Velo Podcast

Sepp Kuss absolutely smashed the field at Tour of Utah. So is he America's next star climber? We hear from Dane Cash, who was covering the race this year and Chris Case, who did an in-depth sports science feature on climbing that featured Kuss (how prescient!).

Then, Fred Dreier talks to another star climber, Katie Hall, who just announced she will race for super-team Boels-Dolmans in 2018.

This episode of the VeloNews podcast is sponsored by Feedback Sports, which makes the stable and easy to use Sprint Repair Stand. For more, check out https://www.feedbacksports.com

The science on recovery has changed significantly in recent years. Once it was almost purely focused on reducing delayed onset muscle soreness (or DOMS), now the science recognizes that inflammation and some discomfort are a necessary part of recovery, and the best recovery tools aid this process. The tools that seem to do this best are within the compression categories of recovery, including massage, cold water therapy, and compression gear.

In episode 52 we’ll cover:

1. The current research on recovery: how it's changing and why getting out of the way of our bodies and letting them do their thing is often best.

2. We’ll also touch upon those areas where the body doesn't always do a great job and may need some help. This includes venous return, edema, and excess inflammation.

3. We'll zero in on compression therapies which have been showing benefits and explain these sophisticated tools called external pneumatic compression

4. Our guests will talk specifically about NormaTec: how the founder, a doctor, was looking to help her patients with vascular issues when she hatched the plan to create the company and the device; we’ll also discuss some promising recent studies.

5. And we'll warn you now, we'll go a little deep in the weeds about NormaTec's effects on inflammation, and whether they’re beneficial or inhibitory.

6. Finally, if you decide to give the recovery boots a try, we'll give some tips on when, where, and how to do so.

What is trail? No, not that dirt path you like to mountain bike on — we are talking about the often-misunderstood bike geometry measurement.

In this episode of the VeloNews tech podcast, we speak to BMC Switzerland's head of engineering, Stefan Christ. He helps us better understand how trail affects a bike's handling.

But more importantly, he explains why a variety of factors influence the way a bike feels — it isn't as simple as just one geometry measurement.

What is it like to finish the Tour de France on the Champs-Elysees? Fred Dreier is on the ground in Paris to hear from the riders.

He speaks to (in the following order) Toms Skujins, Lawson Craddock, Rory Sutherland, Mathew Hayman, Andy Schleck, and Alexander Kristoff, who won stage 21. We also hear Geraint Thomas fans singing the Welsh national anthem to honor their first Tour champion.

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There are few scientists who get Coach Connor more excited than our guest in this episode. Dr. Stephen Seiler has revolutionized our understanding of endurance training. (In fact, Coach Connor refers to him as the Jay-Z of physiology!) In this episode, we'll take a deep dive into the many theories he has brought to sport science and physiology.

His three-zone model of training is built around two physiological breakpoints. He feels these breakpoints define three physiological zones. Zone 1 is below the aerobic threshold, and what we call easy base training. Zone 2 is between the breakpoints and has many names including no-man's land or sweet spot. The third zone is our high intensity training zone.

Next we'll talk about how, by studying elite athletes, Seiler found a remarkable consistency: Most endurance athletes train about 80 percent of the time in Zone 1, around 15 to 20 percent in Zone 3, and very little in Zone 2. This has become known as polarized training.

We'll also take a deep dive with Dr. Seiler into both Zone 1 and Zone 3 training and how to approach both. A theme will start to emerge, and you'll hear one of the top physiologists in the world repeat it again and again: Keep it simple. That might seem surprising, but the research is clear: Complex intervals and overly detailed training plans may hurt more than they help. Ultimately it may be as simple as accumulating time in the various zones in the right ratios.

Finally, we'll discuss how these principles apply specifically to training. Seiler's research includes Nordic skiers, rowers, runners, and cyclists. So be warned, at times you'll hear some concepts that may be unfamiliar to you. For example, cycling is one of the few places where endurance athletes do five-hour workouts. In other endurance sports, they add volume by doing two-a-days.

We saw something very unusual in Tour de France stage 17: Chris Froome got dropped. Big time. Is this the beginning of the end of his era? We discuss. And, we hear from Dave Brailsford after the summit finish.

So who will win the race now? We talk about how yellow jersey wearer (and Froome's Sky teammate) Geraint Thomas is a breath of fresh, rugby-watching, beer-drinking air in the world of dull pro cyclists. For more on that, check out Fred Dreier's recent story: https://www.velonews.com/2018/07/tour-de-france/who-is-geraint-thomas_472972

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You expected to see a Team Sky rider wearing yellow this week, didn't you. But did you expect it would be Geraint Thomas?

We didn't. So, Fred and Andy dig into who Welshman is, and why he's gotten so good. Fred talks to Team Sky coach Rod Ellingworth to learn more.

But before that, we have to talk about another, less likable member of Team Sky, Gianni Moscon. He was kicked out of the Tour on Sunday and we have plenty of takes about why the Italian is bad for cycling.

Plus, we hear from American Chad Haga who is racing in his first Tour de France.

This episode of the VeloNews podcast is sponsored by CycleOps, makers of the Hammer indoor smart trainer. The VeloNews editorial staff may be hunched over computers all day during the Tour de France, but we can stay fit all July, day or night, by hopping on the Hammer and riding in our favorite virtual training app, like Zwift, Rouvy, TrainerRoad, or The SufferFest. Learn about the Hammer here: www.cycleops.com/product/hammer

It is Sky vs. Sky after 12 stages of racing in the Tour de France. Geraint Thomas is in yellow, but will he work for team leader Chris Froome? We discuss after three exciting stages in the Alps.

Then we hear from Tom Dumoulin and his Sunweb team director Luke Roberts about how they plan to beat the two-headed monster that is Thomas and Froome.

Plus, Ian Boswell checks in atop Alpe d'Huez to talk about the ambiance in his Tour de France debut.

This episode of the VeloNews podcast is sponsored by ROKA. ROKA makes unbelievably lightweight cycling eyewear that seems to have accounted for every little detail necessary for performance on the biggest stages. (Trust us — we’ve logged hundreds of miles in them and are still surprised by how light they are and how secure the fit is.) Check out ROKA.com for more: https://www.roka.com/

The Tour de France peloton is chock full of brand-new aero bikes — what's behind these designs, and what do the riders like?

In this episode of the VeloNews Tech podcast, tech editor Dan Cavallari talks to industry experts to get the skinny on what makes a good aero bike, and what’s next for the category. Are aero bikes and all-around bikes melding into a single category? If not, what’s stopping them? And what the heck is a truncated airfoil anyway?

Cavallari also gets insights from the pros — Trek-Segafredo’s Toms Skujins and Bora-Hansgrohe’s Peter Sagan both offer their thoughts on the intersection of aero performance and comfort in a race bike.

Can you believe that crazy stage 9? We discuss the Tour's trip across the Roubaix cobblestones with insight on Richie Porte's crash, analysis of Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana's performances, and more details on what happened to Rigoberto Uran.

We hear from BMC director Fabio Baldato as well as EF Education First-Drapac's Tom Scully on the ground in Roubaix.