Life in the Peloton, presented by MAAP

Race Radio: Ardennes Fever, EF Insights & Tales from Liège

Harry and Stu might come from opposite ends of the UK and sport very different hairstyles, but there’s one thing they share a passion for: The Old Lady. Not just any old lady – I’m talking about the fourth monument of the season, Liège–Bastogne–Liège. It’s the oldest of all the monuments, and marks the end of the Classics season – and that’s what this month’s episode of Race Radio is all about: the Ardennes classics. 

The boys are back with another banger of an episode to get you all hyped up for the Ardennes. These races are usually a bit forgotten about, lost in the shadow of Flanders and Roubaix. But, as always, Harry and Stu’s fan’s-eye perspective is oozing with enthusiasm that’ll get you pumped for these races. Harry’s back from the roadside of Flanders and Roubaix, and Stu’s gearing up to get himself out to Belgium for Liège. That’s what I love about these boys – they’re diehard fans that get out on the roadside and soak in the atmosphere at the races, and their passion is absolutely infectious.

Here’s what Harry had to say about this month’s episode of Life In The Peloton’s Race Radio:

‘This episode of LITP’s Race Radio is all about the Ardennes and it’s somewhat of an EF Education-Easypost special, with not one but two guests from the team on the show! 

First up is punchy young Irish climber Archie Ryan, swiftly followed by the team’s not-so-young and punchy DS (and LITP Communiqué regular) Tom Southam. 

The two tell us what makes these hilly races great, Tom remembers witnessing a live mugging during a recon ride in Liège while Archie dreams of a Ben & Jerry’s helmet sponsorship. Enjoy!’

My experience with the Ardennes as a rider is limited; in fact, of all the races, I only started Amstel Gold Race once – I was always more of a cobbles man. But, after listening to the boys yarn about these races, I am gee’d up for the Ardennes! 

I hope you all enjoy this one as much as I do.

Cheers,

Mitch

The Race Communiqué: Roubaix Mayhem, Solo Masterclasses & Durbo's First Quiz

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You can also watch this episode over on my YouTube channel here!

The chaos of the Cobbled Classics is over for another season. From Omloop, through E3 and Wevelgem, Flanders, and then the big one - Paris Roubaix; these are the biggest and best races on the calendar for me, so I was super excited to sit down with Tom Southam and Luke Durbridge to break down this year’s edition of Paris Roubaix in this month’s Race Communique.

This year’s Roubaix was an absolute cracker; totally flat out from the gun. Even before Arenberg - where the race used to really kick off back in my day - the bunch was strung out and the real favourites were taking huge chunks out of each other. Tom, Luke, and I run through the riders that really made this race such an epic edition. Of course, it was dominated by Mathieu Van Der Poel on his way to his third victory in a row, but what about Pogačar?! His first go at Roubaix and he’s up there rubbing shoulders with the big boys, and I literally mean the big boys; he’s ten kilos lighter than most of these guys! Southam made a good point actually; is he going to be carrying some extra timber into the Ardennes that kick off next week?

Of course, we also had the women’s race the day before. That’s something I love about Roubaix; the men’s and women’s races being on different days means we get a whole weekend of Paris-Roubaix action! What a cool race, with absolute legend Pauline Ferrand-Prévot putting her immense off-road skills to use to become the first French rider to list that big cobblestone since Frédéric Guesdon in 1997. I absolutely loved to see the GOAT herself; Marianne Vos, riding in support of her Visma LAB team mate; for me, that’s what makes her a true champion.

Obviously, there’s been other races going on aside from the cobbled classics. We wanted to talk briefly about the Tour of the Basque country, and for good reason; after a few years in the wilderness, Caleb Ewan is winning at the highest level again. What a move that transfer to Ineos turned out to be! It’s so cool to see Caleb getting his hands in the air again, and I think it represents a real shift in mentality at Ineos - who have been looking a bit lost for a few seasons now. 

Southam was actually down in the Basque country in the car for EF Pro cycling - who knocked out a stage win with young Ben Healy - so he gives us a quick breakdown of the race in this week’s Talking Tactics. Healy’s win came after a ridiculous 57km solo move, so this month Tom’s talking about the art of the solo breakaway. We see these long range attacks sticking more and more these days; with everyone aero optimised and more and more data and information being fed to riders. Southam compared his view from the car to being behind a rider in a TT, and being able to feed him really accurate cues about the course ahead played a huge part in Healy’s win. 

Poor old Durbo got a bit cut off in this month’s Pelo Chat, so we rolled it in ahead of the Communi-Quiz! Durbo wanted to talk about race programmes, and how the teams decide who’s racing where. Of course, the Spring Classics is a savage block of racing; and plenty of riders don’t make it all the way to the end owing to sickness or injury, which creates plenty of headaches for team directors trying to pull together squads at short notice. 

As always, we wrapped up with the Communi-Quiz. Hosted by Durbo, it’s a Roubaix themed ‘Who Am I?’. I’ve won a stage and the overall at the Tour of Beijing and Paris Roubaix - who am I?.....you’ll have to listen to this month’s Race Communique to find out.

Well, guys, that’s the Cobbled Classics done and dusted. The Ardennes are about to kick off to round out a monster Spring of racing which can mean only one thing; the next time I sit down to talk to Southam and Durbo will be in May just before the first Grandy of the year; The Giro d’Italia. 

The Race Communiqué is brought to you by TrainingPeaks! Track, plan, and train smarter—just like the pros. Get 20% off TrainingPeaks Premium now at www.trainingpeaks.com/partners/life-in-the-peloton/.

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Intro
• 00:07:34 - Race Recap
• 00:42:05 - Talking Tactics
• 00:51:10 - Pelo Chat
• 00:58:56 - Communi-Quiz: Who am I?

Until then,

Cheers,

Mitch

Flanders Finished, the Roubaix Cobbles Await: Laurence Pithie’s Reckoning

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I don’t know about you guys, but I thought this year’s edition of the Tour of Flanders was an absolute classic. It had everything: drama, excitement, chaos, and - of course - a worthy winner. I couldn’t wait to catch up with our man on the ground, Laurence Pithie, to hear what happened between the barriers on the bergs of Flanders, and hear how he’s feeling ahead of the Queen of the classics; Roubaix.

Laurence went into Flanders after a pretty nasty crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen the Wednesday before. Fortunately, although he was a bit stiff and bruised, his legs came good and - after over 6 hours of brutal racing - he rolled home in an impressive 11th place. The TV cameras were pretty fixed on that leading group of Pog, Van Der Poel, Pedersen, and Van Aert for the last few hours of the race, so Pithie’s ride went a bit under the radar - but that’s one of the things I’ve loved most about getting these updates from him this season; hearing those stories the cameras miss.

Although he’s still only 22 years old, the way Laurence talks about these races shows just how experienced and mature as a rider he is. Hearing how he raced this year’s edition compared to last year, and the changes he made to his tactics even just over the course of this classics season, it’s easy to tell how professional he is; already a real seasoned pro.

Laurence isn’t racing Scheldeprijs - the midweek race between Flanders and Roubaix - so he actually made the decision to fly home for a few days of normality to reset before heading back to the cobbles for Paris Roubaix this Sunday. Flanders is such a huge event with so much build up, it can be pretty overwhelming - so breaking out the bubble for a few days should let Laurence reset and come back ready for all out war at Roubaix. I mean, just looking at the walls of fans on the roadside all the way around Flanders, I’d need a few days to get my hearing back, let alone my legs!

I have absolutely loved these regular phone calls with Pithie and really trying to understand what those 3 weeks on the road are like from the inside. It’s no secret that I absolutely love the Spring classics; the ins and outs, the crashes, the stories - I could talk about them all day. it’s not all about the podium riders - every single rider in these races is giving absolutely everything, and I think that’s why they mean so much to so many people; you’ve got 180 guys lining up ready to leave everything out there on the road. 

Of course, it’s not all over - the best is yet to come. This Sunday, the Queen of the Classics, the Hell of the North, my favourite race: Paris Roubaix. Last year Laurence bagged himself a classy 7th place, and he’s looking to better that this time around. I could hear the fear in his voice when he told me the weather forecast; after one of the warmest, driest Springs on record - the rain is coming…oh, man, a wet Roubaix! It’s the stuff of dreams…or nightmares. Whether the clouds break or not this weekend, I’ve got no doubt that Laurence is going to get to that iconic velodrome and round out a great Spring classics season with another pearler of a result. Who knows, he might even come home with a cobblestone of his own. 

Guys, thanks for following along on this Spring Classics mini series. I hope you’ve enjoyed these updates from Laurence and the rest of the Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe team as much as I have. In fact, Laurence has actually agreed to give me a call after Roubaix so we can wrap up this series and hear about what went down on the pavé - a cheeky bonus ep. for you all. 

Laurence; this is it now, mate, the big one. Go and get it. We’re all rooting for you. 

Cheers!

Mitch

 

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Intro & Flanders Recap
• 00:03:25 - Laurence on Riding Flanders
• 00:08:00 - Strategy & Team Tactics at Flanders
• 00:12:10 - The Turning Point: Final Moves at Flanders
• 00:18:09 - Reflections on 11th Place
• 00:24:05 - Resetting for Roubaix
• 00:26:00 - The Allure (and Fear) of Paris-Roubaix
• 00:34:10 - Roubaix Recon & Equipment Talk

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Through the Chaos to the Cobbles: Riding Holy Week with Laurence Pithie

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This episode is sponsored by NordVPN - get an exclusive NordVPN discount + 4 extra months with Life in the Peloton: https://nordvpn.com/pelosurf 

After a big weekend of racing at E3 on Friday and Wevelgem on Sunday, I gave our man Laurence Pithie a call for another catch up to find out how his races went, and how he’s feeling about the big one this coming Sunday; The Tour of Flanders. 

First up, E3 Saxo Classic. Basically, a mini Tour of Flanders. Heaps of climbs including the Kwaremont, the Paterberg, and - Tom Boonen’s favourite - the Taaienberg. If you do well at this race, you go into Flanders the following weekend as one of the favourites. Laurence’s race didn’t go his way, after suffering from a puncture and not being able to get back in the fight - but that’s classics racing. 

After E3 comes Gent Wevelgem. A flatter race more suited to sprinters, but still featuring some savage cobbled ascents of climbs like the Kemmelberg. This was Pithie’s ‘breakout’ ride last Spring, where he got away with Van Der Poel and Pedersen and put his name on a lot of people’s radar as a real future star in these races. Again, it wasn’t the result Laurence came for, but he’s only 3 races into this classics campaign, and I reckon once he gets his tactical nous dialled back in, he’ll be right up there; he definitely has the legs for it. 

Talking to Laurence, I get the sense he’s a real fighter, and hearing the absolutely crazy numbers he’s putting out just to get up these brutal Flemish climbs without losing the wheel in front, I’m reminded once again just how hard the racing is these days. Despite being so young, he really knows his stuff about these races - he was rattling off the names to the climbs like a real seasoned Belgian. 

The races keep coming thick and fast, and today it’s time for Dwars door Vlaanderen. This is the last hit out before De Ronde, and it’s one of those races that, when I was a rider, I’d see as a chance to bag a little result for myself. It’s a lot shorter than the likes of Flanders or Roubaix at just 185km, and the start list is usually slightly reduced, with the bigger favourites resting up hard for Flanders. I reckon this is Laurence’s chance for a result; he’s got the legs, and he’s had a few races to get his eye back in, so I think he’ll come out swinging. In fact, by the time you listen to this ep, he might have already got his hands in the air! After Dwars door, Laurence and his boys are going to get some recon done for Flanders, then it’s time to rest up before Sunday’s 6 and a half hour battle. 

The thing about the Spring Classics is that it’s kind of like a mini Grand Tour. You’re up in Belgium for about 3 weeks with the same team around you, bouncing between all these races - it definitely has a real grand atmosphere. Towards the end of my chat with Laurence, I got a chance to have a quick chat with his roommate out there in Belgium; ‘The Wombat’ himself, Aussie sprinting legend Sam Welsford. Sam’s dropped into Bora’s classics squad for a few of the races, but also to bring some morale into the team. He’s a really laid back dude, and hearing his positive attitude and relaxed demeanor, I can imagine the positive impact he’ll have on the boys, some of whom have been racing out there for weeks now! 

Lastly, I gave my old mate Heinrich Haussler a call. Heino was a classics star in his own right when he was a pro, and now works as a DS for Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe. He gave me some great insight into how the classics have changed since he and I were riders just a few years ago; the nutrition, the tech, the schedule - it’s all come on leaps and bounds in such a short space of time, and made these races harder than ever. 

Laurence - go well today, buddy. Show them what you’re made of, and we’ll catch up after Flanders! 

Cheers,

Mitch

 

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Pre-race Nerves at E3
• 00:05:39 - E3 Race Debrief
• 00:10:54 - The Toll of Classics Racing
• 00:15:32 - Reset for Gent-Wevelgem
• 00:18:06 - In the Mix at Gent-Wevelgem
• 00:22:47 - Goals for Dwars door Vlaanderen
• 00:25:07 - Recon and Knowledge of Flanders
• 00:29:43 - Sam Welsford Joins the Chat
• 00:33:37 - Heinrich Haussler on the Modern Classics
• 00:50:23 - Final Recon Before De Ronde

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From San Remo to the Stones: Laurence Pithie Heads for the Cobbles

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Our man, Laurence Pithie, is back for the second episode in our mini series following the young Kiwi star through the 2025 Spring Classics. 

After a delayed start to his European series, Laurence kicked things off on the weekend at Milan San Remo. We kick this ep off with a quick voice note from him live from the hotel room, and man, with the weather those boys had right at the start, I can tell you I’m glad I’m not a rider anymore. 

I caught up with Laurence after the race to get his insight into how things played out, and how his race went. If you’ve not caught up with San Remo yet, go and get yourself up to speed - but safe to say, it wasn’t an easy day for any of the riders, let alone our man Pithie. I won’t spoil the result, but hearing how Laurence’s team got around him, and his ‘never say die’ attitude was super cool.

Of course, San Remo is just the kick off for Pithie’s Spring. Next up, he’s off to Belgium - the home of the classics - for De Panne, E3, and Gent Wevelgem; three absolutely massive races that lead up to The Tour of Flanders at the start of April. Oh man, these are some of my absolute favourite races. The Belgian fans, the chaos in the bunch; in a messed up way, I kinda miss it - so I can’t wait to hear how Laurence finds them. Laurence had a great ride at Wevelgem in 2024, so we spoke about what his expectations are for these first races back in Belgium to find out if he’s doing anything this time around. Of course, aside from the racing, it’s good to hear the young gun is still looking forward to getting familiar with a few Belgian beers and really soaking in the culture; that’s something I’m particularly jealous of. 

Finally, I spoke to one of Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe’s sports directors - another Kiwi, ‘The Flying Mullet’ himself; Shane Archbold. He gave me some great background on Laurence, what it’s like working with him, the mechanics behind his transfer to Bora from FDJ, and what he’s capable of this season. Shane’s a good mate, and a real good judge of character, so it was great to hear that Laurence has really fit in with the team and found his feet within the structure straight away, so he can focus on trying to win some of the biggest races in the world. 

Right guys, enjoy this episode. Our next catch up with Pithie will come next week after he, with a bit of luck, has just won the E3 and Wevelgem double…don’t let me down, Laurence. 

Cheers!

Mitch

 

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - San Remo Morning Vibes
• 00:03:26 - San Remo Recap
• 00:07:14 - Crash on the Capo
• 00:08:50 - Working with Ryan Mullen
• 00:11:10 - Gritting it Out Post-Crash
• 00:13:04 - Poggio Climb: The Decisive Moment
• 00:17:06 - Mental Takeaways & Confidence Boost
• 00:18:08 - E3 & Gent-Wevelgem: Game Plan
• 00:22:36 - Shane Archibald Interview
• 00:32:00 - What’s Next for Laurence

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The Race Communiqué: Milan-San Remo Magic, Superteam Debate & Commentary Clip Challenge

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You can also watch this episode over on my YouTube channel here!

Well, guys, it’s that time again; The Race Communique is back and, of course, we kick this one off by unpacking an absolutely huge edition of Milan San Remo!

Three absolute titans of the sport (me, Southam, and Durbo) come together to talk about the first monument of the season. We got to witness, as Pipo Ganna called them ‘Gods of cycling’ go toe to toe on the slopes of the Cipressa and the Poggio and, boy, did it exceed expectations. The confidence and arrogance of Pog trying to go from the foot of the Cipressa, the absolute ice man that is Van Der Poel responding to his every move, and Ganna showing what an absolute animal he is to hang tough with the big boys on the climbs. We talk all about it and, I’ll tell you what, I honestly think that’s the best edition I’ve ever seen. 

Durbo’s Pelo Chat takes a look at the ‘Superteams’ of the sport - the guys with cash to burn like UAE or Visma who can pick up the best riders; money no object. But are the superteams good or bad for the sport, and is riding for one of them actually all it’s cracked up to be?

In this month’s Talking Tactics, Southam fills us in on the upcoming UCI meeting to discuss whether additional wild cards should be issued for the biggest races. Now that some of the biggest riders, the likes of Pidcock, Hirschi, and Alaphilippe, have stepped down to ProTeam level, race organisers are stuck between a rock and a hard place if they want to keep the classic second division teams happy whilst also getting the fan favourites at their races. Plus, the UCI undermining all the hard work the lower ranked World Tour teams over the last few years to avoid relegation - it’s absolute chaos. 

Of course, we wrap things up with the Communi-quiz. Southam’s quiz master this month, and he’s bought out the race commentary clips for Durbo and I to guess the rider and the race. This is a real toughy, but you racing nuts out there will love it. 

You guys know by now how much I love sitting down with Luke and Tom to yarn about the races. As always make sure you sit back, relax, crack open a cold one, and enjoy this month’s Race Communique. 

The Race Communiqué is brought to you by TrainingPeaks! Track, plan, and train smarter—just like the pros. Get 20% off TrainingPeaks Premium now at www.trainingpeaks.com/partners/life-in-the-peloton/.

Cheers!

Mitch

 

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Intro & Milan-San Remo Recap
• 00:17:19 - Rider of the Day & Big Surprises
• 00:20:51 - The Cobbled Classics Preview
• 00:32:53 - Pelo Chat with Luke Durbridge: The Rise of Superteams
• 00:35:08 - Visma vs UAE: Who Has the Upper Hand?
• 00:44:51 - Talking Tactics with Tom Southam: Wildcard Chaos
• 00:01:29 - Communi-Quiz: Guess the Race Commentary Challenge

 

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Milan–San Remo Preview: The Start of Laurence Pithie’s 2025 Classics Campaign

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It’s no secret that the Spring Classics are my favourite races. I loved racing them, and I love watching them as a fan. But, in my 10th year of doing Life In The Peloton, you’ve heard all the stories I’ve got about the likes of Flanders & Roubaix; it’s time for me to pass the torch. This season, I’m going to be covering the cobbles classics a little bit differently.

I’m going to bring you with me inside the 2025 peloton as we follow young Kiwi up and coming classics star - Laurence Pithie. Laurence burst onto the scene last year when he won Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in January, and went toe to toe with Van Der Poel and Pedersen at Gent Wevelgem, rounding out his classics campaign with a stellar 7th place at Roubaix. 

I’m going to be chatting to Laurence before and after all the big races for the next few weeks - San Remo, Flanders, and Roubaix - to get insider information on how he’s feeling, how his team are planning on tackling the races, and just how it feels to take on the superstars at the pointy end. He’ll be sending me voice notes straight from the team bus straight after the finish to share his raw, unfiltered thoughts, and I can’t wait to bring you along and share Laurence’s 2025 classics journey with you guys. 

After transferring from FDJ to Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe in the offie, Pithie is heading into this season as a co-leader with a really strong team. He’ll be supported by class riders like Oier Lazkano, Gianni Moscon, Maxim Van Gils, Danny Van Poppel, Jordi Meeus, and heaps more - plus he’ll have the wise words of Bernie Eisel and my old mate Heinrich Haussler down the radio from back in the team car; Bora really aren’t messing around at the classics this year, and Laurence is a rider they believe can go all the way and knock out a big result.

Fresh off an altitude training camp and a delayed start to his 2025 classics campaign, Laurence is about to kick things off at Milan San Remo, so I spoke to him to kick off this mini series and get his initial thoughts on the Spring Classics in 2025. A lot has changed since I retired, and these races are almost unrecognisable to me now, so it’s great to see them through the eyes of a fresh, young, motivated rider with a real shot of winning BIG this season.

Guys, I hope you enjoy part 1 of this series. I can’t wait to bring you more from our man Laurence over the next few weeks. Hopefully, you’ll join me in really rooting for the young Kiwi after listening to this.

And Laurence; go and get it buddy. We’re all behind you. 

Cheers!

Mitch

 

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Introduction
• 00:01:19 - Who is Laurence Pithie? The Rising Star’s 2024 Breakthrough
• 00:03:11 - Pre-Classics Training & Altitude Camp
• 00:06:13 - A Day in the Life on Altitude Camp
• 00:08:04 - Confidence & Pressure After a Breakout Year
• 00:10:45 - What Changed in 2024? Reflections on His Breakthrough Season
• 00:12:09 - Learning to Race with the Best
• 00:15:42 - Milan–San Remo Team Plans & His Role
• 00:17:00 - Working with New DSs at Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe
• 00:20:44 - Falling in Love with the Classics
• 00:23:06 - Final Thoughts & San Remo Course Recon
• 00:24:29 - Rivals to Watch at San Remo
• 00:27:55 - His Full 2025 Spring Classics Program

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Race Radio: Peloton Gossip with Emma Norsgaard Bjerg

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G’day, everyone. We’re well into March, and the Spring Classics are calling! We had an absolutely storming opening weekend, and Paris Nice has just wrapped up; which means we’re in for a treat over the next few weeks as we get to enjoy four of the five monuments PLUS a whole heap of other amazing one day races. 

One of the things I love about the races at this time of year is that most of them have both a men’s and women’s edition; so we get to enjoy twice as much racing over the cobbles and bergs of Belgium and Northern France!

Now the boys over at Race Radio have cooked up a banging episode this month; they’ve bagged an interview with one of the most exciting riders in the women’s pelo. A Danish superstar who’s already got herself a stage win at the Tour de France, and is no doubt knocking on the door of a massive result this Spring after a move to Lidl Trek in the offie; it is, of course, Emma Norsgaard Bjerg. 

Here’s what the lads had to say about this month’s ep:

At LITP’s Race Radio, we (Harry and Stu) love riders with big personalities, and in our opinion there’s none bigger – and more fun – than Emma Norsgaard Bjerg. 

We were delighted to have the Lidl-Trek pro from Denmark on the show this week. We talk about her epic Tour de France Femmes stage win in 2023, her love/hate relationship with the cobbled classics, ‘Playstation mode’ training, peloton gossip, and more.

Emma is a rare example of a pro cyclist unafraid to show their emotions and weaknesses, expose the difficulties of the sport as well as celebrate its good sides, and we hope that you all enjoy listening to her chat with us!

Cheers,

Harry and Stu.

Guys, this is a great listen. Harry and Stu do a great job of getting Emma to really loosen up and be really open in her interview - I was honestly so impressed. They have a heap of fun, and I know who I’m going to be rooting for at the races this Spring. I hope you enjoy this month’s Race Radio, and the Spring Classics to come!

This episode is supported by our friends at JOIN. As a listener to the pod you can get a risk-free 1-month trial. Visit join.cc/litp to check it out and sign up.

Cheers!

Mitch

 

Chapters

• 00:00:00 – Introduction & Catch-up
• 00:05:00 – Guest Introduction: Emma Norsgaard
• 00:06:45 – Emma Joins the Show
• 00:08:40 – Tour de France Stage Win Recap
• 00:11:00 – Changing Teams and Motivation
• 00:18:00 – The Cobbled Classics
• 00:20:15 – Dream Wins and PlayStation Mode
• 00:25:20 – Emma’s Podcast ‘The Gossip’
• 00:29:40 – Wrap-up with Emma
• 00:30:06 – Harry and Stu Reflect on the Interview
• 00:32:10 – Race Round-Up and Chat
• 00:37:00 – Weather Talk & Classic Racing Moments

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Bikepacking New Zealand: Waihau Bay, Māori Resilience & Surfing in Gisborne – Part 2

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Well, guys, if you enjoyed part 1 of my epic trip across to New Zealand then get yourself a cold one, sit back, relax, and get ready to enjoy the second part of the story. If you didn’t catch part 1 earlier this week then make sure you go back and listen to that first.

We pick up the journey at the start of day 3, and head straight to the iconic Waihau bay. This stunning area was made famous by Taika Waititi’s film ‘Boy’, and oh man was it special; what a way to kick off the second half of the trip. After some delicious home made ice cream at the Pacific Coast Macadamia Store we cracked on down the coast. I bumped into a fella called Giles who was undertaking a similar bikepacking trip with his son, and we cracked open a few Gizzy Golds and yarned into the evening. 

Heading back down the coast towards Gisborne we took in more stunning views, and surveyed the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle that struck the region back in 2023. Still in the cleanup stages, it’s clear to see how the disaster decimated the land and the sea, but the way the Māori people have rallied around each other and is really heartening, and left us all feeling pretty inspired. 

What better way to wrap up a trip through some of the hottest surfing on the planet than with a quick lesson? I was taken out into the water with legendary local surfer, Holly Quinn, who showed me how to master the waves and helped me get up. We sealed off the adventure by visiting Sunshine brewery; the home of the iconic Gizzy Gold which I’d become so familiar with over the week.

Honestly, guys, if you ever get the chance to head out to the North West coast of the North Island and explore Gisborne and the surrounding area - jump on it; you won’t regret it. 

I hope you really enjoyed listening to these two eps; I had an amazing time and I’m really grateful to Tairāwhiti Gisborne - the Gisborne Tourism Board - for making it happen.

If you want to read more about my trip and see some of the incredible pictures, check out this cracking feature by our friends at FLOW MOUNTAIN BIKE. 

Cheers,

Mitch!

 

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Introduction & Recap
• 00:02:21 - Day Three Begins: Waihau Bay & Movie Locations
• 00:12:54 - Macadamia Farm & Local Treats
• 00:14:55 - Coastal Riding & Māori Cultural Insights
• 00:20:41 - Bikepacking Father & Son Duo
• 00:34:13 - East Cape Lighthouse & The First Sunrise
• 00:49:08 - Famous Café 35 & Power Pies
• 01:02:15 - Māori Facial Tattoos (Moko Kauae) & Cultural Significance
• 01:05:07 - Final Stretch Back to Gisborne

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Bikepacking New Zealand: Gisborne’s Hidden Gems, Māori Culture & Gravel Adventures - Part 1

Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by MAAP

G’day guys, I’m back with another ep of Life In The Peloton; and this one’s a little bit different. Earlier this month, I was invited out to a little town called Gisborne over on the East Coast of New Zealand’s North Island for a bikepacking adventure. 

Gisborne Tourism gave me a call and wanted to see if I’d come over for 5 days of bike riding, soaking in the Māori culture, and - of course - enjoying a few cleansing ales with some local legends and finding out more about the region; naturally, I jumped at the chance and hopped on a plane over to NZ. 

This hidden gem is on the South East coast of the North Island, and loosely follows the infamous Highway 35. Gisborne is a pretty remote area. It’s raw, and refreshing - really back to basics. There are a lot of indigenous Māori living off the land out there respecting the natural environment just like their ancestors have done for generations. It’s totally different to anywhere I’ve been before, and it was really powerful and inspiring to learn more about their culture and experience the landscape by bike.

550km over 5 days, this trip was hard enough without being too hard, if you know what I mean. We cruised on the bikes and took in all the sights, sounds, and smells of Gisborne along the way. We checked out some super cool spots; including the Eastwoodhill National Arboretum, some ridiculous beautiful waterfalls and wild swimming spots, and - of course - some world class gravel riding.

I couldn’t turn down this opportunity - to be invited out to a place I’ve always wanted to explore was too good to miss. This ep is actually part 1 of a 2 parter - so much happened on the trip I couldn’t contain it into 1 episode, so I’m treating you guys to a double! Keep your eyes peeled for episode 2 dropping at the end of this week.

If you want to read more about my trip, check out this cracking feature by our friends at FLOW MOUNTAIN BIKE. 

 

Cheers!

Mitch

 

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Introduction & Setting the Scene
• 00:02:15 - Flying into Gisborne & First Impressions
• 00:07:30 - The Māori Connection & Cultural Insights
• 00:18:10 - The Bikepacking Route & The First Ride
• 00:25:05 - Eastwoodhill Arboretum: A Hidden Gem
• 00:39:06 - Waterfalls & Wild Swimming
• 00:42:00 - Arrival in Motu: End of Day 1
• 00:46:00 - Looking Ahead to Day 2

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