PodCrank | Talk Of Champions | With Philip Hindes & Callum Skinner

Who do athletes and sporting organisations call in a crisis? 

While PodCrash co-host Philip Hindes is away racing in Valencia, Callum Skinner catches up with the extremely insightful Ben Nichols, who looks at sport (and its breaking stories) through a different lense.

A PR and communications master, Nichols has been on the sharp end of some of the biggest sporting stories of our time. He talks about his experience in the extravagant F1 scene and his move into tennis, sharing how he dealt with high octane environments and athletes that go off-piste during interviews...

As his career progressed, Nichols recounts how he was thrown into the middle of a media frenzy when he joined the World Anti-Doping Agency. It was at the tail end of the Lance Armstrong saga and cycling was in the spotlight. But as numerous doping scandals broke across multiple disciplines, it became clear the sporting world was in a crisis. 

He also details his move to work on the Commonwealth Games and their strategy for getting more eyes on the event, as well as his latest challenge; starting his own consultancy business.

Like to look at things a little differently? Get another view on the world of sport in this week’s cycling podcast. Plus, next week, tune in to hear more about Callum’s journey in the sporting world following his retirement.

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Introducing the underdogs of the cycling world; Team Huub Wattbike. 

With a non-traditional route into cycling, this team burst onto the scene at nationals and have held their own ever since. From maxing out credit cards to attend the World Cup, to their innovative approach to aerodynamics - they’re making waves (and winning them medals).

This week, Olympic champions Callum Skinner and Philip Hindes talk to Huub Wattbike teammates Dan Bigham and Jonny Wale about all things cycling. Following on from Episode 12’s discussion on the National Road Championships, this cycling podcast begins with some other points of view and Bigham has his say on the day. In other news,  Hindes is back in the gym, you guessed it; squatting.

Then it’s full-speed ahead into Huub Wattbike’s inspiring story. Bigham (AKA The Raptor), initially studied and worked in performance engineering, when a chance opportunity gave him his first taste of cycling. Wale, however, had always been passionate about the sport and found his purpose within the team after battling mental health issues.

“We’re literally here because we’ve got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ride our bikes really fast.” - Jonny Wale

Having taken on the Commonwealth Games and won the team pursuit in the Belarus World Cup, Bigham and Wale share their winning strategies and forward-thinking focus on kit and aerodynamics. But it’s not been easy. From living in cramped quarters to home break-ins; their gritty determination has seen them endure some massive highs and lows.

Now, they’ve been thrown another curveball: the UCI’s recent decision to ban trade teams in future World Cup races. We discuss their thoughts on the matter and what it means for the future of British cycling and Huub Wattbike.

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Welcome to a special on-the-road episode of PodCrash! Live en route to Wrexham (yep, they did it), PodCrash hosts Philip Hindes and Callum Skinner are joined by pro tour riders Baby Girl (Chris Lawless), Adam Blythe and Owain Doull on this 73k cycle.

The guys discuss feedback from Chris Lawless’ appearance on PodCrash (actual quote: “That guy should never be allowed to speak in public”) and the plan for the day over pies and pints at their first pub stop. 

With the British National Road Championships held the day before, the guys discuss their disappointing race day experience. Although considered a premier event, they faced a number of challenges on the day, from the lack of coverage and signage being placed the wrong way (which saw one large group heading into the town and having to do a U-turn mid race), to traffic on the route. As one rider points out, it was “an absolute shambles”.

Find out their thoughts on the results and their solutions for the future of the British cycling scene. You’ll also discover more about team tactics, the points system and even some current conspiracy theories floating around British cycling. Hold onto your hats; it’s a controversial one.

Then, one massive vent out of the way, 73km cycled and 8 hours later, the athletes (minus Blythe) return for part two to share their highlights of the day. Crashes, wrong turns and non-existant bike shops; this one’s not to be missed.

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“It’s like a rollercoaster; except there’s a real element of risk that you could actually crash” - Ben McCullough

From careering down a bobsleigh track - the g-force blurring the edges of his vision - to running his own butler in the buff company, Ben McCullough shares his fascinating journey from professional athlete to CEO with PodCrash hosts Callum Skinner and Philip Hindes.

Kicking off the episode with the latest news: Hindes and Skinner prepare for a 70k cycle from Manchester to Wrexham, with a lock-in planned mid-route - find out if they make it in next week’s episode. Plus, Skinner talks about the response he’s received from the public after talking about his mental health issues for the first time. 

The men then get into the nitty gritty of McCullough’s story. Having met Skinner in the cycling world years’ ago, McCullough’s path saw him pursue bobsleighing; a sport that requires lightening-fast sprints and brute strength. Selected for the Great British team after several trials, his elite career took off.

But performing at the highest levels isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. McCullough reveals what life as a bobsleigh athlete was really like, from injury and fatigue to the adrenaline of the track. Plus, he reveals his training regime, the secret to getting great abs and some of the more unusual fan requests he’s received over the years...

Now retired from the sport, McCullough shares more about his butler in the buff business, recounts some priceless hen party stories and his part in helping improve conditions for British bobsleighers. Plus, Hindes secures another job offer for life after cycling...

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Join Olympic cyclists Philip Hindes and Callum Skinner for the 10th episode of PodCrash. This banter-filled episode sees Hindes and Skinner joined by Team Ineos cyclist and Tour De Yorkshire winner, Chris Lawless.

Hindes finally has news! Returning from a disappointing performance in America (his words), he cycled through NYC on a hire bike (the USA’s equivalent of Boris Bikes) and saw a fair amount of Amish people. Meanwhile, Skinner’s heartbroken yet again and is still searching for his missing bike...and friends. Lawless also gives an insight into Chris Froome’s terrible crash in France.

Lawless (AKA the man with too many nicknames to mention) then dives into his early start in cycling. From mountain biking with his dad to joining the British Cycling Academy and Team Wiggins, find out how this champion got his start on the road. 

Ever wondered how a cyclist goes pro? The trio explain how they work with agents to get other gigs and the major difference between cycling teams,  rugby teams or football teams; the results of which has a precarious effect on a rider’s future. Then, it’s on to Lawless’ victory at Tour De Yorkshire. He may have messed up the first stage, but his gritty determination saw him push deep, attack a killer climb and go on to win the race. 

The guys recount some hilarious moments, like the time Lawless sent a text meant for his girlfriend into the wrong WhatsApp group, how they balance social and professional relationships and life after cycling.

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“One wave changed my life and put me on the map.” - Andrew Cotton. 

You don’t want to miss this one. Champion cyclists Philip Hindes and Callum Skinner take a detour into the world of surfing with their first non-cycling guest; Red Bull Athlete and Big Wave Surfer, Andrew Cotton.

Cotton’s inspiring story starts with him selling wetsuits and making surfboards in the early days. He even trained as a plumber and a lifeguard. Then, in 2014, one huge 70ft wave changed his life. You might have seen the headlines: British Surfer Rides World’s Biggest Wave.

But, just as quickly as you can make it, it can crumble in a flash. When the best looking wave he’d ever seen quickly turned into the worst, Cotton was dragged through the surf and left lying on the shore with a broken back. He explains the surfing disaster first hand, as well as the lead up to the fateful accident.

We talk to Cotton about chasing storms, respecting the ocean, sharks and the surfing spots he loves. This fearless surfer also explains how he wanted to get back into the ocean following his recovery, finding his flow, free-diving and pushing himself further as an athlete. 

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“You’re an Olympic gold medalist, going for another gold medal and you can’t put your socks on in the morning.” Ed Clancy.

During this entertaining instalment of PodCrash, elite cyclists and Olympic medallists Callum Skinner and Philip Hindes are joined by 3X Olympic champion, World Champion and 8X World Record-breaker, Ed Clancy OBE.

In this week’s cycling (and life) news; the trio talk about hitting the gym (or not), Skinner’s interview on the Ben Coomber fitness podcast and... dick pics. Plus, there’s a little teaser of what you can expect in Episode 9 of PodCrash.

The trio then dive into Clancy’s early career, role models and the white hand-me-down BMX that ignited his passion for cycling. This ultra-successful cyclist opens up about his challenging childhood and how he stays grounded after the euphoric high of the games - and the subsequent lows.

“The thing I find that most stabilises me is that i’m just a person like everyone else. I genuinely feel that no matter who you are, where you’re from or what you do, every human has equal value.” - Clancy.

In 2015, Clancy experienced a huge setback when, just 10 months away from the Olympic Games,  a prolapsed disk left him shuffling down the stairs, barely able to walk or sit. When it got worse, there was no other option but surgery. But, in true Clancy style, his comeback was a defining moment in his career and 4 months later, he was back racing competitively.

We talk about diet, Clancy’s favourite sugar-fix and the marginal gains he’ll be making in the lead up to the next Olympics. What are his predictions for Tokyo 2020 and will he hang up his helmet once it’s over? Find out in this jam-packed episode of PodCrash.

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Get a lesson in resilience, talking in code and living off £7k a year from the Paralympic Tandem Cyclist, Helen Scott MBE.

From being dropped by the British Cycling Sprint Academy after just one year to winning 4 Paralympic medals, 12 World Championship medals and 4 Commonwealth Games medals, Helen Scott knows a thing or two about picking herself back up and smashing her goals.  In this cycling podcast, Olympians Philip Hindes and Callum Skinner dive into the highs and lows of Scott’s career.

In the news; the trio talk hilarious sporting injuries – including that time when Hindes careered into a small spectator mid-race – as well as upcoming trips, girls holidays and tattoos.

Then it’s onto Scott’s challenging first year at the Sprint Academy. Scott recounts the fear and shame she experience having been dropped from the squad. Soon though, she was piloting the tandem with elite Paralympic stoker, Aileen McGlynn, but it wasn’t all plain sailing...

Winning a silver and a bronze medal in the London 2012 games, Scott recounts the immense pressure she felt to perform on home turf. For Rio, lessons had been learned and she’d been paired with a new teammate, Sophie Thornhill. This turning point saw the pair stack up the medals and employ a new, no BS training tactic: speaking in code. 

 “We both knew what was at stake and we both wanted it.” - Helen Scott

The athletes then give their take on listening to their bodies and whether to push through the exhaustion or rest and recover. “If you want to get better, it’s not just about training harder, it’s about knowing yourself better,” says Skinner.

Find out whether Scott plans to return to able-bodied cycling, her special bond with Thornhill, breaking world records, coaching and the plan to defend their title in Tokyo 2020.

“This is where I belong; I love what I do” - Helen Scott

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Welcome to another action-packed episode of PodCrash. This week, Callum Skinner and Philip Hindes are joined by two-time Paralympic cycling champion, Steve Bate. 

Recorded in Bate’s West Yorkshire home, this cycling podcast kicks off with the week’s news; Hindes’ new YouTube videos, the fallout from revealing Kian Emadi’s soft spot for Vicky Williamson and a teaser about Skinners yet-to-be-revealed news.

Bate’s then talks about his journey from accomplished mountaineer to cyclist. Having been diagnosed with an eye condition at 35, Bates was told he could go blind within four years. He explains how he dealt with the crushing diagnosis and, with the support of Great Britain Cycling Team rider Karen Darke, focused his energy in a new direction: on the back of the tandem.

Can you imagine what it feels like to hurtle down tracks at 70mph - all without being able to see the route clearly? The Kiwi shares some of his most adrenaline-pumping moments riding tandem with Adam Duggleby, including a crash into oncoming traffic, melting tires and cycling 20 hours non-stop. Tune in to discover the toughest thing he’s ever attempted, falling off El Capitan rock faces, racing the Arctic and his passion for tattoos and travel.

Having achieved 3 Paralympic Games medals, this world-class athlete was “actually pretty lazy” as a kid, but today, it’s clear to anyone that has seen him pedal; he’s a force to be reckoned with. 

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She’s the athlete that had to fight to walk again after a catastrophic crash nearly ended her career in 2015. Great Britain Track Cyclist Vicky Williamson joins Callum Skinner and Philip Hindes for this week’s episode of PodCrash.

Launching into the episode with this week’s news; Skinner had his car stolen, while Williamson struggles to find a new housemate. Plus, Hindes talks about his old tactics for finding a girlfriend... in a supermarket. 

Skinner and Hindes then quiz Williamson on her unconventional path into cycling, the Girls for Gold programme and the things she’s learned along the way - like there really is no place for underwear on the track. 

Part of Team GB during the lead up to the Rio Olympics, Williamson relays the pressure her team felt to perform at the highest level during qualifying, the lessons to be learned and the temptation of tapering training. 

Then, it’s onto the horrific cycling injury she sustained during a race in Rotterdam 2015. With a broken back, neck and pelvis, Williamson was told she was nearly paralised, could face a future filled with chronic pain and might never cycle again. Find out how her resilient mentality has seen her fight her way back to elite fitness, why a positive attitude is EVERYTHING and how her crash has given her a life-changing perspective on life. 

Since, she’s been selected for the World Championship and has her sights set on Tokyo 2020. Can anything slow her down? We don’t think so…

“I’m on the same level playing field as everyone else, I’ve just had a bit of a longer route to get there.” - Vicky Williamson

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