Bobby and Jens

Matthew Riccitello might only be in his first year in cycling's World Tour, but he's already made a big impact. Few neo pros ride a Grand Tour in the first year… fewer still tackle the very first on the calendar…but that's exactly what Matthew Riccitello did in 2023.

In this conversation he shares his personal journey to the sport of cycling - from the foot of Arizona's Mount Lemon, to Lux Racing, Hagen Berman Axeon and finally to the pro peloton with Israel-Premier Tech. He opens up about life on the road, his future goals and shares his own "pinch yourself moments" since entering the world of top level cycling.

Bobby and Jens is a Shocked Giraffe production for Velo. This episode was produced by Mark Payne and edited by Tim Mossa.

There have been few better seasons in professional cycling than Demi Vollering’s 2023. She’s already won Strade Bianchi, Amstel Gold, Liège–Bastogne–Liège and the Vuelta a Burgos which all means she wears the Women's World Tour leader’s jersey at her biggest objective of the season - The Tour de France Femmes. In this conversation with Bobby and Jens she reveals how her preparations are going as she looks to take on defending champion and her Dutch teammate Annemiek Van Vlueten. 

Demi also reveals her journey into the world of cycling and how she plans to pursue the rainbow bands at the World Championships in Glasgow. As the Tour de France Femmes gets under way.. There’s also a chance to catch Bobby and Jens’ assessment of the men’s event - recorded before the dramatic finale - with updates from Jens’ time on the motorbike for GCN and Eurosport and a first time visitor to the race Diaa Nour gives us his view from the roadside of cycling’s crown jewel. 

Bobby and Jens is a Shocked Giraffe production for Velo. This episode was produced by Mark Payne and edited by Kirk Warner.

Stuart O'Grady is a man comfortable in many environments. As a rider he won four Olympic medals - including gold in the Madison in 2004, on the road he tamed the cobbles of Paris Roubaix and won the first of his two Tour de France stages by outfoxing his breakaway companions on a mountainous stage. Now 'Stuey' is tasked with kicking off the World Tour as director of the Tour Down Under. He joins his former teammates to look to the future and reminisce over their treasured memories of life in the peloton.

Bobby and Jens is a Shocked Giraffe production for Velo. This episode was produced by Mark Payne and edited by Kirk Warner.

Check out this episode in video here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdm7tkA_shHCsL0o1sV8biElMZd8-2y-g

Edvald Boasson Hagen has been one of the strongest riders in the peloton since he joined the world tour in 2008 with High Road. His surprise win at Gent-Wevelgem in 2009, stage win at the Giro, and powerful roleur style made him a key signing for the newly formed Team Sky in 2010. He won the team's first ever Tour de France stage, picking up two in 2011 and rode as a key domestique in part of both Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome's Tour de France wins in 2012 and 2013 respectively. He's also added 10 Norwegian time trial titles, four road titles, a world championship silver medal, a third Tour de France stage win, a pair of wins each at the Tour of Britain and the Eneco Tour and three more GC wins at the Tour of Norway.

Now Edvald has set his sights on stage hunting for Team TotalEnergies at this year's Tour de France.

This episode of Bobby and Jens is a Shocked Giraffe production for Velo. This episode was produced by Mark Payne and edited by Kirk Warner.

Caleb Ewan has long been regarded as one of the most explosive sprinters in the peloton. He's earned picked up victories at some of the world's most prestigious races... including the two races regarded as the unofficial sprinters world championships on the Champs Elysees and Scheldeprijs. In this conversation he reveals to Bobby and Jens everything about the art of being a modern sprinter from finding the right line to the finish to surviving the mountains.

Bobby and Jens is a Shocked Giraffe production for Velo.

This episode of Bobby and Jens is dedicated to Gino Mäder, his family, friends and those that loved him.

Full disclosure Adam Hansen was booked to talk about rider safety before the Tour de Suisse started, the day we sat down to record - team Bobby and Jens and Adam had just received news that Gino hadn't made it - and were still processing the horrific news regarding his accident. This episode is unlike any of the others we've made before - and hopefully there won't be another in the future. This conversation surrounds Adam's role in keeping riders safe, the obstacles still in his path and explores the role the CPA serves in ensuring rider wellbeing away from the bike. Bobby and Jens also reveal their own experiences with death in the peloton as they share how they dealt with tragedy on the bike.

Bobby and Jens is a Shocked Giraffe production for Velo. This episode was produced by Mark Payne and edited by Kirk Warner.

Check out a visualized version of this episode at youtube.com/@OutsideWatch

Bobby and Jens are joined by Canadian hotshot Derek Gee. He spoke to Bobby and Jens days after the conclusion of his epic first grand tour - before he was rewarded with a well deserved contract extension by his team. After Derek finished 2nd on four Giro stages, 2nd in the Mountain classification, 2nd in the points he was the deserved winning of the race's most aggressive rider classification. We hear Derek's thoughts on the viral moments from his Giro - from the screaming Canadian fan to the mistake Jonathan Vaughters won't forget!

Bobby and Jens is a Shocked Giraffe production for Velo. This episode of Bobby and Jens was produced by Mark Payne and edited by Kirk Warner.

You can see a visualised version of this podcast by heading to youtube.com/@OutsideWatch

Danish rider Jakob Fuglsang joins us from Andorra to share his plans for the 2023 season. He reveals why an early season illness reshaped his goals for the year. We also dig through the archives and discover how Jakob moved from being one of the best mountain bikers on the planet to one of the elite men on the road. Jakob gives his thoughts on his role in THAT cobbled stage at Le Tour 2014, how he secured silver at the Rio Olympics and how he feels as one of the elder statesman of the peloton.

Bobby and Jens is a Shocked Giraffe production for Velonews. This episode was produced by Mark Payne and edited by Tim Mossa.

She competed in ice hockey at collegiate level before transitioning into triathlon after narrowly missing out on the US Olympic team... and the changes have barely stopped since. Now an accomplished multisport star, she manages a complicated season of ultra long trail running alongside her gravel pursuits... She spoke to Bobby and Jens ahead of her biggest goal of the season - Unbound.

Bobby and Jens is a Shocked Giraffe production for Velo. It was produced by Mark Payne and edited by Tim Mossa.

Fresh from pushing Bobby to his limits at the 2023 ride, Xisco Lliteras explains the huge logistical effort involved in creating a challenging ride worthy of ex pros that doesn't alienate more novice riders. He reveals where his own love affair with the sport began and how the race grew to be one of the best loved on the amateur calendar. Plus... why he's not the only one looking ahead to the 2024 edition.