The Cycling Podcast

Join Lionel Birnie and Graham Willgoss for a three-week adventure taking them from Barcelona to Paris, following the 2026 Tour de France.

The Cycling Podcast has covered the Tour with daily episodes recorded at the heart of the world’s biggest race. Our nightly episodes recap the stage action with analysis, interviews and plenty of French flavour.

To listen to the episodes as soon as they are released, follow The Cycling Podcast in your favourite podcast app. 

Ask us anything for the rest day Press Conference episode:
Email [email protected]
Or leave a voice message at speakpipe.com/thecyclingpodcast 

Introducing our sponsors, MyWhoosh
Our Tour de France coverage is sponsored by MyWhoosh.
MyWhoosh is a serious indoor training and racing platform, built for riders who love cycling, and it’s free. It’s built for anyone who wants to ride indoors with purpose, whether that’s staying fit, following a training plan, joining a community ride, racing hard, or exploring virtual roads and it’s free to ride, just like outdoors.

Episode sponsors
NordVPN
Get NordVPN two-year plan + four months extra ➼ https://nordvpn.com/tcp It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee.

Follow us on social media:
Twitter @cycling_podcast
Instagram @thecyclingpodcast

Friends of the Podcast
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.

The 11.01 Cappuccino
Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it’s after 11am).

The Cannibal & Badger
Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in.

The Cycling Podcast is on Strava

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

This episode is the first in a three-part series examining the lasting importance of the 1986 Tour de France, 40 years on.

It's available here for a limited time, as well as ad-free for our Friends of the Podcast subscribers. Sign up at thecyclingpodcast.com

Join Lionel Birnie, Graham Willgoss and special guest Edward Pickering as they discuss the 1986 Tour de France, which signalled the end of the road for Bernard Hinault and, in a way, the French dominance of their national sporting event. The Tour de France was embracing the world rapidly – and the world was falling in love with the Tour.

We discuss the inter-team battle between America's blue-eyed boy, Greg LeMond, and his legendary teammate-slash-rival Hinault.

For Lionel and Ed, it was also a first opportunity to follow the Tour daily on television and so it left indelible memories that shaped how they have experienced the Tour ever since.

So why was the 1986 Tour one of the most important, watershed events in modern cycling history?

This episode was produced by Jon Moonie. Artwork by Lionel Birnie, featuring a photograph by Graham Watson.

 Join Lionel Birnie and Graham Willgoss for a three-week adventure taking them from Barcelona to Paris, following the 2026 Tour de France.

The Cycling Podcast has covered the Tour with daily episodes recorded at the heart of the world’s biggest race. Our nightly episodes recap the stage action with analysis, interviews and plenty of French flavour.

To listen to the episodes as soon as they are released, follow The Cycling Podcast in your favourite podcast app. 

Introducing our sponsors, MyWhoosh
Our Tour de France Grand Départ coverage is sponsored by MyWhoosh.
MyWhoosh is a serious indoor training and racing platform, built for riders who love cycling, and it’s free. It’s built for anyone who wants to ride indoors with purpose, whether that’s staying fit, following a training plan, joining a community ride, racing hard, or exploring virtual roads and it’s free to ride, just like outdoors.

Episode sponsors
NordVPN
Get NordVPN two-year plan + four months extra ➼ https://nordvpn.com/tcp It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee.

Bikmo
The Cycling Podcast is supported by Bikmo, cycle insurance built for cyclists who actually ride.

Whether it's a crash, a stolen bike, or your pride and joy arriving at baggage reclaim in three separate pieces – it's covered. Flexible policies you can cancel anytime, 50 per cent off extra household bikes, plus protection for your kit, race entries and travel.

Follow us on social media:
Twitter @cycling_podcast
Instagram @thecyclingpodcast

Friends of the Podcast
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.

The 11.01 Cappuccino
Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it’s after 11am).

The Cannibal & Badger
Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in.

The Cycling Podcast is on Strava

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

This episode is available ad-free on our Friends of the Podcast feed. Subscribe at thecyclingpodcast.com

Paul Seixas's first Tour de France has been the subject of feverish expectation, and the wait was finally over when the 19-year-old phenom rolled down the start ramp in Barcelona on Saturday.

In part two of our Tour-long series — not just following Seixas but also exploring the reasons for France's 41-year drought in cycling's crown-jewel event — Daniel Friebe chronicles what turned into a baptism of fire, with mechanical mishaps, teammates crashing and, of course, those furnace-like temperatures.

The good news for Seixas, as the Tourmalet loomed, was that nothing he'd done so far had dampened the hype. In fact, quite the opposite...

Join Lionel Birnie and Graham Willgoss for a three-week adventure taking them from Barcelona to Paris, following the 2026 Tour de France.

The Cycling Podcast has covered the Tour with daily episodes recorded at the heart of the world’s biggest race. Our nightly episodes recap the stage action with analysis, interviews and plenty of French flavour.

To listen to the episodes as soon as they are released, follow The Cycling Podcast in your favourite podcast app. 

Introducing our sponsors, MyWhoosh

Our Tour de France coverage is sponsored by MyWhoosh.
MyWhoosh is a serious indoor training and racing platform, built for riders who love cycling, and it’s free. It’s built for anyone who wants to ride indoors with purpose, whether that’s staying fit, following a training plan, joining a community ride, racing hard, or exploring virtual roads and it’s free to ride, just like outdoors.

Bikmo
The Cycling Podcast is supported by Bikmo, cycle insurance built for cyclists who actually ride.

Whether it's a crash, a stolen bike, or your pride and joy arriving at baggage reclaim in three separate pieces – it's covered. Flexible policies you can cancel anytime, 50 per cent off extra household bikes, plus protection for your kit, race entries and travel.

Follow us on social media:
Twitter @cycling_podcast
Instagram @thecyclingpodcast

Friends of the Podcast
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.

The 11.01 Cappuccino
Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it’s after 11am).

The Cannibal & Badger
Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in.

The Cycling Podcast is on Strava

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

Join Lionel Birnie and Graham Willgoss for a three-week adventure taking them from Barcelona to Paris, following the 2026 Tour de France.

The Cycling Podcast has covered the Tour with daily episodes recorded at the heart of the world’s biggest race. Our nightly episodes recap the stage action with analysis, interviews and plenty of French flavour.

To listen to the episodes as soon as they are released, follow The Cycling Podcast in your favourite podcast app. 

Introducing our sponsors, MyWhoosh
Our Tour de France coverage is sponsored by MyWhoosh.
MyWhoosh is a serious indoor training and racing platform, built for riders who love cycling, and it’s free. It’s built for anyone who wants to ride indoors with purpose, whether that’s staying fit, following a training plan, joining a community ride, racing hard, or exploring virtual roads and it’s free to ride, just like outdoors.

Babbel
Learn a language the fun, easy way with intuitive 15-minute lessons you can do when you want. Choose from 14 languages including Spanish, French, Italian and German. Listeners can get up to 60% off for a limited time only at www.babbel.com/cycle

Follow us on social media:
Twitter @cycling_podcast
Instagram @thecyclingpodcast

Friends of the Podcast
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.

The 11.01 Cappuccino
Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it’s after 11am).

The Cannibal & Badger
Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in.

The Cycling Podcast is on Strava

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

Join Lionel Birnie and Graham Willgoss for a three-week adventure taking them from Barcelona to Paris, following the 2026 Tour de France.

The Cycling Podcast has covered the Tour with daily episodes recorded at the heart of the world’s biggest race. Our nightly episodes recap the stage action with analysis, interviews and plenty of French flavour.

To listen to the episodes as soon as they are released, follow The Cycling Podcast in your favourite podcast app. 

Introducing our sponsors, MyWhoosh
Our Tour de France Grand Départ coverage is sponsored by MyWhoosh.
MyWhoosh is a serious indoor training and racing platform, built for riders who love cycling, and it’s free. It’s built for anyone who wants to ride indoors with purpose, whether that’s staying fit, following a training plan, joining a community ride, racing hard, or exploring virtual roads and it’s free to ride, just like outdoors.
Follow us on social media:
Twitter @cycling_podcast
Instagram @thecyclingpodcast

Friends of the Podcast
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.

The 11.01 Cappuccino
Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it’s after 11am).

The Cannibal & Badger
Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in.

The Cycling Podcast is on Strava

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

Join Lionel Birnie and Graham Willgoss for a three-week adventure taking them from Barcelona to Paris, following the 2026 Tour de France.

The Cycling Podcast has covered the Tour with daily episodes recorded at the heart of the world’s biggest race. Our nightly episodes recap the stage action with analysis, interviews and plenty of French flavour.

To listen to the episodes as soon as they are released, follow The Cycling Podcast in your favourite podcast app. 

Introducing our sponsors, MyWhoosh
Our Tour de France Grand Départ coverage is sponsored by MyWhoosh.
MyWhoosh is a serious indoor training and racing platform, built for riders who love cycling, and it’s free. It’s built for anyone who wants to ride indoors with purpose, whether that’s staying fit, following a training plan, joining a community ride, racing hard, or exploring virtual roads and it’s free to ride, just like outdoors.
Follow us on social media:
Twitter @cycling_podcast
Instagram @thecyclingpodcast

Friends of the Podcast
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.

The 11.01 Cappuccino
Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it’s after 11am).

The Cannibal & Badger
Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in.

The Cycling Podcast is on Strava

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

This episode is available ad-free on our Friends of the Podcast feed. Subscribe at thecyclingpodcast.com

"I wouldn't have bet a single centime on no Frenchman winning the Tour for forty years."

So said Bernard Hinault, the owner of what he called an "unwanted record" as the fourth decade since his 1985 victory was about to expire last July. "We haven't got any chance…" Hinault added in the same interview. Kevin Vauquelin's plucky seventh place on GC notwithstanding, it seemed unfathomable after three weeks that the drought wouldn't extend to forty-one years in 2026, forty-two and so on at least until Tadej Pogačar either began an inexorable slide or retired.

Unfathomable is also the adjective many long-in-the-tooth observers would use for the eventuality of Paul Seixas winning the 2026 race at age 19. It would certainly be historic, not only because Seixas would bring the Tour "home" for the first time since Hinault in 1985, but also because he would be the youngest ever winner: to be precise, 49 days younger than Henri Cornet in the Tour's second edition, way back in 1904.

Improbable it certainly sounds, and logic would suggest the same — and yet this summer France expects. Hopes. To a certain extent believes. And will certainly get extremely excited if, even after the first skirmishes with the Pyrenees in week one, the boy from Beaujolais has not been Pogcinerated out of contention.

Having witnessed Seixas's definitive coming of age at the Tour of the Basque Country in April, over three weeks in July, Daniel Friebe will take up potentially the story of the summer at the Tour de France. Not necessarily by chronicling Seixas's every pedal stroke but by examining the question of how France got here — now approaching half a century into one of professional sport's most agonising and baffling droughts — and how, one day either soon or still too far into the future for comfort, deliverance can and will finally arrive.

The 2026 Tour begins its journey in Barcelona — as does our series, outside a curious hospital building in the heart of the Catalan capital which, twenty years ago, was somehow charged with shaping the future of professional cycling. In episode one, Daniel explains exactly what occurred, and also why and how it determined the destiny of Paul Seixas.

Join Lionel Birnie and Graham Willgoss as they complete a trilogy of episodes looking ahead to the 2026 Tour de France.

With the big battle between Pogačar and Vingegaard covered in part one, and the route dissected in part two, this time it's a chance to take a deeper look at some of the other storylines and riders who are set to animate the Tour de France.

From the much-anticipated debut of French sensation Paul Seixas, to the joint-leaders of the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team, Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz, who else will challenge for the podium and the other top places on GC?

We weigh up a deep field of fast finishers and ask who will be left standing when the sprinting game of musical chairs comes to a halt. There's a visit to Coorevits Corner, we hear from the Voice of Radio Tour, and ask which teams really need a good Tour de France.

Parts one and two of The XL Preview series are online now.

Daily coverage of the Tour de France starts on Saturday, July 4.

TITLE SPONSOR – MyWhoosh
Our Tour de France preview series is sponsored by MyWhoosh.

MyWhoosh is a serious indoor training and racing platform, built for riders who love cycling, and it’s free. It’s built for anyone who wants to ride indoors with purpose, whether that’s staying fit, following a training plan, joining a community ride, racing hard, or exploring virtual roads and it’s free to ride, just like outdoors.

Follow us on social media:
Twitter @cycling_podcast
Instagram @thecyclingpodcast

Friends of the Podcast
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.

The 11.01 Cappuccino
Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it’s after 11am).

The Cannibal & Badger
Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in.

The Cycling Podcast is on Strava

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