The Wheelhouse Cycling Podcast with Kate and Joel

Kate Bates, Henk Vogels and Merckxy are back in The Bunker with hot takes and a few laughs on the week that was in cycling. From pro-peloton drama to silly season antics, nothing is off limits.
In this episode:
Sarah Gigante’s broken femur and what it means for her comeback
Vuelta battle: Visma Lease a Bike vs UAE Emirates
Transfer shuffle at Jayco AlUla: Harper, Dunbar and Groenewegen’s exit
Disqualifications galore after a GPS tracking saga – and Henk’s conspiracy theories
What to do with mountains of old kit - Henk has a dirty story!
Triathletes and MotoGP riders – scouting cycling talent from other sports
Bike Week dress-ups: if Book Week has costumes, why not bikes?

Kate Bates, Henk Vogels and Merckxy are in the studio for a jam-packed Wheelhouse Cycling Podcast.
Fresh off his French adventure, Henk shares stories from the road, the atmosphere on the ground, and what caught his eye during cycling’s biggest fortnight.
Here’s what the team unpacked:
Remco Evenepoel’s blockbuster move to Red Bull–BORA–Hansgrohe and what it means for the WorldTour pecking order.
Tadej Pogačar’s domination and how Visma–Lease a Bike still kept the race gripping.
Aussie pride as Kaden Groves makes Gympie proud and Ben O’Connor beats his demons.
Tour de France Femmes emotion – Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s historic win and Sarah Gigante’s GC heartbreak.
Remco Evenepoel’s big move to Red Bull–BORA–Hansgrohe and what it means for the peloton.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s historic home victory.
Sarah Gigante’s emotional GC battle and heartbreak on the final stage.
AG Insurance-Soudal’s team heroics with Justine Ghekiere and Kimberley Le Court.
Mavi Garcia breaks all the rules
Maeva Squiban make France proud
The Big Talking Point: The race-weight and health conversation at TDFF – including insights from Ferrand-Prévot, Demi Vollering, and other riders.
Rwanda on the horizon – Is a World Championships with so much climbing fair game?
 
 
 
Keywords:Remco Evenepoel transfer, Red Bull BORA Hansgrohe, Tour de France 2025, Pogacar 4th Tour win, Kaden Groves Stage 20, Ben O’Connor Stage 18, Tour de France Femmes 2025, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, Sarah Gigante, AG Insurance Soudal, women’s cycling health debate, Wheelhouse Cycling Podcast, Kate Bates, Henk Vogels, Merckxy.

Katherine Bates, Henk Vogels (LIVE from FRANCE!)  and Merckxy break down the opening stage and who handled the chaos best (Kaden Groves, we see you).
Stage 1 of the Tour de France delivered complete chaos, with crosswinds, crashes and a textbook lead-out from Alpecin Decuninck.
Jasper Philipsen takes the yellow jersey after a dominant finish.
We call out a few big names who got caught napping when the splits came.
Looking ahead, we preview the early key stages, including the all-important time trial and the showdown at Mûr-de-Bretagne.
 
Plus, a quick-fire preview of the Giro Donne:• Who’s lining up• Who’s missing (no Neve Bradbury!)• And what to watch as the women’s Grand Tour gets underway

This week on The Wheelhouse, the UCI dropped a rulebook bomb—and we’re here to pick through the debris. From banned handlebars to gear limits and a crackdown on bike tech, riders are fuming and we’re asking… WTF, UCI?!
But it’s not all outrage. There’s also an Aussie lighting up the Giro Next Gen, a Tour de Suisse GC shake-up, and who will make the cut for July’s Tour de France.
🔧 UCI Rule Meltdown – Minimum handlebar widths, gear restrictions, fork limits, and tech bans.
🗣️ Reaction from riders: Amanda Spratt, Fisher-Black, van Dijk and fit experts fire back.
🇦🇺 Luke Tuckwell goes big at the U23 Giro – three days in pink, finishes 2nd overall.
🇨🇭 Tour de Suisse Recap – Almeida wins, Ben O’Connor stays steady, UAE looking stacked.
📋 Tour de France squad – Will UAE have too many cooks in the kitchen?
George Hincapie rejoins the Pro Tour – well, kinda.
Hit play, grab a handlebar that actually fits, and let’s unpack the week that was in pro cycling.

Kate, Henk, Joel and Merckxy are in the bunker this week with lots to chat about.
Giro d’Italia Drama
🇦🇺 Chris Harper’s epic queen-stage victory at Sestriere
Simon Yates wins overall with a classic team move
UAE Team Emirates’ costly tactical errors.
Critérium du Dauphiné Insights
Remco Evenepoel dominates Stage 4 time trial.
Early stage victory and vulnerabilities for Tadej Pogačar.
Ben O’Connor gears up for the upcoming Tour de Suisse.
Women’s Racing Round-up
Ally Wollaston clinches Tour of Britain Women in thrilling fashion.
Cat Ferguson emerges as breakout talent
Women aren’t small men
Your essential cycling update—sharp, insightful, and action-packed!

Buckle up for an explosive final-week recap of the 2025 Giro d’Italia on The Wheelhouse Podcast!
Katey, Henk and Merckxy  dive into all the juicy drama and thrilling racing from Italy:
🌧️ Stage 16 Chaos: Brutal weather sparks crashes—Roglič bows out in agony.
🚑 Bee Attack! Juan Ayuso’s bizarre abandonment mid-stage.
🇨🇦 Derek Gee’s Rise: Canada’s dark horse gallops to 4th overall—can he hit the podium?
🚀 Lidl-Trek Domination: Pedersen and team dominate sprints and climbs alike.
📢 Brisbane’s Bridge Battle: Cyclist protest halted—what’s next for safer cycling infrastructure?
🚴‍♀️ Women’s Vuelta a Burgos Féminas: Marlen Reusser sweeps all before her.
And don’t miss Henk’s insider scoop on mid-stage Giro deals—revealing the dodgy negotiations that decided the maglia rosa behind closed doors!
We also pay tribute to beloved Belgian rider Ludo Dierckxsens, whose legendary late-start career inspired us all.
It’s controversy, triumph, tragedy—and cycling chat at its finest.

Join Kate Bates, Henk Vogels, and Merckxy for a wild ride through cycling's most entertaining and dramatic moments!
Aussie highlights at Giro d'Italia 2025, including Lucas Plapp and Kaden Groves, plus Jai Hindley's crash.
Ayuso, Del Toro, Yates and McNulty - Team UAE Emirates have four in the top ten - too many cooks in the kitchen?
Can Roglic find a way to the Maglia Rosa with a reduced team?
Chaotic animal pitch invasions: goats, rally squirrels, bears, dolphins, and even black cats.
Women's Vuelta recap featuring Demi Vollering as the MVP
Marianne Vos's strategic brilliance.
Inspirational bike-packing journey from Ireland to Australia by Fergal Guihen.
Debate over an Aussie city's billion-dollar bike lane refurbishment.
Buckle up—this episode is packed with insights, laughs, and unexpected twists!

Get ready for chaos, cobbles, crashes and cycling history! In this week’s episode of The Wheelhouse, we break down the epic men’s and women’s 2025 Paris-Roubaix. From Mathieu van der Poel’s three-peat domination to Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s fairy-tale French victory, this year’s Hell of the North dished out drama in spades.
We dive into:
Van der Poel VS Pogačar: the battle, the crash, the bidon(!)
PFP’s emotional win and Vos the perfect teammate
Slippery cobbles, brutal crashes, and wild equipment choices
The heartbreak (sorry, Kopecky)
Why Paris-Roubaix 2025 will go down as one of the most unforgettable in history
The Herald Sun Tour is back!
Whether you’re a die-hard Roubaix fan or new to the pavé party, this recap has it all—analysis, banter, and behind-the-scenes gems. Hit play and relive the carnage, courage and cobbled glory with us.
 

Wout van Aert’s rough start – cramping at Dwars door Vlaanderen and tactical misfires.
Elisa Longo Borghini  wins at Dwars door Vlaanderen – showing the field how it’s done.
Mads Pedersen’s insane 55km solo at Gent-Wevelgem (his third win there!) – because who needs a peloton?
Primož Roglič turns back the clock at Volta a Catalunya, edging out rising star Juan Ayuso.
Mathieu van der Poel  demolishes the E3 Saxo Classic field – pure dominance on the cobbles.
Tour of Flanders preview – our spicy picks and bold predictions for the men’s and women’s races.
Aussie Track Nationals wrap – celebrating Kai Sakakibara’s inspiring comeback and Ella Liang’s record-smashing ride.
The Amy Gillett Foundation sets the record straight – tackling media myths, pushing ANCAP for cyclist-inclusive safety ratings, and standing up for cyclists when journalists get it wrong.
Beyond for Traction – a quick shoutout to an epic charity ride that’s pushing limits for a great cause for kids.
Hop on and join the ride – don’t forget to follow or subscribe for your weekly cycling fix!

Recorded live at Track Nats from the Anna Meares Velodrome, hosts Katherine Bates and Scott McGrory unpack a massive week in cycling.
• The epic men’s and women’s Milan-San Remo – the attacks, the Aussie results, and Van der Poel’s brilliance• Pogacar’s shock announcement to ride Paris-Roubaix in the rainbow jersey  – what it means for the sport• Caleb Ewan’s emotional first win for Ineos and what it signals for his season• The inaugural ProVelo Super League comp wraps up – with Scott on the ground sharing the highs, the champions, and what’s next• Aussie Track Nationals headlines from Anna Meares Velodrome• The sudden axe of the Track Champions League – what went wrong?Subscribe and follow for your weekly dose of racing news, bold opinions, and insider stories from the world of pro cycling.