Beyond the Peloton Podcast

Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz fill up cycling’s mini pre-Tour de France off-season with a bit of chatter about Tadej Pogačar’s dominant performance at the recent Critérium du Dauphiné, and debate if any amount of tactical retooling from Jonas Vingegaard’s Visma team can make a difference. They also discuss the prospect of Geraint Thomas stepping into a director role at Ineos, the value and significance of João Almeida’s win at the Tour de Suisse, how the carbohydrate revolution continues to supercharge racing speeds, and much more.Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠: Critérium du Dauphiné Final Weekend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz sit down with The Stable Cyclist’s John Peter to unpack the wild, unexpected and exciting finale to the Giro d’Italia, which saw Simon Yates storm back with an incredible ride up the Finestre to take the overall lead from UAE’s Isaac del Toro on the same climb that cost him the win back in 2018. Then (22:00), they invite on recent Unbound winner Cameron Jones to talk about his incredible ride to win the biggest Gravel event on the calendar, and where he sees his career going from here.Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠ : Giro d'Italia Final Debrief⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠John Peter’s The Stable Cyclist This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz give their thoughts on the final week of the Giro d’Italia, including 21-year-old Isaac del Toro’s shocking ride to hold the race lead into the final weekend, and touch on American success at recent mountain bike World Cups, including how Mathieu van der Poel’s broken wrist will affect his season, before giving their predictions for tomorrow’s Unbound Gravel event.Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠ Giro d'Italia Cheat Sheet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast discuss the recent action at the Giro d’Italia before stting down with Gravel and YouTube star Dylan Johnson (33:00) to discuss his recent training crash, which left him with a fractured tibia and out of the upcoming Unbound Gravel race, where he finished 10th last year amdist a star-studded field. Dylan talks about the massive training blocks needed to prepare for the event, how equipment and fueling choices can be critical to success, and how he sees Gravel evolving as it becomes more popular and professionalized.This episode is brought to you by Join Cycling. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get your first month free through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for our Beyond the Peloton JOIN GroupBeyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠ Giro d'Italia Rest Day Recap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer and Andrew break down the first week of the Giro d’Italia, including Juan Ayuso’s stage win atop the race’s first summit finish and Primož Roglič going into the overall race lead. This episode is brought to you by Join Cycling. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get your first month free through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for our Beyond the Peloton JOIN Group Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠ Giro d'Italia Cheat Sheet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast sit down with Jonathan Kaplan from the Riding With newsletter to preview the upcoming Giro d'Italia, which kicks off tomorrow in Albania, and give their predictions on who will ultimately win the race, before diving into a range of topics, including Turkish hair transplants, Tom Pidcock's poor attitude and much, much more. This episode is brought to you by Join Cycling. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get your first month free through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for JOIN's BEAT x JOIN promo to gain a tryout with the Beat Pro Cycling Team ⁠Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠ Giro d'Italia Cheat Sheet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jonathan's Riding With Newsletter This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast give their final thoughts on the end of the spring Classics, reflecting on Tadej Pogačar's dominance and dive into the potential reasons behind Remco Evenepoel's deflation by the time Liège ended last Sunday. They discuss the unique pressure facing Evenepoel, and how he is potentially affected by the massive amount of social media pressure he is under as a Belgian GC superstar.This episode is brought to you by Join Cycling. ⁠⁠⁠Get your first month free through this link⁠⁠⁠Sign up for JOIN's BEAT x JOIN promo to gain a tryout with the Beat Pro Cycling Team ⁠Get Detailed Pro Cycling Analysis with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer and Andrew discuss how Tadej Pogačar's overly-aggressive racing allowed Mattias Skjelmose to pull off a shocking upset at Amstel Gold, and how his re-emergence at the mid-week Flèche Wallonne with far more conservative, and effective, tactics, potentially lays out a blueprint for even more dominance from him in the future, and tells us who will win Sunday's final spring Monument, Liège-Bastogne-Liège.This episode is brought to you by Join Cycling. ⁠⁠⁠Get your first month free through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠Get Detailed Pro Cycling Analysis with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss how Tadej Pogačar's overly-aggressive racing allowed Mattias Skjelmose to pull off a shocking upset at Amstel Gold, and how his re-emergence at the mid-week Flèche Wallonne with far more conservative, and effective, tactics, potentially lays out a blueprint for even more dominance from him in the future, and tells us who will win Sunday's final spring Monument, Liège-Bastogne-Liège.This episode is brought to you by Join Cycling. ⁠⁠Get your first month free through this link⁠⁠Get Detailed Pro Cycling Analysis with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab break down the thrilling duel between Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar at last weekend's Paris-Roubaix, debating if Pogačar's Richard Mille watch cost him the race and if there was anything the Tour de France favorite could have done to defeat Van der Poel, before previewing this weekend's Amstel Gold race.This episode is brought to you by Join Cycling. ⁠Get your first month free through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s Tour of Flanders Preview⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss Tadej Pogačar's recent domination at the Tour of Flanders, before previewing this weekend's edition of Paris-Roubaix, which will see Pogačar's rivals, like Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, Filippo Ganna and Mads Pedersen, attempt to topple the red-hot World Champion over the brutal cobblestones of Northern France.This episode is brought to you by Join Cycling. Get your first month free through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s Tour of Flanders Preview⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab break down the recent Visma-LAB disasterclass at Dwars door Vlaanderen, before getting into Mads Pedersen's strange relationship with his Lild-Trek team, and the looming Tadej Pogačar/Mathieu van der Poel clash at Sunday's Tour of Flanders.This episode is brought to you by Join Cycling. Get your first month free with the link: https://join.cc/campaigns/beyond-the-peloton⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s Tour of Flanders Preview⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab give their thoughts on the state of the Mathieu van der Poel/Tadej Pogačar Classics battle, the strange absence of Wout van Aert & how the veteran Primož Roglič is taking on the wunderkind Juan Ayuso at Volta Catalunya.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s Where to Watch Pro Cycling in 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss and debate what Matteo Jorgenson's second-consecutive Paris-Nice wins mean for his and Visma's future in the Tour de France before diving deep into how this weekend's Milan-Sanremo, the first Monument of the season, will be won.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s Where to Watch Pro Cycling in 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab debate the issue of rider safety, including if true rider safety is even possible in pro cycling, before diving into the racing action at Paris-Nice, where defending champion Matteo Jorgenson has been shadow-boxing his Visma teammate, and what the racing at Tirreno-Adriatico can tell us about the upcoming Spring Classics.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s Where to Watch Pro Cycling in 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try The Better Lab today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab go through their key takeaways from the start of Classics season, what they think is going on with Visma-LAB and Wout van Aert's underperformance, if Mathieu van der Poel and Alpecin will steamroll through the classics, as well as some background on the recent developments and rumors from the One Cycling project.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s Where to Watch Pro Cycling in 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try The Better Lab today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab break down why Jonas Vingegaard is riding tiny 150mm cranks, and break down the pros and cons of doing so, before giving their thoughts on the opening weekend of the Cobbled Classics and which riders to watch out for when the 'real' cycling season kicks off.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s Where to Watch Pro Cycling in 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try The Better Lab today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss the highlights from early-season racing, the ever-growing trend of running amongst elite cyclists and dive deep into how WBD's decision to increase the cost to view cycling in the UK by over 300% shows that it will only get more and more expensive to watch live sports as the cost to buy sports rights continues to rise. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s Where to Watch Pro Cycling in 2025⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try The Better Lab today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better dive deep into the world of pro cyclists on YouTube, a crackdown on 'legal' doping, and break down the early-season racing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try The Better Lab today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Podcast & Newsletter⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better invite Kip Taylor (of Colorado and Nex Mexico cycling fame) and Jonathan Kaplan of the Riding With Newsletter to discuss their recent training camp/2025 planning retreat in Tucson, Arizona, and how modern the shifting trends in modern top-level training and racing have shifted the historic winter cycling destination. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try The Better Lab today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Podcast & Newsletter This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better sit down with Jack Burke, a Canadian cyclist, podcaster, and author, who made headlines earlier this year when he took the Strava KOMs (aka fastest recorded times) on some of the hardest climbs in professional cycling (Alpe d'Huez, Stelvio & Mortirolo) a year after stepping away from a career in the lower ranks of professional cycling. They discuss Jack's racing background, his journey through the brutal world of third-division European racing, how he came to record some of the fastest times up the most famous climbs in the world, why he is struggling to get a contract with a pro team, and his plans for 2025.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s Where to Watch Pro Cycling in 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try The Better Lab today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy Jack's Book Here (How to Become a Professional Cyclist) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better discuss Sepp Kuss' decision to revert to his super-domestique role in 2025 and how superteams could be using modeling and complex simulations to refine their in-race strategies before getting Andrew's on-the-ground report from Arizona before BTP's Tucson summit next week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s Where to Watch Pro Cycling in 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try The Better Lab today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better discuss the on-going Zwift challenges they are participating in order to prepare for the upcoming Beyond the Peloton summit in Tucson (Jan 20-23) before debating why so many pro cyclists are currently posting on social media about their newfound love for running, and, most importantly, if running actually makes you a faster cyclist. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s In-Depth Riders Tier Breakdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try The Better Lab today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better talk festive 500km, modern training camps, nutrition and the upcoming Mathieu van der Peel vs Wout van Aert Cyclocross clash.⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s In-Depth Riders Tier Breakdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try The Better Lab today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better break down Tom Pidcock's decision to leave Ineos for the small Q36.5 team. ⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s In-Depth Tom Pidcock Breakdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try The Better Lab today⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is supported by ⁠⁠⁠⁠buycycle⁠⁠⁠⁠, the largest global marketplace for pre-owned bikes. Listen to the podcast for a special offer from our friends at buycycle. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better go through what they were thankful for during the 2024 season, and what they want to see in 2025, over the holiday week.⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s 2025 GC Contender Tiers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try The Better Lab today⁠⁠⁠This episode is supported by ⁠⁠⁠buycycle⁠⁠⁠, the largest global marketplace for pre-owned bikes. Listen to the podcast for a special offer from our friends at buycycle. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better break down how a speed skater exposed a lot of assumptions made in modern cycling training, and discuss how Jack Burke, a Canadian amateur who keeps taking some of cycling's toughest Strava KOMs, could present a money-ball acquisition for a struggling WorldTour squad.⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s 2025 GC Contender Tiers⁠⁠⁠Try The Better Lab today⁠⁠This episode is supported by ⁠⁠buycycle⁠⁠, the largest global marketplace for pre-owned bikes. Listen to the podcast for a special offer from our friends at buycycle. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better check in from the Rouleur Live event in London, breaking down Tom Pidcock's surprising comments about his Ineos team from his recent interview, and much more.Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s 2024 Rider Rankings⁠⁠Try The Better Lab today⁠This episode is supported by ⁠buycycle⁠, the largest global marketplace for pre-owned bikes. Listen to the podcast for a special offer from our friends at buycycle. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab sit down to catch up on some of the latest news in pro cycling, including the on-going drama at Ineos, rumors that Remco Evenepoel turned down at 10 million euro contract at RedBull-Bora, and much more. Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s 2024 Rider Rankings⁠⁠Try The Better Lab today⁠This episode is supported by ⁠buycycle⁠, the largest global marketplace for pre-owned bikes. Listen to the podcast for a special offer from our friends at buycycle. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab sit down with former WorldTour professional rider Svein Tuft (6:02) to discuss his highly unusual path to the top of the sport and his opinion on the state of modern cycling.⁠Buy Svein's book⁠ hereGet in-depth pro cycling analysis with the Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠Try The Better Lab today⁠This episode is supported by buycycle, the largest global marketplace for pre-owned bikes. Listen to the podcast for a special offer from our friends at buycycle. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss what the recent changes to the LifeTime Grand Prix series and SBT GRVLs could mean for America's gravel racing scene before attempting to understand the Ineos/Tom Pidcock/Q36.5 love triangle and touching on a few other recent news items. BTP Newsletter In-Depth BreakdownsListen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way PodcastBTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Tour de France with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)Hit up Andrew (@vontz) on Twitter/X & Spencer (@spencersoward) on Threads with your questions, opinions, and anything else cycling-related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss last weekend's World Gravel Championships and what Mathieu van der Poel's victory on the fast course tells us about the future of the discipline before breaking down the end of the road season with Saturday's Il Lombardia and the quickly unraveling relationship between Tom Pidcock and his Ineos team. BTP In-Depth World RR Championship BreakdownListen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way PodcastBTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Tour de France with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)Hit up Andrew (@vontz) on Twitter/X & Spencer (@spencersoward) on Threads with your questions, opinions, and anything else cycling-related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab break down Tadej Pogačar's stunning ride to win the World Road Race Championships in Zürich, Switzerland, before previewing the upcoming World Gravel Championships in Leuven, Belgium.BTP In-Depth World RR Championship BreakdownListen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way PodcastBTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Tour de France with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)Hit up Andrew (@vontz) on Twitter/X & Spencer (@spencersoward) on Threads with your questions, opinions, and anything else cycling-related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss a few enlightening details Tadej Pogačar revealed in his recent interview with Dr. Peter Attia before previewing the upcoming World Championships.BTP In-Depth Daily Vuelta a España BreakdownsListen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way PodcastBTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Tour de France with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)Hit up Andrew (@vontz) on Twitter/X & Spencer (@spencersoward) on Threads with your questions, opinions, and anything else cycling-related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss Primož Roglič's impressive record-tying overall victory at the Vuelta a España and the future of Grand Tour GC racing before touching on the upcoming Canadian one-day races and the latest from the world of gravel racing.BTP In-Depth Daily Vuelta a España BreakdownsListen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way PodcastBTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Tour de France with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)Hit up Andrew (@vontz) on Twitter/X & Spencer (@spencersoward) on Threads with your questions, opinions, and anything else cycling-related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab break down the ongoing Vuelta a España, how a small second-division team is better at finding talent than Ineos, and if Primož Roglič will win his fourth career overall title.BTP In-Depth Daily Vuelta a España BreakdownsListen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way PodcastBTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Tour de France with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)Hit up Andrew (@vontz) on Twitter/X & Spencer (@spencersoward) on Threads with your questions, opinions, and anything else cycling-related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss Andrew's weekend on the ground at SBT GRVL before checking in on the Vuelta a España, which has been turned on its head after Ben O'Connor's long-range raid on Stage 6 has him in the race lead with a sizable five-minute margin. BTP In-Depth Daily Vuelta a España BreakdownsListen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way PodcastBTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Tour de France with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)Hit up Andrew (@vontz) on Twitter/X & Spencer (@spencersoward) on Threads with your questions, opinions, and anything else cycling-related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab call in from the ground at the SBT GRVL event in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. They break down the event's impact and design before taking a Q&A from the crowd and tackling a few topical racing and training topics.BTP In-Depth Daily Vuelta a España BreakdownsListen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way PodcastBTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Tour de France with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)Hit up Andrew (@vontz) on Twitter/X & Spencer (@spencersoward) on Threads with your questions, opinions, and anything else cycling-related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Join Us for a Ride-Along and Live Podcast in Steamboat Springs!Andrew and I are excited to invite you to a special event in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, today, Thursday, August 15th.With Andrew in town from his remote lair in Hope, Maine, for the SBT GRVL this coming weekend, we want to invite any listeners who may be in town to an easy, 90-minute shakeout ride starting at 2 p.m. from Little Toots Park in downtown Steamboat Springs.After the ride, around 3:30 or 4 p.m., we'll host a Q&A session and a brief live podcast recording at the Howelsen Ski Hill. Feel free to bring your questions, thoughts, and hot takes.We hope to see you there!Shakeout Ride: 2pm at Little Toots ParkQ&A & Live Recording Session: 3:45pm at Howelsen Ski Hill This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab break down a few takeaways from recent Olympic road race and track events before looking at the key contenders and course details from the upcoming Vuelta a España. At the end of the show, they unveil the podcast's first meet-and-greet/Q&A event, which will happen on Thursday in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, before the SBT GRVL event.BTP In-Depth Daily Vuelta a España BreakdownsListen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way PodcastBTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Tour de France with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)Hit up Andrew (@vontz) on Twitter/X & Spencer (@spencersoward) on Threads with your questions, opinions, and anything else cycling-related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab call in from the finish line of the Tour de France’s final stage in Nice to break down Tadej Pogačar’s sixth stage victory that capped off his overwhelmingly dominant overall Tour title before Spencer sits down with Jayco-AlUla Director of High Performance & Racing Matt White (25:15) to discuss his team’s Tour and how they continue to punch above their weight in an era of ballooning team budgets.BTP In-Depth Daily Tour de France Stage BreakdownsListen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way PodcastBTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Tour de France with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)Hit up Andrew (@vontz) on Twitter/X & Spencer (@spencersoward) on Threads with your questions, opinions, and anything else cycling-related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss Tadej Pogačar dominant performance to win Stage 19 of the Tour de France, where he dropped his major GC rivals and mowed down Matteo Jorgenson on a stage where Visma-Lease a Bike thought they could turn the tables on him. Before signing off, Spencer gives his first-hand account of the final time trial after a recon ride, and they break down the remaining two stages and debate if the time trial finish in Nice is a good or bad change of pace for the race.BTP In-Depth Daily Tour de France BreakdownsGet access to ad-free episodes with a BTP premium subscriptionListen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way PodcastBTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Tour de France with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)Hit up Andrew (@vontz) on Twitter/X & Spencer (@spencersoward) on Threads with your questions, opinions, and anything else cycling-related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab break down last weekend's scorching climbing performances in the Pyrenees and take stock of where things stand at the Tour de France as things heat up in the third week. BTP In-Depth Daily Tour de France BreakdownsGet access to ad-free episodes with a BTP premium subscriptionListen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way PodcastBTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Tour de France with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)Hit up Andrew (@vontz) on Twitter/X & Spencer (@spencersoward) on Threads with your questions, opinions, and anything else cycling-related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab welcome on Jonathan Kaplan of the RIDING WITH podcast and newsletter to discuss the past week at the Tour de France, including how the GC is shaping up and debating if gravel stages belong at the Tour de France, as well as the impact Stage 9’s trip off-road has had on the race. BTP In-Depth Daily Tour de France BreakdownsGet access to ad-free episodes with a BTP premium subscriptionListen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way PodcastBTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Tour de France with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)Hit up Andrew (@vontz) on Twitter/X & Spencer (@spencersoward) on Threads with your questions, opinions, and anything else cycling-related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab break down the opening few stages of the Tour de France before diving deep into the emergence of a few interesting stage-winning tactics and asking if Tadej Pogačar is being underrated and disrespected as a potential overall winner after some impressive early time gains.BTP In-Depth Daily Tour de France BreakdownsGet access to ad-free episodes with a BTP premium subscriptionListen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way PodcastBTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Tour de France with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)Hit up Andrew (@vontz) on Twitter/X & Spencer (@spencersoward) on Threads with your questions, opinions, and anything else cycling-related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast break down the route and contenders for the upcoming Tour de France before diving deep on a few recent news topics on the eve of the sport's biggest race.BTP In-Depth Tour de France Preview NewsletterGet access to ad-free episodes with a BTP premium subscriptionListen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way PodcastBTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Tour de France with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)Hit up Andrew (@vontz) on Twitter/X & Spencer (@spencersoward) on Threads with your questions, opinions, and anything else cycling-related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

This week, joined by my co-host Andrew Vontz (of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab), I call in from a carpark-adjacent Ibis patio in the Alsace region of France to go over my plans to have an in-person footprint at the upcoming Tour de France before breaking down UAE's dominance at last week's Tour de Suisse and what it could mean for the upcoming Tour de France, (26:25) before discussing the last half of the Netflix Tour de France Unchained documentary.Relevant Recent pre-Tour de France Posts:Tour de Suisse Final Weekend BreakdownTour de Suisse Check-In: Stages 1-6Critérium du Dauphiné Final Weekend BreakdownCritérium du Dauphiné Stage 4-6Critérium du Dauphiné Stages 1-3 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast break down UAE's dominance at last week's Tour de Suisse and what it could mean for the upcoming Tour de France (26:25) before discussing the last half of the Netflix Tour de France Unchained documentary.BTP In-Depth Tour de Suisse Breakdown NewsletterGet access to ad-free episodes with a BTP premium subscriptionListen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way PodcastBTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Tour de France with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)Hit up Andrew (@vontz) on Twitter/X & Spencer (@spencersoward) on Threads with your questions, opinions, and anything else cycling-related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast break down the recent racing action, from last weekend's Tulsa Tough Critériums to what the Critérium du Dauphiné told us about the Tour de France, before getting into some of the major takeaways at the Tour de Suisse and (38:00) unpacking the first three Episodes of the Netflix Tour de France Unchained show.BTP In-Depth Race Breakdown NewsletterGet access to ad-free episodes with a BTP premium subscriptionListen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way PodcastBTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Criterium du Dauphine with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)Hit up Andrew (@vontz) on Twitter/X & Spencer (@spencersoward) on Threads with your questions, opinions, and anything else cycling-related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast unpack the action and bigger-picture questions from the recent Unbound Gravel race before digging into the ongoing Critérium du Dauphiné (48:03) and what it can tell us about the current status and viability of Tour de France GC hopefuls like Remco Evenepoel and Primož Roglič.BTP In-Depth Race Breakdown NewsletterGet access to ad-free episodes with a BTP premium subscriptionListen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way PodcastBTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Criterium du Dauphine with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)Hit up Andrew (@vontz) on Twitter/X & Spencer (@spencersoward) on Threads with your questions, opinions, and anything else cycling-related. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe