Velo Podcast

How does 370 km (230 miles) a day, every day, for eleven days sound to you? That's what it took for Robin Gemperle not just to win this year's Tour Divide but to arrive at the Antelope Wells finish line, otherwise known as the Mexican border, quicker than any other rider in the history of the race.

The latest episode of the Velo Podcast sees Mike Levy question Robin about his self-imposed sleep rules, tricks to deal with saddle sores, and the very first thing he does when he gets to a hotel. Robin also explains how he briefly considered using a full-suspension bike, his relatively simple Divide race plan, and why his laid-back approach on the bike could be his superpower.
Whether you're into ultra-distance racing, enjoy the odd bike packing weekend, or just love an all-day ride, this is a conversation that you'll likely learn a thing or three from that you might be able to apply to your adventures, Tour Divide or otherwise. 

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Who had money on Wout van Aert dropping Pogacar on a climb during this year's Tour? With fans lined ten-deep and hanging out of apartment windows, the stepped and cobbled pitches of the Montmartre ascent looked more like a soaking wet spring Classic than the final stage of the La Grande Boucle.

It's also where the Visma–Lease a Bike rider did the near-impossible by opening a gap on the yellow jersey (and everyone else) with only a death-defying descent and the Champs-Élysées between him and what has to be one of the sweetest wins of his career.

The final episode of this year's Tour de France podcast coverage sees Mike Levy and Peter Cossins talk about whether too many HC climbs hurt the racing, that epic final stage, and why there were so many crashes the previous day. They also recount their favourite moments from a Tour that was never short of excitement.

Further reading

The end is near, and the overall win is, barring a Pogi disaster, essentially wrapped up. That doesn't mean that the closing stages of this year's Tour de France have been boring, however, with Milan trucking towards Paris in green and Visma doing their best over the last two mountain stages to force a comeback for the ages.

This episode sees Levy and Peter Cossins dig that idiotic fan trying to poach the stage 17 finish on his bike before a security guard knocked him into next week, and why Lenny Martinez (deservedly) lost the polka dot jersey after not one but three of the stickiest bottles.

They also get into Ben O'Connor's emotional win on top of Courchevel, and Thymen Arensman's big-brain moves that allowed him to barely beat Vingegaard and Pogacar to the line for his second solo masterpiece of the Tour.

Also, do you know how the French cows managed to shorten stage 19?

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The new Colnago Y1RS and Cervelo S5 have already won stages in this year’s Tour de France, but what are the latest (and some of the most expensive) aero road bikes like to ride and work on when you’re not a GC contender?

Velo’s Josh Ross has been putting huge miles on both hyperbikes, and today’s podcast sees Levy and Alvin Holbrook question him about how they compare on the road, why the S5 feels so different from the Y1RS, and which bike makes the most sense for who and where.

The crew also gets into the Colnago’s surprising build quality and the S5’s gorgeous paint, and Levy tries to understand how having to remove the bottom bracket to access the Di2 battery is acceptable.

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Mike Levy and Pete Cossins return to unpack a wild stretch of Tour de France action from stages 14 to 16, plus all the bizarre, brilliant, and brutal stories behind the racing.

Jonas Vingegaard has said many times that he's not at the Tour to race for second, and that's exactly what it looked like as he attacked Pogacar again and again on the slope of Mount Ventoux. Peter Cossins and Mike Levy are back to discuss stages 14, 15, and 16, where we saw the new version of Vingegaard, Mattias Skjelmose's nightmare front-flip over a road sign, and Quinn Simmons taking issue with possible motorbike interference.

Julian Alaphilippe is also in the headlines for a wild day that started with a dislocated shoulder and ended with what he thought was a sprint victory over Wout van Aert... But that's not how it worked out, even if everyone would love a Loulou win.

The duo also discusses a gutsy solo ride by Thymen Arensman and Tim Wellens’ surprise win as Belgian national champion. Michael Woods offered an honest look at the brutal reality of Tour rest days, and the guys break down weird moments: puke, poop, KOM crashes, and rogue socks.

Heading into the final week, UAE looks dominant with five stage wins, and the yellow jersey looks more secure than ever. But can Jonas pull off a miracle in the Alps?

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In this episode of Velo’s Tour de France Podcast, Mike Levy and Pete Cossins dig into stages 11–13 of the 2025 Tour and what really goes on during a so-called “rest day.” Pete explains how riders still spend hours on the bike, tending to injuries, staying sharp, and preparing their bodies for what’s next.

Stage 11 was shaped by an audacious breakaway from kilometer zero, with Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X) ultimately outsprinting Mauro Schmid to take his and his team’s first Tour stage win—just four weeks after breaking his collarbone. The stage also featured a nasty crash for Pogačar and a wild spectator incident.

Stage 12 delivered fireworks on the legendary Hautacam climb. Pogačar attacked solo after Adam Yates and teammates set things up perfectly, putting over two minutes into Vingegaard. It was a statement win—his 20th Tour de France stage victory—leaving many wondering if the GC race is effectively over.

Stage 13’s short, brutal mountain time trial saw Pogačar extend his lead yet again, winning his 21st career stage and sixth consecutive mountain finish. The hosts preview Stage 14’s massive climbing day and ponder whether Pogi’s dominance will crack—or if Vingegaard has any path back into yellow.

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In this episode of the Velo Podcast, Mike Levy and Peter Cossins recap Tour de France stages 8, 9, and 10, which delivered a mix of heartbreaking breakaways, sprints that come just short, and all kinds of tactics in the mountains.

Stage 8 saw Italian powerhouse Jonathan Milan power to his first Tour stage win, finally breaking through after numerous intermediate sprint efforts. Pete and Mike marvel at his raw, upright sprinting style compared to the finesse of rivals like Tim Merlier.

Stage 9 brought drama as Alpecin-Deceuninck teammates Mathieu van der Poel and Jonas Rickaert launched a 173 km breakaway—nearly pulling off a stunning win before being caught just 600 meters from the finish. It was a heartfelt effort, especially from Van der Poel, who wanted to reward Rickaert’s years of teamwork.

Stage 10 introduced real climbing, with eight categorized climbs and massive shakeups. Ben Healy animated the stage and sacrificed a potential win to claim the yellow jersey, while Simon Yates claimed the day’s honors.

UAE’s weakness without João Almeida became clear, and Visma Lease a Bike showed tactical depth with multiple threats across the board. With the Pyrenees and Alps looming, team tactics are more crucial than ever—and the Tour is wide open.

For the latest on the Tour de France from Velo

Pete Cossins is back with Mike Levy to explain all the action from stages 4-7 of the Tour de France, including the GC contenders fighting each other for early stage victories yet again, Ben Healy's epic solo win, and they dig into what could be a Tour-defining time trial loss for Jonas.

We're all hoping that it's far from over, however, with some monster mountain stages in the coming weeks that suit Vingegaard, and especially considering that Pogi, for all his dominance, isn't infallible over the high mountain passes. 

Cervelo debuts new aero and climbing bikes at the Tour de France that couldn't be more different, yet also match in one very important way, and we've also spotted the Visma–Lease a Bike squad rolling on prototype Reserve wheels laced with carbon fiber spokes.

Tadej and the rest of the UAE team won't feel left out, though, as they're using the just-released ENVE SES 4.5 Pro wheels. But what about that kinda-hook bead rim? Alvin Holbrook and Mike Levy delve into the details as they discuss tire retention and UCI-mandated width regulations that likely played a role in the new rim design.

They also agree to disagree on Mathieu van der Poel's newest sponsor signing with a private jet company that has many fans up in arms, and Levy talks about his first bikepack race adventure at the BC Epic 1000 that included all the heat, not enough calories, and plenty of time spent laying on the ground.

Further reading:

Review: The New Cervélo S5 Is Lighter, Faster, and Buys in on 1x

Spotted: We Have the Details on Visma-Lease a Bike’s New Giro Aero Helmet

Video: Top Bikes and New Paint Jobs at the Tour de France

Spotted: Not One, but Two New Cervélos at the Tour de France

$8K vs $18K: The Tour de France’s Least and Most Expensive Bikes Compared

What Every Tour de France Team Brings to the Race: Breaking Down a $1 Million Equipment Haul

Enve SES 4.5 Pro Delivers a Double Take at 1295 Grams With a Hooked Bead

Van der Poel Hits Back after Fans Blast Private Jet Partnership: ‘Not about Luxury, about Performance’

Tricky roads and strong winds have made it a hectic start to Le Grande Boucle, and the conditions have already seen two big names abandon the race due to injury, while two GC contenders have lost over half a minute to the favorites.

Legendary Tour de France reporter Pete Cossins unpacks the sprints, the breaks, the crashes, and especially the wins that make up the first three stages, and he also answers all of Mike Levy's questions about Tour etiquette and racer politics.