Velo Podcast

George Bennett of the Jumbo-Visma WorldTour team, who at one point was sitting fourth at this year’s Tour de France, has had a phenomenal season.

In the course of our recent conversation with George about recovery and adaptation, we talked with the New Zealand-born rider about how he was managing his recovery from the Tour de France to get ready for the Vuelta a España. That lead to an entire conversation about how George trains, and his tips for hitting peak form. That's the basis for this episode.

Today, we cover:

- First, something that is fascinating but probably won’t help many of us: how to complete two consecutive grand tours.

- Second, the training approach that George has found works for him. While many of his teammates need high intensity work, George does very little, and focuses primarily on long endurance rides. But he emphasizes that the method that works for you is highly individual.

- We discuss if George’s approach is appropriate for amateur riders, or if we should focus more on intensity. Bennett points out that different work can lead to very different strengths and weaknesses.

- Next, we have a long talk about the importance of eating enough and keeping your glycogen stocked up.

- Finally, George offers a final word on having the confidence to rest, and to not take your training too seriously.

Along with George, we hear from Grant Holicky, formerly of Apex Coaching when this interview was conducted, and now with Forever Endurance Coaching. Grant addresses how to time your season, particularly as an amateur rider.

Let's make you fast!

Bobby & Gus recap the Time Trial events from Yorkshire Worlds and give their insight and predictions for the Road races.

Episode Highlights

* Chloe Dygert-Owen headlines great performances by Team USA

* Rohan Dennis rides blacked out BMC during TT win.

* Quinn Simmons takes rainbow stripes in Junior Road Race.

* UCI announce E-sports Worlds in 2020 - officiated & hosted by ZWIFT.

* Boels Dolmans Team losing both title sponsors at the end of 2019.

* Riders association hit back at the UCI’s proposed Classics Series

* UCI shorten under-23 men's road race at World Champs

This episode of PYSO is supported by Saris & Garmin:

---> Saris Bike Trainers at: bit.ly/SarisPYSO

---> Garmin Edge Computers: http://bit.ly/GarminPYSO

Got questions for Bobby and Gus? Send them over to [email protected]. If they answer your question you'll get a pair of PYSO socks.

Chloé Dygert Owen just smashed the women's world time trial championships to win her first elite world title on the road. On this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast, Fred and Andy discuss the historical significance of Dygert Owen's win, and explain her backstory.

The road course is similar to the stage used by the Tour de France in 2014. How do we see the race playing out on the hilly course? Will it be a breakaway or a sprint at the finish in Harrogate?

Then, the worlds road race is shaping up to be a battle between Peter Sagan and Mathieu van der Poel. There's more riding on this race than just the world title. Is Sagan still pro cycling's biggest name, or has van der Poel stolen his thunder?

Finally, we check in with Dutchwoman Marianne Vos, the most accomplished rider of her generation. Vos is the favorite to win the women's road race on Sunday, and we discuss Vos's amazing 2019 campaign and her quest to win a third elite road title.

This week's episode is sponsored by VeloSwap, the world's largest used bike expo and swap. Its coming up on Sunday, November 2nd. Get your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-veloswap-tickets-72588240381

The 2019 UCI Road World Championships from Yorkshire, UK are here and the PYSO crew previews the Individual Time Trial events.

Bobby & Gus talk about the course and offer up their favorites + long shot picks. And as always the guys get you caught up on the latest happenings from the world of pro cycling.

This weeks episode of PYSO is supported by Saris & Garmin:

---> Saris bike trainers at: bit.ly/SarisPYSO

---> Garmin bike computers: http://bit.ly/GarminPYSO

Got questions for Bobby and Gus? Send them over to [email protected]. If they answer your question you'll get a pair of PYSO socks.

The Vuelta a España came to a thrilling conclusion last week with a series of exciting stages across central Spain. On this week's episode of The VeloNews Show, Fred and Andy deliver their final thoughts on this Vuelta, and go inside the two stages that nearly upended the race.

Stage 17 saw brutal crosswinds decimate the main field, as Deceuninck-Quick Step and Movistar looked to take control of the race. Andy takes us inside the chaotic crosswinds stage at the race, and explains why many riders said it was the hardest day of the Vuelta.

Then, Movistar drew criticism after it pushed the pace following a nasty pileup on stage 19. The entire ordeal penned another chapter in cycling's 'wait or race' debate, which erupts every few years. Was Movistar right to keep racing after the crash, or did they push the competition beyond the line?

The grand tour season may be over, but the cyclocross season is just getting started. And this week we hear from Maghalie Rochette, who just won the World Cup opener in Iowa City, Iowa. Maghalie is a longtime racer on the North American mountain bike and cyclocross circuit. Last year she left Team Clif Bar and struck out on her own, with her own self-made team. We talk with Maghalie about the lessons she learned as a privateer racer, and why her World Cup win was so special.

Bobby and Gus weigh in on the final week of La Vuelta 2019, talk about the winners and losers from the Quebec & Montreal World Tour races.

Got questions for Bobby and Gus? Send them over to [email protected]. If they answer your question on the Podcast you'll get hooked up with a sweet pair of PYSO socks.

Episode Highlights

* Mathieu van der Poel dominates at Tour of Britain

* Michael Matthews & Greg Van Avermaet shine in Canada

* Brailsford surgery

* Froome wants to race in 2019

* Katusha & Israel Cycling Academy merger

* Slovenia dominates La Vuelta with Primoz Roglic & Tadej Pogačar

Roglic smiles in Madrid--> http://bit.ly/RoglicWins

This weeks episode of PYSO is supported by Saris, makers of car racks, bike infrastructure and CycleOps bike trainers. Saris is committed to making their products in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Learn more at: bit.ly/SarisPYSO

Just ask any Tour rider who’s frequently burning 5000 calories or more per day about in-race nutrition and they’ll tell you that it’s both critical and tricky to get right. You can spend months getting your legs ready for your target event, you can be putting out the best numbers of your life, and that can all be wiped away by a poorly timed bonk or intestinal cramping.

You have to consume enough carbohydrates to keep the legs ticking over when the race gets hard, but at the same time you need to make sure they are well tolerated and you’re able to absorb them. It’s a tricky balance and it’s highly individual. Simply buying the newest, coolest sports nutrition product isn’t going to get you there.

You have to find what works for you. But just as importantly, you have to remember that in-race nutrition, just like almost all things, is trainable and while you’re out three doing your big weekend ride, or hard hill repeats, you need to dedicate some time to training the gut.

So, today we'll dive into nutritional training and talk about:

1. Applying a scientific approach to figuring out your carbohydrate needs and whether you are a fat burner or a carbohydrate burner.

2. Second, G.I. distress. Some thoughts on what causes it and why intestinal permeability may be a factor

3. Next, we’ll discuss race nutrition and why changing up what you eat on race day may not be your best strategy.

4. Fourth, why most people can only absorb 60g of carbohydrates per hour but we’re still recommending trying to get 90g. That sounds like a lot, but it’s actually only about 360 calories which is still less than what you’re going to burn in an hour during a big race.

5. The best mix of carbohydrates to improve absorption

6. Why you need to dedicate time every week to training your gut – no different from the time and energy you invest in training your legs,.

7. Finally, we’ll talk about any potential health concerns with focused race nutrition and briefly touch both on the microbiome and l-glutamine

Our primary guest today is none other than Dr Asker Jeukendrup. Dr Juekendrup, is one of the most renowned sports nutrition researchers in the World. He was Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Sport Science. He ran the Gatorade Sports Science Institute back when it was the center coaches and team managers were looking to for the leading hydration research. Dr Jeukendrup now has his own company, Mysportscience and works with Team Jumbo Visma.

Along with Dr Jeukendrup, we talked with Katie Compton, the winner of 15 consecutive national titles, and a four-time silver medalist at ‘cross worlds. She’s familiar with G.I. problems during races and shared with Chris some of her thoughts.

Next, we checked in with Colby Pearce, at this point our unofficial third regular on Fast Talk. He had some warnings about getting too caught up in traditional sports nutrition products and emphasized the importance of also considering health.

Finally, we touched base with Ryan Kohler, the head coach at the University of Colorado Sports Medicine and Performance Center. Ryan frequently works with athletes on training their guts for their target events and shared some of his strategies.

Alright, pull out your Swedish fish.... throw them in the trash and get some real sports nutrition and let's make you fast!

Kate Courtney just became the first American in 17 years to win the XC mountain bike World Cup. On this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast, we catch up with Courtney to talk about her dream season.

Before talking to Courtney, Fred Dreier and Andrew Hood team up to discuss the action at the Vuelta a España, including the thrilling stage victory by American Sepp Kuss, a regular on the pod. What were the tactical decision that led Kuss to win? What does his victory tell us about Jumbo-Visma's attitude toward its younger racers?

Then, Andy discusses the generational shift currently happening in the UCI WorldTour, with young riders like Tadej Pogacar, Egan Bernal, and Remco Evenepoel all surging to the forefront of pro cycling. This dynamic bucks tradition in pro cycling, where young riders often needed to pay their dues before being given the opportunity to win.

Finally, we hear from American Lawson Craddock, who has become one of the most aggressive riders in this year's Vuelta a España. Craddock has spent the entire race attacking into breakaways.

This week's episode is sponsored by Whoop, the performance tool that is changing the way people track their fitness and optimize their training. Whoop tracks your heart rate and gives you a strain scores that lets you know how strenuous your training was on your body, with additional information around your sleep and recovery to tell you how well your body rebounds from training. Right now, listeners can get 15 percent off a Whoop device by going to www.whoop.com and using the code 'velo' at checkout. www.whoop.com.

In this week's episode of Put Your Socks On, Bobby Julich and Gus Morton re-cap week two at La Vuelta 2019 and get you caught up on all things pro cycling. From Chris Froome's cooking accident to Kate Courtney's World Cup title the guys have you covered.

Episode Highlights

* Sepp Kuss and Primoz Roglic at La Vuelta

* Chris Froome back at the doctor

* Richard Carapaz has visa issues & a new team for 2020

* Rolf Aldag leaving Dimension Data

* Kate Courtney and the Mountain Bike World Cup Finals

* Boels Ladies Tour

* Tour of Britain

Sepp Kuss news--> http://bit.ly/SeppKuss

This weeks episode of PYSO is supported by Saris, makers of car racks, bike infrastructure and CycleOps bike trainers. Saris is committed to making their products in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Learn more at: bit.ly/SarisPYSO

Got questions for Bobby and Gus? Send them over to [email protected]. If they answer your question on the Podcast you'll get hooked up with a sweet pair of PYSO socks.

No sponsor. No intro music. For this bonus episode of The VeloNews Podcast, we talk to Andrew Benstein, who was the victim of a hit-and-run crash in July.

Andrew is a longtime racer and a veteran of the U.S. cycling industry. On July 20 he was riding home from the velodrome in Boulder, Colorado when he was struck by a van and left for dead in a ditch. Andrew suffered multiple life-threatening injuries, and was saved by a good samaritan who saw him on the side of the road, and a team of doctors and trauma specialists at several Denver-area hospitals.

Andrew takes us through his harrowing story, and shares his perspective on cycling, road safety, and his new outlook on life.