135. Stephen Roche: the Triple Crown Champion

This week James and Will are joined by Stephen Roche, who in 1987 became only the second rider in history to win the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and World Championships in one season, aka the Triple Crown (pub fact: the other was Eddy Merckx in 1972, then Tadej Pogačar joined them in 2024).In this episode Stephen talks us through this incredible season, from the rollercoaster Giro that had him fearing for his safety, to crossing the line first in Austria to cap a historic season. Stephen also regales us with tales of his early years at notorious French amateur club ABCC; falling out with team bosses and sponsors; proving the doubters wrong; crashing and injury; and what he makes of the sport today.This July, Stephen will be riding three stages of the Tour de France as part of the Tour 21 venture, raising money for Cure Leukaemia along the way, a charity close to Stephen's heart after his son Florian was diagnosed with the disease aged just seven. Find out more about Stephen's endeavours and how you can support him or get involved yourself at thetour21.co.uk------------------This episode is brought to you by Dagsmejan sleepwear, the innovative sleepwear that boosts recovery, aids sleep and helps power pro team, Tudor Pro Cycling.Visit dagsmejan.co.uk and use the code CYCLIST15 at the checkout for 15% off.------------------This episode is also sponsored by Laka Bike Insurance, the specialist bike insurers. Visit laka.co/cyclist and enter the code CYCLISTMAG to get your first 30 days' bike insurance cover FREE.------------------This episode is also sponsored by the Hammerhead Karoo GPS bike computer. Visit hammerhead.io and use the code CYCLIST to get a free HR strap with every purchase (just be sure to add the strap to your cart then apply the code at checkout).------------------Did you know Cyclist is also stunning monthly print magazine?Subscribe now at store.cyclist.co.uk/cycpod and get every issue for less than in the shops, delivered straight to your door.And it's also a rather lovely website about everything road cycling and gravel. Check us out at cyclist.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is brought to you by Laka Bike Insurance, the specialist bike insurersThis week, Robyn and Will are joined by Ned Boulting. Having started out covering football on Sky Sports, Ned joined the ITV Sports team in 2001 and soon became a reporter for their Tour de France coverage, albeit that hasn't stopped him popping up on Olympics coverage, and one of his favourite unsung sports, darts. Today, alongside co-host David Millar, Ned is the voice of the Tour for countless millions of viewers, although sadly this season will be his last (which we chat about later).Ned has written and performed stage shows Bikeology, Tour de Ned and Marginal Mystery Tour, he ventures into the podcast world with the successful Never Strays Far with Pete Kennaugh and David Millar, and he has also written myriad books. Ned's latest book, The Accidental Tour-ist: (Final) Dispatches from the Road (Bloomsbury) has just been released. Described as ‘a lap of honour’, the book recalls chaotic stories and memorable moments from years reporting on Le Tour, the Giro d’Italia, the Flemish Classics and more.With the curtain set to fall on ITV4's free-to-air Tour de France coverage this summer, Ned talks to us about finding out about the news from a friend, and his personal highlights throughout the years as commentator, reporter and presenter.Ned also talks about the seismic - and about time too - shift in women’s cycling; the riders to watch at this year's Tour de France 2025; the Tour stages that viewers cannot afford to miss; and his emotions as he contemplates putting down the mic for the last time on the Champs-Élysées.Interview begins at 4.25------------------This episode is brought to you by Laka Bike Insurance, the specialist bike insurers. Laka's collective model means you only pay a share of what it pays out each month (up to a capped amount), and Laka only makes money once claims have been settled. There's no excess, no depreciation and cover is a flexible as you want it to be - you can pause, cancel or upgrade at any time.Visit laka.co/cyclist and enter the code CYCLISTMAG to get your first 30 days' bike insurance cover FREE.------------------ Did you know Cyclist is also stunning monthly print magazine?Subscribe now at store.cyclist.co.uk/cycpod and get every issue for less than in the shops, delivered straight to your door.And it's also a rather lovely website about everything road cycling and gravel. Check us out at cyclist.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is brought to you by the Insta360 GO 3S action cameraThis week, James and Will are joined by ex-pro Levi Leipheimer. Levi turned pro in 1997 and in 2000 hit the big time with US Postal, riding as a teammate of Lance Armstrong. Stints at Rabobank, Astana and Radioshack followed, during which time he won the Tour de Suisse, three Tours of California, the Dauphine and two stages of the Vuelta a España, finishing second in Spain in 2008. His last contract at QuickStep in 2012 was cut short after Levi admitted to doping during his career, his admittance of guilt and subsequent testimony playing a role in the take down of Lance Armstrong. Today Levi is open about this part of his past, and here he speaks candidly about doping, both his feelings at the time and his feelings on the subject now, both in the context of US Postal and the early 2000s and the cycling now.Today, Levi heads up the event he founded some 16 years ago, Levi's Gran Fondo amateur race and its pro-race sibling, The Growler. As the US calendar shrinks, the 220km Growler is said to be 'the hardest one-day race in North America', and the only race broadcast live in the States, this year via YouTube. Levi talks us through the importance of the Growler to the US domestic scene, from the $156,000 prize purse that helps fund poorly paid pros, to the platform it offers young talent.Interview begins at 8:13------This episode is brought to you by Insta360, the 360-degree filming action camera specialists. Insta360 has now launched two GO 3S cycling bundles: a Cycling Multiview bundle that captures all angles plus a Cycling POV bundle for a great point of view. Check out the all-new, road-cycling-perfect Insta360 GO 3S here and don't forget to use the code Cyclist at the checkout for a free Insta360 GO 3S carry case, plus for a limited time there's also 15% off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is brought to you by the Insta360 GO 3S action cameraThis week, James and Will are joined by the superest of super domestiques, Welshman Luke Rowe. As road captain at Ineos Grenediers (nee Team Sky), Rowe helped win countless Grand Tours over more than a decade at the British team. However complications from a crash forced Rowe to retire last season, and here he talks about how that decision played out, and about reconstructing his life after pro-riding.In this episode, Luke also talks about the impact of team DS, Nico Portal's, untimely death at Sky; putting others' success ahead of his own; the dangers of cycling and crashing; getting stuck into his new role as directeur sportif at AG2R-La Mondiale; and writing his first book, Road Captain: My Life at the Heart of the Peloton, published by Penguin.Interview begins at 7.25------This episode is brought to you by Insta360, the 360-degree filming action camera specialists. Check out its latest the all-new, road-cycling-perfect Insta360 GO 3S here. And don't forget to use the code Cyclist at the checkout for a free Insta360 GO 3S carry case, plus for a limited time there's also 15% off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is brought to you by the Insta360 X5 action cameraThis week, James is joined by none other than Bradley Wiggins and cricket legend Ian Botham, who on 15th and 16th September will be riding the Sir Bradley Wiggins Cycle Challenge for Beefy's Charity Foundation (sign up to ride here, more details below).In this episode, Ian and Brad compare notes on 1980s cricket versus 2010s cycling (spoiler: there was more beer and misbehaviour in cricket), their experiences in the limelight, their greatest achievements, and how to deal with pressure, from the legendary 1981 Ashes to the 2012 Tour de France and Olympics. Brad opens up about his time at Team Sky, tells us what he really thinks of the Dave Brailsford regime and the cycling media, and gives a candid account of his struggles on the bike and off it. Meanwhile, Ian recounts sharing changing room beers with the Aussies, why he was never into sledging, how to keep a cool head in the middle of a storm, and the long-term impact of his charity work.Interview begins at 7.00------This episode is brought to you by Insta360, the 360-degree filming action camera specialists. Check out its latest the all-new, road-cycling-perfect Insta360 X5 here. And don't forget to use the code Cyclist at the checkout for a free Insta360 X5 handlebar mount.Beefy's Charity Foundation was founded by Ian Botham, and traces it roots back to 1985 and Ian's incredible 900-mile walk from John O'Groats to Land's End, which raised over £1million for research into leukemia. This year marks 40 years and countless millions more raised since that walk, so to celebrate - and to raise more money - Wiggo and Beefy will be riding from Portsmouth to Lord's Cricket Ground on 15th and 16th September and they invite you to come along too (see the link above, or go to beefysfoundation.org). Prices start from £150 to ride, or sign up to the whole shebang including hotels, a Q+A with Wiggo and Beefy at the end of day one and a sit down dinner with the guys in the Long Room at Lord's Cricket Ground on day two. All money raised will go to Blood Cancer UK, Breakthrough Type 1 (diabetes), Yorkshires Brain Tumour Charity and the Batten Disease Family Association CIO.------------------ Did you know Cyclist is also stunning monthly print magazine?Subscribe now at store.cyclist.co.uk/cycpod and get every issue for less than in the shops, delivered straight to your door.And it's also a rather lovely website about everything road cycling and gravel. Check us out at cyclist.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is brought to you by the Insta360 X5 action cameraThis week, Will and Robyn are joined by Welsh track cycling star, Emma Finucane. At just 21 years old, Emma was the first British woman to take three medals in a single Games - including team sprint gold - since track and field athlete Mary Rand in 1964.In winning that gold at Paris 2024, her and teammates Sophie Capewell and Katy Marchant broke the world record not once but an astonishing three times, cementing Emma as the fastest woman in the world.In this episode, Emma discusses feeling like an imposter despite being champion, body image in cycling, managing her emotions around winning and losing, and why crying before races has become one the secrets of her success. Plus Emma and Robyn get into a bit of Formula 1 chat, because why not - it's all going fast, isn't it.Interview begins at 7.40------This episode is brought to you by Insta360, the 360-degree filming action camera specialists. Check out its latest the all-new, road-cycling-perfect Insta360 X5 here. And don't forget to use the code Cyclist at the checkout for a free Insta360 X5 handlebar mount.------------------ Did you know Cyclist is also stunning monthly print magazine?Subscribe now at store.cyclist.co.uk/cycpod and get every issue for less than in the shops, delivered straight to your door.And it's also a rather lovely website about everything road cycling and gravel. Check us out at cyclist.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week James and Will are Fran Millar, possibly the most influential woman in British cycling.Today Fran is CEO at Rapha, but her long CV includes managing Geraint Thomas and Mark Cavendish; a decade at Team Sky/Ineos, in which she became 'head of winning behaviours'; operations director for Eliud Kipchoge’s sub-2hr marathon record; and then CEO at clothing brand Belstaff. She is also David Millar’s sister, but really that’s just a footnote to a fascinating career.In this episode, Fran talks candidly about the problems at Rapha - and why they will solve them; life working alongside Dave Brailsford at Sky, including developing and propagating their famous winning mentality; what went wrong at Ineos Grenediers (and it’s not what you might think, also Pidcock is mentioned); what it's like having David Millar as a brother; and whether TNT’s new TV cycling deal is about to kill British cycling.Interview begins at 15.05------------------ Did you know Cyclist is also stunning monthly print magazine?Subscribe now at store.cyclist.co.uk/cycpod and get every issue for less than in the shops, delivered straight to your door.And it's also a rather lovely website about everything road cycling and gravel. Check us out at cyclist.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode James and Will are joined by author and journalist Chris Sidwells to discuss the history of pro cycling's Holy Week, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.We talk about the origins of the races, the working class heroes that rode in the early editions, the legends of the 60s and 70s, and how today's riders compare.Chris is the nephew of British cycling legend Tom Simpson, who won the Tour of Flanders in 1961, so naturally we spoke about Simpson's career, life and tragic death on Mont Ventoux in 1967.You can buy Chris's new book, Cycling Legends 04: Flandriens (as well as the others in the series) now from cyclinglegends.co.ukInterview begins at 11:21.------------------ Did you know Cyclist is also stunning monthly print magazine?Subscribe now at store.cyclist.co.uk/cycpod and get every issue for less than in the shops, delivered straight to your door.And it's also a rather lovely website about everything road cycling and gravel. Check us out at cyclist.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Robyn and James are joined by Connie Carpenter Phinney, who is 1984 became the first ever Olympic Women's Road Race gold medal winner.Connie charts her career from 14 year-old winter Olympic speed skater to champion road cyclist, a sporting career which saw her win multiple national titles and dominate races such as the Coors Classic.Married to fellow American cyclist Davis Phinney, mother to ex-pro Taylor Phinney and mother-in-law to reigning Tour de France Femmes champ, Kasia Niewiadoma (Taylor's wife), though Connie has long since retired she's still very close to cycling, and here contrasts her experiences competing in 1980s with life on two wheels now, from her near non-existent racing budget to building her own wheels, burning out after the Olympics and watching her son race, including witnessing the horror crash that nearly cost him his life.An irrepressible spirit, Connie has no sporting regrets, and today puts her energy into the charity she founded after husband Davis was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson's. The Davis Phinney Foundation aims to raise awareness, money, and crucially to provide support and resources to those living with, and caring for, people with Parkinson's. Read more about the Davis Phinney Foundation here.Interview begins at 11.46------------------ Did you know Cyclist is also stunning monthly print magazine?Subscribe now at store.cyclist.co.uk/cycpod and get every issue for less than in the shops, delivered straight to your door.And it's also a rather lovely website about everything road cycling and gravel. Check us out at cyclist.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Will and James are joined by Dr Aron D'Souza, president of the Enhanced Games. Billed as 'the ultimate demonstration of what the human body can do', the Enhanced Games seeks in part to answer that age old pub question, 'What if athletes were allowed to dope, how much better would they be?' It's a divisive topic unlike any other in sport, but having secured funding - including from Donald Trump Jnr - D'Souza and his team are confident the first edition of the Enhanced Games will run within the next two years, and in so doing will change not just sport but humanity itself. Unlike the Olympics, athletes will be directly paid to participate and bonussed to break records, and thus the edges of human limits will be smashed through. There'll be input from pharmaceutical companies, profits will be recycled into the research of newer drugs to push boundaries ever further, and the trickle down effect will be that one day, that drug you saw on TV that helped that 69 year old woman run a sub-10 second 100m will be available to you.Is it madness or is this the future? Have a listen and make your own mind up.Interview begins at 10.45------------------ Did you know Cyclist is also stunning monthly print magazine?Subscribe now at store.cyclist.co.uk/cycpod and get every issue for less than in the shops, delivered straight to your door.And it's also a rather lovely website about everything road cycling and gravel. Check us out at cyclist.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.