Is the cycling off-season ever really off? Even though road racing has been done for a while (except for Saitama, of course!), there's plenty to talk about. Tadej Pogačar's new contract with UAE is massive - €8 million a year until 2030, making him the highest-paid rider in the peloton. It's sparked a larger discussion about the economics of pro cycling and how teams are built around these superstar riders. Demi Vollering’s move from SD Works to FDJ is a big shakeup in the women’s peloton. It seems, unlike on the men's side, that the women's transfer market is wide open, with teams throwing around big money to secure top talent. This move also prompts questions about the role of sponsors like Specialized in rider moves, and the cultural differences between Dutch and French teams.
Then there’s some good old-fashioned paperwork drama. Ceratizit messed up their WorldTour license paperwork and might lose one of their star riders. Is this just an "admin error," or is there something more going on? And of course, no Spin Cycle episode would be complete without some listener interaction. This week, we tackled Drew’s question about the aerodynamics of a leg-shaving mullet, with Ronan offering his expert analysis. Don’t forget to send us your own cycling-related queries at escapecollective.com/hello. We’ll be answering them in an upcoming mailbag episode.
What is Spin Cycle?
The best podcast in cycling, formerly known as the Placeholder Podcast. Spin Cycle is Escape Collective's weekly chat show that brings you the biggest and weirdest stories from the world of cycling. Hosted by Caley Fretz, Jonny Long, and Kit Nicholson, this podcast offers an accurate and informative breakdown of major news events without forgetting that cycling is just silly sometimes.
Please check out our other podcasts on your preferred podcast platform:
- Geek Warning - how bikes work and how to make them better
- Wheel Talk - all things women's cycling
- How the Race was Won - racing and tactical analysis
- The Rest Day with Jack Haig - insights from within the pro peloton
- Overnight Success - The founders and innovators in the cycling industry
Escape Collective is entirely member-funded. If you like this podcast please consider supporting us by becoming a member: https://escapecollective.com/member/