Philip Gomes, Al Hinds and Stuart Randall freestyle it in an utterly unprepared chat about the track worlds. Does money buy you medals? The road monuments are coming. Who will win Milan San Remo and the rest? The crazy story of the sometimes in, sometimes out, now back in rocket men of Katusha gets a thorough airing.

Cycling Central's Anthony Tan and Sarah van Boheemen file this special edition podcast from the Tour de Langkawi, as they travel en route to the finish of the sixth stage in Kuantan on the east coast of Malaysia.

Together with cycling photographer Mark Gunter, Alex Malone from Cyclingnews.com and Ben Atkins from Velonation, the quintet discuss and dissect the first five stages of Asia's biggest stage race.

Cadel Evans showed some early season signs that he may be back to his best.

Chaired by Cycling Central TV host Mike Tomalaris and accompanied by Sarah van Boheemen and Anthony Tan, an eclectic cast of characters forms the plot for this week's action-packed podcast.

Our first call goes out to Cameron Meyer from Orica-GreenEDGE. Initially down to race the upcoming Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia in a leadership role, Meyer has instead decided to undergo surgery to remove some pesky saddle sores; we ask him about his first full year on the road in 2012 and whether he still believes he can one day make it as a Grand Tour contender.

Next up we cross to our reporter at the Tour of Qatar, Al Hinds, who is now back in Australia. What did he like and what didn't he like so much about his Middle Eastern adventure, and is Cavendish still the man or are he and Greipel now neck and neck? We also review the Peter Sagan Show at the Tour of Oman, who continues to astound with his voracious appetite for victory.

Finally, before Tanny and Sarah head off to the tropics next week for the start of the Tour de Langkawi, they assess a race that has been through the wringer but now appears to be back on its feet, with five WorldTour teams set to descend on the Malaysian peninsula when the race begins on February 21.

Australia's Cadel Evans took his first tentative steps to a podium place at the 2013 Tour de France after the first stage of the Tour of Oman.

Tour of Qatar: Mark Cavendish (OPQS) Post Stage 5 by SBS

Tour of Qatar: Taylor Phinney (BMC) Post Stage 5 by SBS

It has been universally described as "the darkest day in Australian sport" - just how deep does corruption run in sporting circles Down Under?

Together with regular cohorts Anthony Tan and Sarah van Boheemen, Cycling Central online editor-in-chief Phil Gomes canvasses the extent of the doping conspiracy that has enveloped numerous Australian sporting codes but for once does not involve cycling; in light of the Cyclo-cross World Championships in Louisville, Kentucky last weekend, in Sven Nys and Marianne Vos, the trio wax lyrical on the feats of two star-crossed lovers of mud; Andy Schleck's tale of woe continues with yet another abandon at the Tour of the Med - will he ever get it together again?; and with three sprinter-friendly races running concurrently, what a week it has been for the fast men of the peloton...

Tour of Qatar: Mark Cavendish (OPQS) Post Stage 4 by SBS

Mark Cavendish describes the chaotic finale of the Tour of Qatar's third stage.