For The Love Of Cycling

Paul Seixas has solidified himself as one of the biggest talents in cycling with a stunning victory at Il Lombardia, but just how good is the young Frenchman, and is it too early to start comparing him to Tadej Pogačar? Ned Boulting and David Millar break down the final Monument of the season, a brutal 239km route from Bergamo to Como with around 4,600 metres of climbing. With a succession of climbs building towards the decisive finale, including the legendary Madonna del Ghisallo and the steep ascent of Civiglio, Lombardia once again delivers a race that rewards the strongest climbers and punishes anyone who gets it wrong. The main story is Seixas, who produced a phenomenal ride to win by 48 seconds from Enric Mas, with Giulio Ciccone third. His decisive attack came on the Civiglio, where he dropped his rivals and rode solo to the finish. At just 20 years old, he becomes the youngest winner in the history of the race, and makes a statement that is difficult to ignore. We get into just how much better Seixas looked than the rest, the maturity and strength behind his performance, and what this victory tells us about his potential. With Pogačar absent after his Vuelta crash, we also ask the obvious question: if Pogačar had been on the start line, could anyone have stayed with Seixas? And are we watching the emergence of the one rider capable of challenging cycling's dominant force over the coming years? Plus, we look at the rides from Mas, Ciccone and Remco Evenepoel, how the race unfolded across the climbs, and what this year's Lombardia tells us as the professional road season draws to a close. Il Lombardia might be the final Monument of the year, but Seixas has given us plenty to think about for the next one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2026 World Championships are done, and what a weekend in Montréal. Ned, David and Lizzie start with the men's race: 273km, 3,800m of climbing and 12 laps of the brutal Mont-Royal circuit. After France drove the pace and the favourites began to disappear, Brandon McNulty made his move with 33km to go. What followed was an extraordinary finale as the chasing group slowly dragged him back, only for McNulty to somehow find another gear and hold on for a stunning solo victory, with Michael Matthews and Mathieu van der Poel taking silver and bronze. David was also in Montréal, so we get his perspective on how the race unfolded, the huge attacks and how on earth McNulty managed to pull it off. Then it's the women's race and Demi Vollering's first World Championship title. On a 180km course featuring eight laps of Mont-Royal, the Dutch team controlled the race before Puck Pieterse launched Vollering up the final climbs. She eventually found herself clear with Kasia Niewiadoma and Elisa Longo Borghini, before a dramatic final lap and uphill sprint saw Vollering finally take the rainbow jersey. Lizzie was there in Montréal as a DS for the women's race, giving us her perspective on the chaos unfolding inside the team cars and what it was like to watch the race play out from the other side of the radio. Two incredible races, two very different victories, and one very memorable World Championships. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The World Championships are underway in Montréal, and we’re breaking down the opening time trials before looking ahead to what promises to be a fascinating men’s road race. First up, we get into the men’s individual time trial, where Remco Evenepoel produced another dominant performance to take the world title, with Filippo Ganna and Paul Seixas completing the podium. We look at how the race unfolded, including the huge gap Evenepoel had already established over Ganna at the first time check, Seixas’ remarkable ride and the riders who either delivered or fell short of expectations. We also briefly discuss the women’s time trial, with the podium taking shape around Marlen Reusser, Zoe Bäckstedt and Franziska Koch, before saving the full breakdown of the women’s Worlds for a dedicated episode next week. Then we turn our attention to Sunday’s men’s road race. With Tadej Pogačar absent, the rainbow jersey is up for grabs, opening the door for a whole host of riders who might otherwise have found themselves racing for second place. Remco Evenepoel, Tom Pidcock, Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, Isaac Del Toro and Paul Seixas all arrive with realistic ambitions. We look at the Montréal course, which covers 273.7km with 3,803 metres of climbing, including 12 laps of the Mount Royal circuit, and ask where the race is likely to be decided and what type of rider will ultimately be best suited to the parcours. And keep an eye out later in the week for a special episode with Alex Dowsett, who joins us to give his expert take on the World Championship time trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Absolute chaos ensued during Stage 20 of the Vuelta a España, the penultimate stage of this Grand Tour, but is it already over? Today’s route is renowned for being brutal. Taking us 186.6 kilometres from La Calahorra to Collado del Alguacil across just shy of 4900 metres of climbing, this was no easy race. The gradients are extreme. The race starts of gently, with the first climb at Puerto de Blancares only averaging a 3.7% incline, however once the riders pass on to the Alto de El Purdue, that’s when the ride gets extreme. With gradients of 9-11%, including a section at 17%, today’s stage was thrilling. Are the results already decided as we finish the Queen stage of the Vuelta? Ned Boulting and David Millar break down Stage 20 of the Vuelta a España. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🏅 For The Love Of Cycling is presented by Science in Sport, a pioneer in endurance fuelling: Backed by science. Trusted by athletes.  Find out more at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Science In Sport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Vuelta a España reaches a crucial point on Stage 18 as the race turns against the clock, with 32.1km between El Puerto de Santa María and Jerez de la Frontera. With Enric Mas starting the day in red, Felix Gall in second and Primož Roglič sitting third overall, the time trial represented a huge opportunity for the Slovenian to close the gap. Roglič had historically had the advantage over Mas against the clock, but the Spaniard had more than two minutes in hand and needed to limit his losses to keep the lead. At the front of the stage, Stefan Küng produced a huge ride to set the fastest time, holding off the challenge of the other time-trial specialists. Wout van Aert had been one of the main threats to his time but faded slightly towards the finish, leaving Küng to claim a major Vuelta victory. The real drama came further down the road as the GC riders completed their rides. Roglič put significant time into Enric Mas, but not enough to take the red jersey. Mas finished just 12th fastest on the day, losing a little over half a minute to Roglič and successfully defending his overall lead. Félix Gall dropped from second to third overall, with Roglič moving into second. We get into Küng's brilliant stage win, Roglič's attempt to take control of the GC, Mas' successful defence of the red jersey and what the time trial means for the final stages of the Vuelta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pogačar has just put some serious daylight between himself and the rest of the Vuelta field. After yesterday's stage was wiped out by the weather, the race gets straight back into the mountains in Andorra, with just 104.8km on the menu but more than 2,800 metres of climbing. And it turns into another statement ride from the world champion. Pogačar attacks on the Collada de Beixalis with the race already being blown apart behind him. He then keeps extending his advantage over the final climbs and descents, eventually arriving in Andorra la Vella completely on his own to take the stage by 2:39. Behind him, the fight for the remaining podium places is much closer, with 20-year-old Jarno Widar taking second ahead of Félix Gall. Primož Roglič finishes seventh on the stage but moves into second overall, while Enric Mas, Sepp Kuss, Oscar Onley and Richard Carapaz all remain within striking distance of the podium. We look back at Pogačar's latest show of strength, the battle behind, and what a three-minute lead this early in the Vuelta means for everyone trying to stop him. Ned Boutling and Pete Kennaugh break down Stage 4 of the Vuelta. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 🏅 For The Love Of Cycling is presented by Science in Sport, a pioneer in endurance fuelling: Backed by science. Trusted by athletes.  Find out more at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Science In Sport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matthew Brennan is a Grand Tour stage winner! The 21-year-old Visma rider takes a brilliant victory in Manosque on Stage 2 of the Vuelta, winning a fast and chaotic finish after 214.3km from Monaco through the hills of Provence. Ethan Hayter made a huge bid for the red jersey, attacking out of the bunch and building a gap of more than a minute before the peloton began to bring him back. He took the six bonus seconds available at the intermediate sprint, putting himself into the virtual race lead, but the effort ultimately wasn't enough to stay clear. With Hayter caught and the pace exploding in the final kilometres, Pogačar, Van Aert and the other fast finishers all came to the fore before Brennan produced the winning sprint. We break down Brennan's victory, Hayter's aggressive attempt to take red, the frantic run-in to Manosque and the early GC picture after two days of racing. Plus, Ned Boulting and Lizzie Deignan join us with an update from the final stage of the Women's Tour of Britain in Royal Leamington Spa. ______________________________________________________________ 🏅 For The Love Of Cycling is presented by Science in Sport, a pioneer in endurance fuelling: Backed by science. Trusted by athletes.  Find out more at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Science In Sport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Vuelta a España is almost here, and there’s no great mystery over the favourite. Tadej Pogačar arrives as the overwhelming man to beat, with the real question being who can join him on the podium. Ned Boulting, Lizzie Deignan and Pete Kennaugh look ahead to this year’s Vuelta, discussing Pogačar’s dominance, the riders who could challenge for second and third, the parcours and the stages that could shape the race. They also look ahead to the Women’s Tour of Britain, with Lizzie drawing on her own experience of racing the event, while the trio discuss the riders, route and storylines to watch this year. Who will take the remaining podium places behind Pogačar? Which stages could prove decisive? And what can we expect from this year’s Women’s Tour of Britain? All that and more on For The Love Of Cycling. ______________________________________________________________ 🏅 For The Love Of Cycling is presented by Science in Sport, a pioneer in endurance fuelling: Backed by science. Trusted by athletes.  Find out more at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Science In Sport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices