Beyond the Peloton Podcast

Beyond the Peloton Podcast

By: Spencer Martin

Language: en

Categories: Sports, Fantasy

Cycling writer Spencer Martin breaks down the why and how of the professional cycling race. Subscribe to learn what happened, how it happened, and why it happened in an attempt to glean a deeper understanding of the sport. beyondthepeloton.substack.com

Episodes

Wout van Aert Injured Again, Simon Yates Retires & WorldTour Talent Hiding on Strava Leaderboards
Jan 10, 2026

Spencer Martin and co-host Andrew Vontz kick off the New Year by discussing Wout van Aert’s extremely unfortunate broken ankle and how it will affect his upcoming season, as well as what his Visma–Lease a Bike team can do to plug the hole left by Simon Yates’ shocking and sudden retirement, before discussing whether there is WorldTour talent hiding in plain sight on Strava leaderboards.

2026 Rider Tiers Part 1: Ranking the Top 20 Grand Tour Contenders Heading into the New Season

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Spencer & Andrew on Strava (and comment on a recent ride) to join th...

Duration: 00:44:15
AYF500 2025 Announcement
Dec 20, 2025

Spencer Martin and co-host Andrew Vontz are joined by Riding With’s Jonathan Kaplan to break down their annual end-of-year challenge, the Abandon Your Family 500, where they ride 500 kilometers before Christmas Day.

BTP Newsletter: UAE’s Performance Duo Jeroen Swart & Javier Sola on the Training Philosophy Behind Their Team’s Success

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Spencer & Andrew on Strava (and comment on a recent ride) to join the challenge



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloto

Duration: 00:27:45
Bonus Episode: UAE Media Day - Tadej Pogačar on His 2026 Goals
Dec 15, 2025

In this bonus minisode, Tadej Pogačar speaks in front of the gathered press at UAE Team Emirates' media day in Benidorm, Spain, during his UAE team’s training camp. The featured audio includes Pogačar’s press conference, where he outlines his early-season plans and reveals key details of his upcoming schedule, his priorities for the year ahead, what’s motivating him right now, and how he’s approaching the next phase of his career.

*This audio was captured in live press conference, so please excuse the lower quality relative to other episodes



This is a...

Duration: 00:33:06
Remco Evenepoel Targeting the Tour, Lidl-Trek Leaves Jonathan Milan at Home & UAE Testing Roubaix Tech
Dec 13, 2025

Spencer Martin and co-host Andrew Vontz check in from the epicenter of pre-season training camps, Spain’s Costa Blanca, where the stars are preparing for their 2026 campaigns, releasing their race schedules, and the transfer rumors are flying. They discuss Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s decision to have Remco Evenepoel target the GC at the 2026 Tour de France, Lidl-Trek leaving Jonathan Milan off their Tour roster, and where in the world Oscar Onley will race next season.

This episode is brought to you by Join Cycling. ⁠⁠⁠Get your first month free through this link⁠⁠⁠

Season in Review Part 5: Just How Far is...

Duration: 00:49:39
Will an Easier Giro d'Italia Route Lure Jonas Vingegaard & Remco Evenepoel?
Dec 06, 2025

After announcing and outlining their Abandon Your Family 500 challenge, Spencer Martin and co-host Andrew Vontz discuss how the recently revealed Giro d’Italia route could lure top stars to the race, debate who will win in a potential matchup between Isaac del Toro, Remco Evenepoel, and Jonas Vingegaard, and go through the recently-released 2026 Lifetime Grand Prix schedule.

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Season in Review Part 5: Just How Far is Tadej Pogačar From Matching Eddy Merckx?

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow S...

Duration: 00:52:00
Matthew Riccitello on His Vuelta Breakout, Trading NBA Dreams for Cycling Stardom, Leaving IPT for a French Super Team & Taking on Tadej Pogačar
Nov 29, 2025

Spencer Martin and co-host Andrew Vontz sat down with Tucson local/American GC star Matthew Riccitello live at the El Tour de Tucson to discuss his breakout ride at the Vuelta a España, his development from aspiring NBA star, to novice cyclist, to finishing 5th place overall at the Vuelta in just a few years, his decision to leave Israel Premier-Tech for the French superteam Decathlon-CMA CGM for 2026, and how he sees his career developing in the near future.

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Beyond t...

Duration: 00:58:39
El Tour de Tucson Post-Race Thoughts
Nov 23, 2025

Spencer Martin and co-host Andrew Vontz report back on their experience racing at the El Tour de Tucson, which saw them race 102 miles at a scorching pace alongside George Hincapie, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Quinn Simmons, and 11,000 of their closest friends. Before they wrap, they have Steve Morganstern, board chairman for Perimeter Bicycling of America, including El Tour de Tucson, on to discuss the event and its charitable goals.

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Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠: Season in Review Part 3: Who Were 2025’s Top Riders?

<...

Duration: 00:54:33
Rouleur Live Dispatch & Off-Season Rumors
Nov 15, 2025

In the latest episode of the Beyond the Peloton podcast, BTP newsletter author Spencer Martin and co-host Andrew Vontz check in from London’s Rouleur Live event, discuss their recent travel drama and the unfolding drama around the IPT team, and the rumor that their former sponsor, Premier Tech, is looking to partner with Mathieu van der Poel and his Alpecin team in 2026.

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Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠: Season in Review Part 3: Who Were 2025’s Top Riders?

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠...

Duration: 00:51:48
Does Premier Tech's Sudden Withdrawal Suggest Pro Cycling is Heading for a Financial Sustainability Crisis?
Nov 08, 2025

In the latest episode of the Beyond the Peloton podcast, BTP newsletter author Spencer Martin and co-host Andrew Vontz discuss Los Angeles’ rise as a global hub for off-season pro-cycling training, why Premier Tech’s sudden and shocking departure from the IPT team is happening, and what it signals about the future of the sport. They also break down what top gravel stars might be earning, why that makes it difficult for them to attempt a jump to high-level road racing, Visma’s commitment to quality coffee while on the road, and how private jet travel could be a simple...

Duration: 00:57:26
Benji Naesen on the Best & Worst of the 2025 Pro Cycling Season
Oct 31, 2025

In the latest episode of the Beyond the Peloton podcast, BTP newsletter author Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz are joined by Benji Naesen of the Lanterne Rouge Cycling Podcast to dive deep into his favorite and least favorite things about the 2025 season, as well as how Benji would devise a strategy to compete against dominant riders like Tadej Pogacar, reflections on the greatest eras in cycling, and why Milan-Sanremo is now the sport's best race.

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Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠...

Duration: 01:28:45
TdF 2026 Route Details, Gravel's Future & What the NBA's Gambling Scandal Could Mean for Pro Cycling
Oct 25, 2025

In the latest episode of the Beyond the Peloton podcast, BTP newsletter author Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz break down the LTGP’s season finale at the weather-shortened Big Sugar event, including what the future holds for Cinderella series winner Cam Jones and the evolving landscape of gravel racing. They also dive into a few key details of the 2026 Tour de France route, how the NBA’s recent mafia-driven gambling scandal could affect cycling, the thinking behind the new extremely short cycling off-seasons, and much, much more.

This episode is brought to you by Join Cycling. ⁠⁠⁠Get your first...

Duration: 01:12:36
Are Big Money Transfers Actually Worth It in Pro Cycling?
Oct 18, 2025

In the latest episode of the Beyond the Peloton podcast, BTP newsletter author Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz dive into the wild mix of late-season gravel and road racing—from the Scratch Labs Café bike rack scene in North Boulder to Cam Jones shaking up Little Sugar, to how Isaac del Toro is reshaping UAE’s hierarchy alongside Tadej Pogačar. They debate whether teams are truly getting value after paying massive sums for top stars, unpack Mattias Skjelmose’s frustrations with Juan Ayuso’s arrival at Lidl-Trek, and consider whether pro cycling’s calendar needs a complete reset. Along the wa...

Duration: 01:21:37
Pogačar’s Dominance Rolls On & Derek Gee Gets Sued
Oct 11, 2025

In the latest episode of the Beyond the Peloton podcast, Andrew Vontz and BTP newsletter author Spencer Martin break down what Tadej Pogačar’s presumed dominance in the season finale means, explore what other riders could do to stop him, and marvel at Tom Pidcock’s private jet dash from the finish line of Lombardia on Saturday to the start of Gravel Worlds on Sunday. They also dive into the unfolding legal drama between Derek Gee and his IPT team, and Andrew unpacks the brewing dispute between Garmin and Strava.

Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠: In-Depth European Champions...

Duration: 01:13:08
Tadej Pogačar’s Worlds Domination, Remco’s Meltdown, the Rise of Isaac del Toro & the Upcoming Galácticos Clash at Euros
Oct 03, 2025

In our latest episode of the Beyond the Peloton podcast, Andrew Vontz and I discuss a few major takeaways from Tadej Pogačar’s dominant World Championship win in Kigali, Rwanda, including the staggering watt numbers behind his solo attack, and the cracks apparent in Remco Evenepoel’s armor after his costly mid-race bike swaps. We discuss whether rising stars like 21-year-old Isaac Del Toro and 18-year-old Paul Seixas are already knocking on Pogačar’s door, preview this weekend’s European Championships showdown between Pogačar, Evenepoel, and Jonas Vingegaard, dig into transfer news with Uijtdebroeks and Carapaz, as well as...

Duration: 00:39:01
Can Remco Beat Tadej Again? | World Championship Road Race Preview
Sep 27, 2025

Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz preview this weekend’s World Championship road race in Kigali, Rwanda, going through the expected duel between Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel, and wondering if any darkhorses could upset the favorites at the high-altitude clash of the titans. They also discuss where Evenepoel’s dominant time trial championship puts him amongst the all-time greats against the clock, and debate if it affects his future viability as a GC contender.

Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠: In-Depth Vuelta Debrief

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss th...

Duration: 01:07:12
Minisode: Grass is the New Gravel, Remco vs Tadej at World TT Champs & More
Sep 20, 2025

Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz get through a quiet week in bike racing by catching up, and revealing that the long-awaited BTP luxury experience camp may be coming to existence, before wondering if the grass-based LTGP Chequamegon MTB race will ring in an era of grass-only racing, how Remco Evenepoel will fare on the difficult Rwandan time trial course against Tadej Pogačar, and much, much more.

Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠: In-Depth Vuelta Debrief

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to...

Duration: 00:31:14
La Vuelta GC Battle Heats Up: Vingegaard vs. Almeida, Pidcock Delivers, Remco’s Role at Red Bull & More
Sep 13, 2025

Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz break down the final week of the 2025 Vuelta a España, going through the extremely tight GC battle between UAE’s João Almeida and Visma-Lease a Bike’s Jonas Vingegaard, discussing why UAE seems to struggle with matching Visma’s level of professionalism and coordination, Tom Pidcock’s impressive and unexpected ride, and what Giulio Pellizzari’s rise and Jai Hindley’s resurgence mean for Remco Evenepoel’s status at Red Bull-bora-Hansgrohe.

Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠: Daily Vuelta Stage Breakdowns

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss...

Duration: 01:00:05
La Vuelta Week 2 Check-In: Can João Almeida Take Down Jonas Vingegaard?
Sep 06, 2025

Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz break down the second week of the 2025 Vuelta a España, mainly the GC battle that played out between UAE’s João Almeida and Visma-Lease a Bike’s Jonas Vingegaard on the hardest climb in pro cycling, Alto de l'Angliru, and if Almeida can realistically challenge Vingegaard for the overall win. They also discuss the continuing chaos at the UAE and how Juan Ayuso would fit in at his likely new destination of Lidl-Trek.

Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠: Daily Vuelta Stage Breakdowns

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



This is a public episode. If yo...

Duration: 01:07:23
La Vuelta First Week Check-In: Is Juan Ayuso Leaving UAE?
Aug 30, 2025

Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz break down the opening week of the 2025 Vuelta a España, highlighting a few standout moments from the race so far before discussing how the GC battle between UAE’s João Almeida and Visma-Lease a Bike’s Jonas Vingegaard is, or isn’t, shaping up as they expected. They also debate the reasons for Juan Ayuso's up-and-down performances and whether there is any truth to the rumors of his imminent departure from the crowded GC leadership lineup at UAE.

Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠: Daily Vuelta Stage Breakdowns

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<...

Duration: 01:02:52
La Vuelta a España Preview: Can Jonas Vingegaard Save His Season?
Aug 22, 2025

Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz invite Riding With’s Jonathan Kaplan to preview the 2025 Vuelta a España, including whether the race is a must-win endeavor for Visma and Jonas Vingegaard after a disappointing Tour de France, if UAE’s wave of young prospects can finally emerge as Grand Tour winners, and how the stage win battles between Mads Pedersen and Jasper Philipsen could play out.

Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠: Tour de France 2025 Final Breakdown

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jonathan’s Riding With Newsletter



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this...

Duration: 01:03:01
Did the Tour Kill the Climbing Bike & Does Remco Evenepoel Fit in at Red Bull?
Aug 15, 2025

Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz give their final thoughts on the 2025 Tour de France, including whether the race marked the rise of the aero bike and the death of the lightweight climbing bike, before diving into Remco Evenepoel’s blockbuster transfer to RedBull-Bora-hansgrohe and what it means for the team’s chemistry in the upcoming season.

Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠: Tour de France 2025 Final Breakdown

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscr

Duration: 00:24:12
Is the Tour’s Green Jersey Battle Shaping up to Be the Best of All-Time?
Jul 22, 2025

Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz discuss the action so far at the 2025 Tour de France, from the moto controversy between Tim Wellens and Quinn Simmons on Stage 15 to Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel and Jonathan Milan being locked in one of the best three-way Green Jersey battles of all-time, before breaking down which future star might eventually be able to take down Pogačar.

Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠: Tour de France 2025 Final Rest Day Reflections

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers o...

Duration: 00:49:41
Tour de France Rest Day Recap: Do Time Trials Belong in Grand Tours?
Jul 16, 2025

Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz discuss the action so far at the 2025 Tour de France, from the stage win battles between Jonthan Milan and Tim Merlier, the GC battle between Tadej Pogačar andJonas Vingegaard, to EF's Ben Healy taking an unexpected Yellow Jersey, before Andrew unleashes his hot take that individual time trials have no place in modern Grand Tours.

Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠: Tour de France 2025 Rest Day #1 Reflections

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

Duration: 00:36:14
Tour de France Preview & Unchained Season 3 Thoughts
Jul 04, 2025

Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz give their thoughts on the latest season of Netflix’s Tour de France Unchained before discussing the 2025 Tour de France, which kicks off tomorrow in Lille and features a GC battle between Tadej Pogačar/Jonas Vingegaard, and plenty of stage wins battles between a historically stacked field of sprinters and Classics stars.

Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠: Tour de France 2025 Cheat Sheet

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.su

Duration: 01:00:48
Is Visma-Lease a Bike's Resistance Futile Against Tadej Pogačar?
Jun 27, 2025

Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz fill up cycling’s mini pre-Tour de France off-season with a bit of chatter about Tadej Pogačar’s dominant performance at the recent Critérium du Dauphiné, and debate if any amount of tactical retooling from Jonas Vingegaard’s Visma team can make a difference.

They also discuss the prospect of Geraint Thomas stepping into a director role at Ineos, the value and significance of João Almeida’s win at the Tour de Suisse, how the carbohydrate revolution continues to supercharge racing speeds, and much more.

Beyond the Peloton News...

Duration: 01:01:31
Unbound Winner Cameron Jones on His Big Ride & Unpacking the Wild Giro Finish
Jun 05, 2025

Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz sit down with The Stable Cyclist’s John Peter to unpack the wild, unexpected and exciting finale to the Giro d’Italia, which saw Simon Yates storm back with an incredible ride up the Finestre to take the overall lead from UAE’s Isaac del Toro on the same climb that cost him the win back in 2018. Then (22:00), they invite on recent Unbound winner Cameron Jones to talk about his incredible ride to win the biggest Gravel event on the calendar, and where he sees his career going from here.

Beyond the Peloto...

Duration: 01:11:39
Giro Final Weekend Check-In & Unbound Gravel Predictions
May 30, 2025

Spencer Martin and Andrew Vontz give their thoughts on the final week of the Giro d’Italia, including 21-year-old Isaac del Toro’s shocking ride to hold the race lead into the final weekend, and touch on American success at recent mountain bike World Cups, including how Mathieu van der Poel’s broken wrist will affect his season, before giving their predictions for tomorrow’s Unbound Gravel event.

Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠ Giro d'Italia Cheat Sheet

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get acc...

Duration: 00:53:43
Giro Check-In, Plus Dylan Johnson on His Recent Crash & Unbound Equipment Hacks
May 23, 2025

Spencer and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast discuss the recent action at the Giro d’Italia before stting down with Gravel and YouTube star Dylan Johnson (33:00) to discuss his recent training crash, which left him with a fractured tibia and out of the upcoming Unbound Gravel race, where he finished 10th last year amdist a star-studded field. Dylan talks about the massive training blocks needed to prepare for the event, how equipment and fueling choices can be critical to success, and how he sees Gravel evolving as it becomes more popular and professionalized.

Th...

Duration: 01:41:56
Giro d'Italia Week 1 Check-In
May 16, 2025

Spencer and Andrew break down the first week of the Giro d’Italia, including Juan Ayuso’s stage win atop the race’s first summit finish and Primož Roglič going into the overall race lead.

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Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠ Giro d'Italia Cheat Sheet

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substa

Duration: 00:54:39
Giro d'Italia Predictions w/Jonathan Kaplan
May 08, 2025

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast sit down with Jonathan Kaplan from the Riding With newsletter to preview the upcoming Giro d'Italia, which kicks off tomorrow in Albania, and give their predictions on who will ultimately win the race, before diving into a range of topics, including Turkish hair transplants, Tom Pidcock's poor attitude and much, much more.

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Duration: 01:17:15
Is Media Pressure Behind Remco Evenepoel's Consistency Issues?
May 03, 2025

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast give their final thoughts on the end of the spring Classics, reflecting on Tadej Pogačar's dominance and dive into the potential reasons behind Remco Evenepoel's deflation by the time Liège ended last Sunday. They discuss the unique pressure facing Evenepoel, and how he is potentially affected by the massive amount of social media pressure he is under as a Belgian GC superstar.

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Duration: 01:11:27
Could More Restraint From Pogačar Make Him Even More Dominant?
Apr 25, 2025

Spencer and Andrew discuss how Tadej Pogačar's overly-aggressive racing allowed Mattias Skjelmose to pull off a shocking upset at Amstel Gold, and how his re-emergence at the mid-week Flèche Wallonne with far more conservative, and effective, tactics, potentially lays out a blueprint for even more dominance from him in the future, and tells us who will win Sunday's final spring Monument, Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

This episode is brought to you by Join Cycling. ⁠⁠⁠Get your first month free through this link⁠⁠⁠

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Duration: 01:08:58
Could More Restraint From Pogačar Make Him Even More Dominant?
Apr 25, 2025

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss how Tadej Pogačar's overly-aggressive racing allowed Mattias Skjelmose to pull off a shocking upset at Amstel Gold, and how his re-emergence at the mid-week Flèche Wallonne with far more conservative, and effective, tactics, potentially lays out a blueprint for even more dominance from him in the future, and tells us who will win Sunday's final spring Monument, Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

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Duration: 01:08:58
Did Tadej Pogacar's $250K Watch Cost Him a Paris-Roubaix Win?
Apr 17, 2025

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab break down the thrilling duel between Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar at last weekend's Paris-Roubaix, debating if Pogačar's Richard Mille watch cost him the race and if there was anything the Tour de France favorite could have done to defeat Van der Poel, before previewing this weekend's Amstel Gold race.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s Tour of Flanders Preview⁠...

Duration: 00:50:49
Previewing a Looming Galáctico Rematch at Paris-Roubaix
Apr 11, 2025

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss Tadej Pogačar's recent domination at the Tour of Flanders, before previewing this weekend's edition of Paris-Roubaix, which will see Pogačar's rivals, like Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, Filippo Ganna and Mads Pedersen, attempt to topple the red-hot World Champion over the brutal cobblestones of Northern France.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s Tour of Flanders Preview⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Duration: 00:49:45
Can Anyone Challenge Tadej Pogačar & Mathieu van der Poel at the Tour of Flanders?
Apr 05, 2025

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab break down the recent Visma-LAB disasterclass at Dwars door Vlaanderen, before getting into Mads Pedersen's strange relationship with his Lild-Trek team, and the looming Tadej Pogačar/Mathieu van der Poel clash at Sunday's Tour of Flanders.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s Tour of Flanders Preview

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



This is a pub...

Duration: 00:55:25
Classics Check-In & a Thrilling GC Duel at Catalunya
Mar 29, 2025

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab give their thoughts on the state of the Mathieu van der Poel/Tadej Pogačar Classics battle, the strange absence of Wout van Aert & how the veteran Primož Roglič is taking on the wunderkind Juan Ayuso at Volta Catalunya.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s Where to Watch Pro Cycling in 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.c

Duration: 00:49:32
Milan-Sanremo Preview & Matteo Jorgenson's Future
Mar 21, 2025

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss and debate what Matteo Jorgenson's second-consecutive Paris-Nice wins mean for his and Visma's future in the Tour de France before diving deep into how this weekend's Milan-Sanremo, the first Monument of the season, will be won.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s Where to Watch Pro Cycling in 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠



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Duration: 01:06:04
Is True Rider Safety Possible in Pro Cycling?
Mar 15, 2025

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab debate the issue of rider safety, including if true rider safety is even possible in pro cycling, before diving into the racing action at Paris-Nice, where defending champion Matteo Jorgenson has been shadow-boxing his Visma teammate, and what the racing at Tirreno-Adriatico can tell us about the upcoming Spring Classics.

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Duration: 00:57:39
What Has Gone Wrong With Visma & Wout Van Aert’s Underwhelming Classics Campaign?
Mar 07, 2025

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab go through their key takeaways from the start of Classics season, what they think is going on with Visma-LAB and Wout van Aert's underperformance, if Mathieu van der Poel and Alpecin will steamroll through the classics, as well as some background on the recent developments and rumors from the One Cycling project.

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Duration: 01:00:06
Cobbled Classics Opening Weekend & Explaining the Growing Tiny Cranks Trend
Mar 01, 2025

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab break down why Jonas Vingegaard is riding tiny 150mm cranks, and break down the pros and cons of doing so, before giving their thoughts on the opening weekend of the Cobbled Classics and which riders to watch out for when the 'real' cycling season kicks off.

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Duration: 00:36:14
Why It Is Getting More & More Expensive to Watch Pro Cycling
Feb 14, 2025

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss the highlights from early-season racing, the ever-growing trend of running amongst elite cyclists and dive deep into how WBD's decision to increase the cost to view cycling in the UK by over 300% shows that it will only get more and more expensive to watch live sports as the cost to buy sports rights continues to rise.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s Where to Watch Pro Cycling in 2025⁠⁠

Choose the Hard Way Newsletter

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Duration: 00:55:38
UCI Crackdown on Legal Doping, Early-Season Racing & Pro Cyclists on YouTube
Feb 08, 2025

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better dive deep into the world of pro cyclists on YouTube, a crackdown on 'legal' doping, and break down the early-season racing

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Duration: 01:05:27
Bonus Episode: BTP Live From Tucson
Feb 05, 2025

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better invite Kip Taylor (of Colorado and Nex Mexico cycling fame) and Jonathan Kaplan of the Riding With Newsletter to discuss their recent training camp/2025 planning retreat in Tucson, Arizona, and how modern the shifting trends in modern top-level training and racing have shifted the historic winter cycling destination.


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Duration: 00:42:21
Jack Burke on Taking Famous Strava KOMs, the Struggle for a Pro Contract & His Future Plans
Jan 24, 2025

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better sit down with Jack Burke, a Canadian cyclist, podcaster, and author, who made headlines earlier this year when he took the Strava KOMs (aka fastest recorded times) on some of the hardest climbs in professional cycling (Alpe d'Huez, Stelvio & Mortirolo) a year after stepping away from a career in the lower ranks of professional cycling. They discuss Jack's racing background, his journey through the brutal world of third-division European racing, how he came to record some of the fastest...

Duration: 01:29:21
Are Mathematical Models & Simulations Changing Pro Cycling Tactics?
Jan 16, 2025

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better discuss Sepp Kuss' decision to revert to his super-domestique role in 2025 and how superteams could be using modeling and complex simulations to refine their in-race strategies before getting Andrew's on-the-ground report from Arizona before BTP's Tucson summit next week.


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Duration: 00:49:04
Why Are So Many Cyclists Suddenly Running?
Jan 11, 2025

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better discuss the on-going Zwift challenges they are participating in order to prepare for the upcoming Beyond the Peloton summit in Tucson (Jan 20-23) before debating why so many pro cyclists are currently posting on social media about their newfound love for running, and, most importantly, if running actually makes you a faster cyclist.


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Duration: 01:06:51
Reinventing the Festive 500 & How Off-Season Training Has Changed
Dec 20, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better talk festive 500km, modern training camps, nutrition and the upcoming Mathieu van der Peel vs Wout van Aert Cyclocross clash.


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Duration: 01:01:41
Why Tom Pidcock is Leaving Ineos for Q36.5
Dec 07, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better break down Tom Pidcock's decision to leave Ineos for the small Q36.5 team.


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Duration: 00:58:21
Is Modern Training Extending Riders' Careers?
Nov 29, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better go through what they were thankful for during the 2024 season, and what they want to see in 2025, over the holiday week.


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Duration: 01:08:44
How a Speed Skater Hacked Cycling Training
Nov 22, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better break down how a speed skater exposed a lot of assumptions made in modern cycling training, and discuss how Jack Burke, a Canadian amateur who keeps taking some of cycling's toughest Strava KOMs, could present a money-ball acquisition for a struggling WorldTour squad.


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Duration: 00:58:44
On the Ground at Rouleur Live: Pidcock's Unexpected Comments & More
Nov 15, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better check in from the Rouleur Live event in London, breaking down Tom Pidcock's surprising comments about his Ineos team from his recent interview, and much more.


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Duration: 00:41:21
Remco Rumors & More Pidcock/Ineos Drama
Nov 08, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab sit down to catch up on some of the latest news in pro cycling, including the on-going drama at Ineos, rumors that Remco Evenepoel turned down at 10 million euro contract at RedBull-Bora, and much more.


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Duration: 00:39:08
Svein Tuft on the Absurdities of Modern Cycling & His Unusual Path to the Top
Nov 01, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab sit down with former WorldTour professional rider Svein Tuft (6:02) to discuss his highly unusual path to the top of the sport and his opinion on the state of modern cycling.


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Duration: 01:21:29
How LTGP & SBT GRVL's 2025 Changes Will Affect the American Race Scene
Oct 26, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss what the recent changes to the LifeTime Grand Prix series and SBT GRVLs could mean for America's gravel racing scene before attempting to understand the Ineos/Tom Pidcock/Q36.5 love triangle and touching on a few other recent news items. 


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Duration: 00:49:27
Gravel Racing's Future & Tom Pidcock's Public Spat With Ineos
Oct 11, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss last weekend's World Gravel Championships and what Mathieu van der Poel's victory on the fast course tells us about the future of the discipline before breaking down the end of the road season with Saturday's Il Lombardia and the quickly unraveling relationship between Tom Pidcock and his Ineos team. 
BTP In-Depth World RR Championship Breakdown
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Duration: 01:07:58
Breaking Down Tadej Pogačar's WC RR Performance & WC Gravel Predictions
Oct 04, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab break down Tadej Pogačar's stunning ride to win the World Road Race Championships in Zürich, Switzerland, before previewing the upcoming World Gravel Championships in Leuven, Belgium.
BTP In-Depth World RR Championship Breakdown
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Duration: 00:43:38
WC Road Race Preview & Highlights from Pogačar's Recent Interview
Sep 28, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss a few enlightening details Tadej Pogačar revealed in his recent interview with Dr. Peter Attia before previewing the upcoming World Championships.
BTP In-Depth Daily Vuelta a España Breakdowns
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Duration: 01:26:53
Vuelta a España Recap & Canadian One-Days Preview
Sep 13, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss Primož Roglič's impressive record-tying overall victory at the Vuelta a España and the future of Grand Tour GC racing before touching on the upcoming Canadian one-day races and the latest from the world of gravel racing.
BTP In-Depth Daily Vuelta a España Breakdowns
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Duration: 00:55:29
Vuelta a España Check-In: How is Equipo Kern Pharma Outperforming WorldTour Teams?
Sep 07, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab break down the ongoing Vuelta a España, how a small second-division team is better at finding talent than Ineos, and if Primož Roglič will win his fourth career overall title.
BTP In-Depth Daily Vuelta a España Breakdowns
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BTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Tour de France with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)
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Duration: 00:48:53
SBT GRVL Debrief & Vuelta Check-In
Aug 23, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss Andrew's weekend on the ground at SBT GRVL before checking in on the Vuelta a España, which has been turned on its head after Ben O'Connor's long-range raid on Stage 6 has him in the race lead with a sizable five-minute margin. 
BTP In-Depth Daily Vuelta a España Breakdowns
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Duration: 00:51:54
SBT GRVL Live Show!
Aug 17, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab call in from the ground at the SBT GRVL event in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. They break down the event's impact and design before taking a Q&A from the crowd and tackling a few topical racing and training topics.
BTP In-Depth Daily Vuelta a España Breakdowns
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Duration: 01:09:16
Details on the SBT GRVL Ride Along & Q&A Session
Aug 15, 2024

Join Us for a Ride-Along and Live Podcast in Steamboat Springs!
Andrew and I are excited to invite you to a special event in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, today, Thursday, August 15th.
With Andrew in town from his remote lair in Hope, Maine, for the SBT GRVL this coming weekend, we want to invite any listeners who may be in town to an easy, 90-minute shakeout ride starting at 2 p.m. from Little Toots Park in downtown Steamboat Springs.
After the ride, around 3:30 or 4 p.m., we'll host a Q&A session and a brief live podcast recording...

Duration: 00:01:46
Olympics Wrap-Up & Vuelta a España Predictions
Aug 13, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab break down a few takeaways from recent Olympic road race and track events before looking at the key contenders and course details from the upcoming Vuelta a España. At the end of the show, they unveil the podcast's first meet-and-greet/Q&A event, which will happen on Thursday in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, before the SBT GRVL event.
BTP In-Depth Daily Vuelta a España Breakdowns
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Duration: 00:57:51
TdF Final Stage Reaction & Jayco-Alula’s Matt White
Jul 21, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab call in from the finish line of the Tour de France’s final stage in Nice to break down Tadej Pogačar’s sixth stage victory that capped off his overwhelmingly dominant overall Tour title before Spencer sits down with Jayco-AlUla Director of High Performance & Racing Matt White (25:15) to discuss his team’s Tour and how they continue to punch above their weight in an era of ballooning team budgets.
BTP In-Depth Daily Tour de France Stage Breakdowns
Lis...

Duration: 00:35:44
TdF Check-In: Tadej Pogačar Is Here to Make History, Not Friends
Jul 19, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab discuss Tadej Pogačar dominant performance to win Stage 19 of the Tour de France, where he dropped his major GC rivals and mowed down Matteo Jorgenson on a stage where Visma-Lease a Bike thought they could turn the tables on him. Before signing off, Spencer gives his first-hand account of the final time trial after a recon ride, and they break down the remaining two stages and debate if the time trial finish in Nice is a good or b...

Duration: 01:21:06
TdF Check-In: Breaking Down Tadej Pogačar's Historic Climbing Performances
Jul 17, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab break down last weekend's scorching climbing performances in the Pyrenees and take stock of where things stand at the Tour de France as things heat up in the third week.  
BTP In-Depth Daily Tour de France Breakdowns
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Duration: 00:59:43
TdF Check-In: GC Speculation & Gravel Stage Debate
Jul 10, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab welcome on Jonathan Kaplan of the RIDING WITH podcast and newsletter to discuss the past week at the Tour de France, including how the GC is shaping up and debating if gravel stages belong at the Tour de France, as well as the impact Stage 9’s trip off-road has had on the race. 
BTP In-Depth Daily Tour de France Breakdowns
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Duration: 01:19:42
Tour de France Check-In: Is Tadej Pogačar Getting Enough Respect for His Early Time Gains?
Jul 03, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab break down the opening few stages of the Tour de France before diving deep into the emergence of a few interesting stage-winning tactics and asking if Tadej Pogačar is being underrated and disrespected as a potential overall winner after some impressive early time gains.
BTP In-Depth Daily Tour de France Breakdowns
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Duration: 00:53:10
2024 Tour de France Preview: Is the GC Already Over?
Jun 27, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast break down the route and contenders for the upcoming Tour de France before diving deep on a few recent news topics on the eve of the sport's biggest race.
BTP In-Depth Tour de France Preview Newsletter
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Hit...

Duration: 00:57:09
New Podcast: Tour de France Unchained Episodes 4-8 & UAE Dominance
Jun 22, 2024

This week, joined by my co-host Andrew Vontz (of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab), I call in from a carpark-adjacent Ibis patio in the Alsace region of France to go over my plans to have an in-person footprint at the upcoming Tour de France before breaking down UAE's dominance at last week's Tour de Suisse and what it could mean for the upcoming Tour de France, (26:25) before discussing the last half of the Netflix Tour de France Unchained documentary.

Relevant Recent pre-Tour de France Posts:Tour de Suisse Final Weekend BreakdownTour de Suisse...

Duration: 01:07:15
Tour de France Unchained Episodes 4-8 & UAE Dominance
Jun 21, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast break down UAE's dominance at last week's Tour de Suisse and what it could mean for the upcoming Tour de France (26:25) before discussing the last half of the Netflix Tour de France Unchained documentary.
BTP In-Depth Tour de Suisse Breakdown Newsletter
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Duration: 01:07:15
Recent Racing Updates & Tour de France Unchained Episodes 1-3
Jun 13, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast break down the recent racing action, from last weekend's Tulsa Tough Critériums to what the Critérium du Dauphiné told us about the Tour de France, before getting into some of the major takeaways at the Tour de Suisse and (38:00) unpacking the first three Episodes of the Netflix Tour de France Unchained show.
BTP In-Depth Race Breakdown Newsletter
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Duration: 01:25:48
Unbound Breakdown & Dauphiné Check-In
Jun 08, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast unpack the action and bigger-picture questions from the recent Unbound Gravel race before digging into the ongoing Critérium du Dauphiné (48:03) and what it can tell us about the current status and viability of Tour de France GC hopefuls like Remco Evenepoel and Primož Roglič.
BTP In-Depth Race Breakdown Newsletter
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Duration: 01:21:50
Giro Reflections, TdF Predictions & Unbound Thoughts With Benji Naesen
Jun 03, 2024

Spencer and Andrew welcome back Lanterne Rouge podcast co-host/YouTuber Benji Naesen to get his thoughts on the European invasion at the upcoming Unbound Gravel race, Tadej Pogačar's dominance at the Giro d'Italia and how and if anyone can challenge him at the Tour de France, before diving deep on theoretical race tactics and differing views on the best way to challenge a stronger GC rival. 

BTP In-Depth Giro d'Italia Big Picture Breakdown

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Duration: 01:47:01
Giro Reflections, TdF Predictions & Unbound Thoughts w/Benji Naesen
May 31, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast welcome back Lanterne Rouge podcast co-host/YouTuber Benji Naesen to get his thoughts on the European invasion at the upcoming Unbound Gravel race, Tadej Pogačar's dominance at the Giro d'Italia and how and if anyone can challenge him at the Tour de France, before diving deep on theoretical race tactics and differing views on the best way to challenge a stronger GC rival. 
BTP In-Depth Giro d'Italia Breakdown

Get access to ad-free episodes with a BTP premium subscription Duration: 01:47:01

Tadej's Giro Domination, USA Road Nationals & Unbound Predictions
May 23, 2024

Enjoy this ad-lite premium subscriber-only edition of the most recent post-Roubaix Beyond the Peloton Podcast

Spencer and Andrew break down the recent USA National Road Race and Time Trial Championships, including the amazing performance of recent BTP guest Scott McGill and the drama surrounding the Olympic Road Race team selection, before breaking down Tadej Pogačar's domination at the Giro d'Italia (24:20) and if we've seen anything like this in the modern era. Before wrapping up, they discuss this weekend's Unbound Gravel event and whether they expect the European road professionals to destroy the American gravel specialists or i...

Duration: 01:23:55
Tadej's Giro Domination, USA Road Nationals & Unbound Predictions
May 23, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast break down the recent USA National Road Race and Time Trial Championships, including the amazing performance of recent BTP guest Scott McGill and the drama surrounding the Olympic Road Race team selection, before breaking down Tadej Pogačar's domination at the Giro d'Italia (24:20) and if we've seen anything like this in the modern era. Before wrapping up, they discuss this weekend's Unbound Gravel event and whether they expect the European road professionals to destroy the American gravel specialists or if they will s...

Duration: 01:23:55
Giro d'Italia Check-In w/Scott McGill
May 15, 2024

Enjoy this ad-free premium subscriber-only edition of the most recent post-Roubaix Beyond the Peloton Podcast

Spencer and Andrew welcome back pro cyclist Scott McGill of the Project Echelon Racing project to catch up on his last two seasons, discuss his success at racing a rare mixed US-European schedule, his preferred hoagie packing method for long-haul flight fueling, as well as his thoughts on the ongoing Giro d'Italia (22:00), and his goals for the upcoming US road nationals and the remainder of the season.

BTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Giro d’Italia wi...

Duration: 01:22:11
Giro d'Italia Check-In w/Scott McGill
May 14, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast welcome back pro cyclist Scott McGill of the Project Echelon Racing project to catch up on his last two seasons, discuss his success at racing a rare mixed US-European schedule, his preferred hoagie packing method for long-haul flight fueling, as well as his thoughts on the ongoing Giro d'Italia (22:00), and his goals for the upcoming US road nationals and the remainder of the season.
BTP In-Depth Daily Giro d'Italia Breakdowns

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Duration: 01:19:56
Giro d'Italia 2024: Why Has the Racing Been so Good In the Opening Few Stages?
May 09, 2024

Enjoy this ad-free premium subscriber-only edition of the most recent post-Roubaix Beyond the Peloton Podcast

Spencer and Andrew break down the opening five stages of the Giro d'Italia and why the racing has been so unusually exciting. They discuss whether Tadej Pogačar already has the GC competition won, how Geraint Thomas continues to improve as he ages, and whether pure sprinting is dead in modern cycling.  

BTP is seamlessly following every twist and turn of the 2024 Giro d’Italia with the fantastic Tour Tracker app (iPhone/Android/Web)



This is a public...

Duration: 00:45:49
Giro d'Italia 2024: Why Has the Racing Been so Good In the Opening Few Stages?
May 09, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast break down the opening five stages of the Giro d'Italia and why the racing has been so unusually exciting. They discuss whether Tadej Pogačar already has the GC competition won, how Geraint Thomas continues to improve as he ages, and whether pure sprinting is dead in modern cycling.  
BTP In-Depth Liège-Bastogne-Liège Breakdown 

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BTP is seamlessly following every...

Duration: 00:45:49
Giro d'Italia 2024 Preview w/Jonathan Kaplan
May 02, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast are joined by the RIDING WITH newsletter/podcast creator Jonathan Kaplan to preview the start list and course for this weekend's upcoming Giro d'Italia, and go into the main storylines, including whether anyone can possibly beat Tadej Pogačar, how the GC battle will play out, and which currently low-profile riders could breakout during the race.
Read Jonathan's RIDING WITH Newsletter
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Duration: 00:43:44

Has Superstar Dominance Made Pro Cycling Boring?
Apr 22, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter & Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast break down Tadej Pogačar's dominant Liège-Bastogne-Liège victory, what it means for his place in the pantheon of all-time greats and his Giro d'Italia/Tour de France double ambitions, before reflecting on if the trend of a few ultra-talented riders steamrolling their way through the sport's top races is compelling for viewers. They also get into a wide range of topics, from the future of Gravel racing in the US and the potential for a Tom Pidcock/Wout van Aert GC bat...

Duration: 00:50:35
Riley Sheehan on the Spring Classics, Altitude Camps & Goals for the Rest of His 2024 Season
Apr 18, 2024

With regular co-host Andrew Vontz away on an in-depth investigative assignment, Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter sits down with Israel-Premier Tech rider Riley Sheehan (12:40) to discuss his breakout Classics season, his current tenure at a high altitude camp, how pro riders and teams optimize their training and nutrition, why his IPT team is having such a strong start to 2024 and what he wants to accomplish during the rest of his neo-pro season.

BTP In-Depth 2024 Amstel Gold Breakdown

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This is...

Duration: 01:07:58
Riley Sheehan on the spring Classics, altitude camps & goals for the rest of his 2024 season
Apr 18, 2024

With regular co-host Andrew Vontz away on an in-depth investigative assignment, Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter sits down with Israel-Premier Tech rider Riley Sheehan (12:40) to discuss his breakout Classics season, his current tenure at a high altitude camp, how pro riders and teams optimize their training and nutrition, why his IPT team is having such a strong start to 2024 and what he wants to accomplish during the rest of his neo-pro season.
BTP In-Depth 2024 Amstel Gold Breakdown
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This is a public episode. If...

Duration: 01:07:58
Mathieu van der Poel & Alpecin Dominate the Classics While Crashes Alter the Rest of the Season
Apr 10, 2024

Enjoy this ad-free premium subscriber-only edition of the most recent post-Roubaix Beyond the Peloton Podcast

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter & Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast break down Mathieu van der Poel's dominant ride at Sunday's Paris-Roubaix to win his second straight Roubaix title, complete the coveted Flanders/Roubaix back-to-back and sixth career Monument, as well as dissect how the Alpecin team has become the sport's premier one-day force and how Van der Poel has matured from a talented, yet mistake-prone prospect into an unshakeable Monument-winning machine who rarely puts a...

Duration: 01:08:29
Mathieu van der Poel & Alpecin Dominate the Classics While Crashes Alter the Rest of the Season
Apr 10, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter & Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast break down Mathieu van der Poel's dominant ride at Sunday's Paris-Roubaix to win his second straight Roubaix title, complete the coveted Flanders/Roubaix back-to-back and sixth career Monument, as well as dissect how the Alpecin team has become the sport's premier one-day force and how Van der Poel has matured from a talented, yet mistake-prone prospect into an unshakeable Monument-winning machine who rarely puts a foot wrong.
In addition, they discuss how the recent spate of high-speed crashes will affect the rest...

Duration: 01:08:29
Is Mathieu van der Poel Already an All-Time Great?
Apr 02, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter & Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast break down Mathieu van der Poel's dominant ride at Sunday's Tour of Flanders to win his fifth career Monument, what it means in the context of his career-long rivalry with Wout van Aert, and what the race would have been like with Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel present before they get into the ongoing Itzulia Basque Country and the upcoming cobbled showdown at this Sunday's Paris-Roubaix.
BTP In-Depth Flanders Breakdown 

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Duration: 00:40:56
Can Anyone Beat Mathieu van der Poel at Flanders?
Mar 30, 2024

As a premium subscriber to Beyond the Peloton, please enjoy this ad-free feed of our latest podcast episode (this new feed through Substack is in its beta phase, so please let me know if you are hearing ads in it).

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter & Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast break down how Wednesday’s massive crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen, which has sidelined Wout van Aert and Jasper Stuyven, and injured pre-race favorite Mads Pedersen, will affect one of the biggest one-day races of the season, Sunday’s Ronde van...

Duration: 01:05:53
Can Anyone Beat Mathieu van der Poel at Flanders?
Mar 30, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter & Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast break down how Wednesday’s massive crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen, which has sidelined Wout van Aert and Jasper Stuyven, and injured pre-race favorite Mads Pedersen, will affect one of the biggest one-day races of the season, Sunday’s Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders). They briefly discuss what the recent cobbled races, like E3, Gent-Wevelgem and Dwars, could tell us about Flanders, and if any of the recently crowned winners, like Visma’s Matteo Jorgenson, could potentially challenge Mathieu van der Poel, which...

Duration: 01:05:53
Could Tadej Pogačar & UAE Have Won MSR? Plus, Volta Catalunya Thoughts & Cobbled Classics Predictions
Mar 21, 2024

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter & Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast discuss how Jasper Philipsen and an incredibly cohesive Alpecin-Deceuninck team defeated the much stronger Tadej Pogačar at Milano-Sanremo before breaking going into Pogačar's training numbers, his ongoing dominance at Volta Catalunya and their thoughts on the return on the superstars to the cobbled Classics this Friday at E3. 



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Duration: 01:02:49
Riley Sheehan on His Breakout 2023 Season & Future Goals
Nov 28, 2023

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter & Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast sit down with recent Paris-Tours winner Riley Sheehan to discuss his breakout 2023 season, which saw him rise from a US-based criterium racer to winning a major professional European race. They also talk about his newly signed three-year deal with the Israel-Premier Tech team, how his life has changed over the last few months, and his goals for the 2024 season and beyond.


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Listen to Andrew's Choose the Hard Way...

Duration: 01:21:53
Classics Check-In & a Thrilling GC Duel at Catalunya
Nov 02, 2020

Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton Newsletter and Andrew Vontz of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast/The Better Lab give their thoughts on the state of the Mathieu van der Poel/Tadej Pogačar Classics battle, the strange absence of Wout van Aert & how the veteran Primož Roglič is taking on the wunderkind Juan Ayuso at Volta Catalunya.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Peloton newsletter⁠'s Where to Watch Pro Cycling in 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Duration: 00:49:32