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 certainly one to watch if he’s chosen for this season’s Giro d’Italia. Not only is he a fantastica bike racer, but he can sing and play guitar too! Paul treats us to a rendition of Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange” at the end of the podcast. Enjoy!
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56:48
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 solely the experience itself. A fascinating chat with a unique young athlete that has some sage advice for all of us.
To donate to Boru’s fundraising page for MIND mental health charity, visit this link:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mindmapping
This podcast deals with themes of depression and suicide. If you are struggling with your own mental health, consider contacting your local health services or General Practitioner. Or visit https://www.samaritans.org/ for more information.
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1:07:20
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 what Jeroen is so highly regarded in academia and sports science. He discusses the impact of having a star like Tadej Pogacar on the team, the latest research into raceday fueling, and tells Matt how to win the Tour de France.
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1:11:50
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 riders with her YouTube and Social Media content. In this podcast she explains her plan to race The Life Time Grand Prix, and has some great advice for anyone wishing to try gravel cycling for the first time.
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1:09:33
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, Lars and Matt have a deep dive on the continued evolution of ‘cross, surprising off-season training methods, and a local hero award he recently received that’s guaranteed to raise an eyebrow!
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À propos de Sigma Sports presents Matt Stephens Unplugged
Sigma Sports is proud to present Matt Stephens Unplugged, a regular catch-up with cycling’s favourite character, Matt Stephens, as he chats with special guests and explores the bowels of his own fruity mind. With lots of surprises along the way, the route-map has been torn up; so who knows what direction we’re going in, or where we’ll end up!
France