The Wheelhouse Cycling Podcast with Kate and Joel

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.

Join Katherine Bates, Hendricus Vogels and Merckxy for an action-packed episode of The Wheelhouse Cycling Podcast as they break down cycling’s craziest week of drama, laughs, and unforgettable moments!
 
In this episode:
 
Paris–Nice Chaos: Matteo Jorgenson clinches overall victory amidst icy drama
 
Aussie Pride: Michael Storer battles blizzard-like conditions to a gritty solo stage win at Paris–Nice with the help of an old favourite.
 
Sock Wars: Astana’s rainbow-coloured socks ignite a hilarious debate online—are they genius tactics or just cycling’s latest fashion faux pas?
 
Emerging Star: 22-year-old Juan Ayuso proves he's a future Grand Tour contender by taking an impressive victory at Tirreno–Adriatico.
 
Italian Hat-trick: Elisa Balsamo secures a dramatic third career victory at Trofeo Alfredo Binda, but Demi’s not happy
 
Milan San Remo: Will Pogi be King of the Poggio?
 
Pro Velo super league: It’s almost a wrap, who will score the win, the Factor bike, and the World Tour spot

Welcome to The Wheelhouse Cycling Podcast!
This week, Joel Spreadborough, Henk Vogels, Katherine Bates and Producer "Merckxy"  are back, covering everything from the dusty roads of Strade Bianche 2025 to the high-speed crits of the Pro Velo Harbour City GP.
• Strade Bianche 2025 Recap – Tadej Pogačar makes history with his third Strade Bianche victory, surviving a brutal crash and launching an unstoppable attack. Meanwhile, Demi Vollering takes down Anna van der Breggen in a tactical masterclass.
• Should Pogačar Ride Paris-Roubaix? – Pogi’s been teasing his Roubaix debut on social media—should he risk it, or focus on Grand Tours? We break down the history of GC riders at Roubaix and what this could mean for cycling.
• Spring Classics Watch – Who’s looking strong ahead of E3 Saxo Bank Classic, Gent-Wevelgem, and Tour of Flanders? We analyze the form of Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel, and Julian Alaphilippe.
• Pro Velo Harbour City GP Recap – Cameron Scott dominates the men’s race, while Alli Anderson takes the women’s overall title in a thrilling battle. Find out who made an impact in Australia’s ProVelo Super League and what it means for the future of the sport.