Service Course Report

What happens when big corporations take over cycling brands? And is the Life Time Grand Prix doing enough to develop the next generation of American racers?

Ed Philbrick, Kurt "KS" Stockton and Derin "DS" Stockton return for Episode 54 of the Service Course Report with a wide-ranging conversation covering the business of cycling, the final races of 2026, and the people shaping the sport.

This week's topics:

Cannondale and the cycling industry: Pon's restructuring plans spark a bigger conversation about corporate ownership, brand loyalty and what makes cycling companies successful.

Life Time Grand Prix and Big Sugar: The season concludes, automatic qualification spots are decided, and the guys debate whether the series should expand and offer more support to U23 riders.

EF Pro Cycling: Richard Carapaz's departure, new signings and whether an American-registered WorldTour team should lean harder into its American identity.

Red Bull Hardline Canada: Asa Vermette delivers another remarkable performance, including a massive backflip, while Gracey Hemstreet takes on one of downhill's toughest courses.

American world champions: From Audrey McElmury and Greg LeMond to the newest generation of American talent.

The next generation: Paul Seixas, Jarno Widar and the young riders making noise at the end of the road season.

Plus, bike shop culture, metal versus carbon bikes, Lachlan Morton on the gravel roads of Nevada City, and why community still matters in the cycling business.

From the professional peloton to the bike shop floor, it's another week of racing, industry news, history and opinion.

Hosted by Ed Philbrick, Kurt Stockton and Derin Stockton.

Presented with support from Castelli and Lazer Helmets.

Watch on YouTube and Spotify, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

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Richard Carapaz's move to NSN kicks off cycling's Silly Season, and Ed, Kurt, and Derin have plenty to say about transfers, team budgets, and the importance of culture in professional cycling.

Kurt looks back at managing professional road teams, while Derin shares firsthand stories from the Santa Cruz Syndicate. The conversation moves from Shaun Palmer and Rock Racing to the modern WorldTour.

The guys also cover Paul Seixas at Lombardia, Marianne Vos at Gravel Worlds, and the Life Time Grand Prix finale at Big Sugar.

In bike tech: 32-inch mountain bike wheels, SRAM chain and cassette wear, and SILCA's $800 analog cycling computer.

The episode closes with a discussion about rider safety and a heartfelt Positive Pete for Roy Knickman.

Hosted by Ed Philbrick, Kurt Stockton, and Derin Stockton.

Is pro cycling really cleaner today? Is Zone 2 training worth the hype? And how do you fuel a 24-hour ride without eating 18 gels?

Ed Philbrick, Kurt Stockton, and Derin Stockton answer listener questions with stories and advice from decades of professional racing, coaching, and riding.

We get into real food versus gels, functional fitness, mobility, post-race blues, and finding the right balance between easy rides and hard training.

Then it's on to the racing. Asa Vermette makes history with his UCI Downhill World Cup overall title at Lake Placid, Sina Frei holds off Martina Berta in an incredible XCO finish, and Remco Evenepoel proves why you sprint all the way to the line against Giulio Ciccone.

We also discuss modern doping concerns, dangerous incidents involving vehicles on race courses, recovery, sleep, and the ongoing SRAM chain wear debate.

Real cycling talk from three former pros who have been around the sport for more than four decades.

The Service Course Report — Season 2, Episode 52.

American cycling had a massive World Championships, and Episode 51 breaks down how it happened.

Ed, KS and DS dig into Brandon McNulty’s elite world title, Ashlin Barry’s U23 victory and the team tactics behind three Americans finishing in the top 10. Matteo Jorgenson gets plenty of love for covering moves and disrupting the chase, while Quinn Simmons battles his way back into the action.

Then it’s Lifetime Grand Prix, Matt Wilson, the MTB World Cup finale at Lake Placid, Asa Vermette, SRAM chain wear, long-race cramping, Sonoma gravel and another deserving recipient of the SCR “Amateur” award.

Plus: listener questions queued up for Episode 52 on ultra-endurance nutrition, post-race blues, strength work and Zone 2.

The Service Course Report hits 50 episodes.

KS, DS and Ed celebrate by digging into the number 50 throughout cycling history and their own careers—from 50x15 junior gearing and 50/34 compact cranks to huge 50-tooth cassettes, 50 mph descents, 50-mile criteriums and today's 50mm gravel tires.

They also revisit cycling's controversial 50% hematocrit rule, DS brings out an original Intense System 2 tire, Kurt remembers the Olympic Training Center and a brutal Greyhound ride home, and the guys talk World Championships, Soldier Hollow and where bike racing is headed next.

Fifty episodes down. Fifty more to go.

Sponsored by Castelli and Lazer Helmets.

Where does an e-bike end and an e-moto begin?

Ed, Kurt and DS tackle e-moto safety, regulation, manufacturers, retailers, parents, trail access and the three-class e-bike system. We also discuss the problems created when high-powered electric motorcycles are treated like bicycles—and what that could mean for legitimate e-bike and mountain-bike access.

Plus: Ed’s NYC Citi Bike experience, Kurt at Lassen Gravel, DS back on the bike, our Vuelta recap, World Championship picks, and a deep dive into Shimano’s new pedal/S-Phyre shoe system and the renewed battle over pedal stack height.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever found while riding? Episode 48 starts with roadside discoveries ranging from tools and music to a live round and a loaded handgun.

Then we dig into MTB Worlds, Tom Pidcock’s race craft, Jackson Goldstone and Vali Höll defending their downhill rainbow jerseys, and how something as subtle as tire casing can change the feel of a World Championship downhill bike.

We also talk Vuelta tactics, Primož Roglič, Life Time Grand Prix changes at Sea Otter, The Radavist’s visit to Nevada City and the return of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic.

For this week’s Blinded by Science, we go deep on a Graham Watson photo of Kurt racing the 1990 World Championships—a Land Shark, early Shimano STI, Vittoria tubulars, Chris King headset and all the tiny details that defined a pro race bike of that era.

Plus: the new Service Course Report Castelli kits, Lazer helmets, Dave Wong’s broken toe clip and a bike shop that closed for the weekend simply so everyone could go ride.

Ride all the bikes.

Is the next generation of XCO racers officially taking over? Episode 47 starts with Adrien Boichis vs. Mathieu van der Poel and a discussion about why younger riders are arriving at the elite level faster and more prepared than ever.

We also dive into Pogačar’s Vuelta dominance, gravel and dirt in Grand Tours, the incredible crowd scene at Les Gets, the return of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic and Manayunk Wall, a new 24-hour gravel race in Southern California, recovery tools, Lifetime Grand Prix coverage and some classic downhill stories.

We wrap it up with our Good Idea File: the hotel that opened its doors to the Vuelta peloton during a brutal hailstorm — then declined payment for helping them out.

The Service Course Report — Season 2, Episode 47.

Is Julian Alaphilippe the last great showman in men’s cycling?

Episode 46 starts with a look back at Alaphilippe’s career, his attacking style and the unmistakable panache he brought to racing.

Then Ed, Kurt and Derin break down Keegan Swenson’s sixth Leadville Trail 100 win, Quinn Simmons’ transition from the WorldTour to Leadville, Lifetime’s race coverage and the growing importance of technology in bringing off-road racing live to viewers.

They also talk Jonas Vingegaard, the Tour de France Femmes, why riders crash, Specialized’s custom race-tire operation in Germany, aero tricks at Leadville, Downieville and SILCA’s new tire lineup.

And, naturally, there’s some Tahoe riding, bike-cleaning advice and cycling-industry critique along the way.

Where does cycling’s next big performance gain come from?

Ed, Kurt and Derin debate whether the next leap will come from bike geometry and rider position, AI and technology, recovery, nutrition or training.

Then we get into the Tour de France Femmes and the incredible depth of the racing, including a closer look at Lorena Wiebes’ dominant sprint technique.

Kurt also conducts a highly unofficial real-world aero test of the Specialized Tarmac SL9, we talk Garmin Varia and rider safety, DS begins his rehab journey, and the conversation turns to the current state of cycling media, clickbait and paywalls.

Plus, a quick look at the newly modified Leadville Trail 100 MTB course.

It’s Episode 45 of the Service Course Report.