Cole Kessler might be one of the tallest riders in the peloton, but he’s quickly proving he’s more than a gentle giant. At 6’6”, the American national time trial champion joins Aidan to talk about late growth spurts, finding balance in a sport built on sacrifice, and why he believes the breakaway isn’t dead.

From growing up as an undersized kid on the American football field to climbing the ranks with Lidl–Trek, Cole opens up about what it really takes to become a pro cyclist, the pressure of constant doping controls, and life in Europe as a young American.

They also dive into:
🧠 The mental side of performance and recovery
📈 How data and science are reshaping modern cycling
🎓 Juggling UCLA economics studies with a pro career
🇺🇸 The future of American road racing

Cole also shares his dream of racing a home Olympics, what off-season life looks like in Reno, and why Cinnamon Toast Crunch is still his post-ride snack of choice.

From Pogačar’s dominance to del Toro’s breakout at the Giro, from Marlen Reusser’s evolution to Maëva Squiban's fearless Tour de France Femmes ride: this episode covers it all.

Bram and Ethan sit down for a full-season recap of men’s and women’s racing, breaking down the highs, lows, and biggest surprises of the year. Expect strong opinions, bad predictions, and plenty of laughs as the Domestique team hands out its unofficial end-of-season awards.

🎙 Topics covered:
• Best riders of 2025 (no prizes for guessing who…)
• Breakthrough talents and biggest surprises
• The strongest teams and top domestiques
• The most entertaining one-day and stage races
• What 2026 might have in store

In this episode of The Domestique Hotseat, Bas Tietema opens up about storytelling, ambition and the rise of the Unibet Rose Rockets, cycling’s most unconventional team.

From filming rides with friends to leading a pro squad chasing a Tour de France wildcard, Tietema shares how belief, creativity and community turned an idea into a movement.

With Wout Poels and Dylan Groenewegen joining for 2025, the Rockets are no longer outsiders as they redefine what a modern cycling team can be.

🎙️ “It’s not just about the WorldTour. It’s about building the biggest fanbase in cycling.”

Listen to the full conversation for a candid look at the Rockets’ rise and what’s next on their road to the Tour.

After a season that took her from the high climbs of the Tour de France to the chaos of Worlds in Rwanda, The Domestique Hotseat sat down with Niamh Fisher-Black to talk leadership, learning curves, and what it means to grow up inside the peloton.

At just 24, the New Zealander has already lived the full arc of a rider’s education. From her early jump to SD Worx to her new role as team leader at Lidl–Trek, Fisher-Black is still searching for that first win at the highest level, but the consistency tells its own story.

We spoke about her silver medal at the World Championships, her critique of the UCI’s handlebar-width rule, and the reality of racing without radios. She also reflected on the importance of a true U23 category, something she feels women’s cycling still misses. 

Fisher-Black also opened up about her time at SD Worx, the media scrutiny around Demi Vollering, and what it means to carry the weight of leadership. 

Listen to the full conversation for a thoughtful and quietly determined insight into one of cycling’s young leaders, a rider learning not just how to race but how to win.

In this episode of the Domestique Cycling Podcast, Bram is joined by Domestique editor Ethan for a short preview of the season's last WorldTour race on European soil as they break down the parcours, where they expect Tadej Pogačar to go solo and who will attempt to follow him.

Potentially standing in the Slovenian's way is Remco Evenepoel, who’s been closing the gap all autumn after strong rides at both the World Championships and European Championships. Behind them lies a deep field of challengers, including Tom Pidcock, Richard Carapaz, Giulio Ciccone, and breakout star Paul Seixas, each with their own chance to disrupt the Pogacar–Evenepoel duopoly.

Other topics in this episode:

• Underdogs to watch: Pidcock, Seixas, Carapaz, Ciccone, and more
• The last races for riders switching teams in 2026
• UAE’s internal tensions and Ayuso’s future
• Astana’s mysterious roster situation and what it means
• Podium predictions and surprise top-10 picks
• A lighthearted look ahead to the Tour of Guangxi and the offseason

Expect sharp insights, humour, and a healthy dose of cycling nerdery, all wrapped up in Domestique’s signature blend of passion and precision.

On the back of a rollercoaster season, we sat down with Sarah Gigante for this episode of The Domestique Hotseat. At just 24, the Australian has already endured more setbacks than many face in a lifetime: from breaking both arms as a junior, to heart inflammation at Movistar, and most recently surgery for iliac artery endofibrosis.

Gigante opens up about her unconventional path: an ATAR score of 99.95, a mother who doubled as scribe and soigneur, and the home-made abseiling harness that kept her training after a double arm fracture. She reflects on her first years at Movistar, her rebirth with AG Insurance–Soudal, and the relief of realising that surgery had finally restored full blood flow to her right leg.

We talk about her breakout rides at the Giro d’Italia Donne and Tour de France Femmes, the criticism of her descending, and how she handles the scrutiny that comes with being one of the sport’s brightest young climbers. Gigante also shares her perspective on UCI’s safety rules, the rise of women’s cycling, and why she believes beating Lorena Wiebes or Tadej Pogačar is almost impossible.

Listen now for an inspiring mix of honesty, resilience, and a touch of humour from one of cycling’s most fascinating young riders.

The 2025 European Road Championships head to the Drôme-Ardèche region in France, with a 202.5km course packed with relentless climbs. From the opening ascent out of Privas to repeated passages over the Saint-Romain-de-Lerps and the Val d’Enfer, this route will punish anyone not at their best.

In this episode of the Domestique Cycling Podcast, Bram is joined by Domestique editor Ethan for a full preview of the men’s and  races as they break down the parcours, the favourites and the tactical battles to expect.

From Tadej Pogačar fresh off his Worlds win to Remco Evenepoel seeking revenge and the unknown factor of Jonas Vingegaard making his Denmark debut, this could be the most competitive European Championship yet.

Other topics in this episode:

• The punishing climbs of Drôme-Ardèche and where the race could explode.
• Why Evenepoel has made the European road race one of his biggest goals.
• How team dynamics could shape the outcome, with Denmark, France and Spain in focus.
• The underdogs to watch including Grégoire, Skjelmose, Ayuso, Sivakov and more.

If you are looking for insights into the 2025 European Championships, this is your complete road race preview.

On the eve of the World Championships in Rwanda, we sit down with Wout Poels for this episode of The Domestique Hotseat.

Poels reflects on life inside the peloton: from the ‘controlled chaos’ of Kigali’s streets to his memories of Team Sky’s dominance, where he rode alongside Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal. He shares his thoughts on the rivalry between Remco Evenepoel and Tadej Pogačar, the rise of all-rounders like Tom Pidcock, and how he ranks Froome against today’s ‘aliens’.

We also talk about the protests that disrupted the Vuelta a España, Astana’s relegation fight, and whether he’ll extend his career for one more year.

🎧 Listen now for a rare mix of honesty, perspective, and a touch of humour from one of the peloton’s most respected veterans.

The 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali could be the most brutal edition we’ve ever seen. With over 5,000 metres of climbing, relentless hills, altitude, and air quality challenges, this year’s Worlds is set to test the very best.

In this episode of the Domestique Cycling Podcast, Bram is joined by Domestique editor Ethan and special guest Dan Challis for a full World Championships 2025 preview. We break down both the men’s and women’s elite road races, analyse the form of the biggest names like Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel, and look at the outsiders who could surprise.

From the anticipated Pogačar vs Evenepoel battle on the streets of Kigali, to whether the Dutch women can finally get their tactics right, and the rising stars like Juan Ayuso, Isaac del Toro, and Kim Le Court — we cover every angle.

🎧 Topics in this episode:

- The brutal men’s route: altitude, heat, and solo-attack opportunities
- Is Pogačar fatigued, or still the rider to beat?
- Remco Evenepoel’s peak form and Belgium’s all-in strategy
- Women’s race preview: Vollering, Ferrand-Prévot, and Dutch tactics
- Why Kim Le Court could shock the favourites in Kigali
- Outsiders to watch: Ayuso, Del Toro, Carapaz, Pidcock, and more

If you’re looking for insights into the 2025 UCI World Championships in Rwanda, this is your complete road race preview.

South African rider Byron Munton has lived through more than most in his 25 years. From crashing into a swimming pool while learning to ride, to lifting his arms in celebration at the Volta a Portugal, Munton’s story is one of resilience, family, and finding purpose in the hardest of times.

In this episode of The Domestique Hotseat, he opens up about his first elite World Championships, the brutal reality of being South Africa’s only male representative, and the training roads of Rwanda. But beyond racing, Byron shares the emotional journey of supporting his sister Jess after she was struck by a car in 2023, a crash that left her with life-changing injuries.

We talk about recovery, mental health, and the weight of responsibility that every driver carries when they take the wheel. And we revisit the raw emotions of his first pro win, achieved in a season where he admits he came close to giving up the sport.

This is more than a cycling story. It’s a story about fighting for something bigger than yourself.

Instagram Jesse Munton: https://www.instagram.com/jessies.recovery?igsh=a2JocXpnMHpwdXBr