S8 Ep93: Tour looms, uncertainty reigns at the Dauphiné

In a bumper episode of The Cycling Podcast, Richard Moore, Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe recap a thrilling and incident-packed week of racing and try to work out the implications for the Tour de France.

The Critérium du Dauphiné is always an important warm-up race for the Tour but with the Grand Départ in Nice just two weeks away it was an even bigger indicator of form.

Daniel was in France and reports back on the race, while Richard draws up his list of the week's 18 winners and losers.

Jumbo-Visma started and ended the week brilliantly but suffered setbacks too. Primoz Roglic pulled out while leading the race following a crash and key helper Steven Kruijswijk also crashed out of the race.

Meanwhile, it was far from plain sailing for Team Ineos. Egan Bernal also pulled out with a back issue and Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas were off the pace all week. Their only bright spot was Pavel Sivakov, who finished the race strongly. We hear from him in this episode.

We then switch our attention to Italy and il Lombardia, where Jakob Fuglsang took his second monument victory following Liège-Bastogne-Liège last year.

The Dane saw off George Bennett, who again shone for Jumbo-Visma, but there were questions for Trek-Segafredo, who got three riders into the final six man selection only to finish fourth, fifth and sixth.

However, the race was marred by another serious crash, this time for Remco Evenepoel, and an incident where an public car got onto the course near the finish. Is it time for responsibility for race safety to be taken over by an independent body?

The Cycling Podcast is supported by iwoca and Science in Sport.

My first Tour de France

Our four-part series, My First Tour, is available for Friends of the Podcast. Sign up on our website. In the series, Richard, Lionel, Daniel and François take turns to recall their first Tours – whether it be the first they saw on television or from the roadside, the first they covered or, in Lionel's case, the first they covered in a camper van.

Also, with the peloton set to return to the Giant of Provence this week, we've made the 2016 Friends Special about Mont Ventoux – Heat, Wind and Fear – available for current Friends of the Podcast.

OUR NEW CLOTHING RANGE

We have teamed up with Katusha to produce The Cycling Podcast Collection. The launch range is a cycling jersey and a t-shirt in both men's and women's cuts. To check out the range go to our website.

OUR SPONSORS

iwoca became The Cycling Podcast’s title sponsors in March 2020. iwoca specialises in supporting small businesses and can lend between £1,000 and £250,000. iwoca have been accredited by the British Business Bank to offer CBILS (Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans Scheme) – the scheme is now open, so businesses can apply for a loan rather than just register interest. To find out more, go to iwoca.co.uk

Science In Sport is The Cycling Podcast’s longest-standing supporter. It’s a relationship that stretches back to the 2016 Giro d’Italia. Listeners can get 25% off Science In Sport’s range of energy drinks, bars, gels and cakes at scienceinsport.com with the code SISCP25

This episode is also supported by Laka, a community of cyclists co-operating to provide insurance cover for your bikes and equpment. And by Harry's, who are offering a trial set to give you a smooth, comfortable shave, for just £3.95. Go to harrys.com/cycling for details.