While northern Europe is swept by blizzards and freezing temperatures grip the landscape, in the relative warmth of Spain's Costa Blanca cycling's elite teams are making their final pre-season preparations and, as part of that, have been meeting the press. We joined this welcome migration and this pod features three of the peloton's biggest names...
We start with Belgium's most feted sporting star, Remco Evenepoel, one of the "big four" who are due to clash at the Tour de France this summer. We ask the Soudal-QuickStep leader about whether he can end his country's 48-year Tour drought on his debut in the race, how his team is shaping up to this challenge, and about his post-Tour hopes for glory at the Paris Olympics.
Fabio Jakobsen has removed himself from the ever-growing shadow Evenepoel casts over his teammates at QuickStep by joining dsm-firmenich PostNL. We ask the Dutch sprinter about why he wanted this move, hear about the goals he has set himself for the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, and about his aim to knock long-time rival Jasper Philipsen off the top of the sprinting tree.
We also reveal the latest news on the Tour of Britain and Women's Tour, which both face an uncertain future following the breakdown in the relationship between British Cycling and race organisers Sweetspot. There are reasons for optimism, we understand...
We end with "Dave watch", a look at the latest movements of Ineos director of sport Dave Brailsford, featuring a brief cameo from the man himself...
This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle.