28 Apr
An aggressively contested classic, pretty much from the moments the cameras came on (and off). Effective, well-executed team work, some nice individual performances, but also kind of an example of how, sometimes, you just gotta be fast. Those in Germany might need to watch on Vimeo.
26 Apr
Episode 11: Tour de Romandie 2015
With the classics in the rear view, Dane Cash (@velohuman / VeloHuman.com) and I press boldly into Grand Tour season with the Tour de Romandie, a very hilly six-day stage race through the French-speaking parts of Switzerland that serves both as a launch pad for Tour de France prep, and a final tune-up for contenders in next month’s Giro d’Italia.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 31:35 — 43.4MB)
Photo by Georges Ménager |(CC)
24 Apr
Episode 10: Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2015
Dane Cash (@velohuman / VeloHuman.com) and I discuss Liege-Bastogne-Liege, which is the oldest race…anywhere. Longer climbs than most classics, a ton of potential launch points, a ridiculous array of potential favorites, layers of history, and just the tiniest bit of post-industrial gloom make this Monument (if you think that’s a thing) a fitting send-off for the spring classics season.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 35:51 — 49.3MB)
Photo by Sjaak Kempe|(CC)
21 Apr
A lot of cool and varied teamwork from a variety of squads, mercifully few crashes, near-fisticuffs, and nicely tactical final k. All in all, not a bad Amstel. Watch on Vimeo if the embed above doesn’t work—it’s a better site anyway.
18 Apr
Episode 9: Amstel Gold & Fleche Wallonne 2015
The youngest of the Spring Classics, Amstel Gold is punctuated by 30+ climbs and incessant road furniture. Wednesday’s Fleche Wallone takes riders over the photogenically steep Mur de Huy three times. Dane Cash (@velohuman / VeloHuman.com) is back in the US to help me discuss the events, what makes them similar, what makes them different, and which riders to watch.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 40:36 — 55.8MB)
Photo by Johan Wieland.
13 Apr
The cobbles weren’t all that decisive this year—thanks to good weather and a steady tailwind, they were really more a steady grindstone against which the field was reduced. The real tactical action came at the very end, and involved some of Etixx-Quickstep’s best racing this spring, though in the finale, the outcome was pretty much inevitable.
10 Apr
Episode 8: Paris-Roubaix
They call it the Queen of the Classics—long, pan-flat, jarring and legendary. Dane Cash (@velohuman / VeloHuman.com) continues his European tour, interviewing my race favorite Sky’s Brad Wiggins, his teammate Gerraint Thomas, and MTN Qhubeka’s American veteran, Tyler Farrar. In addition, we both pontificate on the history, the most important cobbled segments, and of course, the contenders.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 42:11 — 58.0MB)
Photo by Christian Bille.
10 Apr
Since so many of you asked, it’s an Icebreaker Quantum LS Zip Hoodie. It’s wool, and comfortable for strenuous exercise or just wearing. And it doesn’t smell. I was very upset to fray a few threads in the right shoulder the day after I got it, but otherwise, it’s held up quite well. And no, I wasn’t compensated for that.
6 Apr
A long race with a relatively simple plotline and loads of substories. Sky over-working, Greipel doing everything, Shimano not-so-neutral service, FDJ’s miserable luck, Tiesj Benoot…but as always, to get everything (like those last two), you’ll have to watch the actual race.
4 Apr
Episode 7: Tour of Flanders
An interview-filled edition on what I consider the biggest race of the year, The Tour of Flanders. Dane Cash (@velohuman / VeloHuman.com) is on-site in Belgium, snaring interviews with Sep Vanmarcke, Patrick Lefevere, and Gerraint Thomas, while I pour over course profiles and archival footage, all to give you the best pre-race rundown available.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 38:53 — 53.7MB)
Photo by Ctankcycles.