CASTELLI Cycling Podcast

CASTELLI Cycling Podcast

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CASTELLI Cycling Podcast episodes

  • THE GRUBERS (Part 3) | Inside Race Day & the Creative Process

    Stick around for the final moments of the interview. You won’t regret it. A must-listen for photographers, creatives, cyclists, and anyone curious about what happens beyond the barriers. 


    In this final chapter with Ashley and Jered Gruber, we go fully inside the work. What does it really take to create meaningful images in professional cycling — when conditions aren’t perfect, expectations are sky-high, and every decision happens at race speed?


    From recalibrating a “five-out-of-ten day” into something publishable, to the unique pressure of iconic climbs like Mont Ventoux and Alpe d’Huez, Ashley and Jered break down the invisible labor behind race photography; stage research kilometre by kilometre, fighting logistics, editing in the car, uploading from hotel rooms late at night, and still finding the energy to tell the story on social media.


    We talk about roadside encounters with fans, unexpected human moments, and the strange contrast between riders fighting for their careers and crowds treating race day like a party. 


    The conversation also turns deeply personal — covering burnout, injury, recovery, insecurity, creativity, and the long-term sustainability of a freelance career in modern cycling media.


    From shooting the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes, to rebuilding after a devastating crash at the Tour of Flanders, to finding grounding at home after months on the road — this episode is about process, endurance, passion, and finding beauty where no one else is looking.


    A must-listen for photographers, creatives, cyclists, and anyone curious about what happens beyond the barriers.


    ________


    🇮🇹 Uno sguardo autentico dietro le quinte della fotografia nel ciclismo professionistico. Ashley e Jered Gruber raccontano pressione, processo creativo, infortuni, burnout e perché, nonostante tutto, continuano a tornare sulle corse.



    🇩🇪 Ein ehrlicher Blick hinter die Kulissen der Profi-Radsportfotografie.

    Ashley & Jered Gruber über Entscheidungsdruck, kreative Prozesse, Verletzungen, Erschöpfung und warum sie trotz allem immer wieder zurückkommen.


    ________


    CHAPTERS

    00:00 Intro

    03:07 The Five Out of Ten Day Mindset

    06:30 Mont Ventoux

    09:06 Alpe d Huez and Race Day Chaos

    11:05 Roadside Fans and Human Moments

    16:27 Familiar Places and Returning Each Year

    20:03 Planning a Grand Tour Stage

    27:26 Editing Uploading and Long Nights

    34:01 Giro vs Tour vs Vuelta

    36:20 Mens and Womens Racing

    39:48 Tour of Flanders Crash 2024

    46:29 Shooting the Giro from the TV

    52:46 Riding Bikes and Staying Human

    58:37 Freelance Insecurity and the Future

    1:03:24 Advice for Aspiring Photographers

    1:08:27 Legacy and Closing Thoughts

    1:13:04 Outro



    CONNECT ⁠

    Ashley Norris Gruber

    https://www.instagram.com/ashleygruber/


    Jered Gruber

    https://www.instagram.com/jeredgruber/



    – HOST –

    Søren Jensen, Global Marketing Manager at Castelli, has worked for this iconic brand since 2006. He usually rides backroads and dirt trails, testing new gear in the Italian Dolomites. If you can't find him there, check the Castelli Headquarters in Fonzaso. Connect: ⁠LinkedIn⁠


    Check out our new collection: Castelli-cycling.com



    SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION

    If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr 16 min
  • THE GRUBERS (Part 2) | How It All Began in Cycling Photography

    In part two with Ashley and Jered Gruber we unpack how their journey into cycling photography truly began.


    From a chance meeting sparked by a flat tire in Athens, Georgia, to moving to Europe with no real plan, a €1,500 car, and a pocket-sized camera, this episode traces the early years that shaped their visual language.


    Jered and Ashley share how racing dreams shifted into storytelling, why landscapes and atmosphere mattered more than finish-line shots, and how shooting differently helped them find space in a crowded world of race photography.


    The conversation dives into their first Castelli shoots, the Koppenberg with Andreas Klier, the iconic Passo Giau image with Peter Stetina, and the unexpected chain of events that led them to shoot the Giro d’Italia. Along the way, they reflect on learning by doing, working without moto access, and building trust as a creative duo within the chaos of professional cycling.


    This episode explores cycling photography from the inside out — not just how images are made, but why they’re made that way.


    ________


    🇮🇹 Nel secondo episodio con Jered e Ashley Gruber torniamo all’inizio di tutto: un incontro casuale, una foratura e una decisione che ha cambiato il loro percorso. Dalle prime foto scattate quasi per necessità ai grandi giri, raccontiamo come hanno costruito una carriera nella fotografia ciclistica seguendo istinto, curiosità e uno sguardo diverso sul ciclismo.


    🇩🇪 In der zweiten Episode mit Jered und Ashley Gruber blicken wir zurück auf die Anfänge ihrer Reise. Von einer zufälligen Begegnung und den ersten Fotos bis hin zu den großen Rundfahrten sprechen wir darüber, wie sie sich ihren Platz in der Radsportfotografie erarbeitet haben – mit Geduld, Neugier und einer ganz eigenen Perspektive.

    ________



    CHAPTERS

    00:00 Intro

    03:07 How Ashley and Jered First Met

    05:22 From Racing to Photography

    08:33 Moving to Europe

    09:34 Discovering the Camera

    11:23 First Breaks

    12:24 Life on the Road

    14:01 Meeting Castelli & First Commercial Shoot

    16:17 Koppenberg & Giau

    20:25 Becoming Photographers

    23:46 Creative Duo

    27:52 Finding Their Style

    31:32 The Photo That Changed Everything

    33:13 Giro Opportunity

    36:27 First Grand Tour

    41:24 Evolving the Vision

    45:46 Milano-Sanremo

    49:40 Race Day Workflow

    52:14 Creative Pressure

    55:00 Ending



    CONNECT ⁠

    Ashley Norris Gruber

    https://www.instagram.com/ashleygruber/


    Jered Gruber

    https://www.instagram.com/jeredgruber/



    – HOST –

    Søren Jensen, Global Marketing Manager at Castelli, has worked for this iconic brand since 2006. He usually rides backroads and dirt trails, testing new gear in the Italian Dolomites. If you can't find him there, check the Castelli Headquarters in Fonzaso. Connect: ⁠LinkedIn⁠


    Check out our new collection: Castelli-cycling.com



    SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION

    If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min
  • THE GRUBERS | Instinct, Trust & Life Inside the WorldTour

    Many of you have watched their work evolve over the years, shaping how modern cycling is seen and remembered. I’ve been lucky enough to have a front-row seat to that journey.


    Today, I’m joined by Ashley and Jered Gruber — a husband-and-wife photography duo and two of the most influential visual storytellers in the world of cycling. From their early years to the biggest races on the calendar, I’ve watched them quietly shape how the sport looks, feels, and is remembered.


    This conversation is an honest look into life inside the peloton. We talk about instinct versus technique, creative doubt, missed shots, and the pressure of making split-second decisions when there are no second chances.


    Jered and Ashley open up about working together under extreme stress, following the Tour de France for weeks on end, navigating chaos at Flanders and Roubaix, and why even after all these years, they still feel the urge to try something different.


    This isn’t just a conversation about photography. It’s about trust, partnership, curiosity, and earning your place — not by being loud, but by consistently doing the work at the highest level.


    This is Part 1 of a three-part series. In the episodes to come, we’ll go deeper into how they met, their early years in cycling, full race-day workflows, and what still inspires them today.


    Hope you enjoy this one.


    ________________


    🇮🇹 Breve introduzione

    Due dei più importanti narratori visivi del ciclismo moderno si raccontano in una conversazione intima e senza filtri. Ashley e Jered Gruber parlano di istinto, pressione, fiducia e di cosa significa lavorare insieme dentro il caos del gruppo, dalle Classiche al Tour de France.


    ________________


    🇩🇪 Kurze Zusammenfassung

    Ashley und Jered Gruber gehören zu den einflussreichsten visuellen Geschichtenerzählern im Radsport. In dieser Episode sprechen sie über Intuition versus Technik, kreative Zweifel, Entscheidungsdruck im Rennen und darüber, wie es ist, Woche für Woche im Peloton zu arbeiten.


    ________________



    CHAPTERS

    00:00 – Intro

    05:34 – First Dolomites memories & meeting Igor Tavella  

    08:45 – Most crazy expensive place they’ve slept in the Tour

    10:36 – Their favorite photo  

    11:37 – The shot they still regret missing  

    15:27 – Cycling’s most underrated roads  

    18:06 – Post-Tour exhaustion & recovery  

    20:25 – Favorite races to shoot

    23:09 – Technique vs instinct  

    27:46 – Koppenberg vs Paterberg vs Kwaremont  

    32:24 – Gear, lenses & race-day survival  

    37:38 – Planning locations with moto pilots  

    40:44 – Graham Watson & early inspiration  

    44:32 – Explaining their job outside cycling  

    46:05 – Why documentary photography still matters  

    47:07 – Ending



    CONNECT ⁠

    Ashley Norris Gruber

    https://www.instagram.com/ashleygruber/


    Jered Gruber

    https://www.instagram.com/jeredgruber/


    Igor Tavella

    https://www.instagram.com/igortavella/


    Ustaria Posta Hotel

    https://www.instagram.com/ustariaposta/

    https://www.ustariaposta.it/



    – HOST –

    Søren Jensen, Global Marketing Manager at Castelli, has worked for this iconic brand since 2006. He usually rides backroads and dirt trails, testing new gear in the Italian Dolomites. If you can't find him there, check the Castelli Headquarters in Fonzaso. Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjensen77/


    Check out our new collection: Castelli-cycling.com



    SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION

    If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  • JOE LAVERICK | Privateer’s Life, Marginal Gains & Having Fun!

    Joe Laverick was one of the standout British talents through his junior years and earned a place on one of the top development teams in cycling: Hagens Berman Axeon. He spent two seasons there under the guidance of the world-renowned Axel Merckx.


    Joe had hoped to make the jump to the WorldTour, but things didn’t fall into place, and he found himself without a contract at the end of 2022 — facing an uncertain future.


    Instead of walking away, Joe built something completely different: a one-man privateer project that blends road racing, time trialling and gravel, fuelled by spreadsheets, sponsors, side clients and a serious obsession with marginal gains.


    Joe lifts the curtain on:

    • What it actually costs to race as a privateer (race budget, travel, equipment)
    • Why you need to be more than “just a bike racer” in 2025
    • Balancing being a rider, writer, team owner, sponsor-hunter, soigneur and logistics manager
    • How he uses products like the Castelli Gabba R and new gravel kit – and why honest feedback matters
    • The learning curve of gravel: tyre pressure, technical skills and why it’s an “untapped jigsaw of performance”
    • 200+ days on the road in the US gravel scene, host housing, burnout, and finding balance
    • Why enjoyment is the ultimate performance metric, and his advice for young riders choosing between the pro pathway and privateer life
    • We wrap up with Joe’s dream Girona loop over Sant Hilari and Montseny – a 6.5-hour, 180–200 km that he still calls one of the best rides in the world.


    – LINKS –

    Joe Laverick

    https://www.instagram.com/joe.laverick/

    https://www.strava.com/athletes/7026027


    Sant Hilari Ride

    https://www.strava.com/activities/10469253051


    Castelli SOG

    https://www.castelli-cycling.com/spirit-of-gravel


    Men’s Unlimited Gravel Collection:

    ⁠https://www.castelli-cycling.com/IT/en/Men/Collection/Unlimited/c/Man-Col-Unl⁠


    Women’s Unlimited Gravel Collection:

    ⁠https://www.castelli-cycling.com/IT/en/Woman/Collection/Unlimited/c/Wom-Col-Unl⁠


    Castelli's Xmas Ride, Nov 29:

    Overview | ⁠https://www.strava.com/clubs/66959⁠

    Italy | Signup form: https://www.castelli-cycling.com/castelli-unlimited-christmas-ride-2025



    CHAPTERS

    00:00 – Intro, Castelli Christmas Gravel Ride & Spirit of Gravel Cabal

    02:00 – Who is Joe Laverick? Beating Remco & Girona life

    04:00 – Quickfire round: fashion crimes, coldest rides & junior chaos in Belgium

    09:10 – Contracts dry up: Tour of Alsace, injuries & the decision to go privateer

    14:30 – Building “Joe Laverick the brand”: writing, sponsors, and race budget reality

    18:30 – Gear geek: equipment choices, spreadsheets, and why the Gabba R blew his mind

    22:00 – Influencer vs athlete: social media, honesty and choosing the right partners

    27:20 – 200 days on the road: US gravel, burnout and learning to say “no”

    32:30 – Gravel as an “untapped jigsaw”: tyre pressure, skills and doing more with less budget

    44:40 – Joe’s favourite Girona mega-loop & how not to bonk

    47:00 – Advice to young riders: pro vs privateer, happiness and why fun has to come first

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min
  • PAUL MAGNIER | Inside the Flamme Rouge, Sprint Craft, Marginal Gains (Part 2)

    In part two of our conversation with French powerhouse Paul Magnier of Soudal–Quick-Step — one of the brightest young stars in professional cycling — we dive deep into the art of sprinting.


    Paul pulls back the curtain on the final 1,000 meters: how to read chaos, trust the lead-out, and time the winning move.


    We dig into aero gains — from wind-tunnel insights and bar-width experiments to 56×11 gearing and 105–110 rpm cadence — and why he practices seated accelerations at 800–1,000 watts. He also unpacks the Wolfpack mentality that trades pressure for confidence.


    Paul shares how he mentally reset after a heavy crash, what separates good from great sprinters, and his race-day routine. Plus: his go-to Castelli kit — the Sanremo S8 speed suit, Perfetto, Gabba, and Gavia jackets for rough weather — and why Castelli’s no-logo Pro Shop pieces have become a peloton secret.


    If you’re chasing faster finishes in crits or road races, you’ll love Paul’s practical sprint training cues and energy-saving tactics.


    🎧 Listen now to get smarter — and faster!


    – LINKS –

    Podcast episode with Paul ahead of the 2025 season:

    https://youtu.be/ClivP8jdPlE


    CONNECT ⁠

    ⁠Paul Magnier: https://www.instagram.com/paul_magnier_/


    CHAPTERS

    0:00 — Intro

    2:21 — Big goals: Monuments, Worlds & green jersey

    3:30 — Finding rider type with the coach

    4:19 — Handling pressure when the team backs you

    5:20 — Wolfpack culture: confidence over pressure

    7:18 — Resetting after crash & Omloop near-miss

    13:12 — Inside a sprint: feel vs pain; favorite race kit

    14:31 — Aero gains: position, wind tunnel & bar width tests

    16:20 — Full aero system & no-logo Pro Shop gear

    19:06 — Recon & visualizing the last 3 km

    22:16 — Race-day routine & playlist

    23:16 — Training to sprint: torque, short efforts, seated kicks

    25:26 — Five-minute power & saving energy to the line

    28:24 — Stage-race survival: fueling, grupetto, recovery

    29:28 — Gearing & cadence: 56×11 today, 58T tomorrow?

    30:12 — Marginal gains vs mental load; knowing your body

    34:09 — Cold-weather kit essentials & layering

    38:18 — Cooking, bus food & home life

    41:05 — Paddle board, jet-ski dreams & Grenoble roots

    44:00 — Outro

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min
  • PAUL MAGNIER | The Rise of the French Powerhouse (Part 1)

    Strap in — because today’s episode is an absolute sprint-finish thriller!


    We’re joined by one of the most exciting young riders in world cycling: Paul Magnier of Soudal–Quick-Step — a 21-year-old French powerhouse already rewriting what’s possible in the pro peloton.


    In just two seasons, Magnier has exploded to the top tier of world cycling with 24 victories, making him statistically the most successful rider of his generation, ahead of Evenepoel, Pogačar, van der Poel, and Sagan at the same age.


    Fresh off five straight wins at the Tour of Guangxi and a breakout year featuring 19 victories, a podium at Omloop, and his first Giro d’Italia, Paul sits down with us to reveal:


    - How he stays calm in the chaos of 70km/h bunch sprints

    - The mental toughness needed to perform under WorldTour pressure

    - Lead-out strategy secrets and Wolfpack sprint dynamics

    - Life as cycling’s next superstar — and staying humble along the way

    - Off-season life in Grenoble, MTB roots & why the Gabba is a winter essential


    Whether you're a sprinter chasing speed, a cycling fan hungry for behind-the-scenes insight, or just fascinated by the next generation shaking up the sport—this episode is packed with firepower.


    If you’re obsessed with sprint finishes, race psychology, or want actionable tips to get faster, this episode is packed with firepower for you.


    🎧 Plus: this is Part 1 of a two-episode deep-dive—next week we go all-in on sprint technique, training, gym work, and how YOU can become faster!


    Hit follow, leave a rating, and join the Castelli community!



    – LINKS –

    Podcast episode with Paul ahead of the 2025 season:

    https://youtu.be/ClivP8jdPlE


    CONNECT ⁠

    ⁠Paul Magnier: https://www.instagram.com/paul_magnier_/


    CHAPTERS

    00:00 – Intro

    04:33 – 2025 wrap: 19 wins & GT debut

    05:42 – China recap: team bonding

    06:23 – Race load: 90 days, 11,685 km

    07:06 – 24 wins by 21; Wolfpack support

    08:15 – From WC XC bronze medal to Soudal Quick-Step

    12:58 – Quick-fire 10 questions

    15:11 – Sprint mindset: instinct vs plan

    17:18 – Lead-out roles

    19:08 – Sprint power & Merlier comparison

    20:05 – Fighting for the wheel & positioning

    21:03 – Building the perfect lead-out; inside the Flamme Rouge

    25:01 – Training lead-outs: races vs camps; staying calm

    29:07 – Reading rival trains

    30:44 – Final 200 m: speed, aero, seated sprint

    34:47 – Strength work: in-season gym & velocity focus

    38:20 – Life off the bike: friends, balance, humility

    40:48 – The French wave: peers & momentum

    42:15 – Role-model mindset & clean racing

    43:46 – Home life: Grenoble → Nice; travel perks & weather

    48:38 – Big goals: Monuments, Worlds, Tour green

    50:13 – Outro


    Credits: Play Sports Network / Eurosport, GettyImages

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
  • PAUL MAGNIER ep.1 | The Rise of the French Powerhouse

    Strap in — because today’s episode is an absolute sprint-finish thriller!


    We’re joined by one of the most exciting young riders in world cycling: Paul Magnier of Soudal–Quick-Step — a 21-year-old French powerhouse already rewriting what’s possible in the pro peloton.


    In just two seasons, Magnier has exploded to the top tier of world cycling with 24 victories, making him statistically the most successful rider of his generation, ahead of Evenepoel, Pogačar, van der Poel, and Sagan at the same age.


    Fresh off five straight wins at the Tour of Guangxi and a breakout year featuring 19 victories, a podium at Omloop, and his first Giro d’Italia, Paul sits down with us to reveal:


    - How he stays calm in the chaos of 70km/h bunch sprints

    - The mental toughness needed to perform under WorldTour pressure

    - Lead-out strategy secrets and Wolfpack sprint dynamics

    - Life as cycling’s next superstar — and staying humble along the way

    - Off-season life in Grenoble, MTB roots & why the Gabba is a winter essential


    Whether you're a sprinter chasing speed, a cycling fan hungry for behind-the-scenes insight, or just fascinated by the next generation shaking up the sport—this episode is packed with firepower.


    If you’re obsessed with sprint finishes, race psychology, or want actionable tips to get faster, this episode is packed with firepower for you.


    🎧 Plus: this is Part 1 of a two-episode deep-dive—next week we go all-in on sprint technique, training, gym work, and how YOU can become faster!


    Hit follow, leave a rating, and join the Castelli community!


    CHAPTERS

    00:00 – Intro

    01:45 – 2025 snapshot

    04:51 – Guangxi, High-Five, and season wrap

    06:26 – Race load and rise, 24 wins in only two seasons

    08:27 – From MTB to WorldTour; Wolfpack confidence

    10:32 – Off-season reset and home base

    13:02 – Quick-fire: 1700W, favorite kit, dream wins

    15:25 – Sprint craft: instinct, lead-outs, launch at 200 m

    24:45 – Race reps, staying calm, reading rival trains

    31:21 – Aero at 70+ km/h; Merlier mentorship; strength work

    38:30 – Staying grounded, French wave, goals and Part 2

    50:25 – Outro



    – LINKS –

    Podcast episode with Paul ahead of the 2025 season:

    ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠


    CONNECT

    Paul Magnier Instagram



    – HOST –

    Søren Jensen, Global Marketing Manager at Castelli, has worked for this iconic brand since 2006. He usually rides backroads and dirt trails, testing new gear in the Italian Dolomites. If you can't find him there, check the Castelli Headquarters in Fonzaso.


    CONNECT ⁠

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjensen77/


    Credits: Play Sports Network / Eurosport, GettyImages

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
  • DAVIDE BRAMATI | From Rider to Sports Director — Life Inside the WorldTour & the Wolfpack


    Have you ever wondered what life is really like for a directeur sportif?


    Here’s your chance. Davide “Brama” Bramati—ex-pro and longtime Quick-Step DS—is one of the WorldTour’s most passionate and entertaining voices.


    From his racing days in the ‘90s and 2000s to becoming one of Quick-Step’s longest-serving directeurs sportifs, Brama opens the doors to life inside the race car and the team bus.


    We dive into his transition from rider to DS, how race strategy has evolved with modern tech, the triumphs and heartbreaks of Classics and Grand Tours, and the passion that still fuels him after decades in the sport.


    You’ll also hear what makes the Wolfpack’s family culture so unique, how Brama handles the toughest post-race moments, and which races he’s still hungry to win.



    CHAPTERS

    00:00 Intro

    01:27 Brama’s career highlights

    05:02 Quick-fire questions: style, kit, radios & tech

    10:12 From rider to directeur sportif

    17:27 Life in the team car: pressure, emotions & family

    22:12 Race preparation & technology in modern cycling

    27:53 Tactics, breakaways & the Wolfpack mentality

    30:04 Dream races: Flanders, Roubaix, Liège

    34:51 Young riders, careers & today’s superstars

    42:12 Best career moments

    43:22 Advice for new sports directors

    45:26 Contest: win 2026 Flanders tickets

    46:34 Outro



    CONTEST RULES

    We’ll randomly draw two winners on December 7, 2025 — each gets two (2) hospitality tickets to the 2026 Tour of Flanders Hotond Festival, including all food & drinks. Travel and accommodation are not included. Open to participants 18+. One entry per person.


    📅 Contest Ends: Dec 7, 2025 – 23:59 CET

    Questions: [email protected]


    Good luck! 


    LINKS

    Brama: 

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidebramati/


    SQS

    https://www.instagram.com/soudalquickstepteam/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  • Polartec® AirCore™ | Inside the Future of Breathable, Sustainable Cycling Performance Gear

    Discover Polartec® AirCore™ — the revolutionary fabric that’s lightweight, breathable, PFAS-free, and made from recycled materials, designed to keep you dry from the inside out.


    Watch interview on YouTube:

    https://youtu.be/-EFOAr534V4


    As the industry’s first advanced air-permeable laminate, AirCore™ combines stretch, windproofing, and water repellency with nanofiber technology that actively vents sweat without sacrificing protection from the elements.


    In this episode, Ramesh Kesh, Senior Vice President at Milliken & Company and Business Manager at Polartec, joins Steve Smith, Castelli Brand Manager, to share how this breakthrough came to life, and why it could redefine winter cycling gear for years to come.


    Together, they unpack the science, the challenges, and why Castelli’s new winter collection — launching September 9, 2025 — marks a turning point in performance cycling apparel. From lab testing to real-world rides, discover why AirCore™ is set to become the new benchmark in cycling performance.


    – LINKS –

    Castelli

    www.castelli-cycling.com/polartec-aircore

    https://www.castelli-cycling.com/II/en/custom/full

    Polartec®:

    www.polartec.com/fabrics/weather-protection/aircore


    – GUESTS –

    Ramesh Kesh

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/rameshkesh


    Steve Smith

    ⁠www.instagram.com/smittystuff/⁠


    CHAPTERS

    00:00 Intro

    03:56 Quick-Fire Round

    07:16 Why New Fabric Was Needed

    13:26 Engineering Breathability

    19:41 Inside the AirCore™ Fabric

    25:20 How Movement Activates Performance

    28:03 Removing PFAS chemicals, 

    30:33 Real-World Performance

    33:26 Breathability & Numbers

    37:50 Waterproofness & Water Column Explained

    40:04 Soudal Quick-Step

    41:27 Product Collection

    45:52 Sustainability & The Future

    49:03 AirCore Setting a New Standard

    52:11 Looking Ahead

    52:54 Sum up AirCore

    53:36 Outro

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min
  • Fueling for Hot Weather | Hydration & Nutrition Tips for Cyclists and Runners

    Riding in the summer heat can turn a dream ride into a survival mission if you don’t fuel and hydrate correctly. In this episode, we're joined by returning guest and sports performance nutritionist, Dani Hofstetter, to break down how to fuel and hydrate smarter for hot weather training and racing.


    From carb absorption to sodium losses, cramping, gut tolerance, sweat testing, and post-ride recovery, Dani shares practical strategies to keep you fast, fueled, and functional when temperatures soar past 30°C.


    You’ll also hear listener questions answered on topics like whether to switch to plain water mid-ride, how to balance solids and liquids, and how to adapt fueling for long, unsupported gravel rides. Packed with pro tips and real-world examples from long distance races like an Ironman, Badlands, Ötztaler, to the Cape Epic, this is your ultimate hot-weather fueling guide.


    CHAPTERS

    00:00 – Intro

    04:21 – Quickfire round

    08:32 – Listener Q: Should you switch to water in the heat?

    10:38 – Carb concentration adjustments based on temperature

    11:10 – How under-hydrating backfires: gut distress & thicker blood

    12:46 – Subtle signs of dehydration

    14:29 – Listener Q: Does craving water mean you've overdone the mix?

    15:54 – How to calculate your sweat rate

    17:35 – Setting up hydration for long unsupported ultras

    18:53 – Balancing carbs, fluid, and electrolytes

    19:16 – Listener Q: How many carbs/hour for amateurs vs pros?

    20:28 – Adjusting fueling plan in the heat

    21:15 – Listener Q: Nutrition for cramp-prone riders

    22:14 – Why dehydration is a bigger cause of cramps than magnesium

    23:46 – Listener Q: Solids vs liquids in hot weather

    24:44 – Is gel + water better than drink mix?

    25:33 – What to pick at a hot feed zone: Coke, fruit or salt?

    27:21 – Palate fatigue and why taste matters

    29:33 – Listener Q: Are sweat/sodium tests really helpful?

    32:13 – Sodium vs salt: key numbers explained

    34:06 – Replacing sodium: what really matters

    35:14 – Should you add salt to your bottles?

    36:51 – Two key hydration rules every rider should know

    37:22 – Listener Q: Post-ride recovery nutrition in the heat

    38:24 – What to drink and eat after hot rides

    39:35 – Why recovery is the "work after the work"

    41:06 – Listener Q: Caffeine and spicy foods in hot weather

    42:15 – Listener Q: Carrying extra hydration for long gravel rides

    43:22 – Preloading sodium: how and when

    44:56 – Listener Q: Training differently in a heat wave

    45:56 – Final take: consistency, fatigue, and training timing


    LINKS

    Dani Hofstetter

    ⁠Website⁠

    ⁠Instagram⁠


    Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soren Jensen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Castelli

    ⁠Castelli's Hot Weather Collection ⁠


    SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS

    If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min

About CASTELLI Cycling Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to the Castelli Podcast — your inside access to one of cycling’s most iconic brands.


Founded in Milan in 1876, Castelli has a long history of pushing the boundaries of…

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