Stephen Schaefer Wins El Tour de Tucson! S1E1 Spidcast (The Spid Werkz Podcast)

Welcome to the Spidcast Season 1, Episode 1!In the inaugural episode of the Spidcast, host Peter Swiek sits down with Dr. Stephen Schaefer, a 2025 Spid Werkz sponsored athlete. Stephen, a semiconductor materials researcher and domestic elite cyclist, dives deep into his 2025 racing calendar, sharing the incredible highs and devastating lows of balancing life, loss, and elite competition.In this episode, we cover:- Stephen’s background, moving from running to cycling at age 27, and his packed 2025 season racing for the Landis Trek team.- The emotional weight of navigating his father’s terminal colon cancer diagnosis just a month before his biggest race of the year.- How sport and training provided a crucial anchor and sense of security during a deeply turbulent personal time.- A tactical breakdown of the 102-mile El Tour de Tucson, from surviving the early crosswinds to launching a massive 40-mile breakaway alongside teammate Nikos.- The poignant, storybook finish of winning the massive 11,000-participant race dedicated to his father, who passed away the very same morning.About Spid Werkz Foundation:The Spid Werkz Foundation supports Olympic, Paralympic, and other elite athletes in traditionally underfunded and underrepresented sports. We help these self-funded athletes bridge support and funding gaps so they can reach their ultimate goals.To learn more about our mission, check out our next crop of athletes, or find out how to help, visit us at spidwerkz.com.May the Spid be with you all!