Best Cycling Podcasts 2026: The Definitive Guide

By Ian Gross — The Big Ring Report

Last updated: March 2026 · bigringreport.com

Introduction

The cycling podcast landscape has matured considerably over the past decade, moving from a handful of amateur enthusiast shows to a rich ecosystem of professional productions covering every corner of the sport. Whether you follow the Grand Tours obsessively, spend your weekends on gravel roads, or are trying to get faster through structured training, there is now a podcast built precisely for you — and several that are genuinely excellent.

This guide reflects two decades of following professional cycling and a lot of time in the saddle with earbuds in. The ten shows listed here represent the best of what cycling audio has to offer in 2026: the most informative, the most entertaining, and the most honest. They are ranked by overall quality and breadth of appeal, but every show on this list is worth your time depending on what you ride and what you want to learn.

One note on selection criteria: this list prioritises shows with consistent output, genuine editorial independence, and hosts who actually know cycling from the inside. There are dozens of cycling podcasts; these are the ones that have earned their place at the top.

Quick Reference: All 10 Podcasts at a Glance

#PodcastCategoryBest ForFrequency
1The Cycling PodcastRoad RacingSerious road racing fans who want depth, context, and quality journalismWeekly (daily during Grand Tours)
2Lanterne Rouge Cycling PodcastRoad RacingFans who want tactical depth and genuine insider analysis2–3 times per week
3The Pinkbike PodcastMountain BikingMountain bikers of all disciplinesWeekly
4THEMOVE with Lance ArmstrongRoad RacingTour de France viewers who want tactical context and unfiltered takesDuring major races and events
5Velo PodcastRoad & GravelRoad and gravel riders who want a single show covering both racing and gearWeekly
6Phil Gaimon Cycling PodcastRoad Racing & CultureCyclists who want racing insight delivered with genuine wit and zero corporate polishWeekly
7Escape Collective Podcast NetworkRoad Racing & CultureFans who value independent journalism and want multiple shows from a single trusted sourceMultiple shows, weekly
8Fast Talk by Fast Talk LabsTraining & PerformanceCompetitive cyclists and coaches who want evidence-based training guidanceBi-weekly
9Ask a Cycling Coach — TrainerRoadTraining & PerformanceCyclists using structured training who want practical, coach-led answers to specific questionsWeekly
10The Gravel Ride PodcastGravelGravel cyclists at all levelsWeekly

The 10 Best Cycling Podcasts of 2026

1

The Cycling Podcast

Richard Moore, Lionel Birnie, Daniel Friebe, Orla Chennaoui

Road Racing
FrequencyWeekly (daily during Grand Tours)
Where to ListenApple Podcasts, Spotify, thecyclingpodcast.com

The gold standard of professional road cycling audio. Founded in 2013 by journalists Richard Moore, Lionel Birnie, and Daniel Friebe, The Cycling Podcast has grown into the most authoritative independent voice in the sport. What sets it apart is the quality of access — the team reports from the roadside at every major race, conducting interviews that the mainstream cycling press rarely secures. During the Tour de France, Giro, and Vuelta, the show goes daily, providing stage-by-stage analysis that is both technically rigorous and genuinely entertaining. The Cycling Podcast Féminin, hosted by Orla Chennaoui, covers the women's peloton with equal depth and is one of the few shows that treats women's racing as a first-class subject rather than an afterthought. For anyone who wants to understand professional cycling at a level beyond the headline results, this is the essential starting point.

Best for: Serious road racing fans who want depth, context, and quality journalism

Where to start: Any Grand Tour daily episode — the on-the-ground reporting is unmatched

2

Lanterne Rouge Cycling Podcast

Patrick Broe & Benji Naesen

Road Racing
Frequency2–3 times per week
Where to ListenApple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, lanternerouge.com

Lanterne Rouge has quietly become one of the sharpest tactical analysis shows in cycling media. Hosts Patrick Broe and Benji Naesen — the latter a former competitive cyclist and now one of the sport's most respected analysts — bring a level of tactical nuance to race breakdowns that most shows simply cannot match. Benji's ability to explain why a breakaway succeeded or failed, how team strategies play out in real time, and what the data behind rider performances actually means has built a fiercely loyal audience. The show covers the full WorldTour calendar with a particular focus on the Classics and Grand Tours, and the guest interview episodes — often featuring riders speaking candidly about the realities of professional racing — are consistently among the best in the genre. If you want to watch races smarter, Lanterne Rouge is the show that will get you there.

Best for: Fans who want tactical depth and genuine insider analysis

Where to start: Any post-Monument tactical breakdown — Benji's race reading is exceptional

3

The Pinkbike Podcast

Mike Kazimer, Dario DiGiulio, Stephane Pelletier & rotating editorial team

Mountain Biking
FrequencyWeekly
Where to ListenApple Podcasts, Spotify, Pinkbike.com

The Pinkbike Podcast is the definitive weekly show for the mountain bike world. Hosted by the Pinkbike editorial team — led by tech editor Mike Kazimer — the show covers everything from the latest bike releases and gear reviews to race results, industry news, and the culture of mountain biking. What makes it essential is the sheer breadth of knowledge the team brings: these are people who ride and test bikes professionally, and their technical discussions about geometry, suspension, and component choices are grounded in real-world experience rather than press release copy. The show's annual Field Test episode, in which the team ranks the year's best bikes after extended testing, has become a must-listen event in the MTB calendar. For downhill and enduro racing coverage, the companion Pinkbike Racing Podcast — hosted by Henry Quinney and Ben Cathro — provides World Cup season analysis that is both technically deep and genuinely funny.

Best for: Mountain bikers of all disciplines — trail, enduro, downhill, and XC

Where to start: Annual Field Test results episode — the most comprehensive MTB bike ranking of the year

4

THEMOVE with Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong, George Hincapie, Johan Bruyneel (rotating)

Road Racing
FrequencyDuring major races and events
Where to ListenApple Podcasts, Spotify, WEDŪ

Whatever your views on Lance Armstrong's history, THEMOVE remains one of the most listened-to cycling podcasts in the English-speaking world, and for a specific reason: Lance provides tactical context that no other commentator can match. Having ridden and won the Tour de France seven times — under circumstances that remain complicated — he understands the race's physical and psychological demands at a level that is genuinely unique. During the Tour, the show provides stage-by-stage analysis with a focus on team tactics, rider condition, and the strategic decisions that shape GC battles. George Hincapie's contributions as a former domestique add a different perspective on how races are controlled from within the peloton. The show is at its best during the Tour de France and the Spring Classics, where the combination of insider knowledge and unfiltered opinion makes for compelling listening.

Best for: Tour de France viewers who want tactical context and unfiltered takes

Where to start: Any Tour de France stage episode featuring a major GC battle

5

Velo Podcast

Andrew Hood, Jim Cotton, Josh Ross, Alvin Holbrook, Mike Levy

Road & Gravel
FrequencyWeekly
Where to ListenApple Podcasts, Spotify, velo.outsideonline.com

The Velo Podcast is the flagship audio show from Velo, the publication formerly known as VeloNews. With a rotating cast of experienced cycling journalists including European correspondent Andrew Hood and tech editors Josh Ross and Alvin Holbrook, the show covers the full spectrum of road and gravel cycling — race news, gear reviews, rider interviews, and industry analysis. Andrew Hood's access to the European peloton gives the show a depth of race reporting that few US-based outlets can match, while the tech coverage from Ross and Holbrook is among the most detailed and honest in cycling media. The show's format is flexible enough to go deep on a single topic — a major race, a controversial tech development, or a significant transfer — while also functioning as a reliable weekly news digest for riders who want to stay current without reading everything.

Best for: Road and gravel riders who want a single show covering both racing and gear

Where to start: Pre-Tour de France preview episodes — Hood's European contacts make these essential

6

Phil Gaimon Cycling Podcast

Phil Gaimon

Road Racing & Culture
FrequencyWeekly
Where to ListenApple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube

Phil Gaimon is one of the most entertaining voices in cycling media, and his podcast reflects the same irreverent, self-aware style that made his books — Draft Animals and Pro Cycling on $10 a Day — cult classics in the sport. A former professional cyclist who raced for Garmin-Sharp and Cannondale-Drapac, Gaimon brings genuine insider knowledge to his race commentary, training advice, and industry observations, but the show's real value is its tone: it's funny, honest, and willing to say things that more corporate cycling media won't. The show covers race commentary, training tips, gear discussions, and the occasional cathartic rant about motorists, all delivered with the dry wit of someone who has seen the professional peloton from the inside and emerged with his sense of humour intact. His KOM-hunting YouTube channel and podcast have built one of the most engaged audiences in cycling media.

Best for: Cyclists who want racing insight delivered with genuine wit and zero corporate polish

Where to start: Any episode covering the realities of professional cycling contracts and team economics

7

Escape Collective Podcast Network

Dane Cash, Cosmo Catalano, Holly Johnson & rotating team

Road Racing & Culture
FrequencyMultiple shows, weekly
Where to ListenApple Podcasts, Spotify, escapecollective.com

Escape Collective is the most ambitious independent cycling media project of the past decade, and its podcast network reflects the same commitment to quality and independence that defines the publication. The flagship racing analysis show, hosted by Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano, drops every Monday with sharp post-race breakdowns and a willingness to challenge conventional narratives. The Beginner's Guide to Pro Cycling, hosted by Holly Johnson, is one of the best entry points for new fans — it unpacks the sport's rules, tactics, and culture with clarity and warmth. Escape Collective's member-supported model means the shows are free from advertiser pressure, which results in a level of editorial honesty that is increasingly rare in cycling media. The full network covers road, gravel, tech, and culture, making it a comprehensive audio destination for engaged cycling fans.

Best for: Fans who value independent journalism and want multiple shows from a single trusted source

Where to start: Monday racing analysis episodes — consistently the sharpest post-race takes in the English-language cycling press

8

Fast Talk by Fast Talk Labs

Trevor Connor & Chris Case

Training & Performance
FrequencyBi-weekly
Where to ListenApple Podcasts, Spotify, fasttalklabs.com

Fast Talk is the most scientifically rigorous training podcast in cycling, and for riders who want to understand the physiology behind their performance rather than just follow a training plan, it is genuinely invaluable. Co-hosted by exercise physiologist and coach Trevor Connor and science journalist Chris Case, the show takes a deep-dive approach to topics like training zones, periodization, recovery, nutrition, and the latest exercise science research. Guests include researchers, coaches, and elite athletes who speak with unusual candour about what the data actually shows versus what the cycling industry tends to market. The show moved from VeloNews to the independent Fast Talk Labs platform in 2022, which has allowed it to go even deeper on technical topics without the constraints of a general-interest publication. If you want to train smarter rather than just harder, this is the show.

Best for: Competitive cyclists and coaches who want evidence-based training guidance

Where to start: Any episode on training zones — the show's definitive treatment of polarized vs. pyramidal training is essential listening

9

Ask a Cycling Coach — TrainerRoad

Nate Pearce, Jonathan Lee, Amber Pierce & coaching team

Training & Performance
FrequencyWeekly
Where to ListenApple Podcasts, Spotify, trainerroad.com

Ask a Cycling Coach is TrainerRoad's long-running listener Q&A show, and it has built one of the largest and most loyal audiences in cycling training media. The format is simple: listeners submit training questions, and the TrainerRoad coaching team — including USAC/USAT certified coaches — answers them in detail. The show covers everything from structured training plans and interval design to race strategy, nutrition, and equipment, and the depth of the answers reflects the team's genuine coaching expertise. What distinguishes it from Fast Talk is the practical orientation: where Fast Talk goes deep on research and physiology, Ask a Cycling Coach focuses on actionable advice that listeners can apply to their training immediately. For riders using TrainerRoad's platform, the show provides essential context for understanding why the training plans are structured the way they are.

Best for: Cyclists using structured training who want practical, coach-led answers to specific questions

Where to start: Any episode covering race-day strategy and peaking — the show's advice on tapering and race preparation is consistently excellent

10

The Gravel Ride Podcast

Craig Dalton

Gravel
FrequencyWeekly
Where to ListenApple Podcasts, Spotify, thegravelride.bike

The Gravel Ride Podcast is the most dedicated gravel-specific show in cycling audio, and host Craig Dalton has built a comprehensive archive of interviews, route guides, and gear discussions that serves as an essential resource for the gravel community. The show covers the full spectrum of gravel cycling — from competitive racing at events like Unbound Gravel and Dirty Kanza to bikepacking routes, gear reviews, and the culture of riding unpaved roads. Dalton's interview style is relaxed and thorough, and his guests range from elite gravel racers and bike designers to route developers and adventure cyclists. As gravel cycling has grown from a niche discipline into one of the sport's dominant categories, The Gravel Ride Podcast has grown with it, remaining the most authoritative audio voice in the space.

Best for: Gravel cyclists at all levels — from first-time gravel riders to competitive racers

Where to start: Pre-Unbound Gravel preview episodes — the most comprehensive coverage of the sport's biggest event

Honourable Mentions

Ten shows cannot cover the full breadth of what cycling audio has to offer. Several podcasts narrowly missed this list and deserve recognition for their consistent quality.

The Roadman Cycling Podcast (Anthony Walsh) is one of the most prolific shows in the space, with over 1,400 episodes featuring WorldTour riders, coaches, and sports scientists. Walsh's interview style is thorough and his guest list is genuinely impressive — this is a show for riders who want to understand the human side of professional cycling.

Cycling Podcast Féminin (Orla Chennaoui, Rose Manley) covers women's professional cycling with the same depth and quality as its parent show. As the women's peloton has grown in profile and prize money, this show has grown with it, and Chennaoui's access to the top riders in the sport is unmatched.

The Gravel Ride Podcast already appears in the main list, but its companion shows on bikepacking and adventure cycling are also worth exploring for riders who want to go beyond racing and gear into the broader culture of riding unsupported in the wilderness.

Breakfast with Boz (presented by Wahoo) features former pro climber Charly Wegelius in conversation with current and former professionals, and the episodes are consistently candid about the realities of life in the peloton — the politics, the economics, and the physical demands that race coverage rarely captures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best cycling podcast for pro racing coverage?

The Cycling Podcast and Lanterne Rouge are the two gold standards for professional road racing coverage. The Cycling Podcast goes daily during Grand Tours with on-the-ground reporting, while Lanterne Rouge delivers sharp tactical analysis and rider interviews year-round. For Tour de France coverage specifically, THEMOVE with Lance Armstrong provides a level of tactical insider context that no other show can match.

What is the best mountain biking podcast?

The Pinkbike Podcast is the definitive mountain bike show, covering MTB tech, race results, and industry news weekly. For downhill racing specifically, the Pinkbike Racing Podcast with Henry Quinney and Ben Cathro is essential listening during World Cup season. Both shows are produced by the same editorial team and reflect the same commitment to technical depth and genuine riding experience.

What cycling podcast is best for training advice?

Fast Talk by Fast Talk Labs and Ask a Cycling Coach by TrainerRoad are the two leading science-based training podcasts. Fast Talk takes a deeper academic approach with exercise physiologists and researchers, while Ask a Cycling Coach is more practical and directly answers listener training questions. Both are worth subscribing to — they complement rather than duplicate each other.

Is there a good cycling podcast for new fans?

Escape Collective's Beginner's Guide to Pro Cycling podcast is specifically designed for new fans, unpacking the sport's rules, tactics, and culture in an accessible way. THEMOVE with Lance Armstrong is also a good entry point for Tour de France coverage, as Lance provides clear tactical context for casual viewers who want to understand what they're watching without needing years of background knowledge.

What is the best gravel cycling podcast?

The Gravel Ride Podcast, hosted by Craig Dalton, is the most dedicated gravel-specific show, covering gravel events, routes, gear, and athlete interviews. As gravel cycling has grown from a niche discipline into one of the sport's dominant categories, the show has grown with it, remaining the most authoritative audio voice in the space. The Velo Podcast also covers gravel extensively alongside road racing.

Conclusion

The ten podcasts on this list represent the best that cycling audio has to offer in 2026. Whether you want to understand the tactical chess match of a Grand Tour stage, go deeper on mountain bike technology, train smarter with evidence-based coaching, or simply ride with something engaging in your ears, there is a show here that will reward your time.

The common thread across all of them is that the hosts actually know cycling — not from a press box or a marketing brief, but from years of riding, racing, reporting, or coaching. In a media landscape increasingly dominated by algorithm-optimised content, that expertise is worth seeking out.

For the latest cycling news, race coverage, and analysis, return to The Big Ring Report — your daily briefing for everything happening in the professional peloton and beyond.