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In this spontaneous edition of the road.cc Podcast, Ryan is joined by Jack Sexty, Mat Brett and Stu Kerton to discuss Shimano's surprising revamp of its popular fourth tier Tiagra groupset. 

The reason this is so surprising to us is not just because we were left to surmise that the groupset would eventually be phased out - it's because we were all but told this would be the case in a presentation distributed to the media shortly before the launch of Shimano CUES, the company's range of 9-, 10- and 11-speed components aimed at more recreational riders and commuting.  

In that presentation, Shimano said its 'mid-tier' road and mountain bike groupsets (below 105 and SLX level) would be unified under the CUES brand, which surely meant Tiagra, Sora and Claris would be chopped... but now we've been told that's not what was being said, and Shimano never explicitly said Tiagra would be phased out. Could have fooled us! 

Shimano also introduced a mechanical, 12-speed Shimano 105 groupset when it said that wouldn't happen following the launch of 105 Di2  in 2022... so, is all this flip-flopping and U-turning a worrying sign for the world's largest manufacturer of bicycle components, or is it a good thing that a company of Shimano's size can improvise and give the people what they're asking for? The road.cc tech nerds dig into the details based off what they know so far. 

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Cheating in cycling… should we just accept it will always happen?

Four months into her new role as the president of the anti-doping Movement for Credible Cycling, Emily Brammeier joins us to discuss the MPCC’s aims and ambitions, 19 years into its existence, how the cycling and anti-doping landscape has changed since then, and the suspicions that still hang over the sport.

We also chatted about the need to tackle the so-called medical ‘grey area’ exploited by teams and riders seeking an edge – which she described as pro cycling’s greatest modern challenge – the success of the MPCC in proactively leading the way when it comes to ‘grey area’ issues such as tramadol and carbon monoxide, and her and the group’s plans for the future in a sport where, Emily says, there will always be people looking to cheat.

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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by one of the most recognisable voices in cycling: former two-time British champion and TNT Sports pundit Brian Smith.

Brian chats about the struggles involved in promoting smaller races from outside cycling’s heartlands, while battling for position in a congested calendar.

We also discuss the biggest bike race of them all, the Tour de France, and its visit to the UK (and Scotland) next summer, Oscar Onley’s move to Ineos (and why it might be a mistake), why Brian believes pro cycling teams “use and abuse” their riders, and why it’s a “shame” the Tour has gone behind a televisual paywall… even if Brian’s the one commentating behind it.

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On this week’s episode of the road.cc Podcast, bike industry stalwart Rory Hitchens joins us for our annual cycling market health check-up – and tells us why brands being “honest” with themselves have brought the industry back to where it needs to be.

And in part two, Ryan and Dan pore over the details of next summer’s festival of bike racing. Apologies in advance to the people of Carlisle...

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It’s fair to say the opening nine days of the new year have been fairly frenetic when it comes to news. And I’m only talking about our niche, little world of cycling (if you’re looking for Ruben Amorim or Trump chats, I’m sure there are a few football and politics podcasts knocking around the internet). 

Which means there was lots to discuss when we convened for our first podcast discussion of 2026. In this week’s episode, we discuss everything from the surprise retirement announcement of one of Britain’s greatest ever cyclists, British Cycling’s decision to construct a paywall for the national cyclocross championships, and the very important matter of ranking this year’s fresh batch of cycling kits. 

Oh, and something inconsequential about the government’s attitudes to cycling...

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Christmas is fast approaching (gulp), and that means only one thing… in podcast land, anyway – it’s time for us to don our best paper party hats, break open the archives, and reflect on the biggest cycling stories of 2025.

In part two, the Cycle to Work Alliance’s chair Steve Edgell joins us to discuss Labour’s plans to re-introduce a spending cap on purchases made as part of Cycle to Work – and how the group ‘mobilised’ to stop those plans.

Steve also chats about the continued support for Cycle to Work within the government, how it is key to attracting new cycling converts (especially when it comes to making e-bikes accessible), and why the alliance is working hard to “dispel the myth” that Cycle to Work is catered to rich MAMILs in the Surrey Hills.

Meanwhile, in part one, Ryan, Jack, Dan, and Emily sign off for the year by assessing some of the other big stories from the worlds racing, tech, infrastructure, politics. Happy Christmas!

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On this week’s episode, Ryan is joined by 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans and 2007 Paris-Roubaix victor Stuart O’Grady, two of Australia’s greatest ever cyclists.

The dynamic Aussie duo chat about what they’re up to these days, including O’Grady’s role as Tour Down Under organiser, and reflect on how their perspectives on cycling have shifted since retiring and how much the sport has changed, from increasing professionalisation to greater focus on nutrition and aerodynamics.

They also weigh in on cycling’s ongoing race safety debate (and why gear restrictions and wider handlebars are “common sense”), Tadej Pogacar’s dominance (and why it’s a good thing), the impact of this year’s anti-Israel protests on organisers, teams, and riders, the future of Australian racing… oh, and why we shouldn’t expect a theatre production commemorating O’Grady’s Roubaix victory any time soon.

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Former world time trial champion, Olympic medallist, and endurance sport all-rounder Emma Pooley joins the podcast to discuss her new recipe book/memoir Oat to Joy, her own up-and-down relationship with food, the ‘weight debate’ that erupted in women’s cycling this year (and what she regards as the gender-based hypocrisy surrounding it) and her times spent fighting the sport’s ‘idiots’… especially when it came to a celebratory post-win hot chocolate.

We also chat about Pooley and her generation’s role in growing women’s cycling, the battle for the Tour de France Femmes, getting used to riding slowly on the morning commute, and why sometimes making enemies is a sign you’re doing a good job…

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“This is crazy. It’s Russia, you don’t illegally enter Russian territory. You don’t do that!” says Sofiane Sehili. Except he did… And the ultra-endurance legend tells us all about it on this epic episode of the podcast.

In September, Sehili was a day away from breaking the world record for the fastest Eurasia crossing by bike when he was refused entry to Russia at the country’s border with China. Undeterred, he forged on through a forest, through streams, and over barbed wire across the border. After handing himself in, he was arrested, spending 51 days in a Russian jail before being sent home.

Now back home safe in France, Sehili talks in depth about that dramatic conclusion to his latest record attempt, his 51 days in a jail in Russia’s Far East, and the response he’s got since returning home.

We also chat about the logistical planning that goes into these mammoth, ultra-cycling rides, how his perspective on life has changed since his time in Russia, and – most importantly – what happened to his bike when he was in jail…