Sigma Sports Unplugged with Matt Stephens
Sigma Sports presents Matt Stephens Unplugged, a regular podcast where cycling personality Matt Stephens chats with special guests and explores his own thoughts. The show features surprises and an unpredictable direction, with no set route map. It is produced by Sigma Sports, a UK-based cycling retailer.
Episodes
Mads Würtz Schmidt on his successful switch from road racer to gravel champion
Danish gravel star Mads Würtz Schmidt joins Matt Stephens fresh off a remarkable run of wins to explain how leaving the WorldTour behind has transformed him as an athlete. The Specialized rider opens up candidly about the mental health struggles that derailed parts of his road career, how a new coach and a more structured routine have made him faster and, crucially, more durable, and why he believ
Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift Rest Day Reflections 2026 - A GC battle to remember
Matt Stephens takes us behind the scenes at the Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift 2026 to share his reactions and opinions to a race that will go down in history as one of the best GC battles of all time. Packed with cameos and guest appearances, Matt reviews Beef Cheeks with Dani Rowe (MBE), gets introduced to Ice lolly gels by Zoe Backstedt, and remembers a time he poured many litres of a questio
Tour de France Rest Day Reflections 2026 - Stages 16 - 21 A Finalé for the Ages
Matt Stephens takes us behind the scenes at the Tour de France 2026, where he has been meeting the fans on Alpe d’Huez and witnessing some of the best final week’s racing of all time. There were Individual Time Trials, breakaways, records smashed, and a blistering finish in Paris. Off the bike, Matt has made friends with the Paul Seixas Fan Club, soaked up the atmosphere at Beefeater Bend, and sur
Tour de France Rest Day Reflections 2026 - Stages 10 - 15 Dominance and devastation
Matt Stephens is back with another week’s worth of reflections on rest day two of the 2026 Tour de France. This is the mini series where Matt takes you behind the scenes at the WBD Sport studios, with thrilling in-race finish line action as well as post race analysis and insights. Matt also reflects on a heron reflecting on its own statue, chats tea vessels with his colleague Chappers, and pays ho
Tour de France Rest Day Reflections 2026 - Stages 1 - 9 TTTs, Træen, and Tadej being Tadej
From the TV studio in Chiswick, Matt Stephens takes us behind the scenes at the greatest show on earth (Tour de France), to bring you the second greatest show on earth (this podcast). You’ll hear live finish line reactions from Matt and his Eurosport TNT WB Discovery colleagues, meandering vignettes about crows stealing his lunch, melancholic pizza sadness, and a reminder to those who are finding
Rebecca Charlton on her Cancer Diagnosis, Cycling and Recovery
Matt Stephens chats to one of his best friends and colleagues, Rebecca Charlton, about the cancer diagnosis that led to the toughest year of her life. By approaching her treatments the same way she approaches cycling, Rebecca went all in with full commitment - the only way she knows how. She credits her cyclist mindset and ability to tolerate suffering for her ongoing recovery, and commends the cy
LeBlanq Joyride Festival Special
Matt Stephens takes us to the LeBlanq Joyride Festival on the Isle of Wight. You can expect conversations with Olympian Denise Lewis, Tour de France stage winner Sean Yates, and DJs Lisa Medwell and Taylor Phinney!
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Giro Rest Day Reflections 2026 Stages 16 - 21: Vingegaard makes it look easy!
Technically yet again it’s not a rest day; the Giro d’Italia 2026 has just been won. As the dust settles on Rome, Matt Stephens reflects on the final week of racing from behind the scenes at the Breakaway studio for TNT Sports / HBO Max Studio. Expect opinions, views and points of view throughout the final six stages, before Matt shares his thoughts on this year’s Giro on the whole, and looks forw
Giro Rest Day Reflections 2026 Stages 10 - 15: Time Trials, High Mountains and Soggy Chips
It's a rest day at the Giro d’Italia, so Matt Stephens is back with another podcast reflecting on the previous week of racing, as well as all the peculiar goings-on in his life in the Breakaway studio for TNT Sports / HBO Max Studio. The past week has seen every type of race stage with an individual time trial, some rolling stages, a proper GC mountain stage, and a much-debated Milanese city circu
Giro Rest Day Reflections 2026 Stages 4 - 9: Metatarsal Madness
Matt Stephens is back on Breakaway duty for another week of racing from the TNT Sports / HBO Max Studio, and for the first time ever at an external broadcast featuring a live studio audience at the Sigma Sports store in Hampton Wick. It wouldn’t be Matt Stephens without some unpredictable tangents, and this week’s spanner in the works comes in the shape of a fractured Metatarsal. Brave Matt soldie
Giro Rest Day Reflections 2026 Stages 1-3: Drama, Ducks and Smooth Sprinting
This year, Matt Stephens is more nomadic than ever, as he presents his Rest Day Reflections podcast mini series from the TNT Sports / HBO Max Studio, in-store at Sigma Sports, and from the Giro d’Italia itself. In this episode, Matt looks back at stages 1-3 of the 2026 Giro d’Italia as it kicked off in Bulgaria. Exciting finishes, an almost untimely end for a Stockley Park duck, and of course thos
Niels Vandeputte on winning the Belgian Gravel Champsionships and Chasing a Cross Jersey
Belgian cyclocross star Niels Vandeputte joins Matt Stephens to unpack a huge season of 40 races, breakthrough podiums, and the challenge of going head-to-head with legends like Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. The Alpecin-Premier Tech Development Team rider shares insights into the demands of elite cyclocross racing, how training camps and setbacks shaped his form, and why consistency migh
Carlton Kirby on French Biscuit Factories and Emotional Crescendos
Carlton Kirby chats to Matt Stephens about their first encounter in the Eurosport commentary booth together over 10 years ago. His love of cycling might have been born in a French biscuit factory, but it was in the years after that summer job that saw him DJ in Tuvalu, become a breakfast broadcaster, and have an unfortunate encounter with the world’s biggest dog. If you think Matt is tangential, j
Anders Mielke on Breaking Into Cycling Media and Chasing Cobbles with Mads Pedersen
Sports broadcaster and journalist Anders Mielke joins Matt Stephens to share his journey from junior cyclist in Denmark to one of the most exciting young voices in cycling media. Anders reflects on the moment he realised a pro career wasn’t for him, how he built a podcast from scratch, and the path that led him to the commentary booth. He also lifts the lid on creating Chasing Cobbles, his behind-
Imogen Cotter on Resilience, Reinvention, and Life Beyond the Peloton
Former Irish road race national champion Imogen Cotter joins Matt Stephens to discuss a cycling journey defined by grit, ambition and resilience. From funding her racing career while working as a postwoman in Belgium to winning the Irish National Championships in 2021 and signing her first professional contract, Cotter’s rise was hard-earned and rapid. But just weeks into life as a pro, a serious
Stefan Küng on Chasing Monuments, Precision, and a New Chapter at Tudor Pro Cycling
Swiss powerhouse Stefan Küng joins Matt Stephens from Tudor Pro Cycling’s training camp in Spain to reflect on a career built on consistency, curiosity, and quiet ambition. Küng opens up about leaving Groupama-FDJ for a new challenge, the vision behind Tudor’s project, and why the Classics success still drive him. The conversation dives into racing with instinct in an era of marginal gains, evolvi
Matthew Riccitello on Removing his Power Meter and Riding on Feel
Matthew Riccitello is one of the most exciting young climbers in the WorldTour. Fresh from a breakthrough fifth place at the Vuelta a España, the 23-year-old American joins Matt Stephens from altitude camp in Sierra Nevada to reflect on his journey so far and his move to Decathlon CMA CGM Team. In this episode, Matthew discusses GC ambition, training philosophies, racing without a power meter, and
Alistair Brownlee on Life After Gold Medals, Gravel Racing, and his Yorkshire Roots
Double Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee joins Matt Stephens from his home in Yorkshire for a wide-ranging conversation about life after elite triathlon. Brownlee reflects on retiring from professional sport, the pressure of delivering at a home Olympics, and why daily movement still matters as much as ever. The pair dive into Alistair’s growing love of gravel racing, sibling rivalry with b
Julian Alaphilippe on Racing with Instinct, Fatherhood, and Finding Balance at Tudor
Former world champion Julian Alaphilippe joins Matt Stephens from Tudor Pro Cycling’s training camp near Calpe to reflect on a career defined by courage, instinct and unforgettable moments. Julian opens up about leading the Tour de France, the pressure of wearing the rainbow jersey, and why that period was both a peak and a personal challenge. He discusses becoming a father, finding balance beyond
Andrew Strohmeyer on Chasing the European Cyclocross Dream
2025 Pan American Cyclocross Champion Andrew Strohmeyer joins Matt Stephens from his European base in the Netherlands to discuss racing World Cups, funding a full European season, and chasing a professional career. A multiple US national champion and Pan-American title holder, Andrew explains the “Mud Fund,” the impact of gravel’s boom in the US, and the technical skill gap between American and Eu
João Almeida on Grand Tours, Team Dynamics & That Pidcock Moment
Portugal’s finest export since the pastel de nata, João Almeida joins Matt Stephens for a brilliantly honest conversation that dives into the life and mindset of one of the most consistent GC riders in the modern peloton. Matt also digs into what it’s like sharing a team with superstars Tadej Pogačar, Juan Ayuso and rising talent Isaac del Toro. Does riding for UAE Team Emirates limit his personal
Chris Hall on his stupid bike challenges for Movember
Matt Stephens chats to ultra-distance bike racer, content creator and charity fundraiser Chris Hall about his recent challenges for Movember. Despite atrocious weather conditions, Chris completed a lap of Britain unsupported during the summer of 2025, learning valuable lessons along the way. With a history of severe depression, Movember is a charity close to his heart and this monumental effort is
Emma Pooley on competitiveness, privilege and roast potatoes
Matt Stephens chats to Emma Pooley about her incredibly varied career, which spans from professional cycling through long distance running and triathlon, to a victory on University Challenge and some Geotech Engineering thrown in for good measure. The very definition of a multi-disciplinary champion, Emma talks candidly about her struggle to retire from pro sports and how her love for the mountain
Amy Hudson on World Mental Health Day 2025
Matt Stephens chats to Amy Hudson, known as amy.cycling.adventures on social media channels, about her struggles with mental health and the role cycling has had in her recovery. While working as a Mental Health Nurse for the NHS, Amy began suffering with anxiety and eating disorders, with thoughts of suicide. Her husband bought her a road bike, and it slowly changed her life. Now, with the goal of
Filippo Conca on how winning the Maglia Tricolore changed his life.
Filippo Conca races in the Maglia Tricolore with UCI WorldTeam Jayco–AlUla - but just three months ago, that seemed like a distant dream. Out of contract at the end of 2024, he found salvation in SWATT club, an Italian amateur team known for offering cyclists a fresh start with a mix of road and gravel racing. In this podcast, Filippo explains how it feels to win an Italian national road race cha
Vuelta a España Rest Day Reflections 2025 - 3 Vingegaard looks good in red (Stages 16 - 21)
With his unique mix of mayhem, tangents and honest analysis, Matt Stephens looks back on the final week of the 2025 Vuelta Ciclista a España drawing this season’s Rest Day Reflections mini series to a close. There was redemption for Egan Bernal, Pidcock on the Podium, a birthday Kuss, and of course the great Dane dominating the race with Vingegaard looking good in red on the top step. But this is
Vuelta a España Rest Day Reflections 2025 - 2 Ayuso’s contract, Chennaoui’s theme song, Pedersen’s anatomy (Stages 10 - 15)
From Juan Ayuso’s contract to Mads Pedersen’s anatomy, Matt Stephens leaves no stone unturned in his analysis of stages 10 to 15 of the 2025 Vuelta Ciclista a España. With the race in the balance, this informal look back at the previous week of racing is the perfect rest day listening. Expect the usual from Matt however, as he gets distracted by Orla Chennaoui’s theme song, carp (again), and an ee
Vuelta a España Rest Day Reflections 2025 - 1 Mini Giro, Máximo Vuelta! (Stages 1 - 9)
Fresh from the TV studio, Matt Stephens reflects on the first nine stages of the 2025 Vuelta Ciclista a España as they happened. Expect expert opinions on a jam-packed first week of racing that included everything from a mini Giro d’Italia to a sprint finish with a disqualification. And since this is Matt’s podcast, you can also expect him to provide updates on wooden foot bridges and for him to g
Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift Rest Day Reflections 2025 - Return of the GOAT, and a star is born
Reporting from the mix zone, the motor bike, and a McDonald’s, Matt Stephens brings us a unique look at the Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift 2025. After hot-footing it from stage 19 of the men’s race, Matt didn’t want to miss a beat of the women’s competition. And what a race it turned out to be. With so much French interest in their homegrown riders the fans at the roadside brought the atmosphere
Tour de France Rest Day Reflections 2025 - Stages 16-21 Wrapping up a rollercoaster of a Grand Tour
Live from behind the scenes at the Tour de France, Matt Stephens shares his experience of the final week of racing at the men’s competition before jetting off to watch the Femmes. In this episode you can expect the usual shenanigans alongside some more detailed race analysis and a reflection on how the Tour de France unfolded. So if you like a cocktail of excitable European accents reviewing their
Tour de France Rest Day Reflections 2025 - Stages 11-15 Has the race already been won?
He’s armed with a portable recorder and he’s still not afraid to use it! Matt Stephens is back at the Tour de France 2025 to bring us a series of vignettes from behind the scenes, as well as his thoughtful reflections on how the men’s race has been ridden over the course of stages 11-15. So if you like thoughtful reflections, panic in ski gondolas and plenty of references to classic pop music - th
Tour de France Rest Day Reflections 2025 - Stages 1-10 A relentless and breathtaking first week of racing
From behind the scenes at the 2025 Tour de France, Matt Stephens has got his portable recorder at the ready to capture the atmosphere, and his own reactions to the biggest men’s bike race in the world. From the grand depart in Lille to the unpredictability of Bastille day, there are a whopping ten stages to get stuck into. So if you like tiny toilet reports, caravan float roulette, and time trial
Giro Rest Day Reflections 2025 - 4 Plot Twists and Drama (Stages 16 - 21)
After what many are describing as the best Giro d’Italia of all time, Matt Stephens looks back at the final week of action from stages 16 - 21 2025. Stepping out of the TNT Eurosport Discovery TV studio to record his clips, Matt’s reactions are immediate, honest and fresh - with takeaways from each stage that retell the story of the grand tour in his unique way. You can also expect to hear about b
Giro Rest Day Reflections 2025 - 3 Time Trials and Taxidermy (Stages 10 - 15)
Looking back at stages 10 - 15 of the Giro d’Italia 2025, this special episode of Sigma Sports Presents Matt Stephens Unplugged is another fantastic installment of his Rest Day Reflections mini series. After each stage of the Giro, Matt pops out of the TV studio to give us his raw reflections on how the race went that day. Expect wet and wild time trials, Lidl Trek dominance, the surprising demise
Giro Rest Day Reflections 2025 - 2 Pass the Pink Jersey (Stages 4 - 9)
Live from Stockley Park, Matt Stephens steps out of the TNT Eurosport Discovery TV studio and delivers his opinions on the Giro d’Italia as it happens. In this episode, Matt reacts to a thrilling week of racing when the Giro landed on Italian soil, as he focuses on stages 4 - 9. There was a little bit of everything to reflect on; flat stages with frantic finishes, impressive climbing from grand to
Giro Rest Day Reflections 2025 - 1 Travel Days and Duvet Picnics
For the 2025 edition of the Giro d’Italia Matt Stephens has a live in-studio role providing commentary and analysis for TNT Eurosport Discovery. But he’s taken his pod-mic along and will give us his daily reactions to each stage, right after it happens. In this episode, Matt looks back at the first three stages in Albania, which saw some pretty hectic racing right from the very start of his favour
Paul Double on his journey from almost quitting to his first World Tour stage wins
Matt Stephens chats to Paul Double about his journey from development rider at Zappi’s Racing Team to winning World Tour stages for Jayco AlUla. Unlike recent trends, Paul’s route to the top tier of pro cycling has been a steady development over many years of racing through the ranks, only signing his first World Tour contract at 28. He’s a gritty, determined climber with a decent sprint - so he’s
Boru McCullagh on riding around the world for mental health
Matt Stephens chats to Boru McCullagh about his incredible bikepacking trip around the globe. When he started out, Boru had a fixed route and planned to ride as quickly as possible, but he soon realised that was not the way he needed to do things. In this podcast he explains to Matt how his outlook on bike riding changed when he realised the bike was the means of experiencing the world, and not so
Jeroen Swart on his role as UAE Team Emirates XRG Head of Performance
Matt Stephens chats to UAE Team Emirates XRG’s Head of Performance Jeroen Swart about his role on the team, and how he helped transform them into one of the most successful sports teams in the world. With fascinating insights into the importance of applying scientific knowledge in a way that fosters team spirit and personalised approaches to coaching for each individual rider, it's clear to see wh
Danni Shrosbree on gravel racing to the point of hallucination
Matt Stephens talks gravel racing with former British Gravel Champion Danni Shrosbree. The accomplished former road racer turned to gravel during lockdown and never looked back. Within a couple of years she had become one of the best gravel racers in the world, winning Badlands in the pairs category with her partner Bradley Shenton, finishing 4th at Unbound and inspiring a generation of young ride
Lars van der Haar on control, Cyclocross, and cockerels
Matt Stephens chats all-things cyclocross with Dutch superstar Lars van der Haar. The Baloise–Trek Lions rider is a former U23 World Champion, won the European Championships twice, and shared the elite podium with the likes of Pidcock, Van Aert and Van Der Poel. So there’s no better expert to comment on how the sport is changing in terms of both the riders and their bikes. In this fascinating chat
Toms Skujins on bike racing, ice hockey and potatoes
Matt Stephens chats to Toms Skujiņš about his hugely impressive results in recent seasons, with the Lidl-Trek rider coming second at last year’s Strade Bianche, and finishing 4th in the road race at the UCI World Championships in Zurich. The former Latvian national champ is suited to long and hard days in the saddle, and has high hopes for the 2025 season where he’ll certainly be one to watch. Onc
Alex Yee on his nail biting Olympic Gold and learning from failures
Matt Stephens chats to Alex Yee about his illustrious triathlon career, where he became only the second man to win both Olympic gold and the World championship in the same year for the standard distance triathlon. Now his sights are set on running a marathon in 2025, Matt is keen to learn how training is going, and what time he’d be happy to finish with. For a man with a mural of his face in his h
Laura Kenny on absolutely loving life after bike racing
Matt Stephens welcomes the first Dame he's ever had on the podcast in a wonderfully uplifting conversation with Laura Kenny. As Britain's most decorated female Olympian, Laura needs no introduction. But how she has embraced life since hanging up her wheels is something we could all learn from. Enjoying the freedom to use her own voice and to truly be herself, Laura is grasping as many opportunitie
Bas Tietema on targeting the Tour de France
Matt Stephens chats to Bas Tietema about his incredible journey from promising young pro cyclist with a podium at Paris-Roubaix Espoirs, to falling out of love with racing, only to fall back in love with cycling as a fan. While following the tour de france from his tent at the roadside, Bas made some amazing YouTube content with friends and got the motivation to start racing again This inspired hi
Robbie McEwen on his controversial rider safety opinion
Matt Stephens chats to Robbie McEwen about his highlights of the 2024 season, and whether Tadej Pogacar can be beaten in 2025. The Australian fast man sprinted to his fair share of victories over his illustrious career; none more memorable than his first grand tour stage win in 1999, which came at the Champs Elysees - a story he retells with humorous detail. On the topic of rider safety raised by
Oscar Onley on the importance of consistency at World Tour level
Matt Stephens chats to DSM-Firmenich PostNL rider Oscar Onley about his sharp rise to the top step of the World Tour podium. The young Scottish rider had a setback at the 2023 Vuelta Espana, but could focus solely on his recovery thanks to the faith his team showed in him by offering him a long contract. He has since gone on to race a fantastic season in 2024, including a stage win at the Tour Dow
Joe Blackmore on stepping up a level and never looking back
Matt Stephens discusses a trailblazing first season at pro level for Joseph Blackmore, which saw him jump up a level from Conti Tour to Pro Tour for Israel Premier-Tech. He had a string of fantastic results along the way, including the general classification and points jersey at the tour de l’Avenir, he also won the tour of Rwanda, tour of Taiwan and the Circuit des Ardennes, and the U23 Liège–Bas
David Millar on second chances and the role of the bike in his recovery
Matt Stephens chats to David Millar about retirement, maturity and finding solace in the quiet life. The former British national champion won multiple stages and wore the leader's jersey of all three grand tours during his illustrious career. In a candid and honest conversation, David opens up about his recent alcohol problem, and how the bike played a big role in his rehabilitation. Now in a much
Victor Campenaerts on his switch to Visma Lease a Bike
Matt Stephens discusses career highlights with Victor Campenaerts, including his UCI Hour Record and that amazing victory on stage 18 of the 2024 Tour de France, which he credits to the joyous psychological boost that came with the birth of his son. Recorded in the off-season, Victor is about to move from Lotto Dstny to Visma Lease a Bike, where he explains his goals for 2025 include helping Jonas
Nathan Van Hooydonck on second chances and new beginnings
Matt Stephens chats to Nathan Van Hooydonck about the heart attack that changed his life forever, prematurely ending his professional cycling career for Team Jumbo Visma. Having enjoyed a hugely successful career with highlights that include helping Jonas Vingegaard win the Tour de France in 2023, he is now embracing life as a business development manager for Team Visma Lease a Bike. Discussing th
Tiffany Cromwell on the new challenge of gravel racing
Matt Stephens chats to Tiffany Cromwell about her impressive road racing career and her switch to gravel racing in recent years. The Canyon//SRAM pro has some great advice for anyone getting into gravel, and lives by the rule of constantly challenging herself. Having set up events in her homeland of Australia and her partner Valtteri’s homeland of Finland, she’s helping grow the whole gravel scene
Tour De France Femmes Unplugged 2024 - The narrowest of margins!
Back in France with his portable recorder, Matt Stephens brings us clips from behind the scenes at the Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift 2024. From the grand depart in the flatlands of Holland to the hilly Ardennes and onto the high mountain finale of Alpe D’Huez, the biggest grand tour on the women’s calendar was like a week-long ramp test. And while the racing was nothing short of breath-taking,
Tour De France Unplugged Stages 16 to 21 - The best Grand Tour ever?
Matt Stephens is back behind the scenes at the Tour de France with his portable recorder, capturing the sights and sounds of the race and the caravan. While dodging chicken goujons and other projectiles, he catches up with Hannah Walker, Adam Blythe and Alberto Contador as they review the feast of racing we’ve been treated to over the past three weeks. Matt also reflects on Tadej Pogačar’s scintil
Tour De France Unplugged Stages 10 to 15 - Duelling GC maestros and moto madness!
From behind the scenes at le Tour de France, Matt Stephens has been having the time of his life reporting on the race from the back of a motorcycle for Eurosport WBD. As the Tour entered week two, Jonas Vingegaard completed his incredible comeback to put Tadej Pogacar under serious pressure for the GC. Meanwhile Matt has enjoyed an adrenaline fuelled reportage while sitting on the back of a motorc
Tour De France Unplugged Stages 1 to 9 - History made and records broken!
Matt Stephens reports from behind the scenes of the 2024 Tour de France, where history has been made and records have been smashed. On a week when Biniam Girmay became the first ever black African to win a stage of the Tour de France, and Mark Cavendish extended his record to 35 wins to go clear of Eddy Merckx - there was a lot to talk about! So if you like hearing about Cav, Biniam, and Bardet wi
Luke Rowe on success, retirement and zero regrets
Matt Stephens chats to Luke Rowe about his decision to retire just months after signing a contract extension with team INEOS Grenadiers. Luke is candid and open, explaining how easy it was to make the decision following a chat with his neurologist. Ever the optimist, the Welshman has loved his career and knowing how hard successes are to come by, he offers some sage advice to enjoy every single th
Giro Unplugged 2024 Stages 16 to 21 - Reflecting on Tadej Pogacar’s dominance in la Maglia Rosa
Matt Stephens is back behind the scenes at the Giro d’Italia 2024 to bring us clips from his experiences in the final week of his favourite grand tour on the calendar. In this episode he encounters a garden gnome from the lofty heights of a scary chairlift, gets stuck on a mountain, manages to create a race with some team buses after stage 19, and takes us into the commentary booth to call the rac
Giro Unplugged 2024 Stages 10 to 15 - Chainrings with 68 teeth and the Ambience Police
From behind the scenes of the second week of the Giro d’Italia, Matt Stephens brings us a mix of off-the-wall clips and considered race reviews. With his colleague and good friend Ned Boulting for company, the duo survive a night in a Snow White themed hotel, rescue Matteo Trentin, and as the fatigue sets in and food in the Italian mountains gets scarce, there’s a disturbing suggestion of cannibal
Giro Unplugged 2024 Stages 1 to 9 - Wild predictions and tame reflections
Matt Stephens is back at the Giro d’Italia bringing his trademark blend of unusual clips from behind the scenes. This bumper episode takes us from before stage 1 through to stage 9 with a short review of each stage mixed with whatever spontaneous nonsense unfurls around him. Matt bemuses his Eurosport colleague Ned Boulting with some outlandish predictions, and the pair bring us into the booth for
Rory Townsend on versatility, and racing efficiently to reach your potential
Matt Stephens chats to Rory Townsend about his versatility as a rider, both in terms of his ability to win one-day classics and stage race sprints, but also in terms of his flexibility within UCI ProTeam Q36.5. Being on a team with limited resources requires a range of skills that can be called upon at short notice - and at the time of recording, Rory was waiting to hear if he or teammate Szymon S
Jasper Philipsen on how he’ll tackle Paris-Roubaix this weekend
Matt Stephens previews Paris Roubaix with the 2024 Milan San Remo champion, Jasper Philipsen. Arguably in the form of his life, the Belgian Alpecin - Deceuninck sprinter looks forward to racing with his ever-humble teammates, reflecting on how it feels to have Mathieu van der Poel leading him out, and how timing is 95% of the job. Touching on tactics and how training for the Classics differs from
Rod Ellingworth on the impact of his success at British Cycling and Team Sky
Matt Stephens has a fascinating chat with Rod Ellingworth about his impact on British Cycling and how that helped lead to the period of dominant success at Team Sky in the mid 2010’s. The newly appointed race director for Tour of Britain explains how he had a holistic approach that valued the personality of the riders as much as their numbers, and shares some interesting stories about the likes of
Kate Veronneau on the rewards of investing in Women
In this International Women’s Day special, Matt Stephens chats to Kate Veronneau about her pioneering role in helping to deliver the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. From a basketballing background to riding fixies for 50 miles, Kate rose to the ranks of elite cycling but quickly learnt it was not a viable career option. Now, as head of partnerships at Zwift, she’s doing all she can to help break
Stevie Williams on how consistency makes the difference
Matt Stephens chats to Stevie Williams about how his career is no longer defined by a plague of knee injuries since adding the General Classification of the 2024 Tour Down Under to his palmares. The Aberystwyth native is a shining example of determination and credits consistency for getting him beyond his form prior to several setbacks over the years. The Welshman claims he couldn’t have done it w
David O’Doherty on the role of cycling in his comedy
Matt Stephens is impressed by David O’Doherty’s cycling knowledge, and in particular, his obsession with the racing bikes of the late 1980’s that’s led him to own a collection so big he now operates on a ‘one in one out’ basis. David is famous for being one of the most successful Irish stand up comedians of all time, with a host of awards and appearances on QI, 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Nev
Wout Poels on beating Remcos and other Wouts by using the art of racing
Matt Stephens and Wout Poels chat all about his thus-far illustrious career. With recent stage wins at the Tour de France and La Vuelta Espana for team Bahrain Victorious, the 36 year old is enjoying a long career which he credits to keeping his routine fresh. The pair have differing memories when they raced together at the 2010 Tour of Britain, with Wout taking a stage win and Matt doing his best
Alison Jackson on being the first Canadian to win Paris-Roubaix
Matt Stephens and Alison Jackson discuss her incredible Paris-Roubaix victory and what it meant to the nation of Canada. Having proven her wisdom at the Spring Classics, Alison’s EF Education TIBCO-SVB teammates now listen closely to her tactical calls, but how would she go about winning Roubaix for a second time in 2024? Born competitive, Alison grew up on a Bison farm in rural Canada dreaming of
Ben Swift on switching between the World Tour and the local 10-mile TT
Matt Stephens chats to two-times British Road champion Ben Swift about his impressively long career, which has just been extended for another two years with INEOS Grenadiers. Having ridden with the team since the inception of Sky Procycling, Ben has seen the sport change exponentially in recent years, and claims he enjoys the thrill of racing now more than ever and continues to develop as a rider
Matej Mohoric on becoming UCI World Gravel Champion
Matt Stephens chats with a humble and reflective Matej Mohoric, who was recently crowned UCI World Gravel Champion. The Slovenian explains how he grew up riding off-road and started racing in order to dodge working on his parents’ farm. But will he get to wear the famous rainbow stripes racing on gravel next season? And having won stages at all three grand tours, what’s next for the all-rounder? W
Sir Chris Hoy (Live) on turning self-doubt into a superpower
Matt Stephens and Sir Chris Hoy are joined by a live audience at the Sigma Sports Electric store to discuss the incredible track cycling career which led him to become Britain’s most successful Olympian in his heyday, and brought him a knighthood for services to sports. Chris shares his approach to increasing his maximum power output, explains how his self doubt was a catalyst for success, and enj
Zoe Bäckstedt on choosing her favourite rainbows bands
Matt Stephens and Zoe Bäckstedt chat about bike racing and family. With both parents and a big sister already proving themselves in athletic terms, it's no surprise that Zoe has had such a successful junior career - winning World Championship jerseys for road racing, time trialling, cyclocross, and even some track disciplines. And in the 24 hours since recording this podcast, she’s become European
Freddy Ovett on Going Solo Through The Mud
Matt Stephens chats to Freddy Ovett about his development from a middle distance runner to a globetrotting road cyclist to one of the best gravel pioneers in the world. Freddy will be the first to point out the flaws of Pro Cycling Stats, as he proclaims his love for the extra plotlines written into every gravel race that the stats just don’t tell. With spells at AG2R, BMC and L39ION of Los Angele
Josh Tarling on Keeping Calm and Colouring In
Matt Stephens chats to Josh Tarling about his breakthrough season with Ineos Grenadiers. Recorded just days after he became British National Time Trial Champion, and weeks before he earned a podium at the UCI World Championships in Glasgow, Josh is relaxed and candid as he chats about his goals for the season. A fascinating retrospective listen, the young rider fantasises about custom Pinarello pa
2023 UCI Cycling World Championships Special - Glasgow Didn’t Disappoint
From the heart of the action, Matt Stephens has been recording clips at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow. With so many disciplines at the first ever “Super-Worlds”, Matt witnesses Van der Poel’s crash in the company of several Belgians, signs a man’s leg at the Road Race finishing circuit, enjoys an irreplicable atmosphere at the Cycle Ball, and loses his muff at the Cross-Count
Tour De France Femmes Unplugged 2023 - All Thriller, No Filler - A Race to Remember
Matt Stephens reflects on the Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift 2023, where he brought his portable recorder behind the scenes to document the race from the inside. While the racing unfolds around Matt, he has arguments about Haribo with Manon Lloyd, enjoys podcast inception with Rebecca Charlton, soaks up the atmosphere with Iris Slappendel, and gets selfies with former teammate David McKenzie - a
Tour De France Unplugged 2023 Stages 16 to 21 - Poor Predictions, Good High Altitude Curry, and a Massive Attack
Matt Stephens is at the 2023 Tour de France, digesting the racing and sharing his thoughts from behind the scenes. With VIP access to all of the riders, and his Eurosport GCN colleagues, you might think this podcast is full of gripping interviews and hot takes on the Jonas Vingegaard / Tadej Pogačar rivalry.... But, Matt’s more interested in chatting about high altitude curry with Adam Blythe, dis
Tour De France Unplugged 2023 Stages 10 to 15 - Heat, Mountains, Pancakes and Gondolas.
Matt Stephens is back behind the scenes at the 2023 Tour de France, where he’s been recording clips in between performing his duties for Eurosport GCN. In this episode, Matt discusses his experiences through stages 10 to 15, including fine dining on ‘long nuggets’, chatting to Jens Voigt who loves being in the peloton on a motorbike (but definitely doesn’t miss racing), and suffering from acute v
Tour De France Unplugged 2023 Stages 1 to 9 - Firsts, Lasts, and Everything In Between
Matt Stephens is at the 2023 Tour de France reporting for Eurosport GCN, but luckily for us, he’s brought his trusty portable recorder along for the journey. Over a collection of spontaneously recorded clips, Matt reflects on his experience from the biggest bike race in the world in his own inimitable way; extolling the virtues of a CBL (Car Bonnet Lunch), commending Philippe Gilbert on his Berlin
Ben Healy 2 on tearing up the breakaway rulebook
Matt Stephens welcomes Ben Healy back to the podcast to discuss everything that has changed in the past 18 months. Since his last appearance, Ben has continued his meteoric rise within the World Tour, including a stage win at the 2023 Giro d’Italia for EF Education-Easypost. Find out how the Irish National Road Race Champion performs in a race against himself to see if he can remember the answers
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