The Rouleur Podcast

Belgium often gets a bad rap. Not without some justification. Geographically, its scenery isn't much to look at: mile upon mile of fields and farmland. Culturally, "name ten famous Belgians" used to be a popular parlour game (for those of us with parlours). Politically, Belgium is a basket case: it mostly doesn't have a government and one of its biggest parties has advocated for the abolition of the country itself.But Belgium also does chocolate and beer (see Rouleur 20.2), mussels and fries, and some of the most visually welcoming city centres in the world.More importantly than any of those pros and cons, however, is that Belgium is where the sport of cycling comes alive. Every spring, even as our attention is briefly stolen by exotic, southern locations, our affections are reserved for the racing that dominates March and April. The Monuments may provide the loudest fireworks but even the minor races go off with a bang. Morten Okbo waits by the side of the road. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Classics season got underway at the weekend with two opening races in Flanders - Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne Brussel Kuurne. Ian Parkinson was there to talk one-day tactics with first-year pro Fred Wright of Bahrain McLaren and EF Pro Cycling’s Jens Keukeleire. And the men behind The Deserter blog leave their natural home in the pubs of South London for the beer tent in the dunes of Koksjide.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It won’t surprise you that the man who coached Rohan Dennis to his stunning Worlds time trial win last year has some interesting things to say about training. Neal Henderson is ‘Head of Science’ at The Sufferfest app and he’s joined by ‘Chief Cycling Physiologist’ Mac Cassin. They explain which numbers really matter and why most of us are probably looking at the wrong ones. Desire Editor Stuart Clapp is surprisingly old-school in his training habits, but does like the latest technology in helmets. We talk to the team from POC about their self-charging helmets that not only protect your head - but record details of accidents to help with future research.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking for a more portable way to enjoy your favourite cycling magazine? You’re in luck, as this week sees the launch of the Rouleur Longreads Podcast: selected long form articles from the magazine, especially recorded for Rouleur. Don’t stop what you’re doing – do it while listening to the world’s best cycling writing.We begin with ‘The Rise of Gravel’ by Hugo Gladstone, from Rouleur 20.1. Read by George Oliver.Once the scourge of cyclists, today we glorify in gravel sectors. Strade Bianche, one of the most looked-forward-to races of the spring, owes its success in no small part to the penchant of audiences for the untarmaced white roads and clouds of dust kicked up in the riders’ wake, all framed by “the lyrical Tuscan landscape.”Perhaps it speaks to a certain yearning for authenticity, and back-to-basics bike riding that the Tour de France cannot cater to. It can’t be a coincidence that bike-packing’s popularity has risen at the same time. Whether or not the road scene’s dominance is actually under threat remains to be seen, but we’ve already seen a few roadies abandon the WorldTour for the off-road circuit.How we learned to take the rough with the smooth.For more of the world's finest cycling writing, subscribe to the magazine or purchase individual issues, head over to Rouleur.cc Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British Cycling has dominated the sport - especially on the track - for more than a decade - but at what cost? That’s the central question in a new book 'The Medal Factory', by one of the country’s most experienced cycling journalists - Kenny Pryde. On this podcast, Kenny talks through the extraordinary transformation of British Cycling from its underfunded, amateur past to its world beating, gold medal and Grand Tour winning present. The success has come with controversy - the Jiffy bag, allegations of bullying and the complex relationship between the lottery-funded national national squads and the commercial Team Sky. And how much longer can this golden streak last?Plus, Rouleur’s Desire Editor Stuart Clapp goes starry-eyed over Colnago’s new gravel bike and explains why Adam Blythe has been helping him recover from pneumonia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rouleur editor Andy McGrath’s in-depth interview with Marcel Kittel is our lead feature for issue 20.1, out soon. One of the most prolific sprinters of his generation stepped away from the sport last year at the age of 31, to the surprise of many. Why? Andy discusses Kittel’s decision with host Ian Parkinson. It’s not a cut and dry ‘mental health’ issue, he concludes, but more a matter of job satisfaction, as Marcel goes back to studying once more and leaves the pro peloton behind.  Author Matt Rendell is a renowned authority on South American cyclists and, in particular, the Colombians. His upcoming book Colombia Es Pasion! promises to be the definitive tome on the subject. Hear who Matt thinks will have a cracking season in 2020 – including a reinvigorated Nairo Quintana with Arkea Samsic.  Our new columnist Orla Chennaoui is a great signing for Rouleur. She tells Ian what she’ll be covering in the coming year, and updates us on her superb Cycling’s #MeToo investigation from issue 19.6. The Desirable Stuart Clapp, meanwhile, is on a photo shoot in glorious south London, near to his spiritual home of Millwall. Will he get the end of his match report on the Leeds game before we lose the signal? Need you ask? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Blythe rode for some of the biggest teams in racing over his ten-year professional career – Tinkoff, BMC, Orica-Greenedge and Lotto Soudal – but it was his year with British squad NFTO that proved most fruitful and fun, including his win at RideLondon in 2014.Adam joins our own Stuart Clapp and host Ian Parkinson on the sofa at the Rouleur Classic to talk through past, present and future, the troubled state of domestic UK racing, being a TV pundit, and racing with a hangover. His advice? Don’t do it, kids.Desire editor Stu, meanwhile, has been razzing around the Peckham BMX track on his Brompton, has a new bike to wax lyrical about (it’s a gravel bike, don’t @ him), and does an impression of Mark Cavendish that is actually better than Mark Cavendish. Hearing is believing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The always-ebullient Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig joins Ian Parkinson to explain how she went from stacking supermarket shelves to being a major talent in the Women’s World Tour, with podium finishes at Trofeo Alfredo Binda, Tour of Flanders and La Course. The young Dane moves to a French team next season, and promises to keep her attacking style. “That’s how I love racing, the harder the better.”  The Dave Rayner Foundation recently acquired charitable status, a big advantage for the fund that aids young riders racing abroad. Former friend and team-mate Tim Harris and his partner Joscelin Ryan tell us about Dave and where the money raised goes, with a long list of household names who have benefitted from Rayner support, and we are joined by two young Rayner-funded riders.  Our Desire editor Stuart Clapp knows a fine looking bike when he sees one. Wandering the bling-filled aisles of the Rouleur Classic, his attention is drawn to a brand formerly known for being cheap and cheerful – Ribble. They have upped their game considerably of late, with some smashing machines coming out of the north of England, but still excellent value. Stu gets the lowdown on the e-bike used by Sean Yates and a stunning 24 carat goldleaf build making its debut at the show.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are going long distance for a change on the latest Rouleur podcast.  Lachlan Morton of EF Education First joins us to explain his thinking behind tackling some unusual and challenging events this season, a million miles away from the standard pro road racers’ fare.  From the GB Duro – Land’s End to John O’Groats mostly on bridleways and country lanes – which Morton won, through to the legendary Three Peaks cyclo-cross in Yorkshire, the Australian has been riding with a big grin on his face having previously considered packing in road racing for a career.  We also speak to another lover of ultra-distance racing, Emily Chappell, former bicycle courier and women’s winner of the Transcontinental Race in 2016. Emily has an excellent new book out, Where There’s a Will, detailing her trials and tribulations on the road and in life, which we highly recommend.  Also, Desire editor Stuart Clapp gets the backstory and hears about the latest tweaks to the famous Castelli Gabba, the poor weather jacket of choice for the pro peloton. Ian Parkinson even lets him finish his interview without fading out… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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

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

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

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

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