuck into our massive Tour de France preview. We discuss everything - the stages, the riders, the moments that are going to define this year’s race. An absolutely chaotic looking first 10 days around Northern France with tonnes of opportunity for an aggressive rider to take shed loads of time, an absolutely brutal end to the race in the mountains (stage 18 - holy sh*t!), a new finish circuit around Paris to make sure there’s excitement all the way to the line, and heaps more! You’re not going to want to miss a single second of this race.

We all pick a rider or two to discuss, so make sure you tune in if you want to hear what Southam thinks of Carapaz and what really went down on that infamous Colle Delle Finestere stage at the Giro! Durbo lifts the lid on how Aussie favourite and recent guest on Life In The Peloton is going to take on the GC in a bid for a top 5 finish.

Next, we get into talking some tactics with Tom. This month’s theme is simple: wind. Southam breaks down how teams can use echelons to break up the race and try and catch the big favourites off guard.

As always, we wrap up with the Communiquiz. Durbo’s leading the way this time with 7 quickfire questions about the Tour de France. 

Guys, I hope this ep gets you as excited for the Tour as I am. Crack open a weak French beer, have a nibble on a baguette, sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Cheers,

Mitch

The Race Communiqué is brought to you by TrainingPeaks! Track, plan, and train smarter—just like the pros. Get 20% off TrainingPeaks Premium now at http://www.trainingpeaks.com/litp

🎧 Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Intro 00:04:26 – Pelo Chat (Training Peaks Stats Breakdown) 00:21:03 – Race Recap (Tour de France Stage-by-Stage) 01:03:30 – Talking Tactics (Wind) 01:18:45 – CommuniQuiz (Quickfire Tour Special)

The Tour is right around the corner! La Grande Boucle. The creme de la creme. The biggest race of the year. After a stellar Dauphine watching Pog, Jonas, and Remco show their cards I am so gee’d up to watch this year’s race; A grippy first week in the North of France, some epic mountains, and a brand new finish up Monmartre in Paris - what’s not to love?!

I never raced the Tour as a pro, but I’ve worked it a few times chasing the race and making podcasts. One thing I’ve never done, though, is follow the race as a FAN. Luckily for me, I’ve got the boys over at Life In The Peloton’s Race Radio to give their ultimate guide to watching the Tour de France on the roadside as a fan. 

Here’s what old mate Harry had to say about this month’s episode of Life In The Peloton’s Race Radio:

This ep is all about going to the Tour de France. 

Between us, Stu and I have been to the Tour more than a dozen times, both as fans and for work.

There's nothing quite like cheering on your favourite riders from the roadsides, and we encourage you all to get out and hit the route, so we've put together our top tips and tricks for making the most out of a trip to the Tour. 

Learn how to chase the race, pick your spot, learn from our  mistakes, and much more. Vive le Tour!

I won’t be making the trip across to Europe this year - but I’m looking forward to catching up with the racing from the comfort of my couch back here in Aus. However, I can’t let the race go off without at least a little bit of LITP flair - so I’m sending the Race Radio boys over to record a few eps for me and capture that amazing Tour de France atmosphere! 

If you’re heading over to France to see some or all of this year’s race, give this ep a listen to make sure you’re armed with the best tips, tricks, and advice so you can have the best roadside experience possible! 

Cheers!

Mitch

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This episode is brought to you by our friends at Saily. If you're heading overseas for your next ride or trip? Avoid nasty roaming fees and get set up with Saily, the eSIM app from the legends behind NordVPN.

Download the app and use the code PELOSURF for 15% off your next data plan — or hit https://saily.com/pelosurf to score yourself a special listener-only discount.

The Giro has finished for another year, which means all eyes are now shifting to the big one; Le Tour. We’re just under a month away from the Grand Depart, so who better to speak to than an Aussie legend that’s won stages in all three Grand Tours, nearly won the Vuelta last year, bagged himself the Silver medal at the World Champs, and narrowly missed the podium at the Tour back in 2021 - that’s right, it’s Perth’s own Ben O’Connor! 

Now in his 9th pro season, Ben’s just joined the Aussie team over at Greenedge. I wanted to know what it’s like for him finally signing for the only Australian World Tour team as an Aussie rider representing over in Europe. He’s a proud Western Australian, hailing from Subiaco over in Perth, and I wanted to know how he felt about the riding and racing scene over there; especially after they hosted the Aussie nationals over this year!

Ben’s career so far has seen him consistently improving year on year, and without doubt 2024 was the best season he’s had so far. He won himself a stage early on in the Vuelta - completing the Grand Tour set to go along with his stages in the 2020 Giro and 2021 Tour - led the race for 2 weeks and almost won the overall before being Roglified by a storming Slovenian on his way to his 4th victory at the Spanish race. On top of this, Ben finished 2nd at the World Champs - establishing himself as a real one-day contender after getting the better of the likes of Van Der Poel and Remco! 

Of course, a lot of you might know Ben best for his role in the ‘Tour de France: Unchained’ series over on Netflix. I wanted to find out more about what it was like racing the biggest race of the season with cameras in your face all day, and how he felt about the way the series portrayed him. 

As always, we end up talking about all sorts: Ben’s career so far, the highs, the lows, fatherhood, what Ben likes doing away from cycling, and more. I also wanted to chuck in some listener questions! That’s right, those of you that heard the call and sent in your questions for Ben’O get some airtime on this month’s pod. I love hearing your questions and pitching them to Ben, so make sure you listen to hear what he had to say!

I’ve loved watching Ben’s career and seeing him grow into a real Grand Tour contender. How could I not, he’s an Aussie - especially now he’s over on Greenedge rocking that fresh MAAP kit! It’s no secret that Ben’s number one goal this year is the Tour de France, so I had to ask him if he thinks Pogi can be beaten. What does Ben think? You’ll have to listen to find out…

Enjoy this ep, guys. Ben’s a great guest and I had a blast having a yarn with him about bikes, wine, Netflix, and heaps more. Good luck in France this July, Ben! Can’t wait to see you giving it to old mate Tadej! 

Cheers,

Mitch!

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This episode is brought to you by our friends at Saily. If you're heading overseas for your next ride or trip? Avoid nasty roaming fees and get set up with Saily, the eSIM app from the legends behind NordVPN.

Download the app and use the code PELOSURF for 15% off your next data plan — or hit https://saily.com/pelosurf to score yourself a special listener-only discount.

Their new OpenRun Pro 2s are perfect for staying safe and aware out on the road — you can listen to tunes and still hear traffic, your coach, or that kooky magpie swooping you from behind.

They’re super comfy, sound unreal, and come with upgraded mic and EQ modes. Head to shokz.com and use the code LITP to score yourself a special listener-only discount.

You can also watch this episode over on my YouTube channel here!

Guys, the Giro is rolling along, and what a race it’s shaping up to be. Ahead of the final week of racing, it’s still all to play for. We’ve got the mega-talented young Isaac Del Toro holding onto the Maglia Rosa, bookies' favourite Primoz Roglič dropping out of contention, and a handful of riders poised to go all out to try and unseat UAE’s dominance before the finish in Rome.

Tom Southam’s been called up to bat for EF Education Easypost, so he’s cruising around Italy in the team car, and he’s already netted a pair of stage wins with Richard Carapaz and Kasper Asgreen! With Southam away, we’ve had a bit of a roster change for this month’s Race Communique; we’re joined by my old mate and fellow ex-professional, Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe sports director, the Flying Mullet himself - that’s right, it’s Shane Archbold. Shane’o joins me and Luke Durbridge - fresh off the back of the Tour of Hungary - to dissect the racing so far at the Giro and speculate what we might see in this last week of racing. 

The Giro is known for being a pretty chaotic race, and the 2025 edition is no different. So far, we’ve seen some amazing stages, and the GC storyline has been incredible, too. From guys like Luke Plapp - the Plappinator - finally getting his hands in the air in Europe, Wout van Aert completing a monster comeback on the Strade Bianche gravel stage in dominant fashion, and unsung hero Daan Hoole taking some massive scalps in the stage 10 time trial. UAE are gripping the pink jersey pretty tightly, but guys like Simon Yates, Richard Carapaz, and our old mate Derek Gee are creeping up behind him, not to mention his own teammate Juan Ayuso waiting in the wings.

Sadly for Shane, his Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe team are having some pretty rotten luck. First, they lost Jai Hindley - a former Giro winner - in the first week to a crash on the wet, slippery roads of Naples. Then, Dani Martinez, last year’s runner-up, slipped out of the GC and hasn’t looked like his former self so far. Of course, they went into the race with the defending champion Primoz Roglič, whose GC bid looks to be over after a brutal day of racing over the Monte Grappa. It’s not all doom and gloom for Bora, though; young Italian super domestique Giulio Pellizzari has shown a hell of a lot of promise so far, and no doubt has a bright career ahead of him.

In this week’s PeloChat, Durbo shines the spotlight on XDS Astana and their ongoing hunt for UCI points to avoid being relegated at the end of the season. A change in tactics from the Kazakh team means they’re no longer racing for the win, which sounds absolutely crazy for a pro cycling team. Instead, they’re trying to stack the top 10 with riders to scrape together as many UCI points as they can. They’ve managed to claw themselves back up the team rankings and away from the relegation zone, putting other teams at risk and giving us fans a whole other narrative to follow this season.

Finally, we have a Giro-themed CommuniQuiz. I’m Quiz Master this week, and I’ll be testing Shane and Durbo’s knowledge on all things Giro d’Italia. Which former ‘Junior World Champion’ used to sell cleaning products, didn’t turn pro until 26, and then went and won the Giro?! You’ll have to listen to find out! 

Enjoy this month’s Communique, everybody. We’ll be back at the same time next month, just a week or so out from the start of the biggest bike race of the year: the Sibiu Cycling Tour over in Romania…only kidding; of course it’s the Tour de France! 

Cheers,

Mitch

The Race Communiqué is brought to you by TrainingPeaks! Track, plan, and train smarter—just like the pros. Get 20% off TrainingPeaks Premium now at http://www.trainingpeaks.com/litp

🎧 Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Intro 00:05:54 – Race Recap 00:32:11 – Pelo Chat 00:42:29 – Talking Tactics 00:47:03 – CommuniQuiz

If there’s one thing the Race Radio boys love more than a pun, a pint, or podcasting, it’s the Giro d’Italia. The passion, the culture, and - of course - the racing; does it get any better?! It’s a Giro special episode this month, and boy do these guys deliver. The Giro is generally regarded as the fan-favourite of all the grandys, and that’s exactly what Harry & Stu are; super fans. 

In true Giro fashion, the race has started with a bang over in Albania. We’ve already seen some amazing wins, some unfortunate early departures, and more excitement than you can shake an arancini at. The boys wrap up all the action so far, talk about some of the main characters of this year’s race, and - as always - tell the stories  you won’t hear anywhere else. The Giro is a race that Harry & Stu have spent a fair bit of time at over the years, so they’ve got some cracking stories to tell. 

Here’s what the boys had to say about this month’s episode of Life In The Peloton’s Race Radio:

“We love ‘grand tour season’ here at LITP’s Race Radio, and in this week’s ep we celebrate the grande partenza of the Giro d’Italia. We discuss the Lidl-Trek love-in, Josh Tarling’s amorous post-stage antics, before lamenting the heartbreaking loss of Mikel Landa. There’s a ‘tourism’ section starring man of culture Tom Pidcock, and we reminisce about our own grand tourism at the Giro a few years back before pro cycling photographer Zac Williams sends us a voice note from the race. Finishing off with a review of two great races also on, Tro Bro Leon and the Vuelta Femenina, this show is amore infinito from start to finish!”

I only started the Giro twice, and only reached the finish once, but I absolutely love it. It marks the start of Grand Tour season, and I love being able to follow the story of the race over nearly a whole month. The Giro is a race defined by the Tifosi - the fans - whether that’s on the roadside, watching on the TV at home, or being pumped directly into your ears in this month’s Race Radio. 

Pull yourself a shot of espresso, pour yourself a crisp Italian lager, order a pizza; whatever you need to do to get into the Italian spirit - and enjoy this month’s Race Radio. 

Ciao,

Mitch

Guys, the Giro is underway and that can only mean one thing; it’s time for me to wheel out that classic old LITP story of the time I rode the Team Time Trial at the 2014 Giro with the Greenedge boys and we only went and bloody won it!...What do you mean I bring it up every year?

Seriously, though, this is one of my favourite episodes we’ve ever made. I know some of you will have heard it before when it was first released during lockdown, but there’s a lot of new listeners in the Pelo now who may not have heard me catching up with Orica Greenedge’s ‘Class Of ‘14’ Giro squad who took the win in the opening TTT in Belfast at the 2014 Giro d’Italia.

This is a monster ep, with amazing stories from Svein ‘Sveino’ Tuft, ‘Cam-a-carzi’ Meyer, Michael ‘Bling’ Matthews, Michael ‘Heppy’ Hepburn, Pieter ‘Weendog’ Weening, Brett ‘Burt’ Lancaster, Matt ‘Whitey’ White, and - of course - my old mate Luke ‘Durbo’ Durbridge. What a line up?! 

I absolutely loved relistening to this, and reliving the memories from over 10 years ago. This was one of my best days on the bike, surrounded by an amazing group of guys who I’m still good mates with today. 

It’s the first rest day of the 2025 Giro today, so this should keep you excited before the racing kicks off again in Italy tomorrow. Sit back, relax, and enjoy; I hope you love it.

Cheers,

Mitch

Guys, the Giro is almost upon us! This weekend, the 3 week beast that I raced twice in my career kicks off over in Albania of all places. The start list is absolutely stacked, with the likes of Roglič, Ayuso, Bernal, and heaps more huge riders going toe to toe to try to take home one of the most iconic jerseys in cycling; the Maglia Rosa. 

One rider who’s going to throw his hat into the ring and have a crack at this year’s GC is the young Canadian talent Derek Gee - and I’m stoked to have him on this month’s pod to talk all things Giro, preview the race, and answer a few questions sent in by you guys! 

Derek’s been a pro on the road for just 3 years, After spending his early years racing on the track, he burst onto the scene at the 2023 Giro d’Italia where he finished 2nd on 4 stages and spent more time in the breakaway than he did in the peloton! I think I managed to make it into the breakaway at a grandy once in my whole career - it’s bloody hard - but Derek made it look easy, and absolutely ripped that race to pieces. Although he didn’t come home with a stage win, he sure made a name for himself and put himself up there as one of the most exciting racers to keep an eye on.

The year after, he made his debut at the big one; the Tour de France! Going into that race, Derek was looking to repeat his exploits from the ‘23 Giro and poach a few stages, and it was great to hear how this focus shifted to GC over the course of the race, leading to him finishing in the top 10 overall; an absolutely huge ride, that really proved he can do it all! 

Derek’s a cool guy. Born in Ottawa, I loved hearing about how inspired he was by the Canadian World Tour races the GP’s Quebec and Montreal, and how that led him down the path of professional racing, eventually coming over to Europe and joining Israel Premier Tech - the team he’ll be riding for until at least 2028! 

After chatting a bit about his career, and how he’s feeling ahead of the 2025 Giro that kicks off this weekend, we preview this year’s race and take a bit of a look at how Derek’s going to approach it. He’s been at the front of races for long enough now to be heading to the start as one of the favourites; so he’s definitely feeling the pressure! 

It’s been a while, but I wanted to bring you - the listeners - in on this interview, so we wrapped up by answering some of the questions you all sent in over the last week. Does Derek see other ex track stars like G and Wiggo as inspiration? What interval session does he use to get race ready? What’s his favourite Celine Dion Song? I ask Derek all these questions, and more, and he’s got some cracking answers. 

I loved chatting to Derek. As well as being a mega talent, he’s a really chilled out, humble guy and no doubt one of the most exciting racers in the pelo. I can’t wait to see him race the Giro - the most beautiful of all the Grand Tours - and reckon he’s a real Maglia Rosa contender. The Giro? More like the Gee-ro……..right?

Enjoy this ep, guys. Sit back, relax, grab yourself a limoncello and some gelato, and get excited for the Giro with me and Derek. 

Cheers!

Mitch

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This episode from the Chronicles is a sneak peek into how my Life in the Peloton  and Svein’s incredible 'We Will Never Be Here Again' books came to life.

In this special snippet, I’m joined by my mate (and co-author) Tom Southam as we dig into the early days of writing the book together—back when we were just two mates sitting down in Girona, recording hours of stories. It’s raw, honest, and a real behind-the-scenes look at how it all began.

Cheers!

Mitch

The boys are back with another banger of an episode to get you all hyped up for the Ardennes. These races are usually a bit forgotten about, lost in the shadow of Flanders and Roubaix. But, as always, Harry and Stu’s fan’s-eye perspective is oozing with enthusiasm that’ll get you pumped for these races. Harry’s back from the roadside of Flanders and Roubaix, and Stu’s gearing up to get himself out to Belgium for Liège. That’s what I love about these boys – they’re diehard fans that get out on the roadside and soak in the atmosphere at the races, and their passion is absolutely infectious.

Here’s what Harry had to say about this month’s episode of Life In The Peloton’s Race Radio:

‘This episode of LITP’s Race Radio is all about the Ardennes and it’s somewhat of an EF Education-Easypost special, with not one but two guests from the team on the show! 

First up is punchy young Irish climber Archie Ryan, swiftly followed by the team’s not-so-young and punchy DS (and LITP Communiqué regular) Tom Southam. 

The two tell us what makes these hilly races great, Tom remembers witnessing a live mugging during a recon ride in Liège while Archie dreams of a Ben & Jerry’s helmet sponsorship. Enjoy!’

My experience with the Ardennes as a rider is limited; in fact, of all the races, I only started Amstel Gold Race once – I was always more of a cobbles man. But, after listening to the boys yarn about these races, I am gee’d up for the Ardennes! 

I hope you all enjoy this one as much as I do.

Cheers,

Mitch

You can also watch this episode over on my YouTube channel here!

The chaos of the Cobbled Classics is over for another season. From Omloop, through E3 and Wevelgem, Flanders, and then the big one - Paris Roubaix; these are the biggest and best races on the calendar for me, so I was super excited to sit down with Tom Southam and Luke Durbridge to break down this year’s edition of Paris Roubaix in this month’s Race Communique.

This year’s Roubaix was an absolute cracker; totally flat out from the gun. Even before Arenberg - where the race used to really kick off back in my day - the bunch was strung out and the real favourites were taking huge chunks out of each other. Tom, Luke, and I run through the riders that really made this race such an epic edition. Of course, it was dominated by Mathieu Van Der Poel on his way to his third victory in a row, but what about Pogačar?! His first go at Roubaix and he’s up there rubbing shoulders with the big boys, and I literally mean the big boys; he’s ten kilos lighter than most of these guys! Southam made a good point actually; is he going to be carrying some extra timber into the Ardennes that kick off next week?

Of course, we also had the women’s race the day before. That’s something I love about Roubaix; the men’s and women’s races being on different days means we get a whole weekend of Paris-Roubaix action! What a cool race, with absolute legend Pauline Ferrand-Prévot putting her immense off-road skills to use to become the first French rider to list that big cobblestone since Frédéric Guesdon in 1997. I absolutely loved to see the GOAT herself; Marianne Vos, riding in support of her Visma LAB team mate; for me, that’s what makes her a true champion.

Obviously, there’s been other races going on aside from the cobbled classics. We wanted to talk briefly about the Tour of the Basque country, and for good reason; after a few years in the wilderness, Caleb Ewan is winning at the highest level again. What a move that transfer to Ineos turned out to be! It’s so cool to see Caleb getting his hands in the air again, and I think it represents a real shift in mentality at Ineos - who have been looking a bit lost for a few seasons now. 

Southam was actually down in the Basque country in the car for EF Pro cycling - who knocked out a stage win with young Ben Healy - so he gives us a quick breakdown of the race in this week’s Talking Tactics. Healy’s win came after a ridiculous 57km solo move, so this month Tom’s talking about the art of the solo breakaway. We see these long range attacks sticking more and more these days; with everyone aero optimised and more and more data and information being fed to riders. Southam compared his view from the car to being behind a rider in a TT, and being able to feed him really accurate cues about the course ahead played a huge part in Healy’s win. 

Poor old Durbo got a bit cut off in this month’s Pelo Chat, so we rolled it in ahead of the Communi-Quiz! Durbo wanted to talk about race programmes, and how the teams decide who’s racing where. Of course, the Spring Classics is a savage block of racing; and plenty of riders don’t make it all the way to the end owing to sickness or injury, which creates plenty of headaches for team directors trying to pull together squads at short notice. 

As always, we wrapped up with the Communi-Quiz. Hosted by Durbo, it’s a Roubaix themed ‘Who Am I?’. I’ve won a stage and the overall at the Tour of Beijing and Paris Roubaix - who am I?.....you’ll have to listen to this month’s Race Communique to find out.

Well, guys, that’s the Cobbled Classics done and dusted. The Ardennes are about to kick off to round out a monster Spring of racing which can mean only one thing; the next time I sit down to talk to Southam and Durbo will be in May just before the first Grandy of the year; The Giro d’Italia. 

The Race Communiqué is brought to you by TrainingPeaks! Track, plan, and train smarter—just like the pros. Get 20% off TrainingPeaks Premium now at www.trainingpeaks.com/partners/life-in-the-peloton/.

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Intro
• 00:07:34 - Race Recap
• 00:42:05 - Talking Tactics
• 00:51:10 - Pelo Chat
• 00:58:56 - Communi-Quiz: Who am I?

Until then,

Cheers,

Mitch

I don’t know about you guys, but I thought this year’s edition of the Tour of Flanders was an absolute classic. It had everything: drama, excitement, chaos, and - of course - a worthy winner. I couldn’t wait to catch up with our man on the ground, Laurence Pithie, to hear what happened between the barriers on the bergs of Flanders, and hear how he’s feeling ahead of the Queen of the classics; Roubaix.

Laurence went into Flanders after a pretty nasty crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen the Wednesday before. Fortunately, although he was a bit stiff and bruised, his legs came good and - after over 6 hours of brutal racing - he rolled home in an impressive 11th place. The TV cameras were pretty fixed on that leading group of Pog, Van Der Poel, Pedersen, and Van Aert for the last few hours of the race, so Pithie’s ride went a bit under the radar - but that’s one of the things I’ve loved most about getting these updates from him this season; hearing those stories the cameras miss.

Although he’s still only 22 years old, the way Laurence talks about these races shows just how experienced and mature as a rider he is. Hearing how he raced this year’s edition compared to last year, and the changes he made to his tactics even just over the course of this classics season, it’s easy to tell how professional he is; already a real seasoned pro.

Laurence isn’t racing Scheldeprijs - the midweek race between Flanders and Roubaix - so he actually made the decision to fly home for a few days of normality to reset before heading back to the cobbles for Paris Roubaix this Sunday. Flanders is such a huge event with so much build up, it can be pretty overwhelming - so breaking out the bubble for a few days should let Laurence reset and come back ready for all out war at Roubaix. I mean, just looking at the walls of fans on the roadside all the way around Flanders, I’d need a few days to get my hearing back, let alone my legs!

I have absolutely loved these regular phone calls with Pithie and really trying to understand what those 3 weeks on the road are like from the inside. It’s no secret that I absolutely love the Spring classics; the ins and outs, the crashes, the stories - I could talk about them all day. it’s not all about the podium riders - every single rider in these races is giving absolutely everything, and I think that’s why they mean so much to so many people; you’ve got 180 guys lining up ready to leave everything out there on the road. 

Of course, it’s not all over - the best is yet to come. This Sunday, the Queen of the Classics, the Hell of the North, my favourite race: Paris Roubaix. Last year Laurence bagged himself a classy 7th place, and he’s looking to better that this time around. I could hear the fear in his voice when he told me the weather forecast; after one of the warmest, driest Springs on record - the rain is coming…oh, man, a wet Roubaix! It’s the stuff of dreams…or nightmares. Whether the clouds break or not this weekend, I’ve got no doubt that Laurence is going to get to that iconic velodrome and round out a great Spring classics season with another pearler of a result. Who knows, he might even come home with a cobblestone of his own. 

Guys, thanks for following along on this Spring Classics mini series. I hope you’ve enjoyed these updates from Laurence and the rest of the Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe team as much as I have. In fact, Laurence has actually agreed to give me a call after Roubaix so we can wrap up this series and hear about what went down on the pavé - a cheeky bonus ep. for you all. 

Laurence; this is it now, mate, the big one. Go and get it. We’re all rooting for you. 

Cheers!

Mitch

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Intro & Flanders Recap
• 00:03:25 - Laurence on Riding Flanders
• 00:08:00 - Strategy & Team Tactics at Flanders
• 00:12:10 - The Turning Point: Final Moves at Flanders
• 00:18:09 - Reflections on 11th Place
• 00:24:05 - Resetting for Roubaix
• 00:26:00 - The Allure (and Fear) of Paris-Roubaix
• 00:34:10 - Roubaix Recon & Equipment Talk

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Where do you sit in the PELO? Come and join the Life in the Peloton membership.

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After a big weekend of racing at E3 on Friday and Wevelgem on Sunday, I gave our man Laurence Pithie a call for another catch up to find out how his races went, and how he’s feeling about the big one this coming Sunday; The Tour of Flanders. 

First up, E3 Saxo Classic. Basically, a mini Tour of Flanders. Heaps of climbs including the Kwaremont, the Paterberg, and - Tom Boonen’s favourite - the Taaienberg. If you do well at this race, you go into Flanders the following weekend as one of the favourites. Laurence’s race didn’t go his way, after suffering from a puncture and not being able to get back in the fight - but that’s classics racing. 

After E3 comes Gent Wevelgem. A flatter race more suited to sprinters, but still featuring some savage cobbled ascents of climbs like the Kemmelberg. This was Pithie’s ‘breakout’ ride last Spring, where he got away with Van Der Poel and Pedersen and put his name on a lot of people’s radar as a real future star in these races. Again, it wasn’t the result Laurence came for, but he’s only 3 races into this classics campaign, and I reckon once he gets his tactical nous dialled back in, he’ll be right up there; he definitely has the legs for it. 

Talking to Laurence, I get the sense he’s a real fighter, and hearing the absolutely crazy numbers he’s putting out just to get up these brutal Flemish climbs without losing the wheel in front, I’m reminded once again just how hard the racing is these days. Despite being so young, he really knows his stuff about these races - he was rattling off the names to the climbs like a real seasoned Belgian. 

The races keep coming thick and fast, and today it’s time for Dwars door Vlaanderen. This is the last hit out before De Ronde, and it’s one of those races that, when I was a rider, I’d see as a chance to bag a little result for myself. It’s a lot shorter than the likes of Flanders or Roubaix at just 185km, and the start list is usually slightly reduced, with the bigger favourites resting up hard for Flanders. I reckon this is Laurence’s chance for a result; he’s got the legs, and he’s had a few races to get his eye back in, so I think he’ll come out swinging. In fact, by the time you listen to this ep, he might have already got his hands in the air! After Dwars door, Laurence and his boys are going to get some recon done for Flanders, then it’s time to rest up before Sunday’s 6 and a half hour battle. 

The thing about the Spring Classics is that it’s kind of like a mini Grand Tour. You’re up in Belgium for about 3 weeks with the same team around you, bouncing between all these races - it definitely has a real grand atmosphere. Towards the end of my chat with Laurence, I got a chance to have a quick chat with his roommate out there in Belgium; ‘The Wombat’ himself, Aussie sprinting legend Sam Welsford. Sam’s dropped into Bora’s classics squad for a few of the races, but also to bring some morale into the team. He’s a really laid back dude, and hearing his positive attitude and relaxed demeanor, I can imagine the positive impact he’ll have on the boys, some of whom have been racing out there for weeks now! 

Lastly, I gave my old mate Heinrich Haussler a call. Heino was a classics star in his own right when he was a pro, and now works as a DS for Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe. He gave me some great insight into how the classics have changed since he and I were riders just a few years ago; the nutrition, the tech, the schedule - it’s all come on leaps and bounds in such a short space of time, and made these races harder than ever. 

Laurence - go well today, buddy. Show them what you’re made of, and we’ll catch up after Flanders! 

Cheers,

Mitch

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Pre-race Nerves at E3
• 00:05:39 - E3 Race Debrief
• 00:10:54 - The Toll of Classics Racing
• 00:15:32 - Reset for Gent-Wevelgem
• 00:18:06 - In the Mix at Gent-Wevelgem
• 00:22:47 - Goals for Dwars door Vlaanderen
• 00:25:07 - Recon and Knowledge of Flanders
• 00:29:43 - Sam Welsford Joins the Chat
• 00:33:37 - Heinrich Haussler on the Modern Classics
• 00:50:23 - Final Recon Before De Ronde

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The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

Where do you sit in the PELO? Come and join the Life in the Peloton membership.

Our man, Laurence Pithie, is back for the second episode in our mini series following the young Kiwi star through the 2025 Spring Classics. 

After a delayed start to his European series, Laurence kicked things off on the weekend at Milan San Remo. We kick this ep off with a quick voice note from him live from the hotel room, and man, with the weather those boys had right at the start, I can tell you I’m glad I’m not a rider anymore. 

I caught up with Laurence after the race to get his insight into how things played out, and how his race went. If you’ve not caught up with San Remo yet, go and get yourself up to speed - but safe to say, it wasn’t an easy day for any of the riders, let alone our man Pithie. I won’t spoil the result, but hearing how Laurence’s team got around him, and his ‘never say die’ attitude was super cool.

Of course, San Remo is just the kick off for Pithie’s Spring. Next up, he’s off to Belgium - the home of the classics - for De Panne, E3, and Gent Wevelgem; three absolutely massive races that lead up to The Tour of Flanders at the start of April. Oh man, these are some of my absolute favourite races. The Belgian fans, the chaos in the bunch; in a messed up way, I kinda miss it - so I can’t wait to hear how Laurence finds them. Laurence had a great ride at Wevelgem in 2024, so we spoke about what his expectations are for these first races back in Belgium to find out if he’s doing anything this time around. Of course, aside from the racing, it’s good to hear the young gun is still looking forward to getting familiar with a few Belgian beers and really soaking in the culture; that’s something I’m particularly jealous of. 

Finally, I spoke to one of Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe’s sports directors - another Kiwi, ‘The Flying Mullet’ himself; Shane Archbold. He gave me some great background on Laurence, what it’s like working with him, the mechanics behind his transfer to Bora from FDJ, and what he’s capable of this season. Shane’s a good mate, and a real good judge of character, so it was great to hear that Laurence has really fit in with the team and found his feet within the structure straight away, so he can focus on trying to win some of the biggest races in the world. 

Right guys, enjoy this episode. Our next catch up with Pithie will come next week after he, with a bit of luck, has just won the E3 and Wevelgem double…don’t let me down, Laurence. 

Cheers!

Mitch

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - San Remo Morning Vibes
• 00:03:26 - San Remo Recap
• 00:07:14 - Crash on the Capo
• 00:08:50 - Working with Ryan Mullen
• 00:11:10 - Gritting it Out Post-Crash
• 00:13:04 - Poggio Climb: The Decisive Moment
• 00:17:06 - Mental Takeaways & Confidence Boost
• 00:18:08 - E3 & Gent-Wevelgem: Game Plan
• 00:22:36 - Shane Archibald Interview
• 00:32:00 - What’s Next for Laurence

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

Where do you sit in the PELO? Come and join the Life in the Peloton membership.

You can also watch this episode over on my YouTube channel here!

Well, guys, it’s that time again; The Race Communique is back and, of course, we kick this one off by unpacking an absolutely huge edition of Milan San Remo!

Three absolute titans of the sport (me, Southam, and Durbo) come together to talk about the first monument of the season. We got to witness, as Pipo Ganna called them ‘Gods of cycling’ go toe to toe on the slopes of the Cipressa and the Poggio and, boy, did it exceed expectations. The confidence and arrogance of Pog trying to go from the foot of the Cipressa, the absolute ice man that is Van Der Poel responding to his every move, and Ganna showing what an absolute animal he is to hang tough with the big boys on the climbs. We talk all about it and, I’ll tell you what, I honestly think that’s the best edition I’ve ever seen. 

Durbo’s Pelo Chat takes a look at the ‘Superteams’ of the sport - the guys with cash to burn like UAE or Visma who can pick up the best riders; money no object. But are the superteams good or bad for the sport, and is riding for one of them actually all it’s cracked up to be?

In this month’s Talking Tactics, Southam fills us in on the upcoming UCI meeting to discuss whether additional wild cards should be issued for the biggest races. Now that some of the biggest riders, the likes of Pidcock, Hirschi, and Alaphilippe, have stepped down to ProTeam level, race organisers are stuck between a rock and a hard place if they want to keep the classic second division teams happy whilst also getting the fan favourites at their races. Plus, the UCI undermining all the hard work the lower ranked World Tour teams over the last few years to avoid relegation - it’s absolute chaos. 

Of course, we wrap things up with the Communi-quiz. Southam’s quiz master this month, and he’s bought out the race commentary clips for Durbo and I to guess the rider and the race. This is a real toughy, but you racing nuts out there will love it. 

You guys know by now how much I love sitting down with Luke and Tom to yarn about the races. As always make sure you sit back, relax, crack open a cold one, and enjoy this month’s Race Communique. 

The Race Communiqué is brought to you by TrainingPeaks! Track, plan, and train smarter—just like the pros. Get 20% off TrainingPeaks Premium now at www.trainingpeaks.com/partners/life-in-the-peloton/.

Cheers!

Mitch

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Intro & Milan-San Remo Recap
• 00:17:19 - Rider of the Day & Big Surprises
• 00:20:51 - The Cobbled Classics Preview
• 00:32:53 - Pelo Chat with Luke Durbridge: The Rise of Superteams
• 00:35:08 - Visma vs UAE: Who Has the Upper Hand?
• 00:44:51 - Talking Tactics with Tom Southam: Wildcard Chaos
• 00:01:29 - Communi-Quiz: Guess the Race Commentary Challenge

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

Where do you sit in the PELO? Come and join the Life in the Peloton membership.

This episode is sponsored by NordVPN - get an exclusive NordVPN discount + 4 extra months with Life in the Peloton: https://nordvpn.com/pelosurf 

It’s no secret that the Spring Classics are my favourite races. I loved racing them, and I love watching them as a fan. But, in my 10th year of doing Life In The Peloton, you’ve heard all the stories I’ve got about the likes of Flanders & Roubaix; it’s time for me to pass the torch. This season, I’m going to be covering the cobbles classics a little bit differently.

I’m going to bring you with me inside the 2025 peloton as we follow young Kiwi up and coming classics star - Laurence Pithie. Laurence burst onto the scene last year when he won Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in January, and went toe to toe with Van Der Poel and Pedersen at Gent Wevelgem, rounding out his classics campaign with a stellar 7th place at Roubaix. 

I’m going to be chatting to Laurence before and after all the big races for the next few weeks - San Remo, Flanders, and Roubaix - to get insider information on how he’s feeling, how his team are planning on tackling the races, and just how it feels to take on the superstars at the pointy end. He’ll be sending me voice notes straight from the team bus straight after the finish to share his raw, unfiltered thoughts, and I can’t wait to bring you along and share Laurence’s 2025 classics journey with you guys. 

After transferring from FDJ to Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe in the offie, Pithie is heading into this season as a co-leader with a really strong team. He’ll be supported by class riders like Oier Lazkano, Gianni Moscon, Maxim Van Gils, Danny Van Poppel, Jordi Meeus, and heaps more - plus he’ll have the wise words of Bernie Eisel and my old mate Heinrich Haussler down the radio from back in the team car; Bora really aren’t messing around at the classics this year, and Laurence is a rider they believe can go all the way and knock out a big result.

Fresh off an altitude training camp and a delayed start to his 2025 classics campaign, Laurence is about to kick things off at Milan San Remo, so I spoke to him to kick off this mini series and get his initial thoughts on the Spring Classics in 2025. A lot has changed since I retired, and these races are almost unrecognisable to me now, so it’s great to see them through the eyes of a fresh, young, motivated rider with a real shot of winning BIG this season.

Guys, I hope you enjoy part 1 of this series. I can’t wait to bring you more from our man Laurence over the next few weeks. Hopefully, you’ll join me in really rooting for the young Kiwi after listening to this.

And Laurence; go and get it buddy. We’re all behind you. 

Cheers!

Mitch

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Introduction
• 00:01:19 - Who is Laurence Pithie? The Rising Star’s 2024 Breakthrough
• 00:03:11 - Pre-Classics Training & Altitude Camp
• 00:06:13 - A Day in the Life on Altitude Camp
• 00:08:04 - Confidence & Pressure After a Breakout Year
• 00:10:45 - What Changed in 2024? Reflections on His Breakthrough Season
• 00:12:09 - Learning to Race with the Best
• 00:15:42 - Milan–San Remo Team Plans & His Role
• 00:17:00 - Working with New DSs at Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe
• 00:20:44 - Falling in Love with the Classics
• 00:23:06 - Final Thoughts & San Remo Course Recon
• 00:24:29 - Rivals to Watch at San Remo
• 00:27:55 - His Full 2025 Spring Classics Program

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G’day, everyone. We’re well into March, and the Spring Classics are calling! We had an absolutely storming opening weekend, and Paris Nice has just wrapped up; which means we’re in for a treat over the next few weeks as we get to enjoy four of the five monuments PLUS a whole heap of other amazing one day races. 

One of the things I love about the races at this time of year is that most of them have both a men’s and women’s edition; so we get to enjoy twice as much racing over the cobbles and bergs of Belgium and Northern France!

Now the boys over at Race Radio have cooked up a banging episode this month; they’ve bagged an interview with one of the most exciting riders in the women’s pelo. A Danish superstar who’s already got herself a stage win at the Tour de France, and is no doubt knocking on the door of a massive result this Spring after a move to Lidl Trek in the offie; it is, of course, Emma Norsgaard Bjerg. 

Here’s what the lads had to say about this month’s ep:

At LITP’s Race Radio, we (Harry and Stu) love riders with big personalities, and in our opinion there’s none bigger – and more fun – than Emma Norsgaard Bjerg. 

We were delighted to have the Lidl-Trek pro from Denmark on the show this week. We talk about her epic Tour de France Femmes stage win in 2023, her love/hate relationship with the cobbled classics, ‘Playstation mode’ training, peloton gossip, and more.

Emma is a rare example of a pro cyclist unafraid to show their emotions and weaknesses, expose the difficulties of the sport as well as celebrate its good sides, and we hope that you all enjoy listening to her chat with us!

Cheers,

Harry and Stu.

Guys, this is a great listen. Harry and Stu do a great job of getting Emma to really loosen up and be really open in her interview - I was honestly so impressed. They have a heap of fun, and I know who I’m going to be rooting for at the races this Spring. I hope you enjoy this month’s Race Radio, and the Spring Classics to come!

This episode is supported by our friends at JOIN. As a listener to the pod you can get a risk-free 1-month trial. Visit join.cc/litp to check it out and sign up.

Cheers!

Mitch

Chapters

• 00:00:00 – Introduction & Catch-up
• 00:05:00 – Guest Introduction: Emma Norsgaard
• 00:06:45 – Emma Joins the Show
• 00:08:40 – Tour de France Stage Win Recap
• 00:11:00 – Changing Teams and Motivation
• 00:18:00 – The Cobbled Classics
• 00:20:15 – Dream Wins and PlayStation Mode
• 00:25:20 – Emma’s Podcast ‘The Gossip’
• 00:29:40 – Wrap-up with Emma
• 00:30:06 – Harry and Stu Reflect on the Interview
• 00:32:10 – Race Round-Up and Chat
• 00:37:00 – Weather Talk & Classic Racing Moments

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The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

Where do you sit in the PELO? Come and join the Life in the Peloton membership.

Well, guys, if you enjoyed part 1 of my epic trip across to New Zealand then get yourself a cold one, sit back, relax, and get ready to enjoy the second part of the story. If you didn’t catch part 1 earlier this week then make sure you go back and listen to that first.

We pick up the journey at the start of day 3, and head straight to the iconic Waihau bay. This stunning area was made famous by Taika Waititi’s film ‘Boy’, and oh man was it special; what a way to kick off the second half of the trip. After some delicious home made ice cream at the Pacific Coast Macadamia Store we cracked on down the coast. I bumped into a fella called Giles who was undertaking a similar bikepacking trip with his son, and we cracked open a few Gizzy Golds and yarned into the evening. 

Heading back down the coast towards Gisborne we took in more stunning views, and surveyed the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle that struck the region back in 2023. Still in the cleanup stages, it’s clear to see how the disaster decimated the land and the sea, but the way the Māori people have rallied around each other and is really heartening, and left us all feeling pretty inspired. 

What better way to wrap up a trip through some of the hottest surfing on the planet than with a quick lesson? I was taken out into the water with legendary local surfer, Holly Quinn, who showed me how to master the waves and helped me get up. We sealed off the adventure by visiting Sunshine brewery; the home of the iconic Gizzy Gold which I’d become so familiar with over the week.

Honestly, guys, if you ever get the chance to head out to the North West coast of the North Island and explore Gisborne and the surrounding area - jump on it; you won’t regret it. 

I hope you really enjoyed listening to these two eps; I had an amazing time and I’m really grateful to Tairāwhiti Gisborne - the Gisborne Tourism Board - for making it happen.

If you want to read more about my trip and see some of the incredible pictures, check out this cracking feature by our friends at FLOW MOUNTAIN BIKE. 

Cheers,

Mitch!

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Introduction & Recap
• 00:02:21 - Day Three Begins: Waihau Bay & Movie Locations
• 00:12:54 - Macadamia Farm & Local Treats
• 00:14:55 - Coastal Riding & Māori Cultural Insights
• 00:20:41 - Bikepacking Father & Son Duo
• 00:34:13 - East Cape Lighthouse & The First Sunrise
• 00:49:08 - Famous Café 35 & Power Pies
• 01:02:15 - Māori Facial Tattoos (Moko Kauae) & Cultural Significance
• 01:05:07 - Final Stretch Back to Gisborne

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The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

G’day guys, I’m back with another ep of Life In The Peloton; and this one’s a little bit different. Earlier this month, I was invited out to a little town called Gisborne over on the East Coast of New Zealand’s North Island for a bikepacking adventure. 

Gisborne Tourism gave me a call and wanted to see if I’d come over for 5 days of bike riding, soaking in the Māori culture, and - of course - enjoying a few cleansing ales with some local legends and finding out more about the region; naturally, I jumped at the chance and hopped on a plane over to NZ. 

This hidden gem is on the South East coast of the North Island, and loosely follows the infamous Highway 35. Gisborne is a pretty remote area. It’s raw, and refreshing - really back to basics. There are a lot of indigenous Māori living off the land out there respecting the natural environment just like their ancestors have done for generations. It’s totally different to anywhere I’ve been before, and it was really powerful and inspiring to learn more about their culture and experience the landscape by bike.

550km over 5 days, this trip was hard enough without being too hard, if you know what I mean. We cruised on the bikes and took in all the sights, sounds, and smells of Gisborne along the way. We checked out some super cool spots; including the Eastwoodhill National Arboretum, some ridiculous beautiful waterfalls and wild swimming spots, and - of course - some world class gravel riding.

I couldn’t turn down this opportunity - to be invited out to a place I’ve always wanted to explore was too good to miss. This ep is actually part 1 of a 2 parter - so much happened on the trip I couldn’t contain it into 1 episode, so I’m treating you guys to a double! Keep your eyes peeled for episode 2 dropping at the end of this week.

If you want to read more about my trip, check out this cracking feature by our friends at FLOW MOUNTAIN BIKE. 

Cheers!

Mitch

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Introduction & Setting the Scene
• 00:02:15 - Flying into Gisborne & First Impressions
• 00:07:30 - The Māori Connection & Cultural Insights
• 00:18:10 - The Bikepacking Route & The First Ride
• 00:25:05 - Eastwoodhill Arboretum: A Hidden Gem
• 00:39:06 - Waterfalls & Wild Swimming
• 00:42:00 - Arrival in Motu: End of Day 1
• 00:46:00 - Looking Ahead to Day 2

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The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

Sveino and I are back for another episode of the Life In The Peloton Chronicles. I absolutely love getting so sit down and catch up with my old mate for an hour or two each month, and this month’s pod is a banger. 

Svein’s always been a guy I look up to for a whole heap of reasons. Sure, he was an absolute weapon on the bike - that goes without saying - but I’ve always admired the way he goes about things off the bike, too. He’s a real deep thinking guy who prioritises a clean and healthy lifestyle and a deep respect for the natural world - so I handed the reins over this month to learn more about his mindset and lifestyle.

I have really fond memories of racing alongside Svein back in the Greenedge days. He was a great guy to be around in the races and someone I learnt a lot from. One of the first pieces of this holistic ‘grounding’ that Svein showed me and the team was making sure we all got our shoes off and got a bit of time spent barefoot on the grass to really connect with the Earth, and whenever we got the chance, we’d jump in the ocean; something else Svein is really passionate about.

We talk about the importance of looking after your body whilst also respecting the natural order of things, and the impact a lot of bad modern habits can have on a person. Svein’s knowledge about things like circadian rhythms, solar callouses, and more is incredible, and I always come away from chats like this with a new found motivation to live a healthier, more wholesome lifestyle. Hopefully you do, too. 

This ep is really insightful, and I think we can all learn a lot from Svein. He’s also just dropped his brand new book called ‘We Will Never Be Here Again’, which is all about his adventures in cycling; from the wilderness to the Tour de France. It’s an absolutely incredible read, and makes me think back to the crazy stories Svein would tell over the dinner table when we were away racing together. If you love listening to Svein, get yourself a copy and get stuck into it because it’s absolutely loaded with some great insight into what makes Svein tick.

Grab a herbal tea for this one, and listen closely. Hopefully, you come away from this one having learnt something and feeling a little bit more enlightened. 

Cheers!

Mitch

A highlight of the last month for me has been seeing a really dominant start to the year from the young Brit, Tom Pidcock, at Alula Tour and Ruta Del Sol, which really vindicates his move to Q36.5 over the offie. But, if we’re talking about dominance in races, we have to talk about UAE Team Emirates XRG. They have had a MONSTER start to the season, and not just from Pogi. Me and the boys talk about their insane roster that’s going to have the rest of the bunch shaking in their boots all year long.

Of course, the early season races are exciting, but they’re only building tension for the real racing to kick off this weekend. That’s right, guys, it’s almost time for my favourite races: The Spring Classics. Opening weekend is right around the corner, and we discuss the upcoming classics season, as well as make a few cheeky predictions.

Durbo’s ‘Pelo Chat’ dives right into the technical advancements in the bunch over the last few years. Skinsuits, tubeless tyres, aero positions on the road bikes, and absolutely MASSIVE chainrings. I thought I was pushing big gears with a 53 tooth chainring back in my pro days, but the 2025 Pelo has literally stepped up a gear. The bunch is getting faster and faster every year, so they need the gearing to keep up. One of Durbo’s teammates is even trying out a 58 tooth chainring on their road bike! You’ll have to listen to find out who. 

Tom’s ‘Talking Tactics’ segment takes a look at the UAE Tour and some…questionable decisions from Lotto and Lennert Van Eetvelt. Riding the front to boost the TSS, doing intervals on the erg after a hard stage, seriously - what were these guys thinking? It was great to hear Tom and Luke, who were both out there, dissect their tactics in the Middle East and give the Lotto boys a fair ribbing. 

Of course, it wouldn’t be The Race Communiqué without the Communi-Quiz, and it’s my turn to host. With the Welsh legend, Geraint Thomas, announcing his retirement at the end of 2025, I thought it would be a fitting send-off to have a G-themed quiz to test the boys’ knowledge on one of the most versatile racers of his generation.

This is a banger of an ep packed with some proper racing analysis, good old-fashioned tech chat, a whole heap of banter, and lots more. You’re going to love it.

The Race Communiqué is brought to you by TrainingPeaks! Track, plan, and train smarter—just like the pros. Get 20% off TrainingPeaks Premium now at www.trainingpeaks.com/partners/life-in-the-peloton/.

Cheers,

Mitch

As always, Harry’s given me a blurb for the episode so you know what you’re in for: 

“Are you excited for the road racing season to start yet? In the latest episode of Life in the Peloton’s Race Radio, we’ll get you ready for another rollicking, rollercoaster year of pro cycling with our top ten things to look forward to in 2025. 

From the new stars set to shine, the first women’s Milan-San Remo, comeback Queens, the first ever road world championships to be held in Africa, and much more, we guarantee that this’ll get you ready to rock and roll. Let’s go!”

I do love the Tour Down Under as the kick-off for the racing season, but the lull between TDU and Opening Weekend has always been a tough one to fill. This definitely got me even more excited for the big races to kick off - as if I wasn’t buzzing already.

I hope you love this one as much as I did and, remember, you can drop the boys an email at raceradio@lifeinthepeloton.com to let them know what you think of this ep, what you want to hear them discuss, or just to tell them you think they’re handsome young-ish men!

One of the things I love most about being at the Tour Down Under is getting to catch up with people in person and record podcasts live. The chemistry is just so much better than a video call, and I love being able to pick up on those little tidbits of information or body language that you miss online. 

With that in mind, I was absolutely stoked to sit down with one of the most enigmatic, exciting, and down right nuts bike riders out there; the legend that is Lachlan Morton. To make it even better, we were joined by Rachael Peck - Lachy’s wife and a key part of his support team - and the hardest working bike mechanic, swanny, driver, logistics manager, and a million other things in the whole industry, Tom Hopper.

Back in 2024, Lachy broke the record for riding a lap of Australia. Just think about that for a second. An entire lap of Australia. With support on the road from Rachael and Tom, Lachy covered 14,200kms in a little over 30 days riding. A quick bit of maths, and that’s over 450kms a day…A DAY! That’s more than I ride in a week (more like a month) these days! I cannot get my head around what Lachy’s achieved so I loved being able to sit down with him and hear more from the man himself and the team behind him about what went down out there on the road. 

This is a banger of an episode, and I loved being able to capture this yarn to share with you all. Lachy’s a really humble guy and a great story teller. Rachael’s only ever followed Lachy’s crazy challenges from behind a laptop watching his dot tick along - so this was a totally new experience for her to be there on the ground by his side as he embarked on his record attempt. If you don’t know Tom Hopper, the word ‘Legendary’ doesn’t even begin to describe him. He’s the mastermind behind EF’s alternative racing programme, as well as all of Lach’s wild adventures, and hearing about the details of what goes on behind the scenes of a project like this was eye opening. 

I also just had to ask Lachy what’s next. Rumours have been circulating for a little while now that this lap of Australia was a practice run for an around-the-world record attempt, and I had to find out if these rumours are true! I won’t give away his answer here, you’ll have to listen to this ep to hear what he says! 

Guys, you’re going to love this one. Sit back, relax, crack open a Coopers - just like Tom Hopper did whilst we were recording - ,and enjoy!

Cheers!

Mitch

This episode is supported by our friends at JOIN.

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Where do you sit in the PELO? Come and join the Life in the Peloton membership.

It’s been a long, cold winter, but Svein and I are back for the 2025 season with a fresh ep of Life In The Peloton: Chronicles for you - the Pelo members. 

Just like when we were pro cyclists, which feels like a long time ago now, we had ourselves a little off season to reset, freshen up, and make plans for the next year. It was great to catch up with Sveino for the first time since October, and this month we’re talking all about kicking off a new season as a rider. That mental reset is just as important as the physical one, and after a little break, Sveino and I are itching to get going!

Things have changed a lot since we were riders. Back in our day, we had a relaxed start to the racing season; plenty of base miles over the winter, then rock up to Tour Down Under ready to get some intensity in the legs and build towards the first “real” races in the Spring. Sveino even rode 2000km from Canada to California for an early season team camp in 2003 to build some fitness after a winter relaxing out in the snow and skiing rather than riding! I love hearing Sveino’s wild, adventurous stories - he’s like the original Lachy Morton.

Nowadays, early season races like the Tour Down Under are real targets for a lot of riders. Whether it’s a team hunting UCI points to avoid relegation, neo pros that need to start getting experience in the bunch with the big boys, or legendary riders targeting San Remo in March that want some race KMs in their legs before their competitors back in Europe.

We’ve just had the 25th edition of the race, and I was down in Adelaide getting stuck into the action in the commentary booth, at the roadside, and - of course - behind the pod mic, catching up with some old mates. Svein and I listened back to some great chats with our old mates Michael Hepburn, Luke Durbridge, Sam Bewley, and Aaron Gate about the Tour Down Under and how it can set a rider up for the season ahead. 

I also caught up with a guy I used to love spinning a yarn with in the bunch; the president of the CPA, Adam Hansen. We spoke about the new UCI rules that will impact the races this season. New feedzone regulations, changes to time gaps if you crash in the final, and the introduction of yellow cards for multiple infractions - it’s going to keep the riders on their toes this year, that’s for sure.  

As always, Svein and I chat about a heap of other topics - with plenty of anecdotes from our time in the bunch and the years since we both hung up the race wheels. I love telling these stories, and I hope you love hearing them.

Cheers!

Mitch

That’s right, this is two best friends - Harry Dowdney and Stu Downie - taking a look at the sport we love from the perspective of the fans. These funny British lads started producing this podcast themselves a year ago, and I’ve been a fan since day one, so I’m so pleased to bring them in under the Life In The Peloton umbrella and share their chemistry, banter, and opinions with you. These guys have captured those cycling chats you have in the pub and turned them into a great podcast, and I really hope you love it as much as I do. 

I asked Stu to give me a bit of a blurb for you all so you know exactly what you’re getting into, and this is what he said: 

“Harry and I are unashamed adult besties that started out seeking fun at the fringes of the WorldTour. Since then, we’ve made films and written stories for the biggest teams, athletes, and brands – from a clapped-out campervan tour through cycling’s history to the heady heights of the WorldTour – and we’ve never lost their fascination with the sport and its characters along the way. Race Radio is a fan’s eye viewthat celebrates the spirit of the sport and doesn’t hold back, telling stories from the serious or strange to the sublime.”

In this first episode of Life In The Peloton’s Race Radio, the boys turn the mic on me! We talk about how our paths first crossed and some of the adventures along the way. Then, they wrap up the Tour Down Under, and talk about what makes the race so great - and my old mate Mike Woods drops in for a bit, too. 

It’s a great ep and a perfect introduction to Harry & Stu all in their unique style that’ll leave you laughing just as much as I did. I really hope you enjoy this new addition to the Podcast family. 

Cheers,

Mitch

The 2025 road racing season has kicked off down here in Adelaide at the Tour Down Under, and that can only mean one thing; it’s time for The Race Communiqué! It’s been a long off season, but Southam, Durbo, and I are back on the mics having a yarn about bike racing, and boy is it good to be back.

TDU is a special race. Not only is it my “home” race, but it’s also one of the only times of the year that EF Education Easypost DS Tom Southam, newly crowned Aussie natty champ Luke Durbridge, and I are all in the same place. So, for the first episode of 2025, we decided to kick the pod up a gear and record it LIVE! We’ve also recorded a video podcast which you can find over on Life In The Peloton’s Youtube channel - so make sure you go and give that a watch!

Durbo, still riding high from his epic victory in Perth a few weeks back, kicks off the pod by talking us through his incredible ride that secured him the green and gold bands. It was a show of amazing team tactics, a little bit of luck, and a hell of a lot of hard work from Turbo Durbo - and it’s awesome to get his insight on how the race played out.

Obviously with the launch of MAAPs awesome collaboration with Jayco Alula, we discuss the new team kits in the peloton in ‘Pelo Chat’. We talk about how the style of the peloton has changed over the years, and how a good team kit can totally redefine a team’s identity. 

Tom’s ‘Talking Tactics’ segment dives into the new UCI rules that have changed the way riders will feed in the bunch this season. Trust me, it’s way more interesting than it sounds, and will make a huge difference to team strategy this season. 

Of course, it wouldn’t be The Race Communiqué without the Communi-Quiz - a TDU special hosted by Southam. 

I’m also stoked to announce that for the 2025 season, The Race Communiqué will be presented by TrainingPeaks. TrainingPeaks is a great piece of software for coaches, professional athletes, and amateurs alike that Tom, Luke, and I have all used religiously throughout our respective careers. It’s great to have them on board helping bring The Race Communiqué to you guys this year. 

Sit down, grab yourself a brew, and give this a listen; it’s a great start to 2025. 

Cheers!

Mitch

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Introduction
• 00:09:49 - Part 1: Mitch's Race Recap
• 00:25:19 - Part 2: Luke's Pelo Chat
• 00:33:59 - Part 3: Tom's Talking Tactics
• 00:53:21 - Part 4: Communi-quiz

----more----

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

Watch Life in the Peloton's FIRST EVER video podcast here. Each episode of Race Communique this season will be coming to you in both audio and video. Stay tuned to our YouTube Channel for more episodes and clips throughout the season.

This episode is supported by our friends at Training Peaks.

For 2025, I’m bringing back a fan favourite. That’s right, Talking Luft is BACK! When the mood is right, I’ll be dropping a classic Talking Luft episode a few days after the main Life In The Peloton pod drops, just to give you guys an extra bite of the cherry. This is where we try to find a bit more out about special guests though some short rapid fire questions.

I’m kicking off with my first guest of the season; Lucy Bartholomew. We had a great day out going for a ride, a cheeky brew, and a bit of a run - just to really get to know more about her and what makes her tick. 

Obviously Lucy’s best known for her running exploits, so this Talking Luft is going to have a bit of a trail running twist, but the old classic Talking Luft questions are in there too. Talking Luft is always great fun to record, and this ep with Lucy is no different. She won’t mind me saying, I had to explain what Luft even is, so if you’re new around here this is a great place to start.

Have a listen to me and Lucy chatting all things Luft to kick off the 2025 season.

Cheers!

Mitch

Chapters

• 00:01:17 - Introduction
• 00:02:40 - What is a luft?
• 00:04:46 - Cafe and coffee stop preferences
• 00:06:08 - Bunch direction dialect
• 00:06:57 - Running fashion
• 00:11:39 - Favourite training loop
• 00:12:37 - Mitch’s running scenario
• 00:15:25 - War story
• 00:16:52 - Why do you do it?

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The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

Happy New Year! Life In The Peloton is back, and I’m really excited to kick off 2025 with one of the brightest stars in the Ultrarunning world; Lucy Bartholomew.

A Melbourne native, Lucy’s been competitively trail running since she was 16, when she lined up at a 100km race along the South Coast of Victoria with her old man. Since then, she’s gone on to win Ultra Trail Race Australia in 2022, set the FKT on the truly epic 231km Larapinta Trail up in Northern Territory, and competed over in Europe at Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. As if she wasn’t already hardcore enough, in 2024 just a few weeks after finishing UTMB, she jetted off to Nice to tackle IronMan World Champs…just for fun! 

Ultrarunners are known for their resilience and determination, and Lucy completely epitomises that. I loved chatting to her about how she trains for 100km+ races, what it takes to make it in the ultrarunning world, some of her wild experiences out on the trail, how her parents - her dad, Ash, in particular - have helped drive her ultrarunning journey, and how she finds the mental strength to push through the tough moments. It was a really inspiring conversation that I think you’re going to love.

I was super excited to record with Lucy in person back home around my old area. We actually kicked off the pod by heading for a bike ride up Kinglake, before ripping back down for a quick brew. Then, we laced up the runners and headed out for a little 10ker, and chatted along the way. Needless to say, I kept the questions short to save my breath for running next to one of the most experienced ultrarunners in the world.

I want to continue to explore even more new Pelotons in 2025, and the Trail Running space feels like the perfect place to start. It’s a sport that’s fascinated me for a while, having dabbled in a few ultra runs myself, so I wanted to bring you all inside a discipline that may not be so familiar to the cycling fans amongst you but shares a deep sense of challenge, performance, and adventure. I was fascinated to learn more about the psychology of ultrarunning and find out how similar it is to cycling. Lucy’s been at the top of her game in the running space for the best part of a decade now, and it’s so cool that she’s now crossing over into our world and giving cycling a go.

I hope you love listening to Lucy as much as I loved chatting with her. She’s an all round legend, and might just inspire you to give trail running, or even an ultrarun, a go if you haven’t before. We even recorded a cheeky ep of Talking Luft, so keep your ears peeled for that later this week!

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Introduction
• 00:08:08 - Part 1: Ride up Kinglake
• 00:34:15 - Part 2: Coffee shop chat
• 00:57:27 - Part 3: Running the trails
• 01:10:23 - Outro

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This episode is also supported by our friends at JOIN.

JOIN Cycling is the #1 cycling tool that sets you up with dynamic and flexible training plans based on your goal, availability and training history.

Head over to join.cc/litp to get your 30-day free trial now!

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

Well, this is it, guys. It's the end of the road season, and if you're a long-time listener, you'll know it's the end of the season for us here at Life on the Peloton.

For the pro peloton, it's time to take a break from cycling. Just thinking of it takes me back to my racing days, as the 'offy' was always a bit of a special time, especially when you first arrive back in Australia. You’ve got time to rest, have a bit of a party, and reconnect with home before it's time to get back into training for the new season.

Before we shut down for a little break, we've got a really special guest to close out not only our season but her career too. None other than the current Olympic and World T.T. Champion, Grace Brown!

I've been holding off on chatting with Grace online this year because I wanted to have this conversation in person. Little did I know Grace was going to have the epic season she's had, capping it all off with the ultimate mic drop: calling it a day on professional racing while winning at the highest level.

After all that amazing success through a season that saw her become Australia’s first female monument winner, I managed to catch up with her, still a little jet-lagged from the flight—or her career (we weren’t sure which was catching up with her!). Grace was kind enough to meet me for an afternoon coffee in her adopted hometown of Melbourne to have a good old-fashioned yarn for this pod.

We talked about her career, the Olympic Games, her experiences there, retirement, relationships, and of course, how to bow out in style.

For the final time this season, it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy.

Cheers!

Mitch

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The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

The Race Communique is exclusively brought to you by The Escape Collective. Check out the new and improved BikeGrid which now goes all the way back to riders from 2001! Go and check it out and let me know how you get on.

Hey everyone, just like that, the 2024 World Tour season has nearly wrapped up. Even though there's still racing happening in China, here at Life in the Peloton, we're calling it and diving straight into the final Race Communiqué of the season.

I'm joined by Luke and Tom, just days into their offseasons, to unpack what has been one of the best seasons of racing I’ve ever seen. Not every year you get to witness a Grand Slam or experience the kind of non-stop action and long-range attacks we had in 2024.

In this Race Communiqué, we’ve got much more than just a seasonal wrap-up. Tom jumps in early with his Talking Tactics segment, and then we settle into Luke's Pelo Chat, where he shares insights on the future of the U23 category and how the UCI might look to enhance youth racing moving forward.

We’ve also highlighted some of our favourite rides, riders, races, and memorable moments from the year. With our different opinions, you'll hear some fantastic stories that emerged during our conversation.

To top it all off, we have the end-of-season Communi-quiz, which is crucial for determining who will be shouting the beers during the offy!

I really enjoy putting these Communiqués together, and this one was a blast to make. It’s a shame we can’t do more for now, but for 2024, this is your final episode of The Communiqué.

We hope you've enjoyed listening along. We'll be back after a well-deserved break (with a few cold ones) for an even better 2025. So stay tuned, and for now, sit back, relax, and enjoy.

Cheers,

Mitch

With such an exciting event on the horizon, I thought, why not dedicate this entire podcast to the Dirty Docker? This event has been over a year in the making, and I can’t wait to share all the details with all of our listeners. Even if you can’t make it to Lancefield, whether you’re overseas or just tied up, I want you to feel like you’re part of the action.

We’ll be diving deep into what the Dirty Docker is all about. From cross-country running to cyclocross, and of course, our premier event—the Cobawsome Gravel Ride—there’s something for everyone.

But that’s not all. We’ll also be exploring each of these disciplines with the experts who helped bring them to life. You’ll get to understand the roots of cross-country running, the history of cyclocross, and the unique aspects of our Dirty Docker cyclocross course, including a nod to the iconic Cross Vegas course. Plus, my good mate and the voice of the Dirty Docker, Paul Van Der Ploeg, will join us for a deep dive into the gravel phenomenon—where it’s been, where it’s going, and what makes it so special.

So, whether you’re gearing up to join us this weekend or just tuning in from afar, this episode is packed with insights and excitement to get you pumped. I’m really excited for this one, guys. 

Give it a listen and get ready for an epic weekend!

Cheers, Mitch

I’m delighted to say that we’ve got a hot-off-the-press Communiqué pod for you. Joining me are Jayco Alula rider Luke Durbridge and EF Education EasyPost Sports Director Tom Southam. Together, we dissect the race faster than a group of Spanish commissaries heading to dinner…

We couldn’t wait to dive in and analyze the race, and what a race it was. As always, the Communiqué brings you our unique triple-pronged take on the event. I offer my armchair pundit’s view of the action, which this time came from the commentary box in Australia, giving me a great vantage point.

We’ve also got Durbo’s ‘Pelo Chat’ segment, where Luke explores interesting technical details and hot topics within the peloton, such as the impact of riders racing without radios and what that meant for the race.

And of course, there’s Tom’s ‘Talking Tactics,’ where we hear the DS perspective on the race’s tactical intricacies, especially given the complexity of the national team format and how the peloton dealt with one of the greatest of all time.

Just like a real communiqué wouldn’t be complete without a page of fines, our Life in the Peloton Communiqué wouldn’t be complete without a Communi-quiz. We have a special edition of that too.

Don’t wait for this one—grab your brew, sit back, and give it a listen.

Cheers!

Mitch

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This episode is supported by our friends at The Escape Collective.

Check out Escape Collective's Classifieds section of their website where thousands of used bikes, parts and accessories are being sold every day.

It's free for anyone to use, not just members.

The Dirty Docker is almost here! Dirty Docker is my multi-day event for all things cycling and running in the Macedon Ranges. For the last few weeks of winter, you can get an exclusive discount code by signing up to the Life in the Peloton Newsletter here.

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

This week on Life in the Peloton, we’ve got Lael Wilcox back on the pod. As many of you know, Lael has just become the Guinness World Record holder for cycling around the world. She rode an incredible 29,000 kilometers starting from Chicago, circumnavigating the globe in 108 days, 12 hours, and 12 minutes.

I was so excited to get Lael back on the pod this week. I loved following her journey around the world through her podcasts and videos. Lael is full of energy, and what really drew me into this adventure was how she managed to make something so difficult and challenging sound like so much fun to manage to involve so many people.

In our chat we spoke about what it was like to complete this adventure, to cross the globe, to ride in all these amazing places, and to do so with so many people joining in and following along.

Her record attempt was followed by thousands of people, many of whom took the time to join her on the ride, offering gifts, places to stay, and help along the way, as well as the occasional diversion to improve her route!

I was particularly keen to hear what it had been like riding across Australia, but I love to hear how people see my country and be able to see it through fresh perspectives. Lael actually reached out for a route, and I was really happy to be able to help out - at the last minute! And then to hear what this adventure had been like.  

Lael is so inspiring to talk to, her story and approach to riding her bike is fantastic, and we loved having her back on the pod.

Take a listen to this episode—it’s an amazing trip around the world, not to mention a new world record, and something that’s inspiring for so many cyclists.

Sit back, relax and enjoy.

Mitch

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Listen to my previous chat with Lael - Lael Wilcox - The best of the best in Ultra Endurance Cycling

This episode is also supported by our friends at Wahoo head over to wahoofitness.com to check out their awesome bike computers and trainers.

The Dirty Docker is almost here! Dirty Docker is my multi-day event for all things cycling and running in the Macedon Ranges. For the last few weeks of winter, you can get an exclusive discount code by signing up to the Life in the Peloton Newsletter here.

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

Regulars to the pod might be familiar with the story of Christian Meier the cyclist, the teammate, or the Girona resident and coffee shop owner. But, inspired by organising my first running event - the ‘Pub to Pub’ in Lancefield, this instalment Life in the Peloton is all aboutChristian Meier: the ultra-runner.

After retiring in 2016 and setting up his Girona coffee shops, Christian hasn’t sat still, and instead has found a new athletic passion that has led him to some quite incredible heights!

For most ex-pros finishing their career means they wind down and gradually do less sport (or none at all). Christian has broken that mould and found a new love for Ultra-running that in his mind eclipses even his feats as a professional cyclist riding the Tour de France, Giro of Vuelta.

I’ve been loving getting involved with running since I stopped racing, even starting up the Lanny Run Club here in Lancefield. Interestingly in the past few years, we’ve seen more and more professional cyclists turn to running as part of their training and fitness regimen, even during the race season, something that was unthinkable for a pro rider just a few years ago.

Christian was a fascinating guy to talk to on the subject (I ran out of time to get all the tips out of him that I wanted!) but I did get to ask him about what it was like making the transition, what he loves about ultra-running and the similarities and surprising differences between the two endurance sports.

We also went over his incredible win in the TDS, an ultra-running race of 145km that takes in over 9000m of climbing in the Alps. I’ll leave you guys to have a listen to hear what the man himself has to say about that!

Cheers!

Mitch

----more----

The Dirty Docker is almost here! Dirty Docker is my multi-day event for all things cycling and running in the Macedon Ranges. For the last few weeks of winter, you can get an exclusive discount code by signing up to the Life in the Peloton Newsletter here. 

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

Hey everyone, we’re back this week with another Talking Luft Top Six Most Influential! This week I’m joined by one of the most recognisable and talented cycling commentators, Rob Hatch to talk all about our most influential World Championships.

The World Road Race Championships is not only one of the most prestigious races of the year, but it’s also unique in pro racing being the only race of the year where professionals race for their national teams, for that coveted rainbow jersey! 

I was lucky enough to race a couple of worlds for Australia and I can tell you it is a pretty special experience to be able to represent your country in your sport. I loved racing for Australia and I pick out some of my experiences for this pod, including helping Micheal Matthews to the silver medal in 2015, and that rain in Yorkshire! 

My guest Rob Hatch has been covering pro racing for well over a decade and has been following cycling for even longer. His voice has accompanied some of the most epic racing moments in recent years - and many of those non-epic hours that fill our TV screens too! 

Rob has an incredible, and in-depth knowledge of cycling and he’s as passionate as any anyone I know on the subject. We talked about some fantastic Worlds from Chambery to Harrogate via Richmond. The Worlds really does cover so many different places and characters that it was always going to be hard work to get things down to just (over a) handful of editions! 

If, like myself and Rob, you can’t wait for the worlds to roll round (now that the Vuelta is old news!) then have a listen to this one, and get in the mood for the big WC. 

Cheers! 

Mitch

----more----

The Dirty Docker is almost here! Dirty Docker is my multi-day event for all things cycling and running in the Macedon Ranges. For the last few weeks of winter, you can get an exclusive discount code by signing up to the Life in the Peloton Newsletter here. 

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

Life in the Peloton has been cooking up something a bit different for you this week, I’ve thrown my press badge back on, and jumped in on the rest day press-conference action, to bring you the very first “Hot Off The Press”, Life in the Peloton’s Virtual Press Room from the Vuelta España. 

With so much action and suspense at the Spanish Grand Tour, which - I keep reminding everyone, was a favourite race of mine, I figured why not get on the phone, dial in to the pelo, and get the freshest possible take on what is going on. 

I was lucky enough to speak to some of the most important characters from this year’s race, including the current red jersey wearer, Ben O’Connor, stage winner Mike Woods, Richard Carapaz’s sports director at EF, Juanma Garate, as well as top domestiques Robert Gesink and Carlos Verona. 

Make no mistake this is a brutal edition of the Vuelta, and our guests fill us in on everything from what it takes to try and win at the race, to what it feels like to try to survive, and everything in between. 

This pod is a new one for us at Life in the Peloton and I’m delighted to be bringing you all these  hot-off-the-press takes as we head into the third week, where we can expect plenty of action from our guests and the rest of the Vuelta peloton. 

Sit back, relax and tune in before it cools off! 

Cheers! 

Mitch

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The Dirty Docker is almost here! Dirty Docker is my multi-day event for all things cycling and running in the Macedon Ranges. For the last few weeks of winter, you can get an exclusive discount code by signing up to the Life in the Peloton Newsletter here. 

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

It’s Race Communiqué time at Life in the Peloton, and this week Luke Durbridge, Tom Southam and I, are once again covering all of the latest action from inside and outside of the peloton as we move into the final big phase of racing for the year. 

First up, we dive into the latest news from the Vuelta a España. It’s been a thrilling race so far, and along with my take on all of the action from the commentary box, we also have some great behind-the-scenes info from Tom who has just come back from a stint at the race. From the breakaways to the brutal climbs, we break down all the key moments and what they mean for the GC contenders.

Next, we catch up with Luke Durbridge, who’s been on a rollercoaster ride to recovery. Luke opens up about his journey back from injury, the challenges he’s faced, and how he’s gearing up for the rest of the season. We also talk about how riders manage to return to racing and what it takes to come back from setbacks and injuries. 

Tom also takes us through the latest transfer news. The cycling world is buzzing with big moves and surprising switches, and we all share our opinions on who’s going where and what it means for the teams involved.

To top it all off, we’ve got a super special edition of the Communi-quiz - all about a rider who will close the curtain on his career very soon, the one and only Rigoberto Uran. 

So, grab your coffee, settle in, and join us for another epic episode of Life in the Peloton. 

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This episode is supported by our friends at The Escape Collective.

Check out Escape Collective's Classifieds section of their website where thousands of used bikes, parts and accessories are being sold every day.

It's free for anyone to use, not just members.

Life in the Peloton listeners get 2 months of free access to Escape Collective. Just head to http://escapecollective.com/LITP and claim your 2 months free to get a feel for what the community and content is all about.

This week’s episode of Life in the Peloton is a treat for all the tech fans out there as we’re talking to Josh Poertner. Currently, Josh is the owner of iconic cycling brand Silca, where he has been doing some really cool stuff in the past few years, but he’s also one of the minds behind some of the most interesting changes in tech in pro cycling in the last decade.

Coming from a motorsport background, Josh was introduced to cycling through at Zipp where (amongst other things) through his work with Fabian Cancellara at CSC, he changed the way that, my favourite race, Paris Roubaix is raced, showing the world that the cobbles could be conquered on carbon wheels.

These days it might not even sound that revolutionary to think about tackling a race like Roubaix on deep section carbon wheels, but as someone who raced it back in the late 00’s on 36 spoke box section rims this was a real revolution. Small changes like this make huge contributions to the speed of races and the way that the peloton moves these days.

To be honest the wheels at Roubaix, although a huge talking point for me obviously, are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Josh’s work in pro cycling. His is one of the minds that has led to the revolution in aerodynamics, lowering rolling resistance, ceramic bearingsand a host of other seemingly small but game changing ideas that has sped up the sport in the past decade.

I was pumped to sit down and talk with Josh about all of this, and of course recount the pretty funny tale of when we first met in 2019 and he had to go and pick up the race bike I’d left on a baggage carousel the day before Roubaix!  

Sit back and have a listen and get to know one of the people who has really changed the sport for the better!

Cheers!

Mitch

----more----

The Dirty Docker is almost here! Dirty Docker is my multi-day event for all things cycling and running in the Macedon Ranges. For the last few weeks of winter, you can get an exclusive discount code by signing up to the Life in the Peloton Newsletter here. 

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

This week Talking Luft’s Top Six Most Influential is from one of my personal favourite races with one of my best mates from the peloton: it’s the Vuelta España with Sam Bewley. 

Sam had a great career on the road, riding all three Grand Tours in his thirteen-year pro career and is now a successful DS at Israel Premier Tech. We were teammates at Green Edge and rode a couple of our Vuelta’s together back in the day, which made making this pod even better! 

Each Grand Tour has its own characteristics, and the Vuelta would have to be the wildest of the three. We both raced there in the 2010s when the race was settling into its current format with the super tough finishes and more open racing than we were used to at the time. 

As always, our selection of the most influential parts of the race includes some of the action from the stages, but also the stories, the climbs, crosswinds, routes, and riders that have made this race so special. There are even a few first-hand accounts of some of those key stages and some nice bits of detail that you would certainly never have seen on TV! 

I loved having Sam back on the pod and being able to chat about some of those stages and moments, as well as one superb post-race beer session (post our race - if not the race…) which I have to say is my absolute favourite moment from any of my Grand Tour experiences; a special memory and a great story to tell. 

This one is a blast, and on the eve of the race itself, I hope it leaves you thirsty for a bit more Vuelta action!

I have teamed up with Elderton Wines to bring you the Life in the Peloton x Elderton Shiraz! It's full-bodied, rich and classic and I can't wait for you to try it!

The Dirty Docker is almost here! Dirty Docker is my multi-day event for all things cycling and running in the Macedon Ranges. For the last few weeks of winter, you can get an exclusive discount code by signing up for the Life in the Peloton Newsletter here. 

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

This week on Life in the Peloton we get away from skinny tyres and dive back onto gravel with Haley Smith and Rosa Klöser, two stars of the privateer gravel scene

Many of you will have seen the epic finish at this year’s Unbound Gravel, which ended in a gripping nine-rider sprint in Emporia.

Both Haley - who is a former winner of the Lifetime GP overall, and Rosa - the eventual winner that day, were in that group fighting for the win in the most prestigious gravel event on the calendar.

While Haley made the switch to gravel racing after representing Canada in mountain biking at the 2021 Olympics, Rosa is relatively new to competitive cycling - having taken up racing just a couple of years ago.

We kicked off our chat going into some great detail about that final in Unbound, but I also wanted to understand the importance of the race as an event and what it means to win it. We also got to discuss how the women felt that the race had benefitted from differing start times for male and female athletes in 2024.

Like ourselves here at Life in the Peloton, both Haley and Rosa are supported by MAAP, and even though Haley and Rosa are rivals, I wanted to take this opportunity to have a chat about but how the world of privateering works for these athletes, and what being a privateer really means.

It felt like the hour flew by for me, I love learning more details about the world of gravel, the races and these athletes through different perspectives.

As ever - sit back, relax and enjoy.

Cheers,

Mitch

The Dirty Docker is almost here! Dirty Docker is my multi-day event for all things cycling and running in the Macedon Ranges. For the last few weeks of winter, you can get an exclusive discount code by signing up to the Life in the Peloton Newsletter here. 

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

This week on the pod I managed to catch up with one of the revelations of the season and one of the big players of last month’s racing at the Dauphiné and Tour de France, Matteo Jorgensen.

2024 has been a huge season for Matteo. After four years knocking at the door at Movistar, last winter he made the switch to Team Visma Lease-A-Bike and he hit the ground running winning both Paris-Nice and Dwars Door Vlaanderen back in March, before coming back into top form for the summer months. 

I first met Matteo back in 2020 when I was still racing and I was so happy to get this chance to get to chat with him at this stage of his career, because in many ways his development is the perfect example of how the sport has changed in a short time.  

It was fascinating for me to hear some of the inner workings of Visma Lease-A-Bike compared to a more traditional outfit like Movistar, and to learn how the riders and teams need to work in order to perform in 2024. The changes and improvements in diet, training and race preparation are really eye-opening and I loved hearing the detail of all of this. 

When I spoke to Matteo he was between the Tour and Olympic Games where is representing the USA. Not only was it pretty cool to manage to get some time between the two races, but it also gave us the chance to chat about how you go about balancing two huge goals like the Tour and the Olympics. 

We covered a lot of ground in our chat, Matteo is a really great and open guest who happens to be literally at the top of the game! 

There is so much here to unpack that I’ll leave you to sit back, relax and enjoy! 

Cheers!

Mitch

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The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

A little later than usual, but we are back this week with a hot-off-the-press Race Communiqué. 

The Tour de France is the only race on the calendar where, myself and my two regular podcast guests, Luke Durbridge and Tom Southam are all on the ground at the same time. 

After a month on the road doing our respective jobs at the race, we sat down and caught up on all of the action and shared our perspectives on the race. 

While I was hitting the road every day with the press and sometimes doubling up doing the odd bidon hand up, Luke was guiding his team sprinter Dylan Groenewegen to his 6th TDF stage win for Jayco Alula, and Tom was behind the wheel of the team car helping Richard Carapaz and EF Education Easypost light up the race in the mountains in the final week. 

It was an eventful race for all of us, and we wanted to catch up about the things that had stuck in our minds, from the great tactics, to the mood and the dynamics in the grupetto plus of course, plenty of insight on the things that you wouldn’t have seen on TV or read about in the press. 

This pod is always a fun one to make, but this one is packed with great stories, not to mention revealing our strategies for the Escape Collective Fantasy Tour, and of course, no Race Communiqué would be complete without a quiz. 

Time to grab a cold one, and finally relax after an action packed month. 

Cheers! 

Mitch

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This episode is brought to you by our friends at Zwift Ride. Throughout the Tour de France and beyond Zwift are running rides across Europe.

Sign up here to get your free ticket to one of the events listed below.

This episode is brought to you by MAAP, Australian cycling apparel that was born in Melbourne but made its mark the planet over. Kick-start your adventure at maap.cc.

This episode is supported by our friends at The Escape Collective.

Life in the Peloton listeners get 2 months of free access to Escape Collective. Just head to http://escapecollective.com/LITP and claim your 2 months free to get a feel for what the community and content is all about.

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

This year’s Tour de France will tell many great stories; Biniam Girmay becoming the first black African stage winner, Mark Cavendish’s 35th record breaking stage win, and it’s looking likely that Tadej Pogacar will complete an epic back to back Giro-Tour double. But, behind all those headlines is another milestone; it will be Simon Geschke’s last Tour de France as he decides to call time on his 16 year career.

Back in 2009 I arrived in a small town called Deurningen in Holland. I lived in a massive house organised by my first pro-team, Skil-Shimano and, from time to time, my new team mate Simon Geschke would stop in for a night or two on his way from his home in Berlin to races in Belgium.

We had some great memories living in that big team house together, but couldn’t help but feel like the team were keeping too close an eye on us and breathing down our necks. So, the following season, me and Simon moved in together into an apartment in Kelmis, Belgium.

Kelmis was a great base for me and Simon. We were close to most of the team’s races, had some great training roads right on the doorstep, and felt a lot more relaxed away from the watchful eye of our team managers. We were like two students living together at university as we started our journey as professional cyclists in that tiny apartment in the south of Belgium.

I left Skil Shimano in 2011, but Simon and I have remained great mates ever since. Those bonds you make earlier in your career really stick with you, and I always found time to chew Geshcke’s ear off when I found him in the bunch over the rest of my career. Simon’s always made time for me, and since retiring and giving this journo lark a go, he’s been really helpful giving me some great interviews here and there - so I was chuffed to catch up with him at the start of the year and share a cheeky beer in his hotel room at the Tour Down Under.

Simon’s career is reflective of the type of professional he is. He’s always been one of the hardest working guys in the pelo, and has ridden 19 Grand Tours - including 12 Tours de France! In 2015 he cemented his place in history by winning stage 17 of the Tour with an epic 50km solo ride on a mountainous stage to Pra-Loup, and in 2022 he was cruelly denied winning the polka dot KOM jersey on the final mountain stage by Jonas Vingegaard. What a legend.

His career started in 2009 with me at Skil Shimano and he rode for that team - as it changed to Argos Shimano, Giant Shimano, and eventually Sunweb - for 10 years! He moved over to CCC for 2 years before signing for Cofidis in 2021, and he’ll wrap up his career riding for the French squad at the end of the 2024 season.

I loved catching up with my old mate at the start of the year, and I’ve loved following him as he rides his final Tour de France this July. He’s known for his amazing work ethic, calm demeanour and, of course, that luscious beard. So give this pod a listen, guys, and find out more about one of the nicest guys in the bunch. Simon; congrats on a great career mate - I can’t wait to share a couple of cold ones with you on the other side of the barriers next season!

Cheers!

Mitch

This episode is brought to you by our friends at Zwift Ride. Throughout the Tour de France and beyond Zwift are running rides across Europe.

Sign up here  to get your free ticket to one of the events listed below.

Europe - Tour Fever Events

Nice - Saturday 20th, Sunday 21st July - BrewDog Nice

Rotterdam - Sunday 20th, Monday 12th, Tuesday 13th August - BrewDog Rotterdam (Witte de Withstraat)

This episode is also supported by our friends at Pillar Performance head over to pillarperformance.shop and use the code LITP for 15% off your first order. Or for USA listeners head over to thefeed.com/pillar.

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

It’s finally here! The Big Show! The Tour de France. The biggest bike race in the world is about to kick off, and to celebrate the spectacle Svein and I are talking all about Grand Tours on this week’s Chronicles. 

21 stages of racing over 3 weeks with millions of eyes watching; Grand Tours are the toughest races in cycling. Between myself and Svein, we’ve been on the start of 21 Grand Tours! Although I never made it to Le Tour, I did a handful of Vueltas and a couple of Giros, too - so I’ve got a pretty good idea of what it takes to suffer around a country for the best part of a month.

Sveino and I wanted to share our own experiences of racing Grand Tours throughout our own careers, but I also wanted to draw on some riders from earlier generations to see how much they’ve changed over the years. 

I wanted to speak to someone who has seen what it’s like at the front of a Grand Tour first hand, so first up I chatted to an Aussie legend; Phil Anderson. Phil turned pro in 1980 with team Peugeot and spent a day in the Yellow Jersey in his first Tour de France! The next year he finished 5th overall, bagged himself a stage win, spent 9 stages wearing the leader’s jersey, and went home with the White Jersey for the best young rider! He went on to finish in the top 10 for 5 years in a row, and completed 13 Tours de France over a 15 year career. 

It’s safe to say there aren’t many people out there with more experience than Phil. We chatted about racing Grand Tours in the 1980s and 90s, and I was surprised to hear how much more relaxed it was back then.

Next, I spoke to Stuart O’Grady. Stuey’s a rider I really look up to, and his career was just winding down as mine was kicking off. I was even lucky enough to call him a team mate for a year on Greenedge in 2013. O’Grady won 2 road stages of the Tour, and 2 more in the Team Time Trial but, as a Sprinter, he had to spend the rest of the time muscling over mountains to make time cut. 

Svein and I also chat about our own experiences. From the stress and excitement of our Grand Tour debuts, to the moment it all ‘clicked’ and we figured out how to get the most out of a ‘grandie’. The sanctuary of the team bus, the chaos of traveling around for a month as a small part of a big rolling circus, finding the best cannoli and parmesan in Italy or the best jamón in Spain, and heaps more. 

This ep is packed full of stories, and I loved reliving some great memories with my old mate. Get yourself in the mood for Le Tour and give this a listen! 

Cheers!

Mitch

It’s time for another Top Six! This week, I’m joined by my old mate - the creator of Greenedge’s infamous ‘Backstage Pass’ series - Dan Jones, and we’re talking about the biggest race of them all; the Tour de France. 

It doesn’t get bigger than the Tour. I’ve been watching it since the 1990s, but its history dates back to 1903! There are countless memorable moments from the race's history, and Dan and I do our best to whittle our favourites down to just six each. 

Our Top Sixes don’t need to be the most famous riders or most controversial stories, they just have to be moments of the Tour’s rich history that matter to us. It could be the first year we remember watching, a friend of ours from the pelo’ getting a result, or a small detail of a specific edition that makes the race stick in our memory. I bet everyone listening would have a different Top Six, and that’s part of what makes the Tour so amazing!

I never raced the Tour as a pro, but I’m out in France as we speak getting involved with the race from the other side of the barriers with the journos for the 3rd year in a row. Although he was never a rider, Jonesy made his debut at the race in 2005 and has covered 13 editions with Fox Sports, SBS, and Greenedge. We’re both massive bike racing fans as well so, between the two of us, we’ve got plenty of Tour de France memories to sift through as we each sum up our top six moments.

With Pogačar heading towards a historic Giro - Tour double, Vingegaard proving he’s recovered well from his crash in the Basque country, and young Remco Evenepoel making his Tour de France debut, it’s safe to say there’ll be plenty more memorable moments added to these lists over the next couple of weeks! 

If you’ve not heard one of these ‘Top 6’ episodes yet, I get together with an old mate from my time in the pro cycling circus and run through our top 6 editions of one of the biggest races on the calendar. Most influential editions, best riders, historic wins, we cover it all to give you a personal insight into our most memorable editions of the races we all love. 

I’ve covered the top 6 editions of Paris-Roubaix with Matt ‘Gossy’ Goss, Milan-San Remo with Dave ‘Macca’ McKenzie, and the Giro d’Italia with director and creator of EF’s original Rapha ‘Gone Racing’ series, Harry Dowdney. If you’re new to the ‘Top 6’ episodes, go back and give those a listen - I’m sure you’re gonna love them!

Get your ears around this one, guys. It doesn’t get bigger than the Tour and there are some amazing moments that Dan and I dive into.

Cheers!

Mitch

This episode is brought to you by our friends at Zwift Ride. Throughout the Tour de France and beyond Zwift are running rides across Australia and Europe.

Sign up here  to get your free ticket to one of the events listed below.

Australia Zwift Ride Events:

Thursday 11 July - Melbourne

Europe - Tour Fever Events

Nice - Saturday 20th, Sunday 21st July - BrewDog Nice

Rotterdam - Sunday 20th, Monday 12th, Tuesday 13th August - BrewDog Rotterdam (Witte de Withstraat)

This episode is also supported by our friends at Pillar Performance head over to pillarperformance.shop and use the code LITP for 15% off your first order. Or for USA listeners head over to thefeed.com/pillar.

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

In this week’s episode of Life in the Peloton, I’m learning more about one of the most important parts of life; sleep.

When I retired from the professional peloton a few years ago, we were already wearing sleep tracking devices and starting to tap into how we can improve our sleep and, therefore, our performance. Since then, professional cyclists have stepped it up another notch and are hunting out those 1% gains to help improve the quality & quantity of their sleep.

I spoke to Dr. Ian Dunican - an expert on the topic - to find out more about how important sleep is, what we can do to get better quality sleep, and what happens to us if we neglect it.

Dr Ian’s a keen ultra distance swimmer and practices jiu jitsu, so he understands the importance of recovery and sleep better than most. We spoke about the increased societal awareness of sleep, and how humans today are so much busier than they were a few decades ago - stretching themselves even more thinly and putting even more onus on getting good quality shut eye to keep ourselves healthy.

Sleep science is a relatively new discipline, and Dr Ian talked to me about the different phases and cycles of sleep, various sleep disorders that a huge percentage of the population struggle with, and seemingly minor environmental factors that can have a massive bearing on how well we’re sleeping.

I also wanted to know about sleep and pro cycling. Sometimes you’re so tired from a stage race that no matter how long you sleep for you never feel truly wide awake. Dr Ian gave me some great tips about optimizing sleep around competition, and debunked a lot of popular myths around wearable devices and biohacking - which I found super eye opening.

Next, I spoke to my old team mate; Lawson Craddock. Lawdog currently rides for Jayco AlUla and is one of the first riders I remember seeing pick up a wearable sleep tracking device and look more closely at his own sleep and what changes he could make to improve it. We spoke about how much things have changed in the pelo’ in just a few years, and how things Lawson was doing earlier in his career have become the new normal amongst other pro riders.

I was blown away by how much there is to learn about sleep, and what a massive difference it can make. I’ve always been someone who thinks they can get away with 5-6 hours sleep a night and still function pretty well throughout the day, but, after chatting to Dr Ian and Lawdog, I need to rethink my sleep schedule.

Cheers!

Mitch

This episode is supported by our friends at Pillar Performance.

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

This episode is supported by our friends at The Escape Collective.

The Tour de France is here, and this week’s Race Communique podcast is our Tour preview with a difference!

I’m joined, as always, by Luke Durbridge and Tom Southam, who’d literally just got their fresh TDF haircuts, to discuss our takes on the race. 

Luke will be on the start grid of his 10th Tour in a row, and Tom will be hopping into his air-conditioned team car and directing what will be his 8th. 

The two of them have a huge amount of experience in and around the race, and we get right in behind the scenes as a rider and a DS at the big show! 

Before we got into the details of the Tour, there was plenty of action to catch up on in recent races, and I asked what their take was on the performances they had seen at the warm up events in France, Switzerland and Slovenia. 

Luke also took us through what it takes to get ready for the race and how it feels to make selection for the Tour, which is something every rider wants but not everyone gets to do. 

Meanwhile, Tom explains how this process works from the other side of the fence, what influences decisions and how it is to make the calls on who is at the Grand Depart and who isn’t. 

As well as our Tour tips and a hint of our tactics for the Escape Collectives Fantasy Competition (which we will be hoping to smash the armchair pundits in!), we also bring you the Communi-quiz, where Tom managed to find a board game to help him out as quiz master. 

We recorded right before we all hopped on flights to the Tour, so it’s as fresh as the boys Tour haircuts! 

Have a bit of fun with this one, and get involved in the Escape Collective Fantasy league here.

Cheers!

Mitch

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

This week on Life in the Peloton we have a dead set legend of a guest, Geraint Thomas might be a Tour de France winner, but the Welshman is also, so, so much more. These days you could think of him as a Grand Tour guy, but ‘G’ has not only had an incredible career, but an amazingly varied one.

He went from being a young Olympic trackie, to a (very good) Classics rider by the time he was in his mid-twenties, finishing in the top ten at Flanders in his second attempt at the race. But while, like me, he is a passionate classics man, unlike me, he has also had the energy and skills to win almost every major stage race going, including of course the Tour de France!

We’ve seen him do some amazing things on the bike, not just winning for himself on all sorts of terrain - he’s won at E3 and on Alp d’Huez… but also pulling some truly exceptional leadouts for others, doing things in the bunch the rest of us could only dream of. Most recently, we’ve seen those measured efforts that keep him right at the pointy end of racing in the world of modern cycling, scoring two Giro podiums in the last couple of seasons.

I loved the chance to speak to someone who has had such an incredible career, and has adapted to the changes in the sport over such a length of time. His story is exceptional for his longevity and also his ability to adapt and just get on with things in his own - pretty cool, style.

To top things off G also has his own Watts Occurring podcast with Luke Rowe, and he’s handy at that too, which meant he was a great guest. This really is a bumper pod, and I am stoked to bring it out for you all this week.

Cheers!

Mitch

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

I’ve been loving doing the Top Sixes on this show lately, but this week I thought it would be fun to go back to the old-school style of Talking Luft! So this week it’s back to the rapid-fire questions, having some fun and putting our guest under a bit of pressure while we work out what their cycling style is all about.

We were lucky again to have grabbed Aussie star Jack Haig for this one. You will know by now that he loves a top ten in a ridiculously hard stage race, but at Talking Luft we wanted to get the really important stuff out of him: how does he wear his cassette? What is his all-time favourite kit? Who does he think is the most stylish rider? (Of course, he just went for a tall redhead!)

Talking Luft is always great fun to record and listening to this reminds me why I love making these episodes so much. Aside from the important questions on style, I also got to hit him up about some of the things that he loves and hates in the races; turns out he’s not a fan of echelons in the neutral… And we also got to share a great war story of his hardest day on the bike - which incidentally I shared with him in a grupetto in Poland (what feels like) a long time ago!

Anyway, I’ll let you have a listen. It’s a really fun little blast through a few of the things that I love about the sport with a great guest!

The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

Cheers,

Mitch

Jack Haig is one of only a handful of Australian riders to have stood on a Grand Tour podium. An almost accidental pro who fell into a career on the road whilst surfing and mountain biking back in his home in Australia as a teenager, he has been a constant presence in the biggest stage races in the world since his breakthrough ride, winning the Queen stage of the 2017 Tour of Poland as a second-year pro.

While his consistency as a stage racer is pretty standout (he’s been fifth at the Dauphiné three times, which is eye-opening when you know how bloody hard that thing is!) his story off the bike is just as - if not more, fascinating.

There can be a lot of pressure to conform in professional road cycling but there is something a little bit unique in a lot of pros, and the best ones are the ones who accept that part of their character and embrace it to be a better rider.  With Jack, it’s been clear since the very early days (when we were teammates at Orica) that he was a rider who did things his own way and didn’t feel the need to fit into what was expected.

I love getting behind the scenes with characters like Haigy here on the pod. These are the guys, the opinions, and the stories that make the peloton such a fascinating place, and prove that you can do things your own way off the bike whilst being hugely successful on it. 

As well as the big results, Jack has dealt with some pretty serious setbacks too, crashing out of the Tour in 2021 when in the best form of his life. We talk about how he dealt with this and other setbacks, as well as what keeps him coming back to be in the mix in those super hard week-long stage races that he loves (watch out Dauphiné - he’s currently lurking just outside the top ten of this years edition…)

It’ll hopefully be a big European summer for Jack so chuck the pod on and get to know one of the peloton’s true characters!

This episode is supported by our friends at HVNM.

The team at HVMN have an offer for all Life in the Peloton listeners with a whopping 30% offer for orders when you visit hvmn.com/lifeinthepeloton.

Head across to RESTRAP.com to check out all their amazing products, and use the code Pelo10 for a cheeky discount.

RESTRAP have now opened an Australian-specific store! For Aussie listeners AU.RESTRAP.COM.

Cheers,

Mitch

After a short pause, this week we’re back with another episode of The Race Communiqué!

We’ve had an absolutely bumper month of racing with the first Grand Tour of the year, the Giro d’Italia, wrapping up in Rome just a few days ago.

Racing is what this pod is all about and we are going to be driving right into the heart of all the recent action with current pro Luke Durbridge and sports director Tom Southam helping me pick apart a brilliant few weeks of cycling.

Before we get into the action on the road though, the big news is the results of our first attempts at our sponsor - The Escape Collective’s, brilliant fantasy league game are in! We all had a bit of fun with this one here at the pod, and I’ll let you have a listen to see how we went. I would say though, that given the experience and knowledge on this podcast panel, you may be surprised by some of the performances in the league!

As well as covering the big stories at the Giro we each nominate our revelations of the race. As ever, a lot of the best bits of the race were the stories behind the headlines, and there were some cracking sub-plots going on with revelations like Georg Steinhauser and Guilio Pellizzari turning a few heads.

There has been plenty going on in the peloton outside the Giro as well. Luke gives us some insight into how the UCI points ranking is already a huge topic for riders and teams at the mid-point of the three-year cycle. Tom looks at the complications of even just getting into the breakaway these days before the super teams hoover up all the wins on the road, and why that will be a big influence on the way the racing goes in the rest of the season.

It’s great to get back to chatting about what is happening in the pro peloton and really get behind the scenes with a lot of the stuff that is new to me these days. I hope you guys enjoy this one.

Cheers,

Mitch

In this month’s Chronicles Sveino and I have gone for probably our deepest dive yet - back to where we first got to know each other, taking a look at the formation of Australia’s first ever World Tour cycling team, GreenEDGE. 

Most of you will know the team - which is now known as Jayco Alula, already, and many of you may remember those first few years and big wins. These days it’s easy to take it for granted but when this team arrived in Europe it was fresh and very new, and it delivered right from the start - taking out thirty races, including Milan San Remo with Simon Gerrans in its first year of existence! 

As well as performing on the road the team had an amazing presence with guys like Dan Jones working to create the image of a real Australian team, and having a lot of fun along the way with a few unconventional ideas - like that infamous ‘Call Me Maybe’ video from 2012. 

For myself as an Australian being part of a team like GreenEdge was huge. It was as close as you could come outside of the World Championships to racing for Australia. The team represented a country and a culture, and for the international riders on the team like Sveino it was a chance to be brought in to the Aussie way and to be a part of a really special team. 

As riders we had both experienced the team from the inside, and it played a huge role in our careers, so for this episode we wanted to really get behind the scenes and understand how the team was built, what was the idea behind it, and how and why it worked the way it did. We wanted to cover all angles and hear about the parts that even we didn’t see or understand at the time. 

We were lucky to get hold of the son of the founder and the man who helped make it all work, Andrew Ryan, as well as head DS Matt White, star riders Simon Gerrans and Daryl Impey and our good mate Luke Durbridge who is now in his thirteenth pro season with the team. On top of all of that we spoke to the man behind bringing a lot of that fun hardworking (occasionally pie-eating) Australian culture videographer Dan Jones. 

Of course, Sveino and I also chip in with our own stories and experiences riding for and being a part of the team. 

This is a really special episode for myself and for Sveino. GreenEDGE formed a huge part of our racing career and there are so many memories there that this was a real gift to be able to record. We both really hope that it comes through to you guys and you take the time to give it a listen, it’s a big one but it’s a good one! 

Cheers!

Mitch 

This episode is supported by our friends at HVNM.

The team at HVMN have an offer for all Life in the Peloton listeners with a whopping 30% offer for orders when you visit hvmn.com/lifeinthepeloton.

This episode is also supported by our friends at Pillar Performance.

Head to pillarperformance.shop and use the code LITP for 15% off your first order. Or our USA listeners, head to TheFeed.com/pillar.

Head across to RESTRAP.com to check out all their amazing products, and use the code Pelo10 for cheeky discount

RESTRAP have now opened an Australian-specific store! For Aussie listeners AU.RESTRAP.COM.

This week on Life in the Peloton we have a rider who really is one of a kind - possibly the first person to combine Enduro MTB racing and bike packing; Matthew Fairbrother.

For those of you that don’t know, as an 18 year-old Matt headed over to Europe to race in the Enduro World Series (now EDR), and ended up on an unplanned bike-packing adventure, riding between rounds as far apart as Scotland and Slovenia. 

Like a lot of people, I can remember hearing about Matt at the time - this crazy kid who was riding a massive Enduro MTB between races - and then still competing for results in a competition as difficult as Enduro, which (as I’ve learned) requires some amazing technical skills on the MTB. His adventures really caught on, and since then he has managed to travel the world with the support of the MTB community, making his a really incredible and unique journey with the bike. 

As I’ve gotten to know Matt, I thought it was the perfect time to dive in to his story and to understand how this concept of mixing bike-packing and Enduro MTB came to be, and, interestingly for me, what it was like to be totally alone with just a bike and a few dollars in Europe. For many of us roadies who think that travelling to Europe to race for a team is a lonely experience - you really have to check this pod out and hear how tough things can really be! 

Above all else Matt has a really cool outlook on life, and I’ve had such a great time learning from him, and of course having the chance to make this pod!

Cheers!

Mitch

What else could we be talking about on Talking Luft Top 6 this week other than the Giro d’Italia!

My guest on this episode of the pod is one of the many people who keep the sport looking and sounding so cool from the other side of the lens, film producer and director, Harry Dowdney.

Harry has been behind the camera in some of the most memorable cycling films of the past few years - on more than one occasion he had me dressed in retro gear retracing the steps of riders from some insane ride from another era.

More than that though, Harry is an expert cycling fan who loves the Giro – if you ever needed any proof of that go and check out who is currently leading the Escape Collective Fantasy Giro competition!

The Giro is a race that people love, it sums up the feel of racing in Italy; the style, the passion, the food, the mountains, and the people – it all adds up to being a special race and it made choosing our own personal top 6 most influential things a lot of fun.

This week we had some great picks, we go through some classic editions of the race and get to discuss some of those iconic Italian mountains that we love (or hate - depending on if you’re riding). Of course, any Giro chat wouldn’t be complete without throwing in some of those larger-than-life icons of Italian cycling too. We had so much to work with – I could have done a whole pod just on our favourite Cipollini looks to be honest!

I was so happy to have Harry on for this pod – he clearly loves the race and his knowledge of the details of so many Giri is incredible. I was buzzing after making this one, so chuck it on when you settle down for one of those sprint stages and enjoy!

Cheers!

Mitch

This episode is supported by our friends at HVNM. Visit hvmn.com/LIFEINTHEPELOTON for 30% off your first subscription order (discount automatically applied at checkout).

This episode is supported by our friends at Pillar Performance.

After dipping my toes into MTB Enduro on the pod a few weeks back, in this episode of Life in the Peloton I dive right in, at one of the best Enduro events in the world, the NZ MTB Rally.

The NZ MTB Rally is a six-day Enduro event that takes place around Nelson on the South Island of New Zealand. Nelson is the place to head to for a lot of the Kiwi Enduro riders, and each day promised some absolutely incredible trails, as well as amazing scenery (even if I didn’t have much time for that). 

As much as the NZ MTB Rally is a race - the overall feel was that the organisers had gone out of their way to fit as much of the best stuff they could into every day, so every competitor would get the most out of their experience.  

As is the format of Enduro racing each day was broken down into four to seven timed downhill stages, and the nights were a chance to kick back and catch up with everyone over a few beers.

For someone who was very new to the sport it really was a challenge to take part in an event like this. There is nothing quite like waking up and seeing you’ve yet another double black ++ trail ahead of you… but I really wanted to discover what it was about this intimidating area of the sport that makes it so addictive to the people who take part in it. 

While I was there, I spoke to a huge cast of riders and racers from all over the world, as well as many of the locals who know and love these trails, in order to get the best possible idea of what it was all about. 

After my lessons from Paul Van Der Ploeg back in Australia, and thanks again to some help on the road from Matt Fairbrother, I was able to not only enjoy the riding but also to become part of the community that makes the sport what it is. 

It is one thing to learn to ride some DH but to actually be a part of the event, taking the helicopter rides up the mountain, committing to dropping in (and trying to work out why downhill mountain bikers wear their helmets at dinner) was really a fantastic experience. 

If you’re curious about what these events are all about, or even if you just fancy following along on my journey way out of my element, then give this a listen. It opened my eyes and I hope that it’ll do the same for you - and maybe make sliding off the side of a mountain something you give a go for yourself! 

Cheers!

Mitch

This episode is supported by our friends at HVNM. Visit hvmn.com/LIFEINTHEPELOTON for 30% off your first subscription order (discount automatically applied at checkout).

Where do you sit in the PELO? Come and join the life in the peloton membership in Echelon or back in Doom line.

As you all know by now, this is my chance to dive back into the pro peloton with current Jayco-Alula rider, and former teammate, Luke Durbridge and my former DS (and even teammate - way, way back in the day!) EF Education - Easypost D.S. Tom Southam. 

Both Tom and Luke have just arrived back from the Ardennes where they each had their own take to share about their experiences there. Luke can tell us what is like to race one of the most epic Flèche Walloons in recent history in freezing snow and ice, and Tom can tell us all about his struggles to get the heating just right while he was sat back in the comfort of the team car! In all seriousness, it was a crazy week of racing to wrap up the Classics and we had a great chat about the experiences at the Ardennes whilst wrapping up what we saw earlier in the month at the Cobbled Classics. 

As well as the racing chat we have our usual segments, with Luke putting his theory on the table that the days of the old-school feed zones are over for good, and Tom gives us a rare glimpse at one of the most important parts of some real race communiques: UCI fines, who is getting what and why - you may be surprised to hear what goes on back there! 

With the Giro only a few weeks away we also took some time to preview the upcoming action in Italy, as well as start to get ourselves ready for the Escape Collective's Fantasy Competition, which we will all be taking part in next month in the special Life in the Peloton league which you can of course join and take all three of us on whilst the race is going. 

Catching up with these guys is always so much fun, and even though I don’t miss the stress of getting rain jackets or feedbags in the races, I do I love hearing the insight as to how the peloton keeps evolving. 

Sit back, relax and enjoy. 

Cheers, 

Mitch

Since retiring from the pro pelo, I’ve been itching to dip my toes into as many different cycling disciplines as possible. I raced on drop handlebars and skinny tyres for over a decade, now I want a heap of new challenges to tackle on the bike. 

I love getting out and exploring on my gravel bike, and I’ve tried my hand at some gravel races; but the bikes and bunch dynamics feel a little too similar to road racing sometimes. I want to get out of my comfort zone! 

Cross-country mountain biking was the natural next step. I started out by exploring my own backyard on the rowdy moto tracks in the Cobaws, then some races in Aussie events like Otway Odyssey, Reef to Reef, and Cape to Cape. Every time I got on the XC bike I felt like my skills were improving and I was growing more and more confident - the same feeling I had all those years ago when I first got into road cycling as a youngster. It was new, challenging, and I could feel the progression with every ride. My cross-country journey hit new heights at the end of last year as I took on the creme de la creme of XC MTB; the Cape Epic, alongside my good mate and fellow retired road racer, Ian Boswell. 

Despite completing one of the biggest mountain bike races on the planet, I still feel like there’s more to explore in the world of flat handlebars, chunky tyres, and suspension. I want to keep working on my skills and pushing myself in areas other than pure fitness. That’s why I’m diving headfirst into the world of Enduro.

Enduro is the perfect next step on my mountain biking journey; there’s some pedalling, sure, but it’s more about technique, skill, and balls! In Enduro racing it’s all about the downhill - only the descents are timed. Nobody gives a fuck how fast you can climb, you just need to get to the top so you can send the next trail. Riders race multiple stages throughout an event, and at the end the lowest cumulative time wins.

I started by chatting to Paul Van Der Ploeg. A great bloke, and a fantastic mentor to show me the ropes and teach me the basics, Paul and I headed out to Mount Macedon so he could critique my technique and give me some pointers. Paul has raced all sorts of bikes over the years, and even became a world champion himself in the Cross Country Eliminator in 2013, but was humble enough to strip it all back and teach this newbie some basics.

Next, I spoke to Matt Fairbrother. Only 20 years old and hailing from Christchurch in New Zealand, Matt is a ripping Enduro racer who made a name for himself by bikepacking his way between the races at the Enduro World Series - sometimes thousands of kilometres at a time! Matt and I had a chat on the road to the New Zealand MTB Rally; a brand new event that I’ll be taking on to help me better understand the world of enduro. Despite being almost half my age, Matt’s one of the most experienced riders out there and shared a lot of his wisdom with me on a road trip down the coast of the South Island from Christchurch to Nelson. When we arrived we had a couple of days to spare before the racing started, so Matt took me out to some of his favourite trails in Nelson City and Cable Bay to show me the race course so we could pre-ride, re-ride, and then free ride!

We also spoke about the tech side of enduro. I’ve not got much clue when it comes to tyre selection or suspension settings - so I spoke to Paul and Matt about the bikes to get some pointers. I even learnt that my bike’s got a mullet just like me! 

There’s so much for me to learn about all things mountain biking, but I’m loving being a beginner again and soaking it all in! Have a listen to me talking to some real experts as I send it into the world of enduro.

Cheers!

Mitch

We’re back this week with another Talking Luft Top Six. This week it’s the turn of special guest - and Monument winner, Matt Goss, who shares his Top Six Most Influential from Paris Roubaix! 

As those of you who caught the last edition will know, we’ve mixed things up with Talking Luft this year,  focusing on a single event each month, talking through the most influential, editions, teams, riders styles and stories from that race. 

It’s a lot of fun, and this week is a bit of a special edition for me. I get to discuss my most influential moments from my favourite race of all, Paris - Roubaix. Not only that, I get to do so with Gossy, a former teammate of mine - but perhaps more importantly, a former teammate of Roubaix greats like Fabian Cancellara and Stuart O’Grady at the mighty CSC team. 

Of course the dust is still settling on this year’s edition of Roubaix. Gossy and I couldn’t avoid spending a bit of time dissecting the race, and chatting about the changes that have happened even in the few years since we both left the peloton. 

There are so many influential moments at each Roubaix and it is itself such an influential race that one of the hardest parts of this show was actually narrowing things down to just six (…to be honest we did end up making it more of a top seven!), but being a couple of Aussies from the same generation there are some moments at Roubaix that neither of us could leave out. I’ll leave you to have a listen to what those moments were and why they were so influential to us. 

As always everyone should have a different top six - so let me know what you guys are thinking: does anyone else love Tafi throwing his cut off cap away? Which is your best Boonen moment? Is now a better Roubaix era than the 90’s!? 

Give it a listen, and enjoy! 

Mitch

In this week’s Life in the Peloton pod, I’m taking a dive into the topic of ketones.

Ketones arrived in the peloton just a few years ago, and to many people they are seen as a sort of wonder fuel, but to others they are still a grey area supplement.

To get stuck into the subject I was lucky enough to chat to Michael Brandt, the co-founder and CEO of H.V.M.N, the ketone partner for team Visma Lease A Bike.

Michael is a pretty handy athlete himself (with a 2:40 marathon time!), an all-round endurance sports nut and is one of the leading voices on the subject.

In a similar way to when electrolytes first became commonly used in sports drinks just a few decades ago, Michael believes that it is only a matter of time before ketones are seen and used in the same light.

As a pro rider I had previous experience using ketones at races and talking to Michael allowed me to finally be able to break down what the product really does and the science behind how and why they work.

Michael also helps tackle the questions around the perceived taboo around ketones and gives some interesting insight as to why he thinks this came about in the first place.

I also caught up with a good mate of mine George Bennett, who was fresh off the back of a very hard Volta Catalunya and was happy to chat about what ketone use is like for the guys inside the peloton.

Having been a professional for over a decade in some of the world’s biggest and best teams, George is perfectly placed to explain the way that the trends have changed in the bunch with ketone use in the past few years, and to recount his own experiences using the supplement.

It is an interesting subject, that needs more attention as we seek to understand what keeps the peloton improving and pushing the limits of performance.

Whether you know a little or a lot about ketones, it is definitely worth giving the pod a listen to see how they are being received and used in today’s professional peloton.

And if that is not enough, then as an added bonus, the team at HVMN have an offer for all Life in the Peloton listeners with a whopping 30% offer for orders when you use the code LIFEINTHEPELOTON with your order!

Cheers!

Mitch

The boys have been on very different schedules; Luke has been with Jayco-Alula at Paris-Nice and then on to the cobbled classics, which he dialled in from this week. Meanwhile, Tom is on the Ardennes program with EF Education - Easypost (obviously avoiding having to drive his car over cobbles) in stage races in Spain and Italy.   

For my part, I’ve been loving spectating and seeing the races that used to make up such a big part of my season from the comfort of my armchair at home. It’s a different view from the outside, so it was great to catch up with these two and get the inside line on what is happening in the pelo at the moment.

As usual, I take us through the races from the past month and get some insight on how things went down on the road, and what we all think that means for the big races that are coming up.

Luke has some fascinating insight into race nutrition plans, and how riders are currently working to fuel in races whilst also keeping track of their race weight. I found this section fascinating, as it is eye-opening how much the sport has moved on in the short space of time since I retired.

In Tom’s segment, we go behind some of the more impressive tactical moves that he’s noted down this spring, and there is even time for a gripe about UCI fines!

It wouldn’t be the Race Communiqué without our famous quiz and this month it was Tom’s turn to be quiz master, pitting Luke and I against each other in a Classics death match quiz – with a cricketing twist!

This was a real blast to make and I’m sure you guys are gonna enjoy it too!

Cheers,

Mitch

It’s Classics season! It’s my favourite time of the cycling year and I am so stoked to be able to bring you an absolute legend of the Classics, a Flandrien legend, and a true king of the cobbles, Tom Boonen. 

When it comes to the Cobbled Classics, Tom’s palmarès are mind blowing: he is the joint record holder for wins at both Flanders (3) and Roubaix (4) as well as being the out and out record holder for the most wins in E3 (5). Just one of those wins would be enough for most riders, but he can also count three Ghent Wevelgem’s, a couple of Schelderprijs… and we may as well mention his world championship for good measure. 

This is an extra special pod for my personally, as Tom’s career wound up in 2017, meaning that I spent a good portion of my racing career at the classics getting my legs blown off by his attacks, and knowing that his was the wheel that everyone wanted to be on when the races got serious (I managed it once - have a listen to see how that went…).

I was lucky enough to sit down with Tom at his home in Mol and really get in to chatting about the races that we both love so much. Tom is a fantastic interviewee, and I got a real buzz from the excitement that he obviously felt recalling the ups and downs of his career and the details of some of his most incredible wins and defeats. 

As well as getting some great takes on the races that have become legendary in the last decade, I got to ask some of the other questions that I’d always wanted to know about; what was it really like being a superstar in such a cycling mad country? How did he handle the pressure of being a 24 year old world champion? I also got to ask about a comeback story that is remarkable in that it has always been overshadowed by Matt Hayman’s own incredible tale around the 2016 Paris Roubaix. 

Amazingly after such a successful career, Tom hasn’t sat back and just smoked cigars since 2017. He’s now a racing car driver and he talks as passionately about his new career as he does his old one.

Honestly, I would have stayed chatting about the microscopic details of the Arenberg forest sector  of Roubaix for hours if I could. There is so much in this pod, I really hope you guys enjoy listening to this as much as I did making it. 

Cheers!

Mitch

Ok guys, here we go, Classic season is almost here and to get things going we’ve torn up the old Talking Luft script, and come up with something new! 

So then, let me introduce Talking Luft’s Top Six… 

In this new format, we are going to focus on a single race with our guests and discuss the six most influential rides or editions that each of us can remember from that particular race. 

It doesn’t need to be the most famous or prestigious win that makes it, but instead some of those rides that made that race (or winner) stand out - either to the world or even just to our guest. 

I bet almost everyone has a different top six for every race out there. It could be the first edition that someone remembers, a year where a rider won against the odds or with real style, it could be a win that launched a rider’s career or changed the way race is raced. 

With the first Monument of the season just around the corner, I thought what better way to kick things off than to start with our Top Six Most Influential at Milan-San Remo. For this first edition, I was lucky enough to be joined by a very familiar voice for our Australian listeners, Dave McKenzie. 

Macca as we all know him, was a pro for nearly a decade in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s - and he knows a thing or two about racing in Italy, as he has a Giro stage win on the palmarés! These days he is best known as one of the most highly regarded cycling commentators in Australia. 

Macca was a great guest for this first-ever edition of the top six, he’s just that bit older than me so we cover a couple of generations and - like me, he also loved the challenge of nerding out on such a cool race. 

Even though I raced San Remo a couple of times myself, there was still a heap that I learned from hearing someone else view on which riders and how they had shaped a different person’s opinion of such an amazing race.

So if you want to find out what we started with, which editions and riders we agreed and disagreed on (and why it is a top six and not a top five) then give it a listen.

Cheers!

Mitch

For our second subscriber special, in this episode of Life in the Peloton’s Chronicles, Sveino and I take a deep dive into the hot topic of sauna life. 

Saunas were something that both of us got into at a young age and also found ourselves getting into during our racing careers, and since then (but not because of us!) more and more people are being drawn to the many benefits of a good sweat followed by a duck into some freezing water. 

Even though we both knew that saunas were ‘good’, we weren’t ever really aware of why or how. This episode of Chronicles allows us to get stuck in to a really interesting topic that could have a benefit for every single cyclist out there. 

To kick things off, Sveino has gone native and talks to his good friend, and former racing buddy, Marsh Cooper about the culture of the sauna. Marsh is Canadian by birth but now lives in Finland where the sauna is as much a part of life as the pub is in Australia! He explains the many social functions of the sauna and how its use as part of daily life benefits millions of Finns every year. 

Going deeper into the potential benefits for athletes, I then spoke to EF Easypost’s Director of Sports Science Dr Kevin Sprouse. I asked him exactly what is happening in the body when you take a sauna and how this can help an athlete. I found this whole conversation fascinating. We discussed the how’s and why’s as well as the best way to implement using a sauna to benefit your own performance. 

Finally, staying local, I spoke to a neighbour of mine here in Lancefield, John Simpson the owner of Hello Sauna who actually builds saunas! I got to sit down (and have a sweat) while we talked about how they are constructed, the best wood to use to build them, and the actual process of making a sauna. 

‘Sauna life’ as Sveino and I have often called it, is a fast developing culture in the UK and Australia, going hand in hand with wild swimming and other healthy and simple pursuits that not just sportsmen but also the general public are getting the benefits from. 

So, whether you fancy working a bit of sauna action to your training program, if you are already on it and you want to know exactly what benefits it can have, or even if you are already on the verge of getting your own one built, then I think there is something in this pod for everyone. 

Sit back, chuck a bucket of water (or beer) on the coals, and enjoy! 

Cheers!

Mitch

In this episode of Life in the Peloton I get to have a chat with one of the most interesting (and interested) people I’ve met in the world of cycling, co-founder of Skratch Labs, Allen Lim.

Dr Lim… Allen… or Al (as you can call him) may not be the first person who springs to mind when we think of the transformation of the sport over the past couple of decades. However, as he explains in this pod, his thinking and approach to the sport helped cycling move forward beyond a very traditional world to a much healthier and professional sport, from the use of power meters at Phonak to the development of the bio-passport at Garmin - Slipstream.

I first met Allen whilst riding for EF Pro Cycling after a huge day in the saddle at training camp. I was blown away by how he managed to stand in front of a bunch of tired bike riders and an hour later have the whole room wide-eyed listening to his story. He is so passionate about helping athletes improve. What is more his own story is genuinely fascinating and includes some of the most important characters and periods in the sport in recent times.

Allen is a guy who has made a career from listening to people and finding ways to solve what he calls the ‘bottlenecks’ to performance. I love chatting with Allen because he asks questions that others don’t seem to be able to ask, and his philosophies around nutrition are based on real food and supplying what athletes really need.  This is pretty much the exact reason that he ended up making sports nutrition after spending one race in Ireland having to feed the riders with only boiled potatoes!

As well as discussing his background with me, Allen also took the time to answer some of your questions at the end, and - as you’ll hear, his answers as always are worth a listen!

There is a lot in this one: whether you love the details of sports science & nutrition, the history of cycling, or even just a great story. Sit back relax and enjoy.

Cheers!

Mitch

The last month has been a busy one for the pro peloton. We’ve had the first European races, some stage race action in the Middle East, plus of course the most important bit - the classics season finally got going over the weekend in Belgium, at Het Niewsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. 

Naturally we had a load to catch up on and we managed to pack a heap into this pod. As well as the racing news, I ask what we can really learn from Opening Weekend - what it feels like to ride it, and whether it is worth skipping if you want to win big later on? 

Durbo – who was fresh (or as fresh as you can be) off racing the Opening Weekend himself, has some great insight as to what happens when a race is impacted by severe weather and what the process looks like to change a race on the go. It’s something that fans rarely get to hear about but something that impacts everyone involved – including those of us watching at home. 

Talking of harsh weather, Tom has just returned from O Grand Camino in Galicia, where he saw up close the condition of defending Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard and draws a few conclusions from the action there – as well as nominating his favourite tactical ploy of the month.

There was so much to chat about, and we covered much more in our conversation but most excitingly (for me) we have a new format for (the newly retitled) Communiquiz!

As well as a new name Durbo also takes over this month as question master – meaning that I get to go head-to-head with Tom in the new format. I’ll leave it to you to have a listen and see who comes out on top!

We had a lot of fun with this, and we hope that you guys do too.

Cheers!

Mitch

The Melbourne to Warrnambool is a race like no other. It may not get a huge press outside of Australia, but the 129-year-old event truly is an iconic race.

Starting off as a handicap back in 1895 the race route has never included any major climbs, instead it is a race that is shaped by its brutal length and frequent crosswinds. In years gone by it was the biggest race of the year for generations of domestic Australian professionals, in recent years it has been a direct stepping-stone to the professional world for riders like Cam Scott and Jensen Plowright.    In this edition of Life in the Peloton we get stuck in to all the things that make this great race so special. I tracked down and spoke to some absolute legends of the race; Tim Decker, Peter ‘Bulldog’ Besanko and Simon Gerrans.    There was so much great stuff that came out of what these three very different riders had to say about the race. We covered some of Bulldog’s wild stories from a much different era in the handicap events in the seventies and eighties – when the riders used to do the three hundred kilometres on three (yes three) bidons!    Tim explained how he was probably the last of a generation of riders who used to prepare specifically for the event, and what the race meant to him. While Gerro – who turned pro off the back of beating some top Euro pros at the race in the early 2000s explains what an impact winning the race can have even now.    But that isn’t all! Not content with never having done the race myself, I managed to get ‘hands on’ in this year’s edition behind the wheel of a team car as DS for Team Duda, a local Melbourne outfit.  It was a great day out in the team car (my first one behind the wheel!) and it finally gave me a great taste of what this race really is about.     The passion and the history of this race really comes across from everyone I spoke to for this pod, and I just love some of the stories that came out. It really is epic stuff. It may not be a Monument in the context of the big five European Classics, but I think that it is a race that has earned the title: The Aussie Monument.

We’ve got a bumper edition of Talking Luft for you this week, as I had the chance to hit up the 2024 World Tour peloton with some of our favourite - and most important, questions from the show, at the Tour Down Under.

The TDU starts are famously laid back, so it was the perfect place for me to mill about and get some answers from some World Tour heavyweights, lightweights and everything in-between. We’ve got the likes of Bernie Eisel, Bauke Mollema, Dan McLay, George Bennett, Danny Van Poppel and Kellan O’Brien, to name just a few of the amazing group that we got for this pod.

I hit them up with the big racing issues of course; what are the best (and worst) parts of a race, and why? What is it like starting the season Down Under - and why is it so good? Being Talking Luft, I also cross examined the guys on some key style issues like, how do you wear your casquette? And shoes, black or white?

You’d think that in 2024 everyone would know not to wear their cap swimming hat style, or not to choose black shoes and white socks… but you’d be surprised!

As always this was a really fun one to make, with some great names from the peloton.

Have a listen, enjoy and judge the sock choices as harshly as you like!

Cheers!

Mitch

For this series, I’ve got together with my good friend and former team (and room) mate Svein Tuft. As a few of you will know, ‘Sveino’ is a fascinating guy, with a unique perspective on pretty much any subject out there. 

Both Svein and I love to dive into new topics – take them apart and discuss ideas, theories, and trends from every possible angle. Back in our racing days, we would spend hours - in the saddle or hotel rooms, chewing over ideas, challenging each other, and looking at ways to learn and develop our understanding of the sport. 

This is what we wanted to recreate with Chronicles. It’s a chance for us to get together and get stuck into the topics that interest us in and around pro cycling. We’ll be listening to people’s stories, asking questions, doing the research, and gathering the information that allows us and you to get to grips with these key parts of the sport and the wider culture of pro cycling. 

First up, this month we started with a question that we have both been looking for the answer to: how do you turn professional? 

This was something that jumped out at us when we thought: why us? How did we make it, and not others? What did we do so differently or well? Or was it just luck? 

To unpack this subject, we wanted to get as many angles of the conversation as possible, and we have a whole host of people with a range of opinions and expertise. 

We kick things off with a man who wrote the book, ‘How to Become a Pro Cyclist’, Jack Burke and asked the question, if turning pro really is something that you can engineer, or if it’s too random even for people who ‘get’ how the system works? 

Svein spoke to a key figure in the US racing scene Jonas Carney, the former manager of Human Powered Health, to discuss what a team looks for when selecting riders, whilst I spoke to my old boss Matt White of Jayco Alula about how teams work with agents to find new talent. 

Sticking inside the teams, we also caught up with Sebastian Langeveld from EF Education Easypost who oversees scouting riders for EF and asked him if it was all numbers and data these days or if there is such a thing as the X factor. 

We also spoke to two current riders, James Whelan of Q36.5 and Riley Sheehan of Israel Premier Tech, who gave us opposing stories of what happens when you get to the World Tour too easily and how hard it can be to have to battle through the ranks. 

Just as we hoped there was so much great stuff that we could get stuck into here, turning pro and how you do it is a massive topic that certainly doesn’t have a simple answer. And as always with Svein, the fun part was exploring the subject! Have a listen as we do our best to understand all about it. 

Cheers!

Mitch

As things are wrapping up on a fantastic Aussie summer of racing, I’ve got one more piece of Australiana for the pod: three-time Aussie national road champion Luke Plapp. 

This was a really cool pod for me to record. Both Luke and I are members (and started out) at the Brunswick Cycling Club, here in Melbourne. I happily took the opportunity to go back to the Brunswick Velodrome to catch up with Luke a few weeks ago, in what was the early phase of his build-up to what he hopes will be a breakout season. 

Even though he’s still only twenty-three, it seems like ‘Plappy’ has achieved a lot in a short space of time. Before turning pro with Ineos in 2022, he was a decorated track cyclist, picking up Olympic and Commonwealth Games medals, as well as a junior world title. 

It’s been such a fast rise, I was really keen to get the whole story from Luke: going from a sports-obsessed kid in Melbourne, his time on the track, and turning pro with one of the biggest teams in the world. 

I also wanted to know about how he’d adapted to life as a pro in Europe and to hear about the challenges that he faced having turned professional with limited exposure to racing and living over there. 

Like a lot of champions, Luke has a great ability to recognise and work on the things that will help him improve. It was really eye-opening for me to have such a humble conversation with someone in his position. I think it’s a great listen because of this, and there is a lot in his approach that could be of real interest to you guys at home. 

Indulge in the last rays of the Aussie summer, and give this a listen; you’re gonna love it!

Cheers!

Mitch

Welcome to the first Communiqué for the 2024 season!

First off, I’m delighted to say that my good mates Luke Durbridge and Tom Southam are back with me for another year.

If you haven’t heard it yet, the Communiqué is our pro racing specific podcast, and I couldn’t think of a couple of better guys to have on board to get some great insight into the races.

As well as being good friends of mine these two have years of experience in pro cycling with Luke currently racing for Jayco Alula and Tom who is a DS at EF Education Easypost.

All through the racing season we will be diving inside the pelo with Luke, hearing the view from the team cars from Tom and, of course, I’ll be providing my own armchair style take on the racing!

For this first episode we’ve got an early season theme. After a good few weeks at home Luke is well settled in Perth, getting ready to start racing without having done any racing back in Australia – something he’s – amazingly – never actually tried before!

He reflects on the difference between starting early at races like TDU or kicking off in the more traditional European style.

We discuss our thoughts on the way that the top riders tackle the off-season these days (or don’t!). He also has some cracking tales from his legendary local bunchie - which I’ll leave for you to enjoy. 

I’ve been on the ground at the Tour Down Under of course, and I’ll bring you up to speed with the latest racing news, as well as a few of the things that grabbed my attention at the first World Tour race of the season.

It’s also been a busy period for Tom, who was DS-ing the early season Australian races. He takes us a bit deeper into the world of the DS and talks about some of the tactical detail of the recent races, as well as getting our thoughts on the why recently retired riders do so well in the team car. 

It was really great to get things going again making this pod. We all love the racing, whether we are doing it ourselves, talking about it, or even just watching and reading about it.

Getting back together and getting into talking about the races was really exciting after the short break. Let’s hope it’s the start of a big year to come.

Sit back, relax and have a listen to The Communiqué.

Cheers!

Mitch

We’re right in the middle of the Aussie cycling summer so - keeping with the local theme - for Talking Luft I caught up with my riding buddy Pat Drapac, down in Adelaide’s central market during the Tour Down Under.  

If you’ve not had a listen to the podcast about the adventure that Pat and I had riding across from Melbourne to Adelaide, then go and give it a listen! Pat’s a great talker with a huge range of interests, and he’s also one of Melbourne’s most well-known cycling figures. 

He’s been a rider, a team owner, a team sponsor and as well as many other things, he’s the son of Michael Drapac, whose team I began racing for in 2006, and who went all the way to the podium of the Tour de France as a sponsor of the Cannondale Drapac team. 

Like me, Pat is a child of the nineties and like me, he’s big into his food, so he’s just about the perfect guest for Talking Luft! 

What I loved about Pat’s interview was hearing just how much he goes against the grain of a lot of current riders. He’s also a former chef, so he has the booze questions pretty well covered too! It’s a refreshing listen, and an interesting take on the sport and the surrounding culture. 

So, check it out, and enjoy.

Cheers!

Mitch

2024 is here and I wanted to kick off my new adventure with MAAP with another adventure of my own. I’ve really enjoyed getting into adventure riding in the past few years since I retired from professional racing, so I thought what better way to head over to Australia’s biggest race, the Tour Down Under?

The route was a tough one, my goal this year was to make a bee-line from Melbourne to Adelaide. It’s a 900k trip (at best) so I drew a straight line across, and accepted that we’d take whatever terrain the journey threw at us! It was a mixed bag, with the only real goal being to avoid main roads and to make sure the stops had some decent pubs. 

One of the things that I really enjoy about spending so much time in the saddle is really getting to know the people that you are riding with. When you are side by side for twelve hours a day, suffering in the dust, or a stinking headwind, your conversations can drift off and you get to know your riding partners on a new level. 

For this reason, I chose to invite an old friend and cycling buddy, Pat Drapac along for the ride. Pat is well known to anyone who has raced in Melbourne in the past twenty years. He’s been a rider, a team sponsor, and a team owner, and is a real part of the Melbourne scene. 

It had been quite a few years since I’d been able to spend time with Pat, so I wanted to use this journey to reconnect with him and learn about his cycling experiences, whilst we both got to do what we love – riding our bikes. 

The three-day trip was challenging and rewarding. Packed with all the things that make adventure riding so great. Pat made for great company, and we talked for hours about a huge range of topics, from his roots in cycling, his love of cooking and his sense of adventure with anything from pickling vegetables to moving to Copenhagen. 

I’ve put all the best parts of this trip into this pod for you guys to enjoy. Finding out new things about an old mate is a great feeling, and these trips are ideal for that. I hope you all get a sense of the adventure that we shared and enjoy the pod!

Cheers!

Mitch

It has been a big year here at Life in the Peloton, and we’re going out with a bang for this last episode of the 2023 season. I’ve got one of the greats of the young new generation in Australian cycling on the pod today – I’m Talking Luft with Luke Plapp. We’re both long-time Brunswick Cycling Club members, and I always love getting the chance to record the pod in person, so it was a special moment to sit down at the iconic Brunswick Velodrome to record this episode with Plappy. He’s home from Europe and he’s gearing up for a huge summer of cycling in Australia, where he’s lining up for the triple - looking to take his third National Road Race Championship at Buninyong in January. We talk a bit about this goal and head further back into the Luke Plapp story to get some of the history, and of course, I put him through the full Talking Luft treatment.

I hope you enjoy this last listen of 2023!

Thanks for all the support and encouragement throughout the season, we’ll be back in the new year with heaps of exciting new content.

Cheers,

Mitch

Daz is a close friend of mine as we had the pleasure of crossing paths, racing side by side and living around the corner from each other and our families throughout my time in Europe. 

He is closing out a monstrous 16 year career this season! But it hasn’t been without some major set backs and challenges along the way. He has had life threatening crashes, false allegations and teams folding right under his nose. But on the other side we have seen him pull that yellow jersey on at the TDF, become multiple national champion and transform himself from a Domestique to champion leader. 

Back in 2019 I sat down with Daryl to chat about the ups and downs of his career to that point and learn more about what makes him so bloody resilient! This is a must listen if you haven’t heard it before, and if you have I strongly urge you go back and listen again. Daryl shows me that when you are a pro for 16 years it’s never going to be smooth sailing. That’s what makes a successful pro, someone who can fight back and become even stronger.  

But now, this week we have Daryl for Talking Luft! I wanted to pay homage to his brilliant career. We chat all the usual stuff but i have spliced a few extra questions in to wrap up his amazing career and to hear about what the future holds. 

Cheers, 

Mitch

To learn a little bit about the sport and its history, I’ve found someone who can talk me through it. But it’s not just any old person, I’ve gone and found the best in the business, the undisputed G.O.A.T – Sven Nys.

Sven has an incredible ability to teach and talk about cyclo-cross to literally anyone – from kids right up to pros, and he does it in such a humble and entertaining way. He’s so good at it because he is an absolute champion and a true giant of the sport, the best to have ever thrown a leg over a cyclo-cross bike – or I should probably say to have thrown a cyclo-cross bike over his shoulder.

An incredibly dominant rider throughout his career, Sven won literally everything of importance – earning him the nicknames The Cannibal, and the Eddie Merckx of cyclo-cross. At his peak in the 2004 – 2005 season, he did something that no other cyclo-cross rider has ever done, when he took out the National and World Championships, won the Superprestige, and the Gazet van Antwerpen, and finished the season ranked number one in the UCI rankings and the World Cup. He is the only cyclo-cross rider to have achieved this even once, and he went close to repeating the incredible feat in the following season – only just falling short when he crashed in the final lap of the World Championships.

It's an absolute privilege to have Sven join me on Life in the Peloton today, I hope you enjoy the listen!

Cheers,

Mitch

This week, I’m Talking Luft with the great Dutchman himself, Niki Terpstra.

He’s one of the most successful classics riders of our time and a proper one-day racing legend - he’s won just about everything there is to win up north, from E3 Harelbeke to Dwars door Vlaanderen (twice), and of course his epic solo victories at Paris-Roubaix in 2014, and Tour of Flanders in 2018, where he became the first Dutchman to win the great race since Adri van der Poel in 1986.

He’s a two-time Olympian, a 6-day champ, a World Championship silver medallist on the track, and he rode for some of Europe’s biggest teams from Milram to QuickStep and Direct Energie. He retired at the end of the 2022 season, but when you were racing Niki Terpstra, you always had to be on your game. You never knew what he would pull out of his hat, and if he went away up the road, chances are you wouldn’t see him again.

But today, he’s getting the full Talking Luft treatment – the usuals like casquette style, World Champ rainbow style, and favourite cheat meals (tiramisu – nice). We talk all things retirement and the inevitable question – do you miss it? It’s something I’m hearing more and more from us recently retired pros, but the level of racing has jumped up so much in recent years that very few people seem to miss being out there, taking risks, suffering, amongst the carnage – and Niki is no exception.

It was a pleasure to sit down and chat with Niki Terpstra, and I hope you enjoy listening to this episode of Talking Luft!  

Cheers,

Mitch

Would you ride up and down a mountain all day in an attempt to reach the virtual height of Mt Everest? I didn’t think it was for me either, but I decided it was a trend I needed to try for myself! If you haven’t heard of Everesting, come along as I make my attempt to reach the lofty heights of the majestic Everest, with a day riding the slopes of Mt Macedon.

At first glance, it might sound crazy, but the idea behind this episode was to get to understand what the trend is all about, and why so many people have jumped on board with it. Everesting evolved during the pandemic to become a challenge that pros were taking on, and I was introduced to it during that time – it was all about speed, and how fast could you do it, and that really deterred me. To be quite honest, riding up and down a mountain all day just seemed boring and unnecessary, and didn’t appeal to me at all.

But it was a conversation with Andy Van Bergen earlier this year that changed all of this and piqued my interest in trying it for myself. Andy told me the story behind the event and the background to the idea – and I really liked it. As we talked, it occurred to me that the whole thing is just another way to challenge yourself. It’s a challenge that anyone can take on, in their own way – you can do it from your own backyard or your lounge room if you like. And

as you might know, that’s something that I love to explore and to encourage others to get involved in.

Getting Andy’s perspective on it was key for me to understand what it’s all about, to learn all the tricks that go along with it, and to work out if it’s something that I would love or hate. I also chatted with Lachy Morton to get a different perspective – he’s coming from the other end of the spectrum, the elite level, where he’s trying to go for the record. From there, I decided to put together all that knowledge, and make my own Everesting attempt, and to take the listeners along on the journey, so you can form your own opinion about whether it’s something you want to tackle for yourself.

I hope you enjoy the listen and get inspired to take on some new challenges for yourself!

We’re back with the third installment of The Race Communique – where we get back to our roots chatting in depth about what’s happening in the pro peloton. This week we’ve got the whole gang back together, with Luke Durbridge, and Tom Southam, both joining me on the pod.

I couldn’t wait for this opportunity to really pick apart all the happenings of the Vuelta – and there was a lot to unpack. Of course, the incredible performance by Sepp Kuss, but also the drama surrounding Jumbo’s dominance and team leadership. When has a team last finished top three in a Grand Tour?! We take a deep dive chatting about Jumbo Visma and their incredible dominance this season – winning all three Grand Tours in the same year with different riders, which is virtually unheard of. I get a DS and rider perspective on whether Jumbo made the right call in how they supported Sepp and talk about some of the weirder optics we saw playing out on the road as the team tussled with the decision over ultimate leadership.

And on the flipside some underperformances at the Vuelta – what happened to Remco, it wasn’t a terrible performance by any means, but it wasn’t up to expectations - so was it pressure or was it form in the third week? Beyond the Vuelta, we also cover some of the latest advancements in the world of aerodynamics and chat about some of the strange aspects of team culture that play out during transfer season.

So, sit back and enjoy this insight into the pro peloton and the world’s biggest races on The Race Communique!

Cheers,

Mitch

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It’s great timing to have this guy on the pod, he is the man of the moment and has been dominating the Vuelta a Espana – I’m talking of course about Sepp Kuss.

I was so excited to get Sepp on the pod to learn a bit more about this enigmatic American rider and hear the backstory of his meteoric rise to the top ranks of the World Tour. He’s something of an anomaly in the pro peloton, having tread a very different route to the top of the sport. He came through the junior ranks as a mountain biker, having grown up in the remote, mountainous city of Durango Colorado, which is known for its incredible trails and vibrant mountain biking community. On moving to Boulder to study at university, he discovered road cycling and started racing on the American circuit.

During his early days of racing, when he was just starting to capture the attention of American teams, it was a meeting with Jumbo-Visma DS Grischa Niermann that catapulted Kuss from a relatively unknown, new on the scene young American talent, to European pro, and one of the most sought-after domestiques in the sport - and more recently, bona fide Grand Tour contender.

He’s part of a new generation of incredible American talent coming through the ranks, which is so exciting to watch, and we delve into some of this to see what the cycling landscape is like in the US currently in the post-Lance era, and where the future of the sport is headed. We also chatted about the pressures that come with being a Grand Tour contender, and whether he feels the pull to ride as a GC contender himself. We talked about what it’s like being the main support to these superstar riders, as well as the personalities and quirks among some of the sport’s biggest names that Sepp has ridden for.

I hope you enjoy the listen!

Cheers,

Mitch

Talking Luft is back, and I'm chatting with my friend Andy White aka FYXO, to put him through the full Talking Luft treatment!

Last week on Life in the Peloton I sat down with FYXO to talk about a whole range of fascinating things, from what it's like to work as a bike messenger, to the underground subculture of alley-cat racing, and all things fixed gear riding - plus a whole lot more. It was a super fun episode and I loved getting to know more about one of the more niche ‘pelotons’ out there. If you haven’t listened to it, head over and check it out.

But today, we’re on the Talking Luft program! You know the drill by now – I put FYXO through his paces with a little quiz, I tried to squeeze some extra fixie knowledge out of him, and he’s a bit of a style guru so it was a great chance to get a bit of a glimpse into what’s cool in the world of fixed gear bikes and alley cat racing.

I won’t spoil it for you but get ready to hear about FYXO’s love of the history and nostalgia of retro 90’s cycling– he’s a fan of the full Indurain casquette style, he loves a beanie, and he’s been known to be partial to a skin suit. I hope you have as much fun listening along as I had putting this one together!

Cheers,

Mitch

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We’ve finally got him on the pod – a spot that in his own words, he was born ready for, and I couldn’t be more excited to chat with my friend FYXO (aka Andy White), to take a deep dive into the fixie world. It morphs nicely into the trajectory that Life in the Peloton has taken this year, where I’ve been talking a lot about uncovering all the different pelotons out there, and this is one of the most niche pelotons of them all.

Andy and I go way back to our days racing the club scene in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, where he used to race on an old vintage steel bike. He spent time as a bike courier in London, where he worked during the ‘heyday’ of the profession – where businesses would courier documents around the city in the same way we now send an email. It was a bit of an unexpectedly cool, cult profession at the time, that came with a bit of street cred. It was also from within the world of bike couriers that alley cat racing kicked off – which is an underground subculture of unstructured night races around the city, usually starting from the pub after a few pints.

He has dabbled in all aspects of fixie riding since settling back in Melbourne, most notably setting up his brand FYXO, which was all about bringing fixed gear bikes into the country during the boom in fixie riding that happened a few years back and documenting his adventures around the world riding alley cat races. It’s fascinating to hear about how Andy became immersed in this world and raced the alley cats in the cities of London and New York, before eventually bringing alley cat racing Down Under, and typically in his own unique way - in a style that he calls alley cats for the masses. The largest of these is the Melburn - Roobaix, which is now in its 16th year and has become synonymous with fixed-gear riding in Melbourne. It combines many of the different subcultures of cycling and the result is a fun, epic day of cycling, and something that I love being part of.

I hope you enjoy listening and learning more about the intriguing world of fixie riding!

Cheers,

Mitch

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It’s just me and my old mate Luke Durbridge this week, with Tom Southam out on the road at the Vuelta a Burgos, but we’ve got plenty to get through on this edition of The Race Communique.

It’s a bit of a tricky part of the year –  it has been a long season and the hype and glory of the biggest races have subsided following the TDF and the World’s, it’s the summer holiday month of August in Europe which lends itself well to lying around on the beach and relaxing, but there’s still plenty of races on the calendar and you need to keep your head switched on.

We recap the incredible ‘Super World’s’ with all the action from the road, track, and the spectacle of having all disciplines of cycling together in one giant festival. We really dig into the incredible World’s Road Race – epically long at over 270km, a 57-minute stoppage due to protesters, and the 48-plus corner circuit around the streets of downtown Glasgow with the atmosphere and the unbelievably high level of racing – there was a lot to unpack.

And we chat about the lead into the upcoming Vuelta a España, with a look at the course and some predictions about the types of epic battles we can expect when it hits the slopes of the Tourmalet and l’Angliru.

So, sit back and enjoy this insight into the pro peloton and the world’s biggest races on The Race Communique!

Cheers,

Mitch

It’s hard to find someone more knowledgeable about sports nutrition than Will Girling – he has been a nutritionist at all levels of the professional cycling world, from Continental to pro-Continental, up to World Tour level, and he’s been the nutritionist at EF Education-Easy Post for the past several years, where we first crossed paths. He also holds a Master of Sports Nutrition and is currently working towards a Doctorate – in short, he knows his stuff.

So while he knows top-level nutrition as well as anyone out there, what I mostly wanted to talk to Will about was how amateur and weekend warrior cyclists should approach their nutrition, to prepare for racing and maintain optimal nutrition in general, and how they should approach recovery nutrition - since they need to get themselves back to work on Monday morning following an event, rather than having time at home to recover like the pros. Will has some fascinating insights and learnings that he applies from the pro level back to the everyday cyclist (and athlete), as well as heaps of personal experience of his own preparing for and doing the ultra-distance bike-packing expeditions around Europe that he loves.

Turns out there’s a bit more to it than just carb-loading the day before the event, so sit back and enjoy the listen and I hope you get a few tips for your next race!

Cheers,

Mitch

This week on Talking Luft we’re taking one last look back at the 2023 TDF, where I took my History of the Tour de France quiz to the masses! Or better put, to a whole bunch of current pros and DS’s that I managed to pull aside for a chat on the roadside of the Tour, to put them through their paces - including Caleb Ewan, Mat Hayman, Ian Stannard, Jai Hindley, Luke Durbridge, and Neilson Powless, among others.

It required a bit of specialist TDF knowledge, and a bit of historical insight, plus a few just for fun, like whose legs would you want in this year’s TDF, would you go full polka dot with the KOM jersey, which is the hardest of the Grand Tours, what does ASO stand for, and can you name the five winners of five or more Tours?

I’ve gotta say, some of the efforts were a bit woeful, and a couple were a little bit controversial, but we had plenty of laughs and I hope you enjoy listening along!

Cheers,

Mitch

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I’ve got something a bit different for you on the pod this week, but it’s a fascinating topic and one that has really gained traction in women’s sport over the past few years.

I’m chatting to Maghalie Rochette - she’s a Canadian cyclo cross rider and mountain biker, she came to the sport from a background in running and triathlon, and she also has her own successful podcast called Fever Talk. But what sets Maghalie apart is that she is known for talking openly about racing as a female and all the struggles that come along with that. On her pod she launched a super successful series where she goes into depth about the challenges for women racing during their menstrual cycle, and in doing so she has created a whole platform where people feel comfortable talking about this topic that was previously something of a taboo.

It’s so refreshing to hear how open she is about it, and fascinating to hear how she has used the science to figure out that not only is it something that does not have to hold you back, but it’s something that can actually make you stronger. We are so aware of the difference between men and women in the professional sense – the prize money, the racing, the equality and the wage gap, but it’s interesting to hear about the physiological differences. And it’s refreshing to hear Maghalie’s take, that racing as a female doesn’t necessarily mean it is harder – it just means it’s important to understand your body so that you can turn it into an advantage. 

It brings up some interesting questions that are relevant to both male and female athletes on how we can use science to understand our bodies better, and in the process learn how to get the most out of ourselves during training and racing, to learn to listen to your body, and how to find the balance between performance and wellbeing.

I hope you enjoy the listen!

Cheers,

Mitch

The idea is to get back to our roots, since LITP has moved on from the pro peloton with me, I wanted to get back amongst the action and back to chatting about the World Tour. We’ll be unpacking the trends, the race results, all the news and happenings in the pro peloton – to try to get the lowdown for you, the listener.

Joining me on the pod each month will be one of two guys who need no introduction to this podcast – my friends Tom Southam, DS at EF Education-EasyPost, and Jayco-Alula’s Luke Durbridge. We’ll chat race results and analytics, in true LITP style – taking a deep dive into what life is like as a pro, and notable things that have happened at races, from the varied angles of DS, rider, and me – the guy on the outside of the peloton trying to get a glimpse back in to see what’s up and how things have changed.

For episode one, we’re talking all things Tour de France, unpacking the amazing Tour that we just witnessed, and looking ahead to the Worlds and other upcoming races. Hang in there for a cheeky quiz at the end, and most of all enjoy the listen to the first Race Communique!

Cheers,

Mitch 

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It’s nearing the end of the Tour de France for another year, and I have been in the box seat for the first two weeks of this phenomenon of an annual sporting event, following the Tour with The Cycling Podcast. Along the way, I had the chance to chat with an absolute expert in cycling history – François Thomazeau. His encyclopaedic knowledge of all facets of the Tour is extraordinary, and I am so excited to have him on the pod today walking us through the fascinating history of the Tour, from the earliest iterations of the race, up until this, the 120th edition.

While we have all become so familiar with the modern Tour, it is an event that is steeped in so much history - over a hundred years of evolution, scandal, and drama - and the idea was to try and get a complete picture of the Tour, from how it came about, to the subtle nuances of the race, and how it has evolved over time. In my opinion, there is no one better in the world of cycling than François to answer all my questions.

We start with the origins of the event, from its inception as part of the early cycling newspaper, Le Vélo, with its epic, 300km long stages, 2 am start times, and famously ingrained methods of cheating, like jumping on the train or skipping whole sections of the course. And we chat about just how important the Tour de France is to the French people, who are bathed in TDF coverage from a young age to the point that July is synonymous with the Tour, and the race itself is a French symbol of fun, of childhood, and of long summer days.

We chat about the recovery of the Tour after its war-induced hiatus, and of the emergence of a new generation of post-war riders that redefined the sport, including the likes of Fausto Coppi – likened to a type of gold dust for the sport, with his forward-thinking methods and slick media appeal – and the beloved Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and later, Raymond Poulidor, and of course the arrival of the great man himself, Eddy Merckx, whose commanding hold on all classifications of the TDF earned him the nickname, The Cannibal.

It was fascinating to hear how this history has culminated in the version of the great race that we now know and love so much – how it became the show for television, how its riders started to emerge as household names, the evolution of the media in cycling, and how riders themselves have had to adapt, in order to succeed in the Tour de France.

I absolutely loved the chance to soak up so much of the history of the Tour de France and to get under the skin of this iconic race with François, and I hope you enjoy this little glimpse into the history of the Tour!

Cheers,

Mitch

This week on Talking Luft I’m chatting with an old friend and teammate of mine – he is a former UK national champ, he has ridden for some of the world’s biggest teams, and – I’m calling it – he's the new voice of cycling. I’m talking about Adam Blythe and I can’t wait to put him through the full Talking Luft treatment!

I have always admired his crafty racing style and his ability to read a bike race, and when the conditions got tough, he was someone I would always look for because you could bet, he would be reading the conditions and riding smart. It’s a result of having mastered the art of race craft early on, and his insights have really translated well to the commentary box. He's unapologetic about his approach, and about his love of picking apart a race and calling out even the biggest names in cycling when they’re guilty of making questionable tactical decisions – and I just love that about him and his race commentary.

He’s also renowned for his retro style and some of these TL questions that I have put to so many riders now are right up his alley, so I can’t wait to get stuck into it. I put a few of the more important Talking Luft themes to him – he’s gravel bike for life, loves plenty of Luft, has strong feelings on all matters of cycling style, and confirms once and for all that, like it or not, the short leg length trend is back in the pro peloton.

I hope you enjoy listening along as much as I enjoyed putting this one together!

Cheers,

Mitch

Well, it is Tour time, and I´m taking this opportunity to look at one of the most fascinating technical aspects of pro racing – the art of the lead-out. And what better time to do it than right now, at the beginning of the Tour de France, so you can sit back and watch the adrenaline-charged sprint finishes, with a deeper understanding of the game of chess that is playing out on the road.

The idea of the designated lead-out man is something that has only really gained traction in the pro peloton in the modern era, and in that time, we have seen some incredibly talented lead-out riders, that put aside their own winning aspirations and built their careers on leading out others for the win. I spoke to some of the biggest names in the game – Mark Renshaw, Michael Morkov, Brett Lancaster, Koen de Kort, Roger Kluge, and Freddie Rodriguez. They have worked with some of the most successful sprinters of the modern era – Mark Cavendish, Robbie McEwen, Andre Greipel, and Alessandro Petacchi, to name just a few.

The depth of experience with the riders in this episode is exceptional, and I wanted to find out how they had become lead-out riders, what the evolution was like, from trying to win races themselves, to suddenly finding themselves leading out others for the win. It was interesting to hear about how quickly this change can happen and about the necessity of finding your niche in the peloton which is so important to the longevity of your career.

The lead out is a role where you don´t get the big accolades, and you don´t get to stand on the top step yourself, but you can get plenty of recognition and job satisfaction for playing an important role in winning big races, and that was something that really came across for all of these riders - how accepting your role in the team and leaning into it, can become even more satisfying than vying for smaller wins yourself.

I wanted to ask some big questions: when you find yourself in the lead with 200m to go, how tempting is it to go for the win yourself, and why does a sprinter even need a lead-out? There were some fascinating insights into the split-second decisions, the adrenaline rush, the importance of trusting your lead out, calculating risks, and learning to switch off your mind in order to get the job done, the sacrifices that are made when you ride in service of another rider that gets the glory of winning, and what is it like working with these typically very explosive personalities.

I had a lot of fun putting this episode together and I loved hearing about the intricacies of the lead-out, and I hope you get plenty out of it to take into your TDF watching this year!

Cheers,

Mitch

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I have a special guest on the pod this week, making his debut appearance on Life in the Peloton. He´s no stranger to you all though, he is a fellow Victorian, a former mountain biker, road world champion, and Australia´s only ever Tour de France winner, I´m talking of course about the legend himself, Cadel Evans.

This was a great opportunity to really get back to the beginning of the Cadel Evans story and hear it in his own words. I was keen to hear all about his infamous upbringing in a remote Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory of Australia, and how he made his start as a mountain biker when his family moved back to Victoria when Cadel was primary school age. We chatted through his evolution from junior mountain biker to European-level mountain biker, before moving to road cycling in Europe, and eventually, as the history books show, going on to become a world champion, and the first-ever Australian to win the Tour de France, in 2011.

Along the way, he forged some incredible partnerships and made some powerful allies, with team directors, teammates, coaches and sponsors, many of whom are still loyal to Cadel and his brand today, showing the amount of mutual respect and trust that he built up within his inner circle throughout his career. Always something of an outlier among the professional cycling ranks, we chat about the ways in which he was a visionary rider and ahead of his time, and how so many of these habits that he had are now somewhat ingrained in the pro peloton (chamomile tea after dinner, and solo training rides, to name a couple.)

It was fascinating to hear Cadel´s take on the crossover between road cycling and mountain biking, and the ways in which MTB prepared him to become one of the best cyclists of his generation. I loved getting the chance to chat in depth with him about his relationship with the visionary Italian coach Aldo Sassi, which was instrumental in shaping him into the forward-thinking cyclist that he became.

One of the golden eras of modern cycling, it was great to hear in-depth about his time on the iconic teams Mapei, T-Mobile, Lotto, and BMC – where he started his campaign towards becoming an eventual Tour de France winner, and the years of missed opportunities and bad luck that ensued along his road to winning. And to take a deep dive into his World Championship win in Mendrisio in 2009, with all the drama and team politics that came along with that win.

Something of an enigma in the world of cycling, I loved this chance to hear the Cadel Evans story from the man himself and to clear up a few myths and legends that have circulated around him throughout his career (for example, was he really the highest ever tested V02 max at the AIS?)

It´s a story we are all familiar with, but I hope you enjoy learning a bit more about the Cadel Evans story - I really loved chatting with him and hearing his story in his own words.

Cheers,

Mitch

I just loved having Alison on Life in the Peloton so much last week, I decided to get her back for this episode of Talking Luft! I know you loved hearing all about her epic Paris Roubaix Femmes win this year, and how she became only the third-ever winner of the event. She has since been dubbed Miss Paris Roubaix (by me), for the commanding style in which she won.

Of course, we chat a bit more about that epic win, as well as dig into the really important questions in true TL style, plus I throw a few extra cobble-related questions Alison´s way. The big stuff, like rice or pasta (she´s introduced me to the idea of rice with maple syrup), world champ style (all rainbow, why not), I get some insight into some of her pre-race rituals and learn a few new Canadian terms that describe how she would choose to wear her hair in the pre-helmet golden days of cycling.

She´s a lover of bucket hats and coffee stops, a drinker of black coffee and cortados, and unsurprisingly, she will take racing over training any day. But don´t take my word for it, sit back and enjoy the listen and get to know more about the legend Alison Jackson, as she gets the full TL treatment!

Cheers,

Mitch

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It is her first appearance on the pod, you might know her from her larger-than-life social media presence, or you might have watched her progress through the women´s peloton, but you´ll definitely know her as the Queen of Roubaix, after her triumphant victory there this year, and I´m super excited to be chatting to Alison Jackson this week.

I couldn´t wait to hear about her epic 2023 Paris – Roubaix win, where she won so impressively, and etched her name in the cycling history books by becoming only the third-ever female winner of the race. Her post-win finish line dance catapulted her from exalted winner to something of cycling legend, and she´s known as this big-energy person that comes across online (if you´re not currently a follower, do yourself a favour and go check out her Instagram and TikTok), where she just keeps it real and has such a fun vibe. But Roubaix really cemented her position in the pro peloton, and announced to the world that she´s an excellent tactical rider and a natural racer – you just don´t find yourself in that position at a race like that for any other reason.

I wanted to hear all about how Alison made the leap from Canada to Europe – a challenge all pro cyclists go through but with varied success. It was refreshing to hear Alison´s take on what it takes to be a pro, and how you get through those challenging early years where you´re missing home, you´re just not happy in Europe and to top it all off, you´re getting your head kicked in at races. It can set off a real downward spiral for many riders, but for Alison it was the racing that kept her Euro dreams alive - she just absolutely loves to race.

And finally, we had a bit of a chat about where female cycling is headed, and the immense changes it has gone through in recent years – the increase in tactics, professionalism, and support and the flow-on effect this is having on the dynamics of women’s racing.

As you can probably tell, this episode was a lot of fun to put together, and I hope you love listening to Alison´s story as much as I did.

Cheers,

Mitch

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I´m bringing you something a bit different for Life in the Peloton this week, I have been back on the road exploring and learning some of the fascinating history of the Victorian goldfields, by riding the historic Goldfields Track. By now, you´ve probably become used to my bike-packing adventures, but this time the trip was not just about tackling a challenging adventure and exploring my own backyard, but also learning some of the history of this country and how this thriving regional area came to be what it is.

This trip is one that has been on my bucket list since moving back to Australia last year – I had become so used to being surrounded by incredible history while living in Europe, but it has really occurred to me how much history there is right here in Australia as well. I wanted to explore the Aussie countryside, but to also give the trip some purpose. Not just to ride, but to tap into a bit of local history and learn the backstory of this country along the way - why do these little Victorian country towns exist, and what has made the area so famous?

So back in the summer, before the weather in Victoria turned bad, I grabbed my good mate Al Iacuone, someone who is well known on the pod, and we headed off from Mount Buninyong, in the direction of Bendigo. The Goldfields Track is an existing, point-to-point trail and one that is regularly ridden by mountain bike, that takes in some of Victoria´s most historic towns. It´s a 210-kilometre journey, generally tackled over two to four days. We´re doing it in a day.

The trip threw up a few surprises, but we had a lot of fun out there. The trails made for beautiful riding, and although it was much tougher than expected, being out on the road allowed us to absorb the history and stories of the land in a way we never could by sitting at home and reading in a book or on the internet. Of course, there´s value in that as well, but there´s just something about being out there and hearing the stories for yourself that makes the experience that much more special and it really gave our expedition an incredible sense of purpose and meaning. In short, I would highly recommend this trip to anyone that has been considering it or another one like it. I hope you enjoy the listen, learn a thing or two along the way, and as always, I hope it inspires you to get out on your own bike adventures!

Cheers,

Mitch

Well I know you loved his last appearance on the pod, my recent chat with Australia’s one and only Giro d’Italia winner, Jai Hindley, where we heard some epic stories about his early cycling career and his meteoric ascent to the top of the pro cycling ranks.

So he’s back today for the Talking Luft! treatment and I just couldn’t wait to put a few curly questions to him. Jai Hindley is a real Aussie gem in the European peloton. He has been riding and racing his bike since he was six years of age, all he has ever wanted to be is a pro cyclist and just loves everything about the sport. His love of the cycling eras of old made me really want to test out his knowledge and see if I could really put him to the limit.

We talked Giro ups and downs, and what it feels like to gain the confidence to know you can finish out a Grand Tour, and just get better and better. We talk casquette style, where I was a little surprised to find out it’s not really his thing. We went back in time to discuss the pre-helmet days of cycling in the early 90s, and some of the best kits and team rosters of all time. We chat race food, drinks of choice, what makes a good roommate on tour, and whether he is more of a bus or a team car kind of guy. He passes my name the bike test with flying colours, with some pretty impressive knowledge of cycling throughout all the eras. And of course, I just had to ask him the all-important question, if (and in Jai’s case, when) you do become world champion during your career, how are you going to wear that rainbow kit.

I loved chatting with Jai and finding out some of the lesser-known things about him for this episode of Talking Luft! and I hope you have a laugh and enjoy listening along. If you missed the Life in the Peloton episode, Jai Hindley – For the love of cycling, head back and take a listen!

Cheers,

Mitch

Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by Rapha

It’s no secret that I’ve become a bit of a bike-packing devotee over the past few years, I just love everything about it – the challenge, seeing parts of the country that I’ve never seen before, meeting people along the way, experiencing some country Australiana, and just getting out on my bike and rediscovering what I really love about cycling. And I can see that this resonates with so many of you that love the adventure of bike packing as well (and if you’re yet to try it, I’ll say it again – it doesn’t need to be epic, or hard, just get out there and give it a go!)

Every time I post one of my bike-packing adventures, I’m inundated with questions and requests for recommendations on which gear to use. I totally get it, you want to be prepared when you hit that open road, where there are already so many unknowns and so many variables, and it’s natural to want to try to control that and limit the things that can go wrong (even though these can all be part of the fun).

I don’t claim to be an expert on bike packing, and like you guys, most of what I’ve learnt about gear, equipment, and planning, I’ve learnt on the fly, usually by reaching out to fellow cyclists and friends that I see out exploring by bike. One of the guys I’ve gone to for advice most often is, unsurprisingly, the bike-packing legend and my friend Lachie Morton. So, in putting this episode together, I knew exactly who I needed to reach out to for some tips of the trade. Lachie has embarked on more long-distance bike packing expeditions than anyone I know, and like me, he’s someone that has just learnt on the go, and he’s always happy to share his experiences and what works for him.

So I took your questions and put them to Lach, and I loved having the chance to sit down with him and pick his brain on all things bike-packing tech. This is in no way an exhaustive tech guide, just a fun chat about some of the things we love about bike-packing and the gear we like to take along with us to maximise the fun and enjoyment, and a chance to record it all in one spot for others to learn as well. I hope you get a few helpful tips during the listen!

Cheers,

Mitch

He’s one of the great talents and great personalities of the pro peloton. He’s the Aussie kid made good, who grew up only ever wanting to become a pro cyclist. And at just 26 years of age, he has not only realised that dream but he’s also already become one of the greatest in our history. He is a true cycling purist, he loves everything about the sport - he loves vintage bikes, he was drawn to the Tour de France as a 6-year-old, there was really nothing else he ever wanted to do - he just loves cycling to the core. And this always comes across when you chat with Jai, his pure love of the sport. He loves the history of the sport and the classic era of cycling, and he was inspired by the Aussies in the European pro peloton in the early 2000s, which I loved chatting with him about. But most of all, he’s just a top bloke and his humble and unapologetic nature are a big part of what make him such a great champion.

We had an in-depth chat about how he got into cycling (as a 6-year-old no less), and we talked at length about his early time as an amateur racing in Italy. To say he has had an astronomical rise since then is, of course, an understatement. His breakthrough came when he won the Herald Sun Tour, followed by his infamous second spot in the 2020 Giro d’Italia, where he lost the pink to Tao Geoghegan Hart in heartbreaking fashion on the final stage (I’m sure I don’t need to remind you of that one). But most notably, last year, he came back to take an incredible Giro d'Italia victory, becoming the first Australian ever to do so, and only the second Australian ever to win a Grand Tour. Of course, I couldn’t interview Jai without also touching on the speculation and pressure that will accompany him into the Tour de France, where he’s learning to manage the expectations that inevitably now rest on his shoulders.

If you don’t know Jai too well, you’ll love getting to know him in this episode, where he is candid and utterly himself – a trait that cycling fans have come to know and love. I hope you enjoy the listen and getting to know this young Aussie legend as much as I enjoyed recording it!

Cheers,

Mitch

Rapha presents Talking Luft!

I recently took you on a journey through the absolute torture that was taking part in the beast that is Cape Epic. In case you missed it, it’s an hors categorie mountain biking event, across the challenging terrain of South Africa’s western cape, and it really pushed me to my limit.

I thought while I was there, I might as well get out the microphone and turn it on my friend and Cape Epic partner Ian Boswell, and give him the Talking Luft! treatment.

We had a nice little chat, spanning Bos’ early interactions with Lance Armstrong, his thoughts on achieving luft, hypothetical musings on whether it’s better to ride with or sans helmet, and whether he finds it important to keep shaving the legs post-retirement.

We did a bit of a deep dive on kit selection; how to select your kit post-pro career, which of the former pro kits and bikes are worth keeping, and if you had become world champion during your career, how would you wear your rainbow kit?

We took a look into Bos’ current Strava status (hint- it’s solid), favourite riders from the cycling history books, what his dream loop is, and his favourite pro race – which threw up a few surprises, and of course we delved into some of the trials and tribulations that we overcame at Cape Epic.

We had a bit of fun chatting in this episode, and I hope you enjoy listening along!

Cheers,

Mitch

Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by Rapha

Have you ever wondered about what goes into the team behind the team, and what sort of support goes into helping professional athletes to get the best out of themselves? I have spoken to plenty of interesting people on the pod over the years that have helped to build the behind-the-scenes picture, mostly in the realm of physical support – osteos, soigneurs, and team directors.

They are all super crucial roles in the sport, but something that is often a bit underrated in cycling and in professional sport, is what goes into trying to train the psychological and not just the physical aspect.

Sometimes, people can write athletes off too early in their careers as being physically past their prime, when they are actually just facing mental demons, or are blocked in some way, and when they can overcome this, they have a lot more to give.

That is why I was keen to catch up with my friend, professional coach, and mentor Scott Barrow, to chat about how he gets behind the lens, find out what makes people tick, and get a glimpse into the psyche of the people he helps – and he helps people from all walks of life to get the best out of themselves and reach their potential.

I was at a crossroads in my own career when I first met Scott. He reached out to me when I was on the verge of leaving GreenEDGE, where I had been performing the role of domestique within the team for quite a few years. I knew that the impending change was going to require a lot from me mentally, to go from being a worker to needing to ride for myself and get results.  

Our paths crossed at just the right time, and by working with Scott, I was able to realign my career, and I went on to have another four years in the pro peloton, with EF Pro Cycling, where I was able to write a whole new chapter in my pro career to finish it off.

We had a great chat, covering topics like how pressure affects performance, how he helped me to realign things in my own career, and how he handles taking on the pressure of others, without becoming burdened.

I hope you enjoy the listen!

Cheers,

Mitch

This week, I am taking you along on one of the most challenging weeks of my career, and by far the biggest challenge of my short mountain biking career, the Cape Epic - an eight-day team mountain biking event, across the challenging terrain of the Western Cape of South Africa. To give some context, it is an hors categorie event, and qualifying is necessary to take the start line. Get ready for a longer listen here – but it just had to be that way, to do justice to the absolute beast that is Cape Epic.  

I wanted to take the listener along on this journey, to give some insight into what this race is really like – and let me tell you – it is brutal in every way. The week threw a lot at us – heat, relentless terrain, river crossings, two days of torrential rain, and some seriously wet and slippery conditions. Combined with a serious case of Cape belly, which notoriously plagues this event, and it made for an incredibly difficult challenge, which I am still recovering from.

I lined up with my friend and fellow podcast host Ian Boswell, and we were really in it together, sharing the camper life, and all the ups and downs. Going in, we expected this to be like a stage race. Bos was looking forward to getting into the groove, with visions of hanging by the camp village and trading war stories.

Before the start, there was an electricity in the air that is hard to describe, and within hours of touching down in South Africa, I had bumped into a whole heap of people I know from different corners of the cycling world, all coming together in this far-flung destination to put ourselves to the ultimate test.

There were riders who had done this event before – my friends Al Iacuone and Wade Wallace were here trying to finish this race for the first time – on their third and final attempt. I caught up with last year’s winners Georg Egger and Lukas Baum for some insider tips, and we camped alongside Dave and Fran Millar, undertaking this event for the first time as a mixed team.

It was a war of attrition from the early planning stages right through until the finish line. By the end, we were in pieces, and my fatigue level was hovering down around the level that it would normally be at the end of a Grand Tour, to put things into perspective. Put simply, this was a lot harder than expected. But the sense of accomplishment is also massive and difficult to put into words, and one beer in after the finish, we were already talking about coming back next year. It was an incredible journey, and something we might only fully appreciate in hindsight.

I hope this properly conveys the brutality of this week – it might give you pause if you have considered doing this event yourself, or maybe it has made you even more determined to cross it off your bucket list, either way, enjoy the listen!

Cheers,

Mitch

Rapha presents Talking Luft!

Well, he is back for the first time in 2023, because it just would not be a season of Talking Luft without checking in with my mate, the big fella, Luke Durbridge, back for version 4.0 on Talking Luft!

It is that time of year again, as we head up north and gear up for the start of the cobbled classics, and who better to check in with than Durbo, to get his unique perspective on the races that he loves and knows so well.

We have some curly questions lined up for him this time, some really tricky ones, as it turns out.

Like – would he prefer to win his beloved Bledisloe Cup, or take a solo victory, with plenty of time to enjoy the glory, on the final ascents of the fabled Tour of Flanders? Hint, this one is trickier than you think for this rugby-loving cyclist.

Can he recall the exact Spanish wines that he has critiqued so eloquently online?

And, most importantly, just what is up in Classics cycling fashion this year?

This one is full of laughs, maybe even a couple of tears, a few unexpected responses, and all of the great things we have come to expect from a chat on the pod with Durbo.

Sit back and enjoy this glimpse into the world of the cobbled classics, I hope you enjoy the listen!

Cheers,

Mitch

If you´ve been following me over the latter part of my career, and especially over the past couple of years, you´ll have seen my progression from pure roadie to lover of gravel riding and, more recently, mountain biking. I´ve lined up in a couple of MTB races, but next week, I´ll face my biggest challenge yet, at the brutal South African MTB race, Cape Epic.

But before I head off to Cape Epic, I really wanted to learn a bit more about the history of mountain biking, and the evolution that it has gone through to get to where it is today. I wanted to educate myself, and any others out there listening, that are in the same boat as me – just starting out in the sport of mountain biking but with your head still mostly in the road game, to understand the sport from the bottom up. I wanted to start at the beginning, and I wanted to know what it was like to race the sport and learn the etiquette from the inside out.

So I turned to a few greats of the sport. For history and background, I spoke with Ned Overend, one of the early adaptors of the sport. We chatted about the backstory of MTB, and the early legends, the ones who developed the iconic bikes - The Klunkers - those beach cruisers adapted into makeshift mountain bikes, which they then started racing downhill.  

Next, I wanted to learn about the beauty of mountain biking racing, and that meant I needed to speak to the best of the best, and in my mind, that is the GOAT, Nino Schurter. Nino´s been part of the evolution of the sport from its inception, so what better way to find out how the sport has changed – the racing, the bike development, the course structure, all the technical stuff.

Next, I spoke to someone who started a bit later in the sport but has been really entrenched in the professional racing side of things and that´s Haley Batten, a rider who is now just coming to the forefront of mountain biking, and Haley really helped me to understand the nuances of the sport, the unwritten rules and the etiquette.

Lastly, I wanted to speak to someone who was a roadie but had transitioned to MTB, like me. Lachie Morton, having come from the road and transitioned to MTB, understands what it´s like for someone like me who is coming across from the road and trying to understand the sport.

I´ve developed a bit of a love for this sport, and I can´t wait to get stuck into the challenge of Cape Epic. It´s happening next week, and I´m heading there with my roadie partner Ian Boswell. We will document throughout the time in South Africa at Cape Epic and bring it to you after the event, but for now, sit back and enjoy learning a bit more about the beautiful sport of mountain biking.

Cheers,

Mitch

Show notes-

Intro with Ian Boswell – until 15´44

Ned Overend – 15´50

Nino Schurter – 43´30

Haley Batten – 1´08´30

Lachlan Morton – 1´25´20

Obviously, I’ve worked up close with DS’s throughout my career, but I’ve never been behind the wheel, and when I was asked to support a couple of riders at this years’ Aussie Road Nats, I realised I didn’t really know that much about what goes into the job of being a Directeur Sportif.

So, before I made my big debut as a DS – in the car supporting Brendan Johnston, and Simon Clarke – I needed to learn the ropes, quickly. Fortunately, I’ve got a bunch of Directors at various stages of their careers that I could call on to help me get up to speed before the big day. For this episode, I chatted with seasoned DS’s Brett Lancaster, Gregory Rast, Tom Southam and Zak Dempster, as well as newly minted DS, Sam Bewley.

As an ex-pro it was also a chance for me to ask some of the questions about being a DS that really bothered me during my career – like hey mate, don’t you remember what it’s like to be out here riding?! But also, it gave me a glimpsde into how much work goes on behind the scenes, from the race prep, team communication, and logistics, to managing personalities, rosters and team expectations, and I have to say (spoiler warning), it was a lot more than I expected.

I asked all the big questions – what kind of rider makes the best DS? Do you even have to have been a rider at all to become a DS? And crucially, do former pros turned DS’s remember how hard it is out there?! Some of the answers surprised me, but it was fascinating to learn from experience, and get behind the wheel myself and road-test my new skills.

I hope you enjoy the listen and learning about one of the behind-the-scenes aspects of pro cycling.

Cheers,

Mitch

Rapha presents Talking Luft!

We’re back with Talking Luft, and I’m chatting with a well-known name in Aussie cycling, you might not have heard his name for a while but you’ll definitely know it. He’s one of only two Australians to win the Italian monument Milan-San Remo, and he’s a former teammate of mine, I’m talking of course about Matt Goss.

A born and bred Tasmanian, Gossy started his career on the track, and was a bronze medallist in the team pursuit at the World Championships in L.A. in 2005, before making the transition to the road and making his professional debut with Bjarne Riis at Team CSC in 2007. Throughout his career, he rode for other big teams including HTC Columbia, GreenEDGE, and MTN-Qhubeka. He is a two-time stage winner in the Giro d’Italia, and a Tour de France stage winner as part of the GreenEDGE TTT win in 2013.

He's also an all-around good bloke and I’m stoked I got the chance to chat with him as part of The Race Communique at this year’s TDU. He gave us his insight into the race’s sprint stages, we also tested his knowledge on things like Tasmanian beers and past winners of Milan-San Remo, and quizzed him in true Talking Luft fashion.

Enjoy the listen guys! 

Cheers,

Mitch

Well, here we are back with one of our biggest episodes for the year! I'm really excited to bring this one to life - it's not every day that you get a chance to chat with one of the all-time greats of the sport. With seven Grand Tour wins to his name, including four Tour de France victories, he is indisputably one of the best cyclists of our era. I'm talking, of course, about the legend himself, Chris Froome. Just after the TDU in January, I sat down with Froomey to talk about his incredible career, and take a deep-dive into the tactics behind his impressive win in the 2018 Giro d'Italia.

I was really excited to get the chance to chat in depth with Froomey. He is, of course, a seven-time Grand Tour winner, including four Tour de France wins, two Vuelta a España wins, and one Giro d'Italia win - but his career has been plagued by rumours and unfair treatment, which I was really keen to discuss with him. And whatever your personal opinion of Froomey is, he's inarguably one of the greatest Grand Tour riders in modern cycling, and in my personal opinion, one of the greatest cyclists of all time.

He's also a great bloke, but it's a side to him that not many people get close enough to know. After so many years in the pro peloton, I knew Froomey a bit, and I also know him by reputation through a few close cycling friends that we share. Even though the guy is as professional and polished as they come, I knew from his reputation that there was also another side to him - he's not just Chris Froome the multiple Tour de France and Grand Tour winner, he's also a super nice guy, pretty quietly spoken and unassuming, and even a little bit badass at times (thanks to Daryl Impey for the background stories).

So for this episode, I was really keen to go behind the mask, to uncover that other side to the guy that seems almost superhuman, and sometimes so efficient that he's methodical and even a bit robotic in bike races. We chatted about how he got his start in cycling, and what it was like growing up riding a bike in Kenya. We delved into how he made the leap from Africa, to racing in Europe. And we really got stuck into chatting about that epic stage during the 2018 Giro d'Italia, where he tore the legs off everyone in the race (mine included), and absolutely dominated the fearsome Monte Zoncolan, to come from behind on the GC and take the Maglia Rosa and eventually the overall win. And of course, we spoke about the controversy that has plagued him throughout his incredibly successful career, and what it felt like to be booed, harassed, and even assaulted, day after day, on the already intensely difficult stages and climbs of the Tour de France.

I really loved sitting down with Froomey and hearing from the man himself. Learning more about the trajectory that his career took, and the unbelievable highs that he was able to reach, made for a really fascinating chat. I hope you enjoy getting to know the man, and not just the myth and the legend, as much as I did, and I hope it inspires you to look at this great champion in a new light.

...

Cheers,

Mitch

Image: courtesy of Graham Watson 

Rapha presents Life in the Peloton

How does exercise affect the heart, and what does that mean for elite athletes when they stop training? Is it true that you need to 'de-train' the heart when you retire? I head into the lab with Dr. Andre La Gerche to put my heart through its paces and get some answers.

If you're a regular listener to the pod, you might recall the episode around this time last year where I caught up with Sports Cardiologist Dr. Andre La Gerche, to learn more about how the heart functions in elite athletes. We went through the physiology of the changes that happen in elite athletes' hearts, and what some of the routine cardiac checks are looking for.

I first met Dr. Andre La Gerche while doing my UCI pre-season E.C.G testing with Team GreenEdge in 2013. Through his work as Head of Clinical Research at Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Dr. La Gerche has worked closely with numerous high-level athletes including many professional cyclists. He also has a 2h 29’ marathon to his name, which I think you’ll agree qualifies him as pretty athletically gifted himself!

During our last chat, I brought up the idea of repeating the cardiac testing one year on from retirement. I was really keen to discover what happens to a trained heart when - like I did just over a year ago - you retire. Would my heart simply go back to normal? Or is it true that a pro athlete needs to ‘de-train’ their heart?

So here we are, one year on. I was a little apprehensive about lining up and putting myself through the pain of this testing now that I'm no longer pro. But, in the name of research, and a good pod, I put my heart through its paces with a host of tests including a fasting dexa scan, blood tests, a resting E.C.G electrocardiagram, a Vo2 Max test, and a supine cardiac MRI while pedalling, which checks for scarring of the heart.

For the episode, we studies the test results, and had a fascinating chat that delved into the changes that have occurred in my heart since retiring, and drew some comparisons between myself and other pro cyclists, as well as the average healthy person of the same age, and other changes that have occured now that the intense stress of training has been removed from my body for the first time in 20 years.

Dr. La Gerche’s incredible knowledge of the workings of the heart in an athlete, and his insight as a keen athlete himself, made it a really fascinating chat for me, we covered many more topics around the heart and exercise which answered a lot of burning questions. So sit back and enjoy the listen, and I hope you learn a thing or two along the way (like me!)

Cheers,

Mitch