Beyond the Peloton Podcast

Spencer Martin and co-host Andrew Vontz break down early-season racing, as well as discussing how early crashes to top stars like Mads Pedersen have already shaped the 2026 season, and if Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel are taking unnecessary risks with their off-season alpine ski trips. They also debate whether SoCal’s CBR race series is truly the heart of American bike racing, why the Unibet Rockets were left out of the 2026 Tour de France, and discuss a few standout comments from Quinn Simmons’ recent interview, as well as whether XDS-Astana needs to refresh its team rap video format.

BTP’s State of the 2026 USA Cycling Union

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Spencer Martin and co-host Andrew Vontz, just back from their annual team-building retreat at Pace Ranch in Tucson, Arizona, discuss the 2026 season’s kickoff races, what has stood out to them, and if Remco Evenepoel’s strong start at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe means the Belgian is on track to meet the lofty goals set by the team. They also go through the news that Picnic-PostNL is in deep financial trouble, and attempt to decipher EF’s public call for further funding.

2026 BTP NET Ratings: Projecting How Each Team Will Stack up by the End of the Season

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Spencer Martin and co-host Andrew Vontz kick off the New Year by discussing Wout van Aert’s extremely unfortunate broken ankle and how it will affect his upcoming season, as well as what his Visma–Lease a Bike team can do to plug the hole left by Simon Yates’ shocking and sudden retirement, before discussing whether there is WorldTour talent hiding in plain sight on Strava leaderboards.

2026 Rider Tiers Part 1: Ranking the Top 20 Grand Tour Contenders Heading into the New Season

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Spencer Martin and co-host Andrew Vontz are joined by Riding With’s Jonathan Kaplan to break down their annual end-of-year challenge, the Abandon Your Family 500, where they ride 500 kilometers before Christmas Day.

BTP Newsletter: UAE’s Performance Duo Jeroen Swart & Javier Sola on the Training Philosophy Behind Their Team’s Success

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this bonus minisode, Tadej Pogačar speaks in front of the gathered press at UAE Team Emirates' media day in Benidorm, Spain, during his UAE team’s training camp. The featured audio includes Pogačar’s press conference, where he outlines his early-season plans and reveals key details of his upcoming schedule, his priorities for the year ahead, what’s motivating him right now, and how he’s approaching the next phase of his career.

*This audio was captured in live press conference, so please excuse the lower quality relative to other episodes

Spencer Martin and co-host Andrew Vontz check in from the epicenter of pre-season training camps, Spain’s Costa Blanca, where the stars are preparing for their 2026 campaigns, releasing their race schedules, and the transfer rumors are flying. They discuss Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s decision to have Remco Evenepoel target the GC at the 2026 Tour de France, Lidl-Trek leaving Jonathan Milan off their Tour roster, and where in the world Oscar Onley will race next season.

This episode is brought to you by Join Cycling. ⁠⁠⁠Get your first month free through this link⁠⁠⁠

Season in Review Part 5: Just How Far is Tadej Pogačar From Matching Eddy Merckx?

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Important note: To access all posts, including the members-only off-season chat rooms, you must be a paying BTP subscriber.

After announcing and outlining their Abandon Your Family 500 challenge, Spencer Martin and co-host Andrew Vontz discuss how the recently revealed Giro d’Italia route could lure top stars to the race, debate who will win in a potential matchup between Isaac del Toro, Remco Evenepoel, and Jonas Vingegaard, and go through the recently-released 2026 Lifetime Grand Prix schedule.

This episode is brought to you by Join Cycling. ⁠⁠⁠Get your first month free through this link⁠⁠⁠

Season in Review Part 5: Just How Far is Tadej Pogačar From Matching Eddy Merckx?

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Spencer & Andrew on Strava to join the challenge

Important note: To access all posts, including the members-only off-season chat rooms, you must be a paying BTP subscriber.

Spencer Martin and co-host Andrew Vontz sat down with Tucson local/American GC star Matthew Riccitello live at the El Tour de Tucson to discuss his breakout ride at the Vuelta a España, his development from aspiring NBA star, to novice cyclist, to finishing 5th place overall at the Vuelta in just a few years, his decision to leave Israel Premier-Tech for the French superteam Decathlon-CMA CGM for 2026, and how he sees his career developing in the near future.

This episode is brought to you by Join Cycling. ⁠⁠⁠Get your first month free through this link⁠⁠⁠

Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠: Season in Review #4: Most Improved & Regressed Stars of 2025

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Important note: To access all posts, including the members-only off-season chat rooms, you must be a paying BTP subscriber.

Spencer Martin and co-host Andrew Vontz report back on their experience racing at the El Tour de Tucson, which saw them race 102 miles at a scorching pace alongside George Hincapie, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Quinn Simmons, and 11,000 of their closest friends. Before they wrap, they have Steve Morganstern, board chairman for Perimeter Bicycling of America, including El Tour de Tucson, on to discuss the event and its charitable goals.

This episode is brought to you by Join Cycling. ⁠⁠⁠Get your first month free through this link⁠⁠⁠

Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠: Season in Review Part 3: Who Were 2025’s Top Riders?

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Important note: To access all posts, including the members-only off-season chat rooms, you must be a paying BTP subscriber.

In the latest episode of the Beyond the Peloton podcast, BTP newsletter author Spencer Martin and co-host Andrew Vontz check in from London’s Rouleur Live event, discuss their recent travel drama and the unfolding drama around the IPT team, and the rumor that their former sponsor, Premier Tech, is looking to partner with Mathieu van der Poel and his Alpecin team in 2026.

This episode is brought to you by Join Cycling. ⁠⁠⁠Get your first month free through this link⁠⁠⁠

Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠: Season in Review Part 3: Who Were 2025’s Top Riders?

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Important note: To access all posts, including the members-only off-season chat rooms, you must be a paying BTP subscriber.