After six months of trying to match our schedules, UAE ADQ rider Paula Blasi finally joins Saar and Kristof for a wild, honest, and surprisingly hilarious deep dive into her first full year in the WorldTour — and why her rise in cycling hashappened so fast. From discovering the sport after multiple injuries to balancing university, work,and way too much training, Paula takes us inside the chaos of the peloton, the shock of racing next to the biggest names in the world, and why she’ll always follow her feeling rather than her power meter. She shares the pressure of joining a WorldTour team so early, the lessons her teammates keephammering into her, and the reality behind that “new kid in the candy shop”energy she brings into every race.

Recorded after her breakthrough season — this episode gives you everything you need to know about one of the most exciting young riders in the peloton… plus someelite cow content.

This winter track special dives into the fast, loud, and chaotic world of track racing — a part of the season that often gets overlooked while everyone focuses on cyclocross.

Ida Krickau shares what it’s really like to step into the elite peloton at 19: longer races, tougher fields, school deadlines, new UCI rules, and the challenge of keeping the fun in cycling while growing up in the sport.

In part two, Yuli Van Der Molen reflects on a year of crashes, comebacks, and rediscovering confidence on the track. From London and Copenhagen to the Euros, she talks about finding her rhythm again, racing in packed velodromes, and earning a new contract for 2026.

A warm, honest episode about young riders learning, rebuilding, and finding joy during the winter track season.

Episode 50 brings race results, cross dominance, two rants (yes, justice for Julie!), and the unexpected but brilliant comeback of Lotte Kopecky on the track. Plus transfers, updates, and our usual bias. Rather uneventful week, solid chaos.

In episode 49 of She Rides Saar talks with Robin Farina, General Manager of Cynisca, about building real pathways to the pro women’s peloton — and why sustained support and funding matter just as much as talent. Robin shares how Cynisca is creating opportunities for riders to grow, stay in the sport, and chase their full potential.

Plus: stay till the end for an extra-extended latest-news segment, where we catch up on everything we missed over the last 2.5 weeks.

After a brutal crash and a long fight with concussion symptoms, Esmee Peperkamp opens up about the hardest comeback of her life — and how she found her way back to cycling, and to herself.

She talks with Saar and Kristof about the pressure to race again too soon, why concussion care in cycling needs to change, and how recovery taught her to slow down, breathe, and celebrate the small wins.

From team life to gravel freedom, Esmee shares how rediscovering simple joy on the bike helped her rebuild confidence, connection, and love for the sport.

Just a few days before this year’s Gravel World Championships, gravel world champion Kim Knaeps (age group 34-39) joins Saar and Kristof to dive into what the gravel scene is really like — and how to watch it with a bit more insight.

From discovering cycling during COVID to combining motherhood, work, and training. Kim talks about the pressure that came with wearing the world champion jersey, why gravel racing feels fairer than road cycling, and what makes this discipline so unique.

Recorded in the lead-up to the Worlds, this episode gives you everything you need to understand to enjoy the biggest gravel race of the year.

Saar is joined by Connie Hayes — back on the podcast and back in the peloton after more than a year out injured. They talk about her return to racing and dig into the biggest stories in women’s cycling right now: from transfers and the uncertain future of Conti teams to the coolest underdog win of the season, Worlds drama, and a look ahead to the upcoming Euros.

Saar is joined by Connie Hayes — back on the podcast and back in the peloton after more than a year out injured. They talk about her return to racing and dig into the biggest stories in women’s cycling right now: from transfers and the uncertain future of Conti teams to the coolest underdog win of the season, Worlds drama, and a look ahead to the upcoming Euros.

Kim Cadzow went from swimming in New Zealand to racing her bike in Europe — a huge jump that brought culture shocks, tough lessons, and proud moments like pulling on the Kiwi national jersey. She talks about the highs, the setbacks (including her “Miss February” year), and what it really feels like to carry New Zealand on her back. We also chat through the latest women’s cycling news and look ahead to the road races at Worlds — who’s strong, who might surprise, and what to expect.

Saar and Kristof look back at a chaotic week in l’Ardèche, where strong performances were overshadowed by frustration and heartbreak. They talk about what it means when a rider is physically at their best but no longer enjoying the racing, and how pressure can have such a big influence on people. Between laughter and a few “godverdomme” moments, they also throw in some CX, race recaps and transfer talk before shifting focus to the upcoming World Championships in Rwanda.