PODCAST · sports
Criterium Nation
by Rob Kelly
Life lived one corner at a time.On Instagram @criteriumnation
Episodes
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Winning Solo with Brendan Rhim of Project Echelon
In this conversation, Brendan Rhim shares his journey as a cyclist, discussing his experiences in road racing, track cycling, and the evolving landscape of U.S. cycling. He reflects on his early successes, the importance of tactics in racing, and the camaraderie found within the cycling…
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Get Busy Living featuring Dr. Andrea Cyr
In this conversation, Dr. Andrea Cyr shares her journey from growing up in rural Maine to becoming a professional cyclist and a medical doctor. She discusses the impact of personal tragedy on her life and career, her determination to succeed in cycling, and the importance of resilience and...
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On the Media Featuring Caley Fretz
In this conversation, Rob Kelly interviews Caley Fretz, co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Escape Collective, discussing the current state and future of cycling media. They explore the unique membership model of Escape Collective, the importance of diversity in cycling journalism, and the...
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Be The Educator, Featuring Daniel Holloway
In this conversation, Robert Kelly and Daniel Holloway discuss various aspects of cycling, including personal experiences, the transition to a non-alcoholic lifestyle, and the dynamics of criterium racing. They delve into the state of American cycling, the importance of etiquette, and the need…
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Navigating Safety in Criterium Racing with Adam Mills
In this conversation, Rob Kelly and Adam Mills discuss the multifaceted aspects of safety in cycling, particularly in criterium racing. They explore the physiological impacts of race neutralization, the identification of dangerous parts of a race, and the importance of technicality in making…
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Happy Cows with Happy Bells featuring Aline Seitz
In this conversation, Aline, a Swiss cyclist, shares her journey from Switzerland to racing in the U.S. She discusses her experiences in criterium racing, the importance of community, and her reflections on the Olympics. Aline emphasizes the significance of process goals in her racing strategy…
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Racing While a Mom with Erica Carney
In this conversation, Erica Carney shares her journey as a competitive cyclist and the impact of motherhood on her identity and racing career. She discusses the challenges women face in cycling, especially after becoming mothers, and emphasizes the importance of mentorship and community support…
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Might as well go all in with Brody McDonald
We've paid for the hosting, and done the miles with the riders, so we might as well go all in; but this time we are not taking half answers. We are raising our game as a show, and expect the same out of the riders who race our roads. That's why we've got Brody McDonald of the Golden State Blazers...
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Aero as Crit with Coach Zach Gregg
In this conversation, Robert Kelly and Zach Gregg delve into the intricacies of aerodynamics in mass start bike racing, discussing how it impacts performance, the importance of bike fit, and the role of strength training. They explore the nuances of aerodynamic claims made by manufacturers, the...
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Heroes, Anti-Heroes & Villains
Two national champions, best friends, and teammates-- Lucas Bourgoyne and Luke Fetzer. However, where do they fit in our story, are they the heroes or villians, or maybe they are the bad good guys? Let's find out.
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Popping Bubbly with Katherine Sarkisov of CCB/Levine Law Group
Katherine Sarkisov of CCB/Levine Law Group is a rising talent in women's bike racing. She's not new on the scene because she literally grew up riding and racing her bike; but she's definitely made some big steps and improvements in the last couple of years. After stints on LUX and Cynisca…
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Taking on the World With Sidney Swierenga
Canadian Sidney Swierenga is having a season most racers can only dream of. At 17 years old she became the youngest rider to podium the GC with second overall at the Redlands Bicycle Classic and then repeated the feat at the Tour of the Gila a week later. The next youngest rider to pull off that...
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Athens Twilight Recap with Clever Martinez and Will Hardin
Lights, Live stream, action. We are back. Criterium racing is back. It is time to get 2025 started in a huge way. For the first time ever we brought competitors together to talk about how the race happened. Ok, when it comes to Will Hardin and Clever Martinez, it is hard to call either of them...
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The Project Echelon Files: Where Eagles Dare with Tyler Stites
From the top of one of the tallest points in Arizona we join our hero, Tyler Stites, as he prepares to set out on a new journey across the ocean to a fulltime spot in the European peloton. For the last 3 seasons we've got to enjoy his racing on Project Echelon but now he's signed a two-year deal...
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The Way Back with Alexis Magner
Alexis Magner 100% stands on her own when it comes to accomplishments. With a win at Acht van Westerveld, second at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Ronde van Drenthe in 2018; along with third at Dwars der Vlaanderen in 2021 while racing for Canyon-SRAM you may be wondering, how did she end up on the...
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Cowboy: Featuring Lucas Bourgoyne
Seventy-five minutes of laughter, levity, cowboy hats, and some hot takes. It's Lucas Bourgoyne and he's 100% worth all of your time. This week we are brought to you by the Hammerhead Karoo. Visit right now and use promo code CRITNATION at checkout to get yours today!!! By using the code…
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Paul Abrahams Knows What He's Talking About
We are taking a step back in time to the original days of this podcast. Back in the heady days of 2018 and 2019, a team known as Elevate-KHS dominated the scene. Many of our guests, and even one host, came through that program, and even more were mentored and influenced by riders who had Paul...
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Have We Reached Peak Crit?
A discussion months in the making-- have we reached peak crit? The data has been compiled and the takes are all hot. It's time to give you the thesis and then let Allan Schroeder and Logan Jones Wilkins back it all up. This week we are brought to you by the Hammerhead Karoo. Visit right now and…
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Living the Dream with Maggie Coles Lyster
One of our favorite Women's World Tour pros, and a true Canadian national treasure is back in the studio and ready to talk the Olympics, a full road and track season, and push-ups. So join Maggie Coles Lyster and Jordan Cheyne in this 100% pure maple syrup ride. This week we are brought to you by...
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The Phoenix
Interview a classics PhD and another guest studying to get her PhD and you come up with intelligent titles with multi-tiers and meanings. The women of Work Hard Be Humble have risen, and turned what could have been the flaming wreck of a season into a meaningful quest and an opportunity to bond…
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Tolley Tolley Tolley!
The beauty of long-form journalism is that the person and the story evolve. You get to see and learn so much more because the time is dedicated, and we all end up better for it. The story of Chris Tolley is evolving and changing. The version that we interviewed in 2022 has given way to this more...
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Changing the Game with Michael Garrison
Look up the road or at the front, that's where you'll find this week's guest Michael Garrison of NICH +SpeedClub. Singlehandly he animated, disrupted, and changed the outcome of races like Tulsa Tough this year. In a sport built around the best teams he has been a solo revelation and we are lucky...
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What We've Learned: Taylor Swift Fixes All
5 years or 5 episodes, it's all about celebration and a learning curve. Jordan Cheyne and Rob Kelly sit down and talk about what they've respectively learned about podcasting and North American bike racing over their respective tenures hosting a podcast about it. And yes, Taylor Swift can fix all...
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Mike Creed Tells It Like It Is
As a rider, Mike Creed raced on some of the most storied teams in North American cycling history, from US Postal to Slipstream to Optum Kelly Benefits. As a director, he guided the Smartstop team to one of the great underdog seasons in recent memory, featuring a win at Nationals. He now leads the...
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Potential Featuring Joe Laverick
When have we lived up to our potential? A lot of us never really get to answer that question; but rather must deal with the pitfalls life throws in our way. Some of us are lucky, or stubborn enough, to push on beyond those pitfalls and create opportunities for themselves when none present. That…
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Coming to America with Cecile Lejeune
At a time when many American racers are taking to Europe to race, Cecile has done the opposite. Trading in Mt Ventoux and baguettes for Mt Lemmon and burritos, Cecile is making the bike racing dream work in North America from crits, to UCI podiums to gravel wins. Whether it is for the adventure,...
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Into the Wild with Kimberly Lucie
New host, who dis? Can our Criterium Nation survive a new host? And a Canadian one at that? We are about to find out as retired pro Jordan Cheyne takes the front. But what better guest than the lead out woman herself, Kimberly Lucie of DNA Pro Cycling. Kim is one of the few bike racers in the...
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Four Take Aways from Stage Race Season
We are now at the end of the beginning and poised for a new phase of the domestic racing scene. That means it is a perfect time for us to check in on what has happened, identify some solid trends and talk about all the takeaways that we can from the first part of 2024.
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What Happened with the NCL
On April 15 the National Cycling League shuttered its doors for 2024, and announced that it will focus on 2025. That has left riders and teams in limbo, and a lot of confusion as to what is happening. We are joined by journalist Logan Jones-Wilkins to help provide context and build a historical...
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The Project Echelon Files: The Working Man Pro with Matt Zimmer
Job, wife, child, pro bike racer. That's a full day and for Matt Zimmer that's his reality. He's come a long way since being the high schooler in Iowa who just raced bikes, and he is here to share that journey with us along with tidbits about racing in Europe and how we can make racing here more...
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Reputation with Jordan Cheyne
Your reputation is who you are before you actually arrive. It's the version of yourself that stays behind long after you have left. It opens doors and definitely gets some doors closed very hard. In bike racing your reputation is just as important as the results that you put on your race resume....
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Season Opener 2024
There are a lot of firsts that are set to happen this year, one thing that we are very proud of is our effort to be the first to bring data into American bike racing. It's all in an effort to do what has not been done before which is to set basic standards within our community. By building a…
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The World Tour with Maggie Coles-Lyster
It's amazing to watch people grow and excel. This podcast has been fortunate enough to have had a myriad of incredible guests who have achieved tremendous levels of success. Now, for the first time, we have a World Tour Pro on the show in Maggie Coles-Lyster of Isreal Premier Tech Roland. One of...
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Who Comes Next: Crossover with The Call Up
We are fortunate to occupy this stage for only a brief period of time. What happens after we leave? How do we maintain the progress we've made and ensure that others can stand on our shoulders? It's a question that we must grapple with in criterium racing. We've made a ton of progress over the…
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Autumn in Connecticut with Will Gleason
"To thine ownself be true"-- Billy Shakespeare, Hamlet. Will Gleason of CS Velo and I went for a long bike ride among the crisp leaves of autumn in western Connecticut. We didn't do much leaf peeping but we did a whole lot of talking, reminiscing, theorizing, a touch of gossiping. Then we had a...
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What's Happened Lately with Bill Schieken
A lot has happened since our last recap episode following Intelli. Good thing we've got fellow Wide Angle Podium contributor Bill Schieken to help us delve through the details of Littleton, the NCL, Momentum Indy, Gateway Cup and Bucks County. Yep, it's a lot.
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Live from the Gateway Cup
Things may sound just a bit different because we are 100% live from Gateway Cup with Will Hardin from Project Echelon and Melanie Wong from ButcherBox. Our good friends from Urban Chestnut brewery in the heart of the Grove were gratious hosts and the environment was perfectly cozy. So join the...
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So You Want to Promote a Race, Part 4 with Graham Costa
Race promotion is a learned trade. There is a guide, but the real lessons are learned through trial and error, and with a lot of help and experience. Without good events our community is nothing but solo training and group rides. A great event can make someone's year and can become a focal point…
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Oh Canada, O'Krafka with Logan O'Krafka of UNC Lotto Max
We go north of the border for this week's episode to meet with the captain of the new squad UNC Lotto Max-- Logan O'Krafka. Despite their youth and newness to the scene, they really stamped their authority on Intelligentsia Cup. Logan gives us the scoop on the team and its mission, and also how…
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Two Things can be True at the Same Time
Nationals, ACC, Boise, NCL, Salt Lake City, UCI Transgender Ban, and so much more. We cover a lot of ground in this episode. We are brought to you this week by -- say goodbye to the generic face wash on your counter because is here to save the day when it comes to your skin. We are rough on our...
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Why We Stage Race
At its core the popular image of cycling in the United States is stage racing. Fortunate for us, every major American stage race comes complete with its own demanding and technical criterium. Meaning, when we talk stage racing we remain very much on brand. That being said, stage racing, as a…
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From the City of Mountains with Katia Martinez
We are going back to the original format-- bringing you a story about a rider you may not know much about, yet. For this story we go all the way down to the mountains of northern Mexico and the city of Monterey. It's there we meet the 22-year old Katia Martinez who races for Goldman Sachs ETFs.…
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Tulsa Tough 2023 Recap Show
It's the longest day of the year and time for the biggest party of the American cycling season, that's right it's time for Tulsa Tough. We are joined by Adam Mills of Source Endurance once again to break down all the action, startegy, and meaning.
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You Do You
Do what you need to, to stay in the sport as long as it brings you happiness. That may not mean the same thing for you as it does everyone else. What motivates different people is not a single universal truth. Rick Arnopol joins us to talk about the importance of letting people be themselves and…
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Behind the Lens with Bruce Buckley
This episode was first aired on March 3, 2020, but when it comes to the central place that photography plays in criterium racing we believed that it was time to share it again. Photography remains the primary means by which the story of criterium racing is told. The photographers we have worked...
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Team Building with Brandon Feehery
Every year we put together groups of men and women from all over the country, and with potentially little connection to each other, on teams and expect them to go out and race together with a unified purpose and vision. How that is actually accomplished can be a mystery but when done right it is…
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The Project Echelon Files: The Flow with Cade Bickmore
There are a lot of things Project Echelon does very well that they are not supposed to be good at doing. They weren't supposed to be an elite team. They weren't supposed to win big races. They weren't supposed to win stage races. And, lately they weren't supposed to win a field sprint. Sorry to...
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Reverse Mentorship with Kim Stoveld
Kim Stoveld of Automatic Racing is new to road racing but she's already made an impact with her power and results. As her experience and skill continues to improve so will her spot on the podium. She's received a ton of advice from some very well meaning individuals; but sometimes that advice…
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What's Happened Lately
We've been gone for a little while, sorry. While we've been out a lot has happened and we need to talk about it with you. The NCL had its first race. The ACC is starting going. And CRIT was announced with zero details. On top of that race tactics, good and bad, were on full display at…
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The Art of Cornering Featuring Michael Marckx
How do we talk about ourselves to others? How do we brand the sport? And what is the messaging that we choose to use? These are all critical questions and ones that we should look at as criterium racing angles to grow and attract fans and participants. So let's get some help and to do that we can...
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