This month, The Cycling Podcast Féminin team get what they wished for: a fiercely fought battle between two teammates. Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering gunned it out at Strade Bianche with the Dutchwoman eventually crowned the victor after a tense photo finish. Despite being pipped into second, the Italian classic marked yet another chapter in Kopecky’s extraordinary early season in which she has never finished lower than runner-up.

Rose Manley, Orla Chennaoui and Lizzy Banks discuss the race and its fallout, including the controversial disqualification of Kristen Faulkner for the wearing of a continuous glucose monitor.

Rose also speaks to Puck Pieterse, one of the unlikely stars of Strade Bianche. Cyclo-cross racer Pieterse finished fifth in her first ever Women’s World Tour road race. She explains her approach to having fun on the bike and why we won’t be seeing her at any more road races this season.

The team also talk about a less acrimonious team one-two finish at Trofeo Alfredo Binda. Last month’s interviewee Shirin van Anrooij took the win there, followed by her Trek-Segafredo teammate Elisa Balsamo.

Orla closes the show with a beautiful tribute to our deeply missed friend Richard Moore, who passed away a year ago.

The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens and Science in Sport.

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Sports Podcast Awards shortlist
The Tour d’Écosse series has been shortlisted for the 2023 Sports Podcast Awards. It’s a public vote so it’s over to you. If you enjoyed the series and would like to vote, you can do so here. You need to create an account to vote and we are in the ‘wilderness’ category.

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The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

S11 Ep20: Whole Lotte Love