Tour de France Daily

Stage 1 of the Tour de France and the home nation, if not the host nation, already have something to cheer about. Caley, Jonny, Ronan, and Joshua Robinson of the Wall Street Journal come to you from a coastal restaurant in Rimini to talk through Romain Bardet's big day out front, Mark Cavendish's rough day out back, and what the next few days might look like. 

It's the eve of the first stage of the Tour de France and Caley, Jonny, and Josh Robinson of the Wall Street Journal (#JRotWSJ) are joined by a live audience in an alley of Florence. On the docket: Visma's new van, press conference vibe checks, a brief mailbag, plus a chat between Jack Haig and Fred Wright. Finally, we have José Been's first cultural instalment. 

Buongiorno from an Italian start to the Tour de France. Caley and Jonny stop at a lovely seaside town en route to the Grand Depart and discuss the contenders and storylines of the upcoming Tour de France.  For complete access to our Tour de France coverage, become a member for only $1 this month. You'll get bonus episodes and members-only interviews, no paywall on the website, access to our hopping Discord full of fellow cycling fans, and lots more. 

A plan to “ride around Australia” is just one of many nuggets from Lachlan Morton on this week’s Performance Process podcast. The 2024 Unbound Gravel winner also spoke of how his training changed in preparation for this year’s Unbound, all the tweaks and hacks he made to his bike and why he is constantly adjusting his position as he gives us an insight into his incredible versatility and unique take on bike racing. Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.

It’s time to geek out. This week Brad Copeland, Ronan McLaughlin, and Dave Rome are on the pod to talk all the major news in the world of tech and what’s on their minds.There’s a new road bike from Pinarello, and a new head unit that promises to be self-sustaining, and a more affordable full suspension race bike from Specialized. Plus Dave and Brad share some things on their minds.Forward warning and an apology as the sound quality on this one doesn’t meet our usual standard. Dave was already under the weather, and if that weren’t enough, he then had mic issues. The information is there, it’s just Dave sounds like virus-riddled bot!Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.Time stamps:2:24 - New Pinarello Dogma11:50 - Coros’ entry into head units22:05 - More new alloy from Specialized, this time the Chisel FS28:33 - Spoken has been run, a bonus episode is incoming29:25 - Spare seatpost length is on Brad’s mind33:30 - Dave explains why he’s a reformed chain waxer43:50 - Quick tech bite in the form of Giant’s new kids bike50:05 - Brad shares a tip for getting tips

On this week's Placeholders, Caley Fretz, Kit Nicholson, and Jonny Long discuss Tadej Pogačar's fueling at the 2023 Tour de France, Remco Evenepoel's floor needs, and more.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.

We’ve got a two-parter for everyone this week. The first is Loren and I breaking down Tour de Suisse, who will look back on the race happy with their form and who will have a lot of questions with only two weeks to go to the Giro. In the second part Matt de Neef’s calls up Ruby Roseman-Gannon.Obsessions: Loren – Her new gravel bike!, Abby – Our Tour de France Femmes coverage plans!And as we noted in the episode, starting next week Wheel Talk will only be available on its own podcast feed. If you’re not subscribed, now is the time to do it! This will help us expand our content and offer you more bonus episodes in the future plus we have our own space, hooray!Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.

An *IMPORTANT NOTE* to start: Moving forward, the How the Race was Won Podcast will only be available either on its own solo feed or on the members-only podcast feed. If you've been listening on the non-members Escape Collective feed and want to keep getting the podcast, search for "How the Race was Won" wherever you get your podcasts, or go here on Spotify or here on iTunes.This week, Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash discuss the Tour de Suisse, where Adam Yates, João Almeida, and UAE Team Emirates dominated the competition in a show of force ahead of the Tour de France.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.

Welcome back to The Rest Day with Jack Haig. This is another solo episode, a life update of sorts, as Jack prepares to take on the 2024 Tour de France. 

This week's Performance Process podcast is a TT special as we trial a new format. First we kick off with a performance news round up and then delve into an interview with none other than Stefan Küng. We ask the former European and Swiss TT champion if "watt monsters" are an endangered species in time trialling, if he is actually a TT specialist, and if time trialling is now just an arms race and too dangerous. Plus, we get an update on his lost wedding ring.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.

The tech never stops. This episode Brad Copeland and Dave Rome discuss a handful of new dropbar bikes, a recall, common mistakes with fitting chains, and their favourite… grease. Oh yes, it’s Geek Warning!Those new bikes include the fascinatingly simple Specialized Crux DSW, a refreshed Bianchi Arcadex gravel bike, and OBED’s entry into the endurance road space. Meanwhile the geeks discuss Ellsworth’s recent return and entry into gravel.Following a repair during the week, on Brad’s mind is how chain direction matters and it spurs a larger conversation about other common chain-related mistakes. Then Dave asks the hard hitting questions, asking Brad to pick a single grease of choice.The episode wraps with a recall from Kuat and a tease for the upcoming Spoken Show (formerly Handmade Bicycle Show Australia) in Melbourne, Australia.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.Time stamps:5:25 - Specialized’s new alloy bike and why simple wins20:00 - Bianchi new Arcadex and why UDH is now the common feature in gravel26:48 - Ellsworth returns to the dropbar world33:00 - OBED RVR is another option with a taller stack height39:25 - Chain direction is on Brad’s mind46:40 - Pick one: Grease. Yes, grease.53:50 - Roval releases a Team version of its Rapide CLX II road wheels58:32 - Kuat has a recall that impacts 86,000 racks1:01:30 - High-fives await in Melbourne

With the release of season 2 of Netflix's Tour de France: Unchained, the Unchained Binge podcast is back. In this first episode of the year, Kit Nicholson, Jonny Long, and Caley Fretz dive into the first episode, which sets the scene for another season of drama behind the scenes at the Tour.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.

On this week's Placeholders, Jonny Long and Kit Nicholson join Caley Fretz to do a form check of the big contenders ahead of the Tour de France and field a few questions from members.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.

This week Abby is joined by Matilda Raynolds and a very special guest - Shawn Clarke, DS for Liv AlUla Jayco. They chat Tour of Britain, how teams decide which DS goes to which race, the transfer market, and more.Obsessions: Abby - Fall Guy, Shawn - Tour de Gatineau and Bike Race Ottawa, Tils - Timeshifter appEscape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.

A €9,000 frame, a €27k build, and €22K spent on developing the bottle alone… Wilier has a new TT bike.Escape Collective had exclusive access to the development of this new bike in a seemingly impossible time frame. Leading the design project was Marco Genovese, Head of Design at Wilier Triestina. With 14 years of experience in developing over 100 frames, Genovese knows a thing or two about carbon frame design. Escape Tech Editor Ronan Mc Laughlin sat down with Genovese to deep dive on all things frame design to discuss everything from brainwaves in the shower to initial concepts and from modern design tools to made-up UCI rules.The Supersonica may be a time trial bike, but this bonus episode of the Geek Warning podcast is for anyone who has ever wondered how bikes are designed.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.

Cosmo Catalano and Dane Cash break down the 2024 Critérium du Dauphiné, where Primož Roglič narrowly held off Matteo Jorgensen to win the overall title, and discuss what it all means ahead of the Tour de France.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.

It’s been said that Kona is 'The Smallest Biggest Bike Company in the World'. They’re best known as the quintessential North Shore bike brand, yet their global head office is just down over the border in Ferndale, Washington.The quirky company stood out with outrageous bike model names such as the Stinky Dee-Lux, Sex One, Sex Too, and, Jackshit, which placed them well and truly as the "alternative" bicycle company.The business was founded by Dan Gerhard, Jacob Heilbron in Vancouver, BC along with mtb hall of famer Joe Murray as their designer.With a rich history of iconic bikes and factory race teams, it was all overshadowed by the recent events of their former owners, Kent Outdoors, who were responsible for running Kona into the ground (my words, not theirs) before the original founders bought the company back last month. Only a few weeks after Dan and Jake bought the company back, I spoke to Jake about Kona’s founding story that dates back to 36yrs ago in 1988, the sale of the business to a private equity-backed company, and what happened that led them to buying Kona back. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, please support our work by becoming a member: https://escapecollective.com/member/

A lot has happened in the world of cycling tech over the past week. The Dauphine has teased new bikes getting dialled in for the Tour. While Unbound has shown that gravel tech is still progressing at a rapid rate, including wider tyres, new 1x drivetrains, and aero-shaped suspension.There’s a full cast of geeks to chat about it, with Ronan Mc Laughlin tuning in to discuss what’s new in the road space, while Dave Rome and new-old voice Brad Copeland discuss the rest.Of course the geeks discuss something on their mind which should prove helpful for anyone with a stuck crank. The episode closes with tech news including Fulcrum’s new Sharq wheels, a new gravel race handlebar from Pro, a well-priced mountain bike shifter upgrade from SRAM, and more.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.Time stamps:4:26 - A swarm of new road bikes are coming from Canyon, Willier, Pinarello, and more24:00 - A corrections corner24:51 - New tech seen at Unbound Gravel, including things from SRAM, wider wheels, aero Fox suspension, and new bikes42:20 - On our mind: stubborn crank bolts and methods for overcoming them55:00 – Bianchi’s ribbon-cutting ceremony has us giggling58:20 – Fulcrum’s new wavy-shaped Sharq wheels1:02:40 – Pro Bike Gear’s new Discover Aero Carbon handlebar for better GRX integration1:08:10 - SRAM’s new Pod Rocker upgrade for AXS

Dane Cash and Jonny Long join Caley Fretz on this week's Placeholders to discuss Unbound, Unchained, and the unmistakeable approach of the Tour de France as the Critérium du Dauphiné gets underway.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.

This week Abby, Matt and Gracie answer listener questions about the Olympic road race course, the season so far, which team they would want to be on and more.Obsessions: Abby - Hook, Matt - Three Body Problem, Gracie - Slow Horses *and other TV shows