The big Giro preview - Watts Occurring powered by Eurosport

The boys have been busy - G racing the Giro, Luke repping the pod live in studio on Eurosport, and there's three big days of racing to recap. It's been pretty smooth since the rest day but, as always, Grand Tours are like a swan swimming across a pond. There's always a hell of a lot happening under the surface. G filled us in on the peloton's antics, reflected on Julian Alaphilippe's incredible stage win today, another big ride from Johnny 'Bravo' Narvaez, and previewed stage 13's sprint test, before looking ahead to a brutal weekend of climbing. Strap yourselves in. The Giro 'starts' this weekend. Watts Occurring is powered by Eurosport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's rest day number one at the Giro, so you know what that means: it's time for a pod. There's a lot for G and Luke to catch up on. That tricky time trial, the latest summit finish, what's coming up this week, and we even had some time for a few of your questions. Pippo Ganna even popped by. We can't wait for week two - and we'll be back with another pod in a few days. Come on G! Watts Occurring is powered by Eurosport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're on the eve of the second weekend at the Giro d'Italia and Luke and Tom are here to recap the first time trial of the race - and it was a cracker. G battled hard to a solid top-10 finish while Pog put in a big ride to pip Pippo Ganna to the stage win by a matter of seconds and strengthen his grip on the maglia rosa. There's plenty for the boys to catch up on - yesterday's gravel stage, a special ride from Luke's friend Michael Valgren, more #PinkPanther analysis and - as always - a lot more. Luke and Tom will also be providing alternative commentary live on Eurosport tomorrow, for stage 8 - tune in to @eurosportcycling or @gtcyclingclub on Instagram from 2pm UK time to hear their thoughts on the race's latest mountaintop finish. G will be back on the pod on Monday. Watts Occurring is powered by Eurosport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did anybody think the first three days of the Giro would be that exciting? We didn't. An INEOS win on day one, a classic Pog ride on day two, and then a wild attack from G and Pog on day three! It's been a tasty ride. So, it was time for a pod. Luke joined G to chat about that crazy first weekend, INEOS' tactics, how our Welshman's feeling in Italy and what's left to come this week. The boys will be back soon - and we're hoping G carries on his cracking start. Watts Occurring is powered by Eurosport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 January, 2012. The day that Luke Rowe became a professional bike rider, pulling on the immortal colours of Team Sky for the first time. 13 years later, after a career that he dreamt of as a young Maindy Flyer, growing up in Cardiff and riding round the famous outdoor velodrome, Luke's decided to hang up his pro wheels at the end of this season. What a journey it's been. He sat down with G this week to bring you, our Watts Occurring listeners, the news first. It's not been an easy decision. Following his crash and concussion in E3 back in March, regular listeners will know that Luke's recovery hasn't been as speedy as expected. As he explains, following medical advice and long discussions with his young family, Luke has decided that this season will be his last. He still hopes to race this season - did someone say Tour of Britain? - but will need to see how his recovery progresses. For now, it's time to pay tribute to Luke, and start planning his retirement party. It's been fun, eh? Watts Occurring is powered by Eurosport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The boys are back and yes, it's finally here - it's Giro week! It barely seems like five minutes since G lost out on that epic final day to Primoz Roglic last year, yet here we go again. It's time for G to pack his bags and head off for a lap of Italy. Tom joined the lads for this bumper preview - and he'll be back throughout the race for plenty of Giro pods - as they talked G's chances, made some big predictions, and made sure that Sa will be giving him a haircut before he boards the plane for Italy. We'll be back later this week for a very special bonus show (more on that in due course), and then as always we'll be bringing you regular updates from the frontline of the first Grand Tour of the season. Watts Occurring is powered by Eurosport NOTE: We'll let him off as he's got a big month ahead, but G's microphone had a few issues during this record. Apologies if you pick up on that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

G's prep for the Giro is very nearly complete. Tour of the Alps was his last racing hit out before he heads for Italy and he breaks it all down for Luke in this week's Watts. Luke himself is finally on the mend, following his concussion back in mid-March. Fingers crossed he'll be back on the bike with a vengeance soon. He's keeping himself busy though, with two commentary stints on Eurosport over the past week. First up he called compatriot Stevie Williams winning Fleche Wallonne, and then was on air as Pogi decimated the field in typically stunning fashion at Liege. G reckons he's now on Merckx level. What do you think? Let us know on Twitter: @Watts_Occurring. We'll be back in a week's time for a bumper Giro preview... and then Grand Tour number one of the season will begin. Bring it on! Watts Occurring is powered by Eurosport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Well, day one at the Tour of the Alps was a cracker wasn't it - and after a tasty, attacking finale, G came home sixth, three seconds back on teammate and stage winner Tobias Foss. He jumped straight on the massage table, called up Luke, and gave him the rundown. Meanwhile the boys are fresh from their first alternative commentary with Eurosport - head to @eurosportcycling on Instagram to relive the boys' commentating efforts on the Amstel Gold Race! And after they came off air, INEOS Grenadiers put on a show, setting up Tom Pidcock for his first (well... maybe second) Amstel title. Luke and G analyse that win and look ahead to Fleche and this Sunday's final spring Monument, Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Before that, G's got a few Alpine mountains to summit. Send him your best. We'll be back next week - if not before... Watts Occurring is powered by Eurosport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The boys are back to discuss the fastest ever edition of Roubaix, won in serious style by world champ Mathieu van der Poel. Yes, that's the bloke who won Flanders too. He is untouchable right now - although, of course, if Luke wasn't suffering from concussion, he'd have taken it to the Dutchman... Speaking of Luke's concussion, he's got a bit of bad news on that front. He's still suffering after his crash in E3 and is back off the bike. He's hoping to be back to normal soon, but there's no rushing an issue like this. G is trucking along happily in Sierra and should be back in action at the Tour of the Alps this time next week. See you then for a racing update from our elder statesman, who is now less than a month out from the Giro. Watts Occurring is powered by Eurosport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The boys are back - and we've got some news: Watts Occurring is now powered by Eurosport! We're delighted to welcome Eurosport as our new title sponsor for 2024. We've got lots of exciting things planned, including Luke, G and Tom doing a spot of alternative commentary... More details on that soon. Before then the boys are back with the first Watts Occurring of 2024 - and there's lots to catch up on. Luke's overcoming his concussion, G's been training with Pog in Sierra Nevada and the boys do a deep dive looking back on an incredible Flanders. It's good to be back. See you next week for a Roubaix recap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices