S11 Ep135: Route & Branch Changes
In this week’s episode of The Cycling Podcast, Daniel Friebe, Lionel Birnie and ace commentator Rob Hatch examine one venerable Italian cycling institution’s latest iteration - the newly revealed 2024 Giro d’Italia route - and look at the brightest, most ambitious upstart on the same nation’s racing calendar: Filippo Pozzato and his races in the Veneto. We deliver our own assessment of a noticeably less lofty-than-usual ‘Corsa Rosa’ route before hearing Jayco-AlUla head DS Matt White’s verdict. We, or rather Daniel, then literally travels to Italy to find out how Pozzato is trying to shake up an ageing, ailing Italian scene - and why he may need a bit more help from the Giro itself. In the final part of the podcast, we reflect on the predicament of the many riders who find themselves jobless at the end of the 2023 season - and one in particular, the Ethiopian Tsgabu Grmay. He tells Daniel that, while his present plight looks bleak, his dreams and inner fire are very much still alive. The episode we mention featuring Mitch Docker speaking to Tsgabu Grmay on Life in the Peloton is here https://audioboom.com/posts/7878541-life-in-the-peloton-tsgabu-grmay The Cycling Podcast is supported by Science in Sport. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast The 11.01 Cappuccino Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it’s after 11am). Bravur Watches This episode is supported by Swedish watchmakers Bravur Watches. Bravur was founded ten years ago by passionate cyclists who have been riding and watching the sport. Listeners can get a discount off the Grand Tour range. Use CYCLE to get $250 discount when ordering a Grand Tour chronograph at bravurwatches.com Science in Sport The Cycling Podcast has been supported since 2016 by Science In Sport. World leading experts in endurance nutrition. Go to scienceinsport.com to see the whole range. MAAP The Cycling Podcast x MAAP collection is available now. Go to maap.cc to see the full MAAP range. D Vine Cellars The 2023 Vuelta a España wine selection is available now at dvinecellars.com Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to more than 60 exclusive episodes. The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.