Who would have thought it possible to take such a deep dive into a team time trial stage? Join Lionel Birnie and Graham Willgoss as they recap the story of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes – the race formerly known as the Critérium du Dauphiné – so far.

After two entertaining wins from the breakaway to kick things off, the 'new' team time trial format finally captured the imagination, perhaps because it's a dress rehearsal for the opening stage of the Tour de France in Barcelona in a few weeks' time.

How did the teams stack up against each other? Which squads got it right and who still has work to do?

And, now they have reached the halfway mark, who is poised to seize the yellow jersey in the mountains?

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The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

Daniel Friebe and Michele Pelacci answer a final round of 2026 (Men's) Giro-related listeners questions.

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2026 Girovagando selection:
You can buy this year’s Girovagando wine selection here: https://dvinecellars.com/products/cycling-podcast-giro-26. 
The wines with corresponding stage numbers are as follows: 
Stage 3: Mixtape Red, Georgiev & Milkov, Plovdiv (red) 
Stage 4: Tenuta del Conte, Calabria Rosso, Calabria (red)  
Stage 5: Vigneti del Vulture, Pipoli, Aglianico del Vulture, Basilicata (red)
Stage 10: Bianco 'il Terraio’ Paterna, Tuscany (white)
Stage 14: Les Crêtes Mon Blanc, Valle D’Aosta (white)
Stage 20: Braida Antica Blanc, Russolo, Friuli Venezia-Giulia (white)

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Could this really be the end? Join Rebecca Charlton and Lizzy Banks for one final instalment from the Giro d’Italia Women as the winner of the maglia rosa is finally decided on an explosive day.

We also hear from key names in that GC battle, Lidl Trek’s Isabella Holmgren and Canyon Sram’s Antonia Niedermaier, who was virtual leader on the road earlier in the stage. 

And don’t forget to catch up on our whole race's worth of podcasts as The Cycling Podcast Féminin brings you daily coverage from the race.

Also on the agenda: Heart over legs, wonky helmet straps and, of course, cheese.

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Bow down before your queen! Yes indeed, it’s time for the queen stage at the Giro d’Italia Women on a route that was due to take in the Colle delle Finestre and end in Sestriere, however best laid plans went a bit frosty and chaos ensued. Join Rebecca Charlton and Lizzy Banks as they take a closer look at all the happenings of Stage 8, where it was all drama, a sheet of ice and a makeshift finish line. 

We also hear from Dani Rowe MBE from the top of a mountain, and Marlen Reusser drops in for a chat.

Don’t forget to listen in all week as The Cycling Podcast Féminin brings you daily coverage from the race.

We hear all the ‘what if?’ theories ahead of the final stage and also on the agenda is our angel of cheese, Denny Gray. Will he have deviated from the mainstream? Tune in to find out.  

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Close up that deeply unreliable road book and listen in as Rose Manley and Lizzy Banks take you through Stage 7 of the Giro d’Italia Women, which offered up all kinds of drama and chaos.

We also hear from breakaway superstar Alison Jackson on her day at the front of the race.

And don’t forget to listen in all week as The Cycling Podcast Féminin brings you daily coverage from the race.

Also on the agenda: Gerytales, phantom triathlons and cheese larvae

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The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

The build-up to the 2026 Tour de France starts here. It's not the Dauphiné because the race has been rebranded the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, which may take us a while to get used to.

Join Lionel Birnie and Graham Willgoss as they are reunited to look ahead to the first big preparation race for the Tour, which starts on Sunday. With Jonas Vingegaard resting after a convincing victory at the Giro d'Italia, and Tadej Pogačar focusing on the Tour de Suisse, that puts the spotlight on the young French sensation Paul Seixas.

The Decathlon rider won Itzulia earlier in the spring to amplify the growing hype around him. France is starting to believe they finally have a successor to Bernard Hinault, the last French man to win the Tour.

But who stands in his way next week, and what other clues will we gain about who's on track for the Tour?

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Rose Manley and Rebecca Charlton react to stage 6 of the Giro d'Italia Women.

We also hear from Maggie Coles-Lyster 

And don’t forget to listen in all week as The Cycling Podcast Féminin brings you daily coverage from the race.

Also on the agenda: parmesan fans and saying “schiiiiiiiiiizzzzz!”

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The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

We’re getting the good-o-meter out for Stage 5 of the Giro d’Italia Women as Rose Manley and Denny Gray attempt to dissect a stage which offered up plenty of winners, losers and inbetweeners.

We also hear from two of the most impressive riders of the day, Nadia Gontova of Liv Alula Jayco and Lauren Dickson of FDJ United Suez.

And don’t forget to listen in all week as The Cycling Podcast Féminin brings you daily coverage from the race.

Also on the agenda: parmesan fans and saying “schiiiiiiiiiizzzzz!”

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Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to new special episodes every month, plus a back catalogue of more than 300 exclusive episodes.

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Yes, it is time for one-rider-to-go-up-a-hill-after-another as it is time trial day at the Giro d’Italia Women! With the GC riders yet to fully show their intentions, Stage 4 provided a huge opportunity to shake up the battle for the maglia rosa.

We also hear from young French talent Solène Muller about her time in the race hot seat.

And don’t forget to listen in all week as The Cycling Podcast Féminin brings you daily coverage from the race.

Also on the agenda: late-night cheese reading and zombies on bikes

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The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

We’re finally hitting the hills so listen in as Rose Manley and Denny Gray look back over Stage 3 of the the 2026 Giro d’Italia Women which saw the GC riders start to come out to play.

We hear also from Olympic gold medallist Lily Williams of Human Powered Health.

And don’t forget to listen in all week as The Cycling Podcast Féminin brings you daily coverage from the race.

Also on the agenda: domestique cheese, one rider pedalling up a hill and yet another alarming conspiracy theory via Madame Fan Club President.

Follow us on social media:
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The Cycling Podcast is on Strava

The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.