Stanley St. Social | cycling conversations

That's a wrap on the 2026 Tour de France! Max Gawn and Alex close out three weeks of daily coverage with the final stage into Paris — Mathieu van der Poel's incredible late attack on Montmartre, Jasper Philipsen's runner-up salute, and Tadej Pogačar sealing his dominant overall win. They reflect on the best Tour in years, run through the tip competition winners, and look ahead to the Tour de France Femmes starting next weekend.Massive thanks to everyone who tuned in daily — you guys are the best. This community made three weeks of racing even better.In this episode:Van der Poel's Montmartre masterclass and the sprint for the linePogačar's dominant GC win and the GOAT conversationReflecting on the best Tour de France in yearsTip competition winners and prize giveawaysWhat's next: Tour de France Femmes with Amy Gaze and Brodie ChapmanThanks to our partners: Giant, Pillar Performance, Café du Cycliste, Knog, Oakley, Quad Lock, and TDU.

Week three legs are separating the field, the Alpe d'Huez debate isn't going anywhere, and the mailbag has thoughts on both. Chalk lines vs rope vs barriers, plus one photo of Pascal Ackermann that needs no further explanation. And yes, there was also a Queen Stage.In this episode:Week three legs — who's still got it, and who's cooked after three weeks of racingWorking through the mailbag on Alpe d'Huez — the good, the fair, and the "maybe don't say that" feedbackChalk lines vs rope vs barriers — trying to find the happy medium without killing the atmosphereThat Ackermann photo, and why it's the perfect encapsulation of the mountain's chaosCarapaz sets the record on the first climb out of the holes, then does it again late — third-week Carapaz is just a thing nowMads' baffling, brilliant, completely unnecessary KOM raid mid-Queen StageTadej's full-stage domestique ride for Del Toro, and Prodhomme's iconic stare-downSepp's double crash, near miss with the ravine, still smiling in the press conferenceReedy's Tour de France fantasy league shout-out, and the "Free Quinn Simmons" campaign beginsMore Aussie Uno-X funding chat — tech money still leading the raceStage 21 preview: the shortened Paris finale, wildfire disruption, Pogi and MVDP going long again

Genuinely one of the wildest days of the Tour — a stacked breakaway, a three-way GC battle up the road, and a mountain scene so chaotic it's sparked a real debate about barriers, cars, and the future of racing on Alpe d'Huez. Plus Max stays up staring at the ceiling and lives to tell the tale.In this episode:Full breakdown of the breakaway carnage and who actually had legsDomestique of the stage debate — Groschartner vs Amaral vs PolittThe three-way sprint for the ages: poker faces, hot heads, and who actually deserved itWhy Alex thinks the chaos on Alp d'Huez is a feature, not a bug — and the case against barriersThe Rubio crash, the car problem, and what could genuinely be fixed without ruining the magicCarapaz takes polka dot, Del Toro extends the white jersey gap, Ayuso's disaster dayDomestique-turned-GC-riser chat: is Voisard really the 11th best climber, or just the 11th guy still trying?More Aussie Uno-X team dreaming, plus a Tour de Femmes podcast updateStage 20 preview: the Queen Stage, back-to-back Alpe d'Huez finishesPrizes galore as the finish line approaches — Café du Cycliste kit up for grabs 🎽🚴 Daily Tour de France coverage with Max Gawn & Luke Plapp🎧 New episode every stage — follow so you don't miss one🎙️ Send us your voice note for the show at speakpipe.com/stanleystsocial🎽 Comment your Stage 20 tip on our Instagram post for a shot at a Café du Cycliste kit#TourDeFrance #TDF2026 #StanleyStSocial #CyclingPodcast

Look deeper, Alex — Max wants his flowers. Sore leg, black nicks, an unconvincing podium smile. Gross Hartner suddenly does it all. Parapant's 11-0 in polka dot sprints and nobody can explain why Carapaz keeps trying. Mauro Schmid, absolute bargain. Feud with the rivals, officially over.In this episode:"Look deeper, Alex" — the receipts get read into the recordSore leg, black nicks, unconvincing smile — reading between the linesGross Hartner's biggest role of the Tour, almost by accidentTrek's rethink pays off, Quinn's contract future, an unsolicited EF pitchParapant 11, Carapaz 0 — the KOM sprint saga continuesMauro Schmid, bargain of the centuryMedia manager gossip, Escape Collective, ending the feudPlappy's parents drop by, more Aussie Uno-X talk"The boys club doesn't want you in it, Remco" — four battles brewing for Alpe d'HuezLast pair of Tour de France edition Oakleys up for grabs 🕶️

A genuinely wild green jersey day — Trek let a 40-point lead shrink to 7 in the space of one stage, while a mystery illness in the UAE camp opens the door for Red Bull to make a real move. Plus Max makes his TV debut alongside Mick Molloy and the Aussie Uno-X sponsorship pitch takes a turn into tax policy.In this episode:How Trek's tactical brain fade let the break slip away with no green jersey coverWhispers of a stomach bug in the UAE bus — is tomorrow a Red Bull day?A standout ride from one of the break's strongest engines, fighting back from being dropped to finish 2ndWhy the equal-hotel-star-rating rule exists (or doesn't), and Ineos' old caravan-era workaroundJordan Jegat quietly consolidating a top-10 GC spot nobody's talking aboutMax's Front Bar debut with Mick Molloy, and the ongoing chase for airtime on Triple MMore Aussie Uno-X sponsorship brainstorming: tech money vs mining vs a straight-up new taxA packed batch of listener voice notes, including a Frio fantasy league callbackStage 18 preview: the last realistic breakaway chance before back-to-back Alpe d'Huez finishesTonight's prize: a full Café du Cycliste kit 🎽🚴 Daily Tour de France coverage with Max Gawn & Luke Plapp🎧 New episode every stage — follow so you don't miss one🎙️ Send us your voice note for the show at speakpipe.com/stanleystsocial🎽 Comment your Stage 18 tip on our Instagram post for a shot at a Café du Cycliste kit

The doping-testing saga refuses to die down — this time it's Mahorič calling out the inconsistency, and Adam Hansen weighing in on the financial and mental toll testing takes on riders. Plus a brutal blow for Red Bull-BORA on an otherwise huge day, a teams classification battle down to 20 seconds, and Alex and Max genuinely can't get enough of the listener voice notes flooding in.In this episode:Mahorič's pointed comments about a French GC rider avoiding testing, and Naesen's opposing pro-testing stanceAdam Hansen's quotes on riders funding their own testing and the "terrified" whereabouts systemFlorian Lipowitz's crash and broken collarbone — a huge loss heading into the final weekGroschartner's massive ride drags UAE back into the teams classification fightWhere the GC top 10 stands with barely 20 minutes covering half the groupMax's Triple M and Front Bar double life, plus a Commonwealth Games cycling cameoVoice notes galore, including a Paul Seixas-themed Shannon Noll parody in progressAussie Uno-X pitch update: tech money vs mining money vs lotto moneyStage 17 preview: the last real sprint chance before the Alps close inTonight's prize: Tour de France edition Oakleys 🕶️🎧 New episode every stage — follow so you don't miss one🎙️ Send us your voice note for the show at speakpipe.com/stanleystsocial🕶️ Comment your Stage 17 tip on our Instagram post for a shot at Tour de France edition Oakleys

Rest day, and it's a big one — 43 voice notes to get through and only twenty minutes of the show that were meant for them.Max and Alex start on the 2am testing saga engulfing the GC battle — Vingegaard and Pogačar's out-of-hours tests, the ITA's "severe suspicions" line, and a very direct take from a rider with history on the subject that's got Max rethinking the whole thing.From there it's full voice note mode: Remco's TT gap, the AFL/cycling crossover conversation (yes, we're drafting Buddy Franklin onto a WorldTour team), an A2 Milk pitch for the show, and Max's top ten Melbourne sandwiches — Barry's Garage gets the nod.Big one: we're doing a Tour de France Femmes show starting August 1, and we need a co-host who actually knows the peloton. Got a suggestion? Get into our DMs.Plus — Max explains why he'd never marry Peter Sagan, does some very rough maths on how fast he could hold 30 minutes at threshold, and there's a Triple M cameo before sign-off.

A stage that flipped the entire Tour on its head — Jonas Vingegaard's race-ending crash, a wild UAE tactical scramble, and Max eating a full plate of humble pie after his breakaway predictions blew up spectacularly.In this episode:Why Visma's early race-long effort almost delivered the win — until it didn'tA statement ride from one of the GC contenders, marking every attack to the lineThe unsung heroes: Quinn Simmons' all-day breakaway masterclass and Mauro Schmid's second big weekThe white jersey changes hands, and a growing rivalry for years to comeMore on the overnight 2am/5am doping controls, and whether it's fair that only the top two GC riders got woken upA shock sprinter abandon, and what it means for the remaining sprint stagesTeams classification chatter continues, plus a genuine plan to reward the podcast's most accurate tipsterListener voice notes, fantasy league crossover talk, and the ongoing Aussie Uno-X sponsorship pitchStage 16 TT preview: could a time-trial specialist finally break the GC stranglehold?Rest day plans — Max's 20-voice-note challenge to make a guest appearance🎙️ Send us your voice note for the show at speakpipe.com/stanleystsocial

A wild one from the mountains — Carapaz nearly stole the stage before Vingegaard, of all people, paced Pogačar back into contention. Alex and Max break down a genuinely funny piece of race tactics, a big GC shakeup, and one more sad Charmig update before previewing a brand new climb for Stage 15.In this episode:How Vingegaard's high-pace gamble backfired and gifted Pogačar and Del Toro a one-twoDecathlon's surprise move to burn UAE's domestiques mid-stageRemco's rescue mission for Lipowitz and Ayuso, and what it means for the podium battleParet-Peintre and Carapaz emerging as the real threats in the mountains classificationCharmig's heartbreaking time-cut elimination, and another Alpecin withdrawalThe ongoing "old Green Edge energy" storyline after Jayco's win, and more fuel for the Aussie team pitchMerch envy — why isn't there a Vice Struffer or Uno-X t-shirt stand at every stage?Listener voice notes continue, plus a proposed Alpe d'Huez shoey on Dutch CornerStage 15 preview: a brand new HC summit finish at Plateau de SolaisonTonight's prize: a Pillar Performance starter pack up for grabs 💊

The stage everyone had circled finally arrived — a massive breakaway, a genuine tactical masterclass from Jayco AlUla, and Luke Plapp officially graduating from "names not legs" to the real deal.In this episode:How Plapp basically called his own tactics pre-stage, then executed them perfectlyJayco's four-man breakaway operation — Plapp, Matthews, O'Connor and Schmid working as one unitWhy UAE let this one go, and whether that's smart resource management or a missed opportunityPidcock's GC charge and the group of climbers who genuinely surprised on the dayMauro Schmid's drag-race finish and a first Tour stage win for Q36.5Ineos' concussion protocol questions after Godon's rough finishMore fuel for the Aussie Uno-X pitch — Gina, are you watching?Rest-day voice notes continue, including a full Remco fan club submissionStage 14 preview: the Vosges arrive, seven climbs and a completely new Tour ascent in the Col du HaagTwo signed jerseys plus the usual prize suite up for grabs this week- New episode every stage - make sure you follow the show- Send us your hot take: speakpipe.com/stanleystsocial- Comment your Stage 14 tip on our Instagram post for a shot at Tour de France edition Oakleys

Genuinely the pick of the Tour so far — a stacked breakaway attempt, a chaotic finale, and yet another sprint jury controversy. Plus, Max has done his homework and built an actual Australian/Kiwi Uno-X-style dream team, position by position.In this episode:Casper Asgreen's aero-helmet tell and Trek's full-team commitment to breaking up the sprintQuinn Simmons high-fiving his dad mid-attack — the moment of the TourThe Mads-Philipsen intermediate sprint drama, and why two penalty decisions have now been overturned in as many daysExplaining the actual UCI sprint rule — and the "one-man tribunal" myth debunkedStoyven's telepathic lead-out for Merlier, and Merlier's third win of this TourA brutal late crash — Gaviria, Wærenskjold and more all downMax's fully built-out Australian/Kiwi "Uno-X" concept team — GC leaders, classics squad, sprint train, budget and allListener voice notes continue, including a two-on-one Caleb Ewan sprint challenge proposalStage 13 preview: the longest stage of the Tour, Dole to Belfort

What if Australia had its own Uno-X? Alex and Max go deep on why national-identity teams like Uno-X actually work — and make a genuine, semi-serious pitch to Australia's richest people to fund the next one. Oh, and there was also a Tour stage today, and it was the best sprint finish of the race so far.In this episode:The pitch: an all-Aussie (or all-American) team, Uno-X style — who's paying for it?Søren Wærenskjold's brilliant late flyer wins a chaotic, momentum-driven bunch sprintJasper Philipsen's self-doubt in the final 300m — and whether it's costing him winsCharmig's massive day in the breakaway and what it says about Uno-X's whole philosophyJonas Vingegaard defends Pogačar from the boo-birds — and whether he's got the take rightThe Uno-X hotel saga continues, plus race organiser pushbackFirst-time Triple M crossover listeners welcomed, plus a very honest admission about early grumpinessRolling out listener voice notes for the first timeLast night's Nog Lights and Hyro winners revealedStage 12 preview: the last sprint chance for a while, into Chalon-sur-Saône

Rest day brought its own chaos — a rogue podcast drop, hotel horror stories, and Alex's mountaintop stakeout for a Plappy stage win that never came. Back racing, Bastille Day delivered exactly the kind of Pogačar dominance we've come to expect, but Alex and Max dig into the smaller battles hiding underneath it.In this episode:Why watching UAE control the whole day live felt different to watching it on TVRemco vs Lipowitz: the leadout that wasn't, and what it means for Red Bull's team chemistryPidcock and Chris Harper's crash, and Pidcock's baffling "I hate GC" energy despite sitting in the top 10The genuinely underrated Teams Classification battle brewing between Trek and UAERest day admin update: prize winners, voice notes incoming, and a very honest confession about spreadsheetsWelcoming new partner Knog lights to the show Stage 11 preview: the sprinters' first real shot since the mountains, into NeversTonight's prize: another Quad Lock voucher up for grabs

A special one for rest day — Alex and Matthew Keenan sit down with Caleb Ewan for a wide-ranging chat covering team identity in the pro peloton, the reality of stepping into the commentary box, and Keno's incredible 20th Tour de France milestone.In this episode:Why national-identity teams (Uno-X, old GreenEDGE, Team Sky) create a bond trade teams never quite replicateCaleb's insider take on the Jasper Philipsen situation — confidence, tactics, and why "perfect lead-out" doesn't always mean perfect executionThe Decathlon balancing act between Paul Seixas' GC ambitions and Olav Kooij's sprint chancesIsaac del Toro's superstar potential vs. Paul Seixas' quieter talent — what actually creates a fanbaseKeno's incredible 20-Tour journey — from solo commentary in London to todayThe art of commentary: light and shade, knowing when not to talk, and the greatest calls in Australian sports historyCaleb's first steps in the booth alongside Phil Liggett, and the nerves that come with itA hard look at how teams handle PR — Jayco's Plapp saga vs. Zak Dempster's benchmark press conferenceThe unofficial Tour de France win count debate — five, seven, or eight?

Stage 9 brought the biggest breakaway fight of the race so far, a genuinely baffling UAE tactical decision, and a redemption stage win for MVDP heading into the first rest day. Alex and Max break down the chaos and set up week two.In this episode:Every team's attempt to get in the break — and why UAE's pacing made no sense to anyone, including their own ridersTrek's on-the-fly pivot after realising UAE had done the work for themPidcock's brutal mechanical and a big statement ride regardlessBernal vs. Johannessen — an unexpected top-10 GC battle brewing at IneosBling's remarkable week of near-misses without a single EF-style support riderSprint fines, Girmay copping heat in the press, and Caleb Ewan's growing commentary reputationFull rest day GC, points, mountains and youth jersey breakdownAnnouncing our new voice note segment and what's coming on the rest dayLast night's Pillar Performance winner revealed 💊

Stage 8 delivered another Tim Merlier masterclass — this time with no lead-out at all, bridging a gap solo and still finding the win. Alex and Max break down a wild finale, a genuinely funny Patrick Lefevere quote about Remco Evenepoel, and preview a Stage 9 that could produce one of the biggest breakaways of the race.In this episode:​How Merlier won from nowhere with zero support in the final sprint​Philipsen's perfect lead-out, no legs, and a helmet flying out of the Alpecin team bus​Astana's Max Cantor waiting too long — twice in one day​"Me, myself, me" — Patrick Lefevere's brutal take on Remco Evenepoel​The Lipowitz/Evenepoel leadership tension bubbling up again​Thor Hushovd interview and the Uno-X culture that keeps producing great stories​New segment alert: send us your voice notes for the rest day episode​Last night's Oakleys and Hyro winners revealed 🕶️💧​Stage 9 preview: a shortened, heat-hit stage that could see 30+ riders fight for the breakSend us your thoughts: https://www.speakpipe.com/stanleystsocial

Stage 7 gave us a genuine bunch sprint for the first time this Tour, and Merlier proved once again why he might be the fastest man in the race. But this episode goes deeper than the finish line - Alex and Max take a hard look at cycling's concussion protocol after two riders in three stages passed roadside checks only to be pulled with head injuries hours later.In this episode:Merlier's clinical win and Stuyven's clutch positioning moveWhy Jasper Philipsen's "brand" is taking a hit despite still being a top-four sprinterAstana boxed in with numbers to spare — what could've been for Max CantorUno-X's relentless, joyful chaos in the absence of a jersey to defendA serious, considered breakdown of the concussion protocol gap — comparing cycling to AFL, NRL and NFL approaches, and what a proper fix could look likeRemco and Lipo's team tension spills into a very public "we're all good" videoLast night's Quad Lock winners revealed 🔒Stage 8 preview: Périgueux to Bergerac, two cat-4 climbs and a tricky, technical finishTonight's prize: Tour de France edition Oakleys 🕶️

Pogačar went at the 42.7km mark — Del Toro went with him, did a turn, then cracked human — and from there it was just Tadej riding away to a 2:40 stage win and the yellow jersey. But the real drama wasn't even the stage win. Remco Evenepoel stopped for a nature break, got dropped, had to chase back on — and then used the press conference to publicly rinse teammate Florian Lipowitz for not doing a one-K leadout back in Catalunya, months after the fact. Meanwhile Lipowitz quietly had one of his best days in ages, matching Pogačar and Del Toro's pace up the Tourmalet — so who's actually in the right here? We break down the team tension, the brutal end to Torstein Træen's day in yellow (crash, concussion questions and all), Ben O'Connor's early move, and Huub Artz's handlebar saga (spoiler: no fine, just a very public argument). Plus — we look ahead to tomorrow's pancake sprint into Bordeaux, who our on-the-ground sources say might actually have calm conditions (despite what the previews are saying), and hand out today's prize winners.

Stage 5 was billed as the big sprint showdown, but it played out more like a quiet day in the legs — and Alex and Max dig into whether that was fatigue, tactics, or something closer to a protest ahead of tomorrow's Tourmalet.In this episode:Why nobody wanted to make Stage 5 hard, and what that says about where the peloton's head is atThe chaotic final sprint — Alpecin and Lidl-Trek in control, then it all came undoneAstana and Cofidis punching well above their weightThe green jersey battle heating up between Pedersen, Philipsen, Girmay and a surprise name in Max KanterMeeting Marco Frigo trackside, and the Uno-X yellow jersey balancing actA first look at "the big three" — the unofficial riders' reps who help shape decisions mid-raceLast night's Hyro electrolyte winners revealed Stage 6 preview: the Tourmalet, Col d'Aspin, and a first real Pogačar vs Vingegaard testMax's own painful history on the Tourmalet — a cautionary tale about oiling your disc brakesTonight's prize: another Café du Cycliste kit up for grabs

Stage 4 was run in genuinely brutal conditions — 44 degrees on the road, no heat protocol in effect, and a peloton that paid for it. Alex and Max break down a day where the tactics mattered as much as the legs.In this episode:How hot was it really, and why there's still no UCI heat policy in playTrek's perfectly played hand — sending their lead-out men up the road instead of controlling the bunchThe GC gift that handed a brand new team their first-ever Tour de France race leadNorway's incredible week continues — on the bike and at the World CupTudor and Astana's rough day missing the moves that matteredKelland O'Brien's tough day and missing the time cutThe UCI celebration rule, sticky bidons, and where the fine pool sits so far this TourLast night's Café du Cycliste kit winner revealed 🎽Stage 5 preview: the sprinters finally get their shot into PauTonight's prize: Hyro electrolytes to help survive the heat 💧

Stage 3 into the Pyrenees delivered exactly what a first mountain day should — a mass crash inside the opening 15km, an hour-long fight to form the breakaway, and a GC shakeup as the race hit altitude in 41-degree heat.In this episode, Alex and Max break down:The early crash that caught out Decathlon, Ineos and Lidl-Trek ridersWhy the breakaway took so long to go clear, and who made the cutVisma's tactical head-scratcher and what it means for how UAE are racing this TourBourdon's stellar day in the mountains jerseyThe GC fallout — who's struggling, who's surprising, and who's cooked from the heatA UAE team that looks equal parts relaxed and ruthlessLast night's Giant sunglasses winner revealed 🕶️Stage 4 preview: Carcassonne to Foix — a stage that smells like a breakaway but might not be oneTonight's prize: a full Café du Cycliste kit up for grabs 🎽

Barcelona put on an absolute show — 36 degrees, brutal wind, and a street circuit that turned into a proper GC selection race. Alex was trackside for the carnage, Max is calling it from Melbourne, and this one's got everything.In this episode:Brandon McNulty's ridiculous shift on the front — basically a one-man UAE train for 25kmA break that was never getting there, and why Q36.5 still sent a man up the roadThe final climb: who cracked, who attacked, and a corner that had Max white-knuckling his chairRemco's positioning headache and how close the sprint for it actually wasGC carnage: Ineos in chaos, an unlikely name now their top rider, Tiberi a bit lost Del Toro's team car chaos — the mechanical that had him waving down his own car like a fanStage 3 preview: bushfire smoke near Girona, 4,000m of climbing towards Andorra, and why the break might actually stick this timeLast night's Pillar Performance winner and how to get into today's Giant sunnies comp

Vingegaard draws first blood. Visma smash the Barcelona TTT to snatch yellow off Pogačar on day one - but it's Ineos who'll be gutted, with Vauquelin's puncture undoing a near-perfect ride and leaving Ganna to drag them home solo. Alex and Max break down the TTT chaos: Movistar's Uijtdebroeks losing over a minute, two crashes inside the neutral zone, and why the new individual-time format just changed team tactics forever.Plus — Stage 2 preview. Three trips up the brutal Montjuïc climb (9.3% average, kicking to 13%) sets up a puncher's paradise from Tarragona to Barcelona. Could we get a Van der Poel–Pogačar rematch of last year's sprint finish? Plappy gives his read on who thrives when the road tilts up three times in the closing kays.Daily comp is live — check our Instagram for how to enter and what's up for grabs.

Three YouTubers and a PowerPoint presentation. That's how Unibet Rose Rockets started in 2023 — and this year they lined up at the Giro d'Italia.Bas Tietema sits down with Max and Alex to unpack how a content-first team cracked professional cycling: signing Dylan Groenewegen, chasing UCI ranking points to guarantee a Tour de France start, why most WorldTour teams still don't understand content, and the uncomfortable truth about whether cycling teams can ever actually make money.Plus: a rapid-fire round covering dream signings, favourite races, and the one UCI rule Bas would scrap.New episodes every Monday and Wednesday, with daily coverage through the Tour de France.

The last Social Club before we go daily for the Tour. Matthew Keenan joins Max and Alex for the full Tour de France 2026 preview — Pogačar, Vingegaard, Remco, Del Toro, Ben O'Connor and Luke Plapp, team-by-team, with GC tips and every jersey battle.From UAE's B-team being better than everyone's A-team to Caja Rural's 39-year comeback. The Paul Seixas v Del Toro white jersey scrap, green, polka dots, and who's actually winning the stages. Plus the national champs wash-up, the Matt Hauser and Jimmy Whelan interviews, and a Top 5 current Aussie riders that left Bling off. Sorry, Bling.

Jimmy Whelan's back for a third time on the show — except he's not a bike rider anymore.Last time he was on EF. Now he's a full-time pro runner, banging out 200km a week off the back of treadmill sessions in Barcelona, chasing LA 2028.We chat professional cycling, the bunch challenges, learning from the sport, 2nd place to Plappy at Nationals, the Queen stage win at the Volta a Portugal and the Dauphiné crash that finally killed the fire.Then the second act: the viral 20x400 session, the Salomon deal to 2028, 'brand Jimmy' and why running barely tests anyone for doping.Plus the marathon debut he's deciding on right now — and whether that means taking on Kipchoge at the MCG.Recorded up in Andorra, where he used to train on the bike.

Twelve days from the Tour and the big one lands live on the pod. Luke Plapp gets the call pre-episode to confirm he's officially in the Tour de France team. We get into his week off the bike, the Girona TTT camp, and how the build's shaping up.Then the usual Monday wrap:Wout van Aert ruled OUT of the Tour — the elbow infection and the hole it leaves in VismaPogačar's monster return at the Tour de Suisse (Max does the maths on 7.2 w/kg for 25 minutes)Van der Poel's surprise time trial, his €500 "shirt off" fine, and a rough week for the UCI on safetyThe sprinters light up the Baloise Belgium Tour — Girmay's upset opener, with Merlier, Magnier, Kooij and Philipsen all grabbing a stageRed Bull bossing it in Slovenia, Pidcock taking the Andorra climbers' race, Quinn Simmons' one-man show at US nationals, and a big rap for the Giro Next GenThe LA28 Olympic course finally revealed — and who it suitsStill no reply from LeBron, MaxThen Max's Top 5 cycling formats, presented by Pillar Performance — and yes, he's got gravel at number two. Take it up with him.Coming up this week: Jimmy Whelan on the pod this arvo, and Bass from the Unibet Rockets later in the week. Missed Matt Hauser last week?

World triathlon champion Matt Hauser sits down with us in Andorra mid-altitude camp — three weeks of climbing, dodging PlayStation hours and chasing the 1-percenters that turned a 'part-time athlete' into the bloke who ended Australia's 20-year world title drought in Wollongong. We chat, why triathletes are 'too dumb to be cyclists' and just drill it on the front, what 15 hours a week up Pas de la Casa actually does to your engine, racing crits on the Gold Coast, the brutal first five minutes out of T1, and why working harder on the bike makes the run easier.Plus the mental side - owning the work, the keywords he leans on when he's staring down the barrel above threshold, and the very real question of going head-to-head with Alex Yee and Hayden Wilde off the bike at LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032.

Plappy's back in the Social Club fresh off the Dauphiné, and not in the best conditioning, battling gastro and a flu two weeks out from the Tour. Alex, Maxi and Plappy break down a strange eight days of racing: the team time trial's return, breakaways staying away everywhere you look, Luke Tuckwell's stunning ride into the yellow jersey (and Paul's post-race disrespect), Del Toro cruising to the win, and whether the Dauphiné was actually any good to watch this year.Plus: the inside word on Green Edge's Tour long list and TTT prep, Max slides into LeBron James' DMs, the Luke Lamperti crit appreciation society, wraps on the Copenhagen Sprint, GP Cycling and Circuit Franco-Belge, and Max's Top 5 — riders who still haven't won a World Tour race (you'll be surprised who's number one).

American sprinter Luke Lamperti joins us on Stanley St Social for a ride through one of cycling's most intriguing young careers. We go back to the beginning — growing up in Sonoma County, California, swapping motocross dirt bikes for road cycling at age 11, and the junior racing days that put him on the map (including that top-10 at Paris-Roubaix Juniors).Luke takes us through his Trinity Racing apprenticeship alongside future stars like Ben Healy, his big move to the Belgian Wolfpack at Soudal Quick-Step, a Giro d'Italia debut, and the leap of faith that took him to the American outfit at EF Education-EasyPost for 2026 — a switch that's already paid off with a stunning Stage 1 win at Paris-Nice.We chat sprinting, the cobbled classics he loves, what it's like racing for an American team as an American rider, and where his monument dreams might take him.

Fresh off an eight-point King's Birthday win over Collingwood at a packed MCG, Max Gawn and Ed Langdon join Alex.We map out our daily TDF coverage plan, break down the big four (and why there's no head-to-head showdown before Paris this year), and dig into a chaotic stage at the Dauphiné where Plappy snuck into the move and finished seventh. Plus: the latest batch of UCI rule changes that have Max fired up again, Arnaud De Lie's thousand-watt heroics at Wallonie, the Lidl-Trek shake-up, transfer whispers, and Max's Top Five one-week stage races.

Finn Fisher-Black is a professional road cyclist from New Zealand, currently riding for Red Bull–BORA–Hansgrohe. A former junior world record holder in the 3000m pursuit, he turned heads across the cycling world as a teenager before signing with UAE Team Emirates alongside Tadej Pogačar. Winner of the Muscat Classic and a stage at the Tour of Oman, he is widely regarded as one of the most versatile and exciting young talents in the WorldTour.

Giro d'Italia 2026 final week recap with Matthew Keenan: Vingegaard's five-stage dominance, the Ciccone vs Rubio KOM feud, Sepp Kuss's historic stage win, and Milan's Rome sprint. Plus a Neil Danaher tribute, Kooij's return, and Max's UCI rules Top Five.

Tobias Foss joins the Stanley St. Social to talk Norwegian culture, his career, and what it takes to reach the top. The Netcompany INEOS rider and 2021 World Time Trial Champion opens up about life in Andorra, the Epstein-Barr diagnosis, and why he believes his best racing is still ahead. He breaks down Norwegian cycling's rise, the Uno-X effect, double session training, lactate testing, and what Dave Brailsford's return means for Ineos.

Alex Clement joins Plappy from 2,450m up in the Andorran mountains while Max Gawn holds it down in Melbourne, as the boys break down a massive week in cycling.This week: the Giro d'Italia's wild Stage 15 neutralisation controversy in Milan, Ghana's dominant 42km TT win and what watts-per-CDA actually means, Alex Segaert perfectly planned stage 12 attack, Visma's textbook Stage 14 domination, and Uno X sneaking a stage win. Plus - Max's Top 5 Most Underrated Things in Cycling.

Melbourne Football Club captain and cycling analyst Max Gawn joins his pod to go deep on his cycling journey, his leadership journey, and the practices he'd apply to build a winning cycling team culture - when (not if) Stanley St. Social gets a WorldTour squad.From accidentally discovering the Tour de France on SBS as a kid to breaking down monument tactics and GC battles, Max traces how he became one of AFL's most genuine cycling obsessives. Then he gets honest about leadership - what it really took to become Melbourne's captain, the late Jim Stynes' influence on embracing his difference, and why the best culture he's ever been part of was built in the hard years, not the good ones.And then we build the team. Max lays out exactly how he'd approach culture, connection and leadership in a WorldTour cycling squad - and it's more practical than you'd expect.We chat:Max's cycling journey from SBS late nights to monument obsessiveLeadership, identity, and embracing your differenceJim Stynes and the mentor who shaped a captainType A vs Type B leaders and why both need a seat at the tableBuilding team culture across a globally scattered cycling rosterThe Triple H framework and why storytelling changes everythingCelebrating the lead-out rider as loudly as the GC winner

Luke Plapp calls in fresh off a third place finish at the Tour de Hungary — long travel, wet roads, and a GC that got away thanks to a cancelled stage and 50km/h crosswinds. We break down the drama of stage four, the cinema of stage five, and what Cosnefroy bonus second dominance.Then it's a full Giro d'Italia wrap through stage nine — Narvaez back to winning ways, the Arrieta and Afonso cobblestone chaos, Felix Gall's blockhouse charge, Ciccone in pink, and why Jumbo-Visma look completely dialled in. Plus the transfer rumour mill is spinning — Hindley to Visma, Turner to Soudal, Frigo to UAE and more.Maxi's top five this week? The most overrated things in cycling as a spectator — from "racing on instinct" to neutralised starts, the most combative rider award, and watts per kilo obsession.Presented by Giant Bicycles and Pillar Performance — use code STANLEY15 for 15% off at Pillar Performance.

Heinrich Haussler is a Sports Director at Decathlon). We chat as the team prepares for the 2026 Giro d’Italia starting in Bulgaria. Haussler dives into the logistical challenges of the early Bulgarian stages and the transfer to Italy, the role of a DS handling logistics, hotels, vehicles, and performance, plus how the team has stayed injury-free heading into the Grand Tour. He breaks down Decathlon’s impressive 2026 classics campaign, the rapid rise of Tobias “Toby” Lund Andresen, the incredible maturity and potential of 19-year-old sensation Paul Seixas (already turning heads with podiums and massive watts), Felix Gall’s ambitions, and building a strong team culture with Luke Rowe and others. Topics include:• Evolution of cobbled classics (nutrition, tubeless tyres, training, and why races are faster and harder)• Creating a “Cervelo Test Team” style selfless atmosphere• Differences between Red Bull and Decathlon environments• Australian cycling• Haussler’s hot takes on riders to watch, his favourite races, and bold Giro predictions for Toby and Felix

Ed Langdon join Max and Alex to review the first 3 stages of the Giro.

Zak Dempster is the Chief of Sports at Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe.He raced at the WorldTour level for over a decade before transitioning into team management, rising quickly through roles at Israel Cycling Academy and INEOS Grenadiers to now oversee all sporting and performance operations for Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe.

Giro starts Friday.Plappy's back after a top five at the Tour de Romandie, and we're getting into all of it. The watts, the motorbike chaos, Lipo refusing to ride with Pog, and exactly where Plappy lost time in the prologue - spoiler, it's the corners.Then we preview the Giro. Vingegaard goes in as the overwhelming favourite for a race he's never done. The GC field's already missing Almeida and Carapaz. The sprint battle is stacked. And the Pillar Performance Top 5 Giro moments of the last decade. Tommy D taking a roadside squat in the pink jersey. Froome attacking from 80k out. Yates winning it back on the exact climb that broke him. It's all in there.Patrick Eddy winning in the Australian jersey in Europe, Ineos's new money, and the teams that win table updated.

We get technical with Koen de Kort, Head of Innovation and Tech at Lidl-Trek. After 17 years racing at the highest level - 43 classics, 18 Grand Tours - Koen now sits on the other side of the sport, driving the technology that gives WorldTour riders their edge. We dig into his current projects, where the biggest performance gains are being found right now, how cycling tech has evolved from his days in the peloton, and what the future of race equipment, skin suits, aerodynamics and bikes looks like.

Matt Keenan joins Max Gawn and Alex Clements to break down the 2026 Liège-Bastogne-Liège, one of the biggest Ardennes Classics.The crew review Tadej Pogačar’s dominant performance, discuss rising star Paul Seixas, and debate their Top 5 sprinters of the decade.

Kell O’Brien joins the social club to talk through a massive spring. We chat about his classics block with Jayco-AlUla’s - Roubaix in particular, track - his Olympic campaigns and what's next, working for the different riders and much more.

Plappy joins the social club to check in after his altitude camp, review Amstel Gold, and preview the week ahead.

Gerry Ryan AO joins the social club to share his remarkable cycling journey, from sponsoring Kathy Watt’s 1992 Barcelona Olympic success to founding the Jayco team in 1993 and launching Australia’s first UCI WorldTour squad, GreenEDGE (now Jayco AlUla), in 2012. He discusses growing up in Bendigo, key milestones including the 2013 Tour de France team time trial win, the bus-gantry drama, 2018 Vuelta success and Giro heartbreak, the importance of Aussie DNA, caravan sales impact, and his broader sporting contributions. An inspiring conversation with one of Australian sport’s most influential figures.

Matt Kennan joins Max and Alex to review Paris Roubiax, Basque Country and the Sprinters World Champs. Plus Max's segments - The teams who win! & tops 5s.

Ed Langdon is a premiership-winning winger for the Melbourne Demons and regarded as one of the AFL's premier endurance athletes.He joins the podcast to review Flanders and preview Roubaix and Basque country.

Jensen joins us after a massive week at Paris-Nice. We chat about:Life at Alpecin-Deceuninck: Being within a major Belgian team and his role in the lead-out train.The Aussie Summer: Reflecting on his good form back home, including a win at the National Criterium Championships.The Giro: A look at his preparation and goals for the upcoming Giro d’Italia campaign.

Max's 250th, Catalunya, Belgium Racing and a look at this weekend.