Cadel Evans: Previews the 2025 Tour de France route with Bobby and Jens
Cadel Evans has achieved many accolades during his career, part of a small select group of riders who've won both the rainbow bands and the yellow jersey - Australia's first Tour de France winner and now - the first guest to appear alongside Bobby and Jens three times.
We discuss what a route announcement is actually like for riders, whether Mark Cavendish could come back and who the route actually suits!
Check out our ad-free feed by heading to patreon.com/OddTandem
Find us on social media by searching @OddTandem on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook
Transcript
That could have been the end of my tour.
2
:Right there for the stupid glass
of champagne photo Hello and welcome
3
:back to another episode of The Odd Tandem.
4
:Today just happens to be the day
5
:that the 2025 tour de France race
route was announced.
6
:And what better opportunity than to speak
7
:about that with our guest today, Cadel
Evans?
8
:Cadel has been on the podcast before,
but we get to talk a little bit
9
:about the tour de France route, his career
and what he's doing now.
10
:Yancey
always great talking to Cadel, isn't it?
11
:Oh, absolutely it is.
12
:He is still close to the cycling scene.
13
:He is an inside out.
14
:Interesting point of use
15
:and obviously brings back memories
because that tour he won.
16
:My captain and my team mate Andy Schleck
finished second.
17
:So we spent basically three weeks
trying to beat Cadel,
18
:And we came up just a little short.
19
:And Cadel won the tour.
20
:So yes, it's always good to see him again
and to see him being happy
21
:and having a good place in life.
22
:So sit back, relax and listen
23
:to this great conversation
with Cadel Evans.
24
:All right.
25
:Today we have a special guest, Mr.
26
:Cadel Evans.
27
:Welcome to the odd tandem, boys.
28
:Absolute pleasure to be here.
29
:And it's been a little while, a few....
30
:I can’t remember it was a year ago
I was with you guys at, But
31
:it is a pleasure to be here and tell me
what's what's been going on in the world.
32
:Update me.
33
:I know there was a big race
presented today. Update me?
34
:Yeah, that's, you know, everything
works out here on the odd tandem.
35
:You know, we have an ex
tour de France champion on the day
36
:that the tour de France
:
37
:So I have a question about that because I
was never invited to one of those things.
38
:Or maybe I was and I was on the other side
of the world, but I was never there.
39
:So what actually goes on
at the tour de France presentation?
40
:Like, how long are you there? Is it?
41
:Yeah, just tell us about it.
What is it like?
42
:It's the first thing.
43
:Why a lot of riders I noticed, like, past
winners weren't weren't present there.
44
:It's, First, first of all, it's
in the middle of the holidays
45
:or the off season, and riders off
season is shorter and shorter,
46
:and they get you less
and less time off, too.
47
:So they have an obligation in that short
window of time where you can.
48
:And if you've got
if your family still still recognises
49
:you and once you welcome you home,
you can go back, go back and see them.
50
:So that's the first part of it.
51
:But I went to quite a few of
especially the years
52
:I was on the podium and things
is that of respect to the organisation.
53
:In Palais de Congres
you have this enormous theatre.
54
:it's a huge stage.
55
:And it's a fantastically,
really well presented show.
56
:And a lot of journalists there
and some team managers
57
:and things because a lot of them
exposed to riders and things.
58
:It's a train ride from Brussels
or something for them.
59
:So it's not a big deal to get there.
60
:But and I think the year after
I won, I was invited up on stage
61
:and have a little talk with them was
because it was already monsieur Prudhomme
62
:was, the race track down
when for most of our careers,
63
:and, yeah, it's
64
:a huge professional show
in this big screen, and it's, Yeah,
65
:they present and they roll at each stage
and show you a bit of a brief on it.
66
:And from there
on, all the journalists happen,
67
:and the journalists
68
:are there and asking questions
and getting grabs and things and,
69
:and then all of a sudden
everyone just goes home.
70
:So it lasts,
71
:a long winded answer to say,
oh, you go there for about an hour,
72
:say big show, and then you go,
so it's got to be all these journalists
73
:and wanted to ask questions to the riders
or former riders So,
74
:hey, what do you think about this stage?
75
:What do you think about the crosswinds
or the near Audis and death and so on.
76
:So that goes on until midnight or.
77
:Oh no, because it's what is it?
78
:So I think it's probably,
what,:
79
:So it's some kind of morning thing.
80
:You might be
I would have gone there the night before.
81
:I particularly like going there
when I was with BMC because Andy would
82
:go there with Andy Rihs,
unfortunately no longer with us,
83
:but we got to dinner
and it would be great.
84
:And in the off season you can go to a nice
restaurant and so on and spend some,
85
:you know,
just social time with you, team management
86
:and and then the next thing, yeah,
go to the presentation.
87
:But then sort of by about midday,
people are sort of
88
:walking off out of there
and going to the airport and,
89
:and going home
because they've got holidays
90
:that they're going on or something.
91
:So that's it's sort of yeah, it's a big,
a big white
92
:and a big, a big show and a big,
what do you call that, a big build up.
93
:But all of a sudden, you,
which everyone go and which is, like,
94
:if I,
95
:if I can say it as a personal experience,
96
:I sort of found myself on the train
platform sitting down there on my on a.
97
:Wait, wait, wait, wait,
is everyone go or something?
98
:But, certainly to be there in the show,
99
:sitting with the riders,
that's pretty special.
100
:And especially when you're there
with your next year's competitor
101
:or the guy you came second to
or something, the city in the crowd there.
102
:That's oh,
that's kind of a a different experience.
103
:Well, you know, since it was
104
:only released today,
we don't expect you to have,
105
:dove into it and studied it at the depth
that Jens and I have done it.
106
:And as I was doing that today,
I was kind of laughing.
107
:And, here
we are getting ready for this podcast.
108
:So we need to kind of know
what the tour de France is, right?
109
:There were years that I don't think
I knew the stages of the tour
110
:until we got to the tour
and opened up the book.
111
:Oh, we're doing this.
112
:Oh, we're doing that now.
113
:You know, it's it's released.
114
:It's online.
You can research it perfectly.
115
:You know,
everything's analysed already for you.
116
:So we can sit here like armchair
quarterbacks and give our opinion of it.
117
:So Cadel cliff notes of the 2025
tour this year.
118
:Right.
119
:It starts on the 5th of July
and ends on July 27th.
120
:There's two time trials, one flat,
one uphill, seven sprint stages, six
121
:mountain stages and six
122
:quote unquote hilly stages,
which we all know
123
:are some of the most dangerous stages
out there.
124
:So all in all,
125
:it's a pretty common
and classic tour de France.
126
:And the thing I like about it the most,
and this is what I want to ask you about,
127
:was it's the first time in quite a while
that the entire tour is in France, right?
128
:Like they started in all these satellite
locations, which, I don't remember
129
:starting a tour out of France,
except for maybe the year
130
:that it started up in Belgium.
131
:And we did the prologue
up there, in Liege.
132
:So it was, you know, the next day
I think we were in France, but
133
:what does that first week
134
:of the tour,
when you have to go to a different country
135
:and then transfer back to France, like,
is that
136
:is that just added stress or,
you know, kind of cool.
137
:I think the, the one year
we had the biggest amount of stress was,
138
:to for the tour start was when the,
when there was the traffic that
139
:pilots strikes
140
:and I think the start was in Britain.
141
:That that was the biggest amount of stress
I ever had for a tour start.
142
:But the overseas starts,
my son made me realise this,
143
:so I said, oh, I'm going to the tour.
144
:Where are you going?
145
:Oh, Copenhagen. He's like, what?
146
:Every year it's the same thing.
147
:Go to the start of a Giro or Vuelta
or a Tour with it
148
:where they start overseas. But,
149
:I was really a as a, as a
I look as a rider now.
150
:I look at it, of course, as a more
as a fan and as a tour guide host.
151
:So I look at it much different like now,
152
:but as a rider, I was just so
I was quite rational about it.
153
:Okay, that stages crosswinds,
that stage is cobbles, that stages
154
:change to get to recovery.
155
:That stage is going to be important.
156
:Whether it was in Belgium,
France, Luxembourg.
157
:For me, it really it didn't didn't change
that much at all for me.
158
:Like I was really
I suppose I was really rational.
159
:I just looked at the sporting aspect
and, and I left it at that.
160
:I remember also
161
:our early tours,
we didn't really have internet,
162
:so we were really relying on
these books on paper.
163
:Right. That's all the information you had.
164
:And if on that map
it shows three arrows, it means, oh,
165
:that's a steep up because I got three
little arrows going up. It.
166
:So yeah, that that really has changed.
167
:It made it a lot easier, for us,
the two of you.
168
:One, that one was 3320km long.
169
:It this one is 3400 No, yours was 3400.
170
:This year is 3300.
171
:It's just a honeycomb a difference.
172
:So that's more or less the same, right.
173
:You would say that that doesn't
change too much in the last 20 years, No.
174
:In the last 20 years I go about five
can faster for the whole thing.
175
:So yeah, it's like being even shorter too.
176
:But, but, no, I mean, those things are
even new for this stage is 200 or 220.
177
:It's like everyone's going to be tired
after 150. Anyway.
178
:I would, I was always sort of this
much. Too much is better.
179
:Obviously, once you go 180,
:
180
:60 there where it sort of
it makes a really big difference.
181
:But those little distances again,
I didn't.
182
:Yeah.
183
:I'm more looking like how how fast
184
:is the short like GC deciding stage
from the start, which are stage
185
:two is already a bit lumpy,
I think, in the:
186
:So there are just going to be finish up
187
:with the time trials on stage five,
if I remember correctly.
188
:You know, I've got in from day one
and I am
189
:now that we have the internet,
I put my map away
190
:because I've got a chance
to go for a ride tomorrow.
191
:So I pulled out the map and had a
look at it because, you know,
192
:all that old habits die hard.
193
:And and
194
:I learned had
I learned a map rides off of a paper map.
195
:So it sort of stuck with me.
196
:We better.
197
:I still use the internet now,
of course, for that.
198
:Sorry. Let me get the router. But.
199
:And then you're like,
it's quite a short time trial.
200
:Well, I look at like,
201
:as a as a time trial, as GC rider,
you got all the GC
202
:riders are going to be looking to be sharp
for that, especially,
203
:and even Paul, I'll be looking at,
204
:you know, training my time trial bike,
like leading up to the race.
205
:Those kinds of things would probably be
the first thing I look on, on it
206
:may I might be a stage.
207
:I'd have a bit.
208
:One Asterix
next two for a chance of trouble.
209
:I think.
210
:Dunkirk. Valenciennes.
211
:I can't remember those roads.
I'd have to ask advice on that.
212
:But then, you know, I'd look straight
to where the first block of mountains and.
213
:And then being really ready for those.
214
:No rest time, Paul as well.
How long since that's happened?
215
:Well, I
216
:kind of block, I cut it down into three
different blocks.
217
:Right.
218
:So block number one is nine
pretty mellow stages with one flat TT.
219
:And then that last stage of that ten day
block is the first big uphill
220
:mountain day, right
then into the Pyrenees.
221
:So that's that first block is mostly up
in the northwest corner of France,
222
:which we know can get windy,
ups up and down,
223
:even if it's not on the profile,
it's altitude.
224
:Metres are there.
225
:Then block number two,
is only five stages long, so that's.
226
:But there's three uphill finishes
and one uphill one.
227
:And including the the uphill time trial.
228
:That's in the Pyrenees.
229
:So ten days rest day,
230
:five days rest day, and then block
six in the Alps with six stages,
231
:with Ventoux, Superbagnères and La Loze
and finishing in Paris again this year,
232
:after our one year hiatus
from the Champs-Élysées
233
:to to finish that awesome stage in nice.
234
:So did you ever race a tour
when there was only one rest day?
235
:No, I think I was in the era I was in.
236
:There are still nine
riders, but, two rest days.
237
:I don't think I ever wrote
a grand two with only one rest.
238
:I actually,
member my first grand tour in:
239
:yeah,
240
:maybe maybe that was, I forget the year
that they changed to two rest days, but,
241
:you know, that that blocks it off
pretty good, right?
242
:Today's on a rest day.
243
:You know, some hard mountain days.
You know,
244
:another rest day after five more days
and then the final push to Paris.
245
:You know, we can go into the minutia,
you know, any other time.
246
:I don't think we need to do that
totally here.
247
:But the one thing that's missing
and was always one of my favourite stages.
248
:And yet you probably are with me on
this one,
249
:is there's no team time trial again
this year.
250
:Have we seen the end of team time
trials in in Grand Tours
251
:or at least the tour de France? Cadel
252
:It seems that way, doesn't it?
253
:And but there's also no sort of,
if I can say this, a spectacle stage
254
:like cobbles, gravel roads or something,
which I'm kinda surprised about
255
:because it seemed to have been the been
becoming the norm in in Grand Tours.
256
:But Yeah, it's team time trials.
257
:Because because as for
from an organisation point of view,
258
:it's the TV time.
259
:So there have to be a certain distance,
it has to fit in a certain time.
260
:And then of course, keeping the riders
and the teams happy,
261
:and the like, the equipment
sponsors are happy with team time trials.
262
:They seem popular on TV and they.
263
:I've not not not
not really up to date with the ratings,
264
:but yeah, they sort of
they're becoming less and less and
265
:they're it's a bit of a dying on this one.
266
:Were you a fan of the team time
trial in the in the tour de France?
267
:Did you like it when I rode with BMC?
268
:Yes, when I didn't ride with BMC, no,
269
:because I used to lose a lot of time
with a team like Lotto,
270
:but we saw, another little comeback
271
:of the, mountain, mountain top,
uphill time trial, what do you call it?
272
:And probably uphill.
273
:We haven't had one of them for,
Yeah, I suppose it's a bit
274
:a spectacle stage and it's on
275
:because it goes up to that
one of those, mountain airports, right?
276
:One of the ones on an angle like this
stage, was that, 20, 23,
277
:that spectacular stage there
where, where Pog lost
278
:six minutes to Vingegaard Where there
that finish and really stayed there.
279
:That would be,
280
:I've never I've never had the chance
to land in an aeroplane
281
:landing on one of those.
282
:But I don't know if I'm missing,
but it looks kind of intimidating.
283
:Man, I mean, the tour de France
we get so excited about.
284
:But like, honestly,
285
:you could probably put that on any route
and it would still be the classic.
286
:But, I want to go back to
287
:when you won the tour de France
288
:in 2011, right?
289
:That final day going into Paris.
290
:Right. You've got the race in hand.
291
:I mean, barring any catastrophe.
292
:But I always see,
you know, guys passing around champagne
293
:every everyone's patting each other
on the back after basically
294
:going to war with each other for,
you know, three weeks.
295
:What was that like, knowing, okay,
I got to take this picture with champagne.
296
:I may have a sip of it.
297
:I'm going to accept all these accolades
from my counterparts,
298
:but I'm about ready to fulfil a lifetime
dream.
299
:I mean, my head
would just be all over the place
300
:with, hey, celebrating,
but I'm not quite to the finish line yet.
301
:What was that final day like for you?
302
:And in 20,
303
:I'm like, I, I, like I mentioned before,
I'm a bit rational about these things.
304
:I'm like, we celebrate when we get the
yellow jersey over the line.
305
:Stay calm, stay concentrated to the line.
306
:Because after it was 20 years of dreaming,
I'm working or something to
307
:to get to that point,
I wasn't going to throw it away
308
:for a small thing,
just on the champagne thing.
309
:I always had this thing for myself.
310
:If I was going to win the tour, I'd win
open a bottle of like Aussie Aussie beer,
311
:just to do something different.
312
:But of course I don't want to jinx myself,
313
:so I never bought some Aussie
be with me for that reason.
314
:Though the year that.
315
:Oh, you like,
you have to do the photo every year
316
:we do the photo with the champagne
and you have to do it for L’Equipe,
317
:and the organisation
and the tradition. You have to do it.
318
:Or can't we just get racing
and get this over with?
319
:Because I want to get this like, Jersey
across the line.
320
:The year that 2011 glass of champagne
in hand.
321
:There you there with the director doing
chin chin and,
322
:I have a sip
and the TV made it back in front of me.
323
:Crashed like, right in front of me. I
324
:know, like,
325
:I had the gutter on this side, the team
car on this side and the motorbike crash.
326
:I had absolutely nowhere to go, and I was
holding a glass of champagne in one hand.
327
:Fortunately, because I'm Australian,
have my brakes going the other way
328
:so I can with my left,
grab a handful of rear brake.
329
:But like that could have been
the end of my tour
330
:right there
for the stupid glass of champagne for my.
331
:I was a little bit disappointed
this annoyed about that one.
332
:But I did this this get the get
get this over the line.
333
:And, and yeah, it was,
334
:the thing for me
was, like, I had a couple of key moments
335
:and you guys raced with this, like,
so you know them well,
336
:but I could sort of
see with and in his body language,
337
:I think, oh, I think he's,
I think he's losing confidence in this.
338
:And then, my, my biggest moment
I think on Saturday evening,
339
:before going to,
340
:let's say stage,
my phone rang with a number I didn't know,
341
:and it was Andy ringing me up.
342
:And he congratulated me and I was like,
I was really taken aback by it.
343
:I was just stunned.
And I was impressed. Stunned.
344
:And I was really
that was sort of one in those moments.
345
:And then, of course, when you cross
the finish line, it's just like, oh,
346
:thank God.
347
:At least that was the biggest celebration
ever, which I think the clip of us
348
:hugging after the finish line was played
in the halftime show.
349
:The Super Bowl the following year.
350
:Oh, that would be big.
351
:We need to do some research on that.
352
:Yeah, it was, it was played in the yeah.
353
:Like me George Quincy Burghi,
Amaël, Steve Morabito?
354
:Yeah,
it was at the super Super Bowl, show.
355
:So you, in your tour, the one you won,
356
:you had to work hot
and work late into the tour.
357
:This year's tour de France.
358
:Pogacar headed relatively early,
and it looked like,
359
:okay, this is safe
and it is cemented, right.
360
:So what do we expect for the 25 tour?
361
:Will it be done?
362
:Stage 19 short vicious mountain stage
with a hilltop finish.
363
:Will it be decided
only two days before the finish or you?
364
:You think already? I don't know, in the up
time.
365
:Try in the Pyrenees or what do you think?
366
:Early or late? But I don't want to put it
that predictable.
367
:I don't want to put a damper
on the excitement for it.
368
:But when I first, looked at the info
for the for the race route,
369
:I looked at it and said,
oh, Pogacar’s going to win eight stages.
370
:I'm sure that there will be a lot.
371
:I'm sure that's not going to happen.
372
:Well, I'm
pretty sure this I'll never say that.
373
:I'm sure I'm sure that's going to happen
with him.
374
:It's ridiculous.
375
:But, but I, Well,
376
:I'm really hoping that, like, Vingegaard,
I think what was great to see in victory
377
:in 2024 was,
it was nice to see some humility from him
378
:and the fact that he went out and like
379
:showed that towards Pog as well.
380
:But I, I think, I hope a healthy,
concentrated
381
:Evenepoel, are going to be able
to present really different competitors
382
:towards, Pogacar
but at the same time, I'm pretty sure,
383
:yes, I can imagine
he's going to ride the Giro Tour again.
384
:I imagine in his case, if he wanted
to do two, he could do Giro Vuelta as a
385
:as a leading to
won the world Championships or something.
386
:Would be would be my recommendation.
387
:But,
388
:but I think we're going to see, Yeah,
hopefully,
389
:hopefully the guys stay safe enough
after what happened to them.
390
:Evenepoel and Vingegaard in 2024,
I'm sure they're going to have a slightly
391
:different approach to the to the season
and staying safe and being there.
392
:And and I think we're going to have a
three, four pronged attack from all sides.
393
:I hope that,
394
:the monkey is off from Rogla’s back,
and that he can
395
:also be in the mix as well,
because that would be great.
396
:And, you know, after what Hansgrohe
and Red bull and all this, is there
397
:any sort of big,
huge ambitions in the:
398
:And they put everything on Rogla
and the next thing he wasn't there?
399
:You think
400
:maybe Primoz is getting
just this one year too old?
401
:His body, I mean, these other young kids
are like at their prime.
402
:And Primoz has a lot more experience,
maturity and all that.
403
:But do you maybe think it's just just
as one more year or one year, two old?
404
:I don't know.
405
:I love the man and he wants so many races.
406
:He's a classy rider,
but you think he still has a chance
407
:to come up against the three young guns?
408
:Well, I think the young guns.
409
:Well, what would take it?
410
:Are we talking about their five years
before they prime?
411
:But they've already run
a couple of grand tours each.
412
:Certainly.
413
:Yeah.
414
:Everything's changed.
415
:So Roglic at his age, is already
416
:way too old by if you look at
417
:the the new what
what the prime ages is a Grand tour rider.
418
:But I agree with you where I like
same Roglic.
419
:I love the guy.
420
:I met him a few years ago,
421
:before he was sort of a known rider and,
super nice guy, great, fantastic
422
:bike rider.
423
:But, the, the,
as I once you go to sort of 30, 32,
424
:that window of opportunity is really,
really closing because your recovery
425
:is really compromised.
426
:And I remember being,
I think I was 32 myself when I read,
427
:I think it was a quote from Eddie Merckx
or something or whatever, whatever.
428
:But, one thing goes wrong
and then you never come back.
429
:When I, when I started back,
it's like 35 full problems
430
:and so on, but all of a sudden my recovery
just was nowhere what it was before.
431
:And, and I think that's unfortunately
the just being honest about it,
432
:that's the case.
433
:I hope I hope that Roglic can prove me
wrong, but, he's it.
434
:I think his biggest thing is
he's just been really unlucky in the tour
435
:where he crashed this year,
like he was nowhere near the gravel stone
436
:sections in the stage.
437
:He crashed in things,
but it was a really unlucky crash.
438
:There's a crash
on the other side of the road
439
:on the other side of a traffic island,
and he got taken out.
440
:It was kind of like,
how does how does that even happen?
441
:But but that happened to him.
442
:And that was the start of the end of his
two:
443
:I think Red bull have made
a bit of a strategic error
444
:in sort of holding, my compatriot
Jai Hindley back.
445
:Of course I got a little bit of bias,
but also a great guy.
446
:But, you know, it's better
to have one more up there if you can,
447
:at least for the first half of the tour,
until it's clear that you've got a
448
:a designated leader.
449
:But I think they made a mistake in
450
:like having him slip out of GC
so early to Hindley.
451
:Come out of GC so early.
452
:Well talking about
453
:compatriots your boy Ben O'Connor
454
:had one heck of a year this year
and he's switching teams.
455
:You know
tell us a little bit about your opinion
456
:of how his season went
with such an amazing,
457
:you know fourth place in the Giro,
second place in in the Vuelta,
458
:second place in the world
Championship road race.
459
:I mean pretty pretty impressive stuff
right.
460
:Incredible
especially are the worlds for me.
461
:That was the one that really
because he's a GC rider and we have here,
462
:we expect things from me
as a in a three way race.
463
:When he was called up
to go to go to the Olympics,
464
:the guys who rode with him, there's like
this guy who's in a one day race, right?
465
:And then he comes out
and gets second worlds.
466
:Obviously the worlds being special
this year. I think it was a bit
467
:such a hard race that it sort of.
468
:Yeah, it was it was, it was just
staying there and being patient
469
:in the end, which got him his result,
but still think he did it in probably
470
:what was one of one of the hardest world
championships for a long, long time.
471
:Amazing season, amazing turnaround.
472
:I think you for him,
if he had been continuing
473
:on this team, on this, on paper,
I would say what he can do this year
474
:with this team, with, Alula and,
being on an Aussie team, normally he would
475
:that would lift him.
476
:They'll believe in him more,
they'll support him more.
477
:He should be able to do more hunting
with all of his best results.
478
:His fourth place at the tour de France.
479
:I think he's second place at the World
Championships as well.
480
:He sort of come in
as an, underrated rider.
481
:He hasn't come in with,
when he's a watch rider.
482
:Whereas when he went back to the two,
tour de France after his fourth place,
483
:he got into
fourth place from coming from a breakaway.
484
:When I think a lot of his competitors
really, underestimated him, whereas,
485
:now he won't have that, advantage of
being underestimated by his competitors.
486
:I think he might,
that might work against him.
487
:Unfortunately.
488
:And, just out of the blue, your opinion.
489
:Will Cavendish race
another tour de France?
490
:I mean, he says he's retired, but he.
491
:You know,
he said it already somewhat before.
492
:And then we didn't know
if he has a contract or not.
493
:And I don't know.
494
:I mean, I don't trust this whole team yet.
495
:Plus was the first relatively like,
496
:you know, nine stages,
relatively flat or easy for we could win.
497
:And I said, do you think it's 5050
or you go, nah, that's bullshit.
498
:No, it like this, when you put it like
that, might you feel you shift my opinion?
499
:When we were speaking before we were
recording, it's like we can't sit still.
500
:Like he's going to be.
501
:He's probably going to be out
riding his bike any, every day anyway
502
:because he doesn't know differently.
503
:He'll be like,
I'll just go and do the race.
504
:But, yeah, I suppose there is some
better opportunities for him this year.
505
:And Cav, it's, I started
want to say this on TV,
506
:but when you're doing a live TV,
as you know, it's
507
:sometimes a bit difficult,
but he's kind of like a Hollywood script.
508
:He sort of just convinces the US,
the viewers
509
:or the fans that it's impossible,
that he can't do it and he won't do it.
510
:I'm thinking of the image, even from me
riding into Emilia-Romagna in the heat.
511
:He's got to take me to it.
512
:Two team-mates with him. He's
ten minutes behind.
513
:It's like
514
:this guy isn't even going to make it
through the first week,
515
:never knowing
when to start at 35th stage of the tour.
516
:Sure enough, what does he do?
517
:Everyone's just completely convinced
that he can't do it.
518
:And then he turns around and does it.
519
:Maybe does kind of stick
with that Hollywood script thing
520
:where he does it intentionally, and
I don't think he does it intentionally.
521
:If if we all say, no, no,
he won't, he's done.
522
:He can't do it.
523
:And we'll probably, yeah,
to turn everything around and go again, I,
524
:I, you know, with some
525
:I'll just be a
526
:bit vague on this info,
but I know, Astana did turn down
527
:a good sprinter that they could have had
in their team just recently.
528
:So, so, so, so maybe that maybe
529
:there could be a slight indicator.
530
:Well, I got to spend some time with Mark.
531
:Last week here at the Hincapie
Grand Fondo.
532
:I was here before.
533
:You know what? It's
wish I could have been there this year.
534
:It was a little bit different this year
because of the hurricane
535
:that blew through.
We had to adjust the course a little bit.
536
:And I was sitting there with at lunch
with Mark and George, Christian and Brad,
537
:and we were just kind of,
you know, chewing the fat a little bit.
538
:And I wasn't 100% convinced
that he's not going to race next year.
539
:He's all over the place.
540
:He's super busy until the end of the year,
but I couldn't
541
:I was trying to pull that out of him like,
so this is it, right?
542
:Because you're absolutely right
and you're absolutely right, Cadel.
543
:Like you just never know with him.
544
:And he could just flip the script
and be racing next year.
545
:And you know, it'd be great to see.
546
:But, you mentioned about Ben.
547
:You know, Ben's changing teams.
548
:We just read today
that Demi Vollering is changing teams.
549
:Cadel, you know, we were team-mates.
550
:You started
your career at Seiko, went to Mapei
551
:You went to Telecom?
552
:I don't know if that was the best place
for either you or I.
553
:At that time, I.
554
:And then you went to, you know, the,
the Belgian teams Davitaman-Lotto
555
:and Silence-Lotto before ending your
career with, what, 6 or 5, five years?
556
:Six years at at BMC.
557
:So can you talk a little bit about,
from your experience
558
:changing teams,
what that means to the rider
559
:and what sort of little pitfalls
you may have to navigate?
560
:Yeah, I think, and I'd be interested
in your opinion,
561
:especially when you went to, CSC,
we'd we've on a race.
562
:There was, a turnaround in your career
for all for the better.
563
:What I think, for that,
for the most part,
564
:personally, I was always,
motivated for a new environment.
565
:Like, I was changing teams
normally for a reason. I.
566
:I normally change teams
because I wanted to,
567
:it was it was my choice not being forced
out of a team or something.
568
:So I was sort of like,
anyone would be better than here.
569
:So I'm going to change.
570
:And I was always really motivated
and also motivated.
571
:One thing,
and I always say this to young riders
572
:who are starting out,
be primed and ready from the first race
573
:because you
that's where you sort of set the bar
574
:and you go to the first race,
and if you win a stage of
575
:what is it to Down under the
My Great Ocean Road race or something?
576
:You're
that's where you really win respect
577
:from the staff, your team-mates,
the riders, management, everyone.
578
:So, so get get the ball rolling.
579
:Well, but also, you know,
you don't just sometimes
580
:you can't
you don't have a choice of teams,
581
:but if you have a choice of teams,
you make the choice
582
:based on an opportunity or something, or
this is a better environment to work in.
583
:And and so in my career,
it was always a step for the better.
584
:It was strange
585
:when I was at Lotto, but there
I left a year before my contract ran out.
586
:I had to pay myself
out of my contract and things,
587
:but I just wanted to get out of that team
because it just was not working for me.
588
:But then I was going from the world
589
:tour to the Pro Conti team,
which was kind of unusual, really.
590
:But, in the end, it,
and the BMC Racing team
591
:was a team on a on a huge growth
curve on a great positive growth curve.
592
:And, yeah, it was
it was great timing for me.
593
:And the best one of the best,
594
:decisions I ever made.
595
:But I'm interested
for you to go from telecom to CSC.
596
:What was it?
597
:Was it called CSC then the first year?
598
:Yeah, we've been it was like,
that's not the Bobby Julich I kow he's
599
:he was like,
you had 2 or 2 extra legs to ride with.
600
:Yeah.
601
:I'm glad this came up.
602
:Wasn't really planned, but,
603
:you know, when you sign your contract
for your first team, right?
604
:You're over the moon, you're like,
I'm a pro. I've made it.
605
:And then when those options come up,
you know, it can't be just financial,
606
:right?
607
:You gotta think about the team
environment, your team-mates.
608
:I mean, you just rattled off
your whole:
609
:BMC Racing
team, tour de France team, right.
610
:You remember their names, right?
611
:Because you guys were brothers.
612
:You guys your family still family now?
613
:Yeah. Yeah.
614
:And, you know, it was it was hard
615
:being an American on French teams.
616
:It was hard then going to a German team.
617
:Like I was always
chasing something that that
618
:that perfection that I, you know,
you're like me.
619
:I'm like, you could tell, like,
we think about the minutia.
620
:We think about the little things.
621
:For me at least, I could have 99 things
out of 100 lined up going perfectly.
622
:And I could only think about that
one thing that I didn't have.
623
:Right.
624
:So that was that was always my
I was too much inside my own head
625
:on those French teams, and especially
the German team that I was team-mates
626
:with you all I can say, and it's funny
that any athlete that's a great mentality.
627
:So going
628
:so you be an Australian,
me being American, we both rode for German
629
:team Telekom and this cat right here,
one of the best German riders of all time.
630
:Never wrote for for for telecom.
631
:I mean it's it's
and he's kind of mind blowing.
632
:Kind of
mind blowing when you think about it.
633
:But I had no options
634
:after 2003 World
Championships up in Hamilton.
635
:Right?
636
:I was five years
removed from the tour de France podium.
637
:I could not get out of my own way.
638
:I was a mental milkshake,
and how I tell people how I was operating
639
:was that I was driving around in my car
with the parking brake up, right?
640
:So I was able to go, but I wasn't able
to go anywhere efficiently.
641
:As soon as I went to CSC,
642
:the first hour of the first team
meeting that we had there were Viana
643
:just set the tone for the team
and the vision of the team.
644
:I felt that parking brake
go all the way to the floor
645
:and it was freedom and it was fun
646
:and I'm still best friends with
most of the guys that are on that team.
647
:That's what makes cycling
648
:so much fun
and that's what I see with Totti Pogacar.
649
:He's seems to have
that enjoyment that that real
650
:you know, his team-mates are
651
:amazing, but like he is the leader
and he has a smile on his face.
652
:I had a smile on my face in 2004, 2005
653
:until I crashed out of the tour in 2006,
which was my last tour.
654
:But yeah, it's there's something there's
655
:a lot more than the contract, right?
656
:If you get paid, you know, a million
to go to this team or 1.2 to go to that
657
:team, you need to find
what makes you happy around good people.
658
:And I love what you said
about making those connections with staff.
659
:You know, the riders
kind of know who's getting paid what.
660
:So the pecking order is kind of,
already done.
661
:But when it comes to the staff, which is
662
:a monumental
part of your happiness on a team,
663
:if you make that first
good impression on them and you show that
664
:you're not just a jerk or a little prima
donna,
665
:that's going to go a long way. So,
666
:that team dynamic that Ben
667
:is going to have to,
668
:I guess, curate himself
669
:and especially Demi going to,
the FDJ women's team,
670
:that's my advice
671
:is to go in there with no ego,
get your work done,
672
:be professional, have fun and
and really get that whole team around you.
673
:Yeah.
674
:And also as a when you go in as a leader,
I think a big thing is to is like
675
:go to the first race and like,
676
:you know, the race plan gets in,
but then also put your hand up was like,
677
:I'm not going with any good.
678
:Anyone's going good.
679
:I'll ride on the front,
whatever needs to be done.
680
:Also, just straight away
being honest about that as well.
681
:Like, because even if you go
there as a leader there,
682
:you also go there with the expectations.
683
:But it's also when you do have
those expectations for the whole season.
684
:It's kind of nice to go the first race
of the year and ride on the front for
685
:for someone who never gets, any chance
to lead a race or something.
686
:And it also sets the tone, like you say.
687
:And I think there's one thing saying
688
:setting the tone,
but then there's going out and doing.
689
:Oscar Freire told me this
when I was with him at my pay
690
:is one thing saying, but when they go out
and do it, you like it.
691
:Just you just convinced
692
:two things.
693
:If I can just touch on what you say,
Bobby.
694
:I can relate to you with that, driving,
riding around with the handbrake
695
:on, I had, I used the same.
696
:I was in exactly the same situation,
and I used exactly the same metaphor.
697
:And, something happened.
698
:I had a meeting or whatever,
and the handbrake was released, and,
699
:the next day was the World championships
in:
700
:to make a long story short, and, the today
701
:his one thing that's so remarkable,
obviously he's amazingly talented.
702
:He's a very good bike handler.
He seems to have a lot of luck.
703
:But he can just stay
so relaxed and enjoy it.
704
:If I relaxed and enjoyed it and laughed
like that, something went wrong.
705
:I'd be in a crash.
706
:Or I'd be like,
707
:when psychology like under aroused, your
not not at your best because.
708
:Because you're not in your peak condition.
Because I needed a bit of.
709
:I need to be a little bit nervous
and stressed.
710
:I just had to calm myself down to perform
well, but I couldn't.
711
:I could also relax too much if I just
712
:laughed around and looked around like,
713
:like like today does in the bunch.
714
:I agree, when I had a job,
I mean, there will be a few stages
715
:where I wouldn't have a job.
I mean, I was never a GC rider.
716
:You could relax a little,
but when you have a job,
717
:when we plan a big attack with Cancellara
or Schleck brothers, I.
718
:I even went to my gym friends.
719
:Look, I can't talk. I'm focussed.
720
:Sorry.
721
:I just need my head in the game
and I cannot talk
722
:and throw jokes
because we got a big day ahead.
723
:So you both have been, a leader
724
:and, gaming following changing teams.
725
:Also, Ben O'Connor,
how much of a say does
726
:the new leader has in a brand new team?
727
:About the tour de France team.
728
:Not the entire team, but the team.
729
:The men and woman
to go within to tour de France.
730
:And you knew in the team.
731
:How did you guys handle that in your past?
732
:I think I think this also relayed to you
what you're saying, Bobby,
733
:I think Ben's got an easier transition
734
:to make because he's
going from a French team to an Aussie team
735
:where his team is going in opposite
direction.
736
:I've never seen a French team myself, so
I don't know the culture very well. But,
737
:I don't I don't know how that would go
if I, if I can say just about the tour de
738
:France selection, especially my years
with BMC and Jim Ochowicz
739
:where it was obvious
that I was going to be the guy for GC,
740
:Yeah, I got to have a fair bit of input
into the, into the, selection of the team.
741
:But but it's never up to one person
in the, in the selection.
742
:In most of the teams that I've been
in, it's sort of a collaboration.
743
:It's kind of like a vote of 4 or 5 people,
whether it's the coach
744
:and four directors
and and maybe my input as well would be,
745
:not quite
746
:including that in that vote,
but maybe influence the votes of others,
747
:maybe, directors
or something in my own thing.
748
:But also that came, that comes.
749
:So you go to the team presentation
and okay, there's no team time trial.
750
:So there are eight
751
:riders, maybe you have ten in mind
and no team time travel.
752
:Well, it won't be him.
753
:It'll be him.
754
:But like, at this point, yeah.
755
:Today
there might be some ladies thinking that.
756
:Yeah, I can't really, I, I have no,
757
:nothing to say there because I,
758
:you know, when I was a leader on Cofidis
and then Crédit Agricole,
759
:things were not going
right up here for me, so I had no,
760
:no pull, no say, in the,
in the tour de France selection.
761
:But, you know, nowadays it seems like.
762
:Yeah, you get that little band of brothers
and those guys are the long team and,
763
:you know, they can not many people
can ride themselves into the team,
764
:but maybe a couple guys ride themself
out of the team or get get injured.
765
:But it is such a stressful time,
you know,
766
:not only as a, as a rider,
as a team leader, but also as a,
767
:as a coach and in, in middle management,
when it boils down
768
:to that final selection, you know,
we used to have nine riders in the tour.
769
:Now we only have eight.
So that even makes it more difficult.
770
:You got 30 guys on the team.
771
:Only eight get to go to the tour de France
every single one of them
772
:want to go to the tour de France.
773
:So it's an incredibly stressful time
that we have, what, 250 days
774
:to to talk about between now
e start of the tour de France:
775
:But I do want to ask you something
about the tour de France next year.
776
:Cadel Mont Ventoux,
777
:you've had
778
:great days on Mont Ventoux
when you won in Paris-Nice.
779
:And you've had some average days,
to say the least.
780
:I'm on, on two.
781
:I have never had a good day
on Mont Ventoux.
782
:To me, it's
my least favourite climb on the planet.
783
:And what is your opinion
of of Mont Ventoux, and why is it such a
784
:an absolute
classic climb in used in the tour?
785
:I'm going to be rational
about this as well.
786
:People always ask
what's your favourite car minimise
787
:any climb that I'm going
and that I'm winning on.
788
:It's it's my favourite climb.
789
:Any climb that I'm not winning on
or getting dropped on, especially
790
:when I have to be there for GC here.
I'm not.
791
:It's not my favourite climb
and if you're okay on up to is, it's okay
792
:if you're I up
the ways was a bit the same for me.
793
:It was also famous
but I never had like a great day there.
794
:And then we have one, two in the
in the two.
795
:Yeah.
796
:Outside of the Tour
797
:I, I normally had good days there, but
in the tour, something always went wrong.
798
:And,
so it was a bit for me. It was a bit,
799
:whenever we went there, I was always,
in the last time we went down
800
:Astana, split the field in a crosswind,
801
:way before, way
before the start of the climb.
802
:And they ride to the bottom.
803
:It's like, I can't remember,
you know, but,:
804
:and, and.
805
:Yeah, that was that.
806
:I suppose
that was my probably my last race.
807
:And what I'm doing. I'm back.
808
:I've been back a couple of times.
This is a tourist.
809
:And that it's just been fantastic to ride.
810
:But, yeah, I'm just very.
811
:If I'm having a good day in the climb,
it's a good climb of having a bad day.
812
:Well, that's bad.
813
:I don't like that climb on that day,
that's for sure.
814
:I think one thing, so as Neil
Stephens said this to me
815
:years ago about, like,
what makes a up to is famous.
816
:It's not that I hope to
is is particularly hard or anything,
817
:but because in the middle of the Alps
818
:you've always got to
go over heaps of mountains to get there.
819
:So what happens on it
afterwards is always very dramatic.
820
:And I think von two is a dramatic,
it's openness,
821
:it's wind, it's barrenness.
822
:Like just to watch it.
823
:It's it looks pretty imposing, doesn't it.
824
:And then of course, like the Chris Froome
running up there without a bike and,
825
:and those kind of days make it make it,
make it and just add to
826
:that that
or I think we all have about one, two.
827
:Well,
828
:since we already talk about the memories,
do do you have any particular moment
829
:in your entire tour France history
that sticks out to you?
830
:Very likely it's your winning days
or is there, like, anything?
831
:Oh, wow. That day was just amazing.
832
:And like, you go nowadays,
just all in the tunnel of pain behind me.
833
:Oh, I, I suppose I have, I had moments
834
:I'm not one for
when people think about the climbs.
835
:And the other day I had to look at Monte
836
:Pana today like a stage
finish that I visit in the Giro this year.
837
:But I tell names, those things.
838
:I didn't remember any of them, of course.
839
:Then the names of the big climbs,
I remember.
840
:But, someone asked me today,
someone in the family of you rode
841
:Paso Fedaia, cos I'm going for a ride
tomorrow, and I could ride there,
842
:but I can't remember, but, But.
843
:Oh, the. Oh,
the gradients and the entrances.
844
:Narrow road by road, wide road, off
camber.
845
:corner.
846
:Caught a good, headwind up the valley
or something like that.
847
:All those things I remember.
848
:But things like names that
I don't remember, but certainly moments
849
:and experiences really struck,
strongly in my mind about the two.
850
:And especially you go back
and you write books
851
:and you give like talks to groups
and things about everyone.
852
:After my 2011 two, everyone wanted to hear
what was going through my head
853
:in like the, stage to the Galibier
where I was chasing down Andy, trying
854
:close down the gap to Andy
And so of course, I've relieved that
855
:moment so many times.
856
:It's kind of it's
quite heavily in my brain.
857
:But there's a
858
:oh, when
I, when I start thinking back to it.
859
:Yeah,
I have a lot of really vivid memories.
860
:And I think one thing you, as a writer,
especially if you're in the press
861
:and on TV, you bring asked
862
:you sort of reviewing the
your experience so many times
863
:and if you had a good time,
it you're not just reviewing it
864
:after each stage in the interviews
and the TV, but you reviewing it,
865
:doing corporate talks in the offseason
in Australia for me, writing books,
866
:and you just going, reviewing and reading,
which is just of course,
867
:reinforcing your memory, of,
of, of all those experiences.
868
:So a lot of a lot of mine
are really vividly etched in my mind.
869
:But I still have to.
870
:When I was writing a book,
I had to look up on Wikipedia
871
:and see if you know who was one place
in front of me in the breakaway or,
872
:what was the name of that town?
873
:I spent a lot of time
874
:looking on maps and Google Maps,
looking for town names and things.
875
:You know, going back to the Mark
Cavendish, is he going to race?
876
:Is you not going to race?
877
:We kind of had the same question
about you, Cadel.
878
:You know, like you you finished
879
:you won the tour de France in 2011
and:
880
:You get seventh place, 2013 you,
881
:you did a little bit less than that.
882
:I think you were top 30. Top 40.
883
:But then in 2014, your last full season,
you didn't even do the tour de France.
884
:You did the Giro and the Vuelta, right.
885
:And then,
886
:yeah, that one question.
887
:Is Cadel going to race the next year
and you get third in the tour Down Under.
888
:And I think I have it here in my notes
somewhere.
889
:I think it was at mine
that was my inaugural fifth in
890
:the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road race.
891
:And then well,
not the fifth point. And then
892
:and then stopped.
893
:Yeah.
894
:Was that plan, did you want to or were you
I mean, when you get third
895
:in the tour Down Under and fifth
or whatever in your race is
896
:it wasn't there some itch to say,
hey, man, I still got it.
897
:Well, you know, I'm still happy today
that I'm like,
898
:you know, if any of you, if anyone asks me
about my career or whatever.
899
:The day I retired, I was ranked
third in the world, because it only been
900
:one WorldTour race, but, that
that sort of stays, I suppose, forever.
901
:But, I had, illness in 2012
902
:that wasn't discovered until,
after the tour de France was racing with
903
:this,
904
:virus actually for the whole year there.
905
:But, that really, not only mentally,
but my, my relationship
906
:with the team and my team-mates really
caused really, rattled things.
907
:Then 2013,
908
:the team wanted
909
:me and but they came very late in the,
in the into the plan.
910
:They came in some of the day before
Milan San Remo and said,
911
:oh, you should ride the Giro
to get ready for the tour.
912
:Come on, it's March.
913
:No, I think I went home that night
and looked at the Giro stages
914
:on the internet
915
:just to know where I went,
because of course
916
:I was getting ready for the tour, so
I hadn't paid much attention to the Giro.
917
:But then, they didn't want me to ride
the tour.
918
:They wanted me to try and do something
in the Giro because I thought I might be.
919
:I'd do something a year, but a different.
920
:Can't do anything.
921
:I'm with at the tour,
and this was probably Jim Ochowicz choice,
922
:I'd say, with recommendations
from people within the team.
923
:But I was okay with that.
924
:I wasn't, like, I was always fixated
in the tour de France in my career,
925
:but I always actually wanted to ride
the Giro.
926
:So for me, that worked out well.
927
:But then, I did
actually want to continue after that.
928
:And this is the thing between Jim Ochowicz
and I where
929
:I remember earlier when I first joined
the team, he said to me,
930
:I was we were talking about
retirement of riders or something.
931
:He said he looked me in the eye
and he said, we need you to retire.
932
:I'll tell you.
933
:And so I've gone to him in
934
:2014 and said, I, yeah, I'd like to ride
another two years and this.
935
:And he looked at me and said,
936
:this is not a place for you on this team.
937
:You should retire.
938
:And it wasn't
what I wanted to hear at all. Right?
939
:Totally not what I wanted to hear, though.
940
:And then, so my,
941
:because I wanted to keep racing,
but it wasn't for the right reasons.
942
:So, I asked, can
I just do the month in Australia
943
:because it's the first edition
of my own race,
944
:which I'd been working on
for some two years or so, more
945
:to get going and get everything going.
946
:And my thing was with him, I'm
going to train like there's no tomorrow
947
:because I'm only going
to do one month of racing
948
:and it's going to be in Australia,
and I'm going to do
949
:everything I can to do
the best that I can.
950
:And with the way the points work
and everything,
951
:it worked out really well for them.
952
:And Rohan Rohan Dennis was my, team mate,
and it was actually the fact
953
:that I was there on GC
and he won two down Under.
954
:He maybe he wouldn't have been able to
do that without, without me being there.
955
:But it was a couple of months
later, actually,
956
:and I was going somewhere with him again,
and I actually thanked him.
957
:I said,
958
:I said thanks to him for for saying that
because I needed to be told that.
959
:And no one else could have said that
to me.
960
:So, you know, I sort of I didn't
want to stop, but I was forced to stop.
961
:But it was the right thing to do.
962
:And and I did my last race,
and I always had this thing in
963
:my career was always to become
a professional cyclist.
964
:Was, for me, it was a I always saw it
as a fantastic opportunity.
965
:It was a dream come true, an opportunity
966
:to make a living racing my bike,
which is all I wanted to do anyway.
967
:And so I always look at it, is this window
of opportunity to make the most of.
968
:And that motivated me a lot in my training
and everything that I was doing.
969
:But knowing that
this window of opportunity
970
:would close one day and that window
of opportunity closed on the finish
971
:line of of my own race, the great Ocean
Road Race in February:
972
:But I have to say,
I crossed the finish line that day,
973
:cramping and okay,
I wasn't happy with the result.
974
:Like so often.
975
:I was not happy with the result
that I got in the race, but
976
:but I said okay, I gave it everything.
977
:Now it's time for the next chapter.
978
:Next chapter.
979
:That is actually a good way
to go across to my next question,
980
:there's,
any more few new chapters in your life?
981
:Any new jobs coming up? For this year?
982
:For next year?
983
:Yeah.
984
:I'm moving my family back to Australia,
which has been, it's only 26 years.
985
:I've been based in Europe, actually,
so I'm I'm not going to know myself
986
:in Australia, but that's, in my personal
life, a big thing.
987
:I did get married this year as well.
988
:I, we,
989
:I, I'll be working more on my race,
the great Ocean road race in Australia,
990
:doing more things in Australia,
of course, obviously being based there.
991
:But it's been an interesting thing
that I have to say that with me
992
:cycling in the tours
and particularly being,
993
:I was nearly going to go to the tour de
France presentation today for this.
994
:But I have to say, it's been really nice.
995
:The first, group
996
:that I hosted was at the Giro d'Italia,
and we were staying in Como,
997
:and because I live 25 kilometre
or 25km from Como,
998
:I've got like a story to tell about nearly
every corner of every street in Como.
999
:But to be able to share that
:
00:50:34,614 --> 00:50:37,993
with my own, especially Australians,
but other anglophones.
:
00:50:37,993 --> 00:50:41,246
But having been a share, my experiences
of being in Europe, whether it's racing
:
00:50:41,246 --> 00:50:44,374
or racing,
culinary decides, politics or whatever,
:
00:50:45,083 --> 00:50:48,086
anything I've learned about this
time, it's just been a really,
:
00:50:48,420 --> 00:50:51,757
a really nice way to sort of be
at the races, enjoy the races.
:
00:50:51,757 --> 00:50:54,843
But, but better share it
with other people.
:
00:50:54,843 --> 00:50:59,056
And we had, and we were riding up
the Tourmalet, in July of this year.
:
00:50:59,681 --> 00:51:01,349
And there was a we had this guest.
:
00:51:01,349 --> 00:51:03,769
He was an awesome guy from Adelaide,
:
00:51:03,769 --> 00:51:06,772
and he just stopped and took a photo
and like nearly every switchback.
:
00:51:07,147 --> 00:51:10,817
But he just loved every metre of the
climb, every metre of every ride we did.
:
00:51:10,817 --> 00:51:13,570
It's pouring rain. It's so foggy.
This is fantastic.
:
00:51:13,570 --> 00:51:17,949
I just it just completely reinvigorated
my passion and appreciation
:
00:51:18,158 --> 00:51:21,578
for riding in, at least in France,
in this case in the Pyrenees.
:
00:51:21,578 --> 00:51:23,789
It was just
it was a really, really great experience.
:
00:51:23,789 --> 00:51:26,124
And that's
so I look forward to doing that again.
:
00:51:26,124 --> 00:51:29,127
Coming back for the Giro,
maybe some of the other, classics,
:
00:51:29,711 --> 00:51:33,757
next year and then the tour as well
with Australians, anglophones.
:
00:51:33,757 --> 00:51:37,094
But for the most part,
and that's been a great new experience.
:
00:51:37,094 --> 00:51:39,179
But of course, since stepping away from
:
00:51:40,180 --> 00:51:41,014
from being a rider,
:
00:51:41,014 --> 00:51:44,142
I think I've, it's been fantastic.
:
00:51:44,142 --> 00:51:48,939
I've gone into a race organisation
in the bike industry with BMC,
:
00:51:49,189 --> 00:51:53,527
then going back to the races of host
with a, with the, with a tour company.
:
00:51:53,527 --> 00:51:57,114
And I'm just so there you more a fan
as a spectator as well.
:
00:51:57,322 --> 00:51:58,907
It's really been a nice
:
00:51:58,907 --> 00:52:00,283
other than being to so concentrate
:
00:52:00,283 --> 00:52:03,328
on everything within the barriers
now been involved in sort of everything
:
00:52:03,328 --> 00:52:05,956
outside of the barriers,
which has just been a a great learning
:
00:52:05,956 --> 00:52:09,251
experience and,
you know, really, really enjoyable,
:
00:52:10,001 --> 00:52:12,462
enjoyable.
:
00:52:12,462 --> 00:52:15,048
Nearly ten years now, ten years next year.
:
00:52:15,048 --> 00:52:17,926
So next year's tour of France,
I will see you and my old friends.
:
00:52:17,926 --> 00:52:21,596
You had the great with cycling
in the first week of the Tour of France,
:
00:52:21,596 --> 00:52:24,599
because I'm going to be there
for Eurosport on a motorbike,
:
00:52:24,641 --> 00:52:25,392
and then we're going
:
00:52:25,392 --> 00:52:29,354
to have a coffee together in a village
de pas talking to tour de France.
:
00:52:29,354 --> 00:52:30,730
My very last question for you,
:
00:52:31,731 --> 00:52:34,651
who is your favourite and if it's Pogacar,
:
00:52:34,651 --> 00:52:39,239
what does Remco and Jonas
need to do to challenge him?
:
00:52:39,823 --> 00:52:42,826
Attack earlier? Attack later?
:
00:52:42,868 --> 00:52:45,495
Oh, Who?
:
00:52:45,495 --> 00:52:47,289
My favourite.
:
00:52:47,289 --> 00:52:49,499
Well,
I suppose my favourite tour guy probably
:
00:52:49,499 --> 00:52:52,502
was actually, Roglic.
:
00:52:53,753 --> 00:52:56,047
I just like the guy, met him know him
personally.
:
00:52:56,047 --> 00:52:56,882
I don't know personally Vingegaard,.
:
00:52:56,882 --> 00:53:00,468
I don't know personally
Pog, Evenepoel either.
:
00:53:00,969 --> 00:53:05,056
But I think he's just incredible
in this talent.
:
00:53:05,056 --> 00:53:07,726
What he's doing
is just absolutely incredible.
:
00:53:07,726 --> 00:53:08,768
Amazing.
:
00:53:08,768 --> 00:53:11,605
I mean, all of his talent, but I,
:
00:53:11,605 --> 00:53:14,608
I think I think I sort of
:
00:53:14,774 --> 00:53:17,777
of either of those three,
I probably probably
:
00:53:17,819 --> 00:53:20,947
in terms of a fan, I'm probably more
an Evenepoel guy, to be honest.
:
00:53:21,489 --> 00:53:24,910
He’s sort of just the quiet achiever
just goes right.
:
00:53:24,910 --> 00:53:26,328
And he's just very calculating.
:
00:53:26,328 --> 00:53:29,080
I think he's also a very well rounded,
well rounded rider.
:
00:53:29,080 --> 00:53:35,295
And he's really gone beyond what, what,
just I know, I just seem to like him.
:
00:53:35,295 --> 00:53:36,254
Him as a rider.
:
00:53:36,254 --> 00:53:39,549
Just just a little bit more,
with all respect, obviously to Vingegaard
:
00:53:39,591 --> 00:53:41,927
and Pogacar
they're not just the best riders
:
00:53:41,927 --> 00:53:45,931
at the moment, like the best
Grand Tour riders for at least decades,
:
00:53:45,931 --> 00:53:48,225
if not generations and generations
before them.
:
00:53:48,225 --> 00:53:51,228
So, but we're in this period.
:
00:53:51,353 --> 00:53:56,775
I probably I'm quite I'm glad I'm a spectator and a fan now, rather than a rider.
:
00:53:58,443 --> 00:54:01,696
Cadel, thanks for sharing your insights
and thoughts with us.
:
00:54:01,696 --> 00:54:06,284
Thanks a million for being our guest today
on the old tandem with Bobby and me.
:
00:54:06,660 --> 00:54:10,205
It was absolutely fantastic
to catch up with you and maybe
:
00:54:10,330 --> 00:54:12,040
getting closer to next is tour de France.
:
00:54:12,040 --> 00:54:16,127
We might invite you back for
another update on your experience of that.
:
00:54:16,670 --> 00:54:19,214
Thanks again
one more time for being our guest tonight.
:
00:54:19,214 --> 00:54:20,632
Thanks, gents. Thanks, Bobby.
:
00:54:20,632 --> 00:54:22,175
An absolute pleasure to be here.
:
00:54:22,175 --> 00:54:25,637
And, Odd
Tandemit is a bit of an odd tandem.
:
00:54:26,179 --> 00:54:28,223
I hope I can be back with you sometime
soon.
:
00:54:28,223 --> 00:54:30,558
Thanks, guys.
:
00:54:30,558 --> 00:54:32,018
That's everything for this week.
:
00:54:32,018 --> 00:54:35,981
Now remember to follow us at Odd Tandem
on TikTok,
:
00:54:35,981 --> 00:54:40,151
Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and wherever
you get your favourite podcasts.
:
00:54:40,735 --> 00:54:43,446
Thanks to Cadel for joining the podcast.
:
00:54:43,446 --> 00:54:47,242
Also, please remember
if you want to see the video version
:
00:54:47,242 --> 00:54:51,454
of this podcast,
it's up on our YouTube channel right now.
:
00:54:51,621 --> 00:54:58,086
Youtube.com/OddTandem
and if you want the full, uninterrupted
:
00:54:58,086 --> 00:55:02,090
version of this podcast in your name
in the titles, just head to our Patreon
:
00:55:02,090 --> 00:55:06,803
where you can sign up for $5 a month
in order to keep this podcast going.
:
00:55:07,095 --> 00:55:13,852
That's patreon.com/oddtandem,
and thank you to our Patreon members!
:
00:55:13,852 --> 00:55:17,605
Scott, Steven Kimbrough, Marie Teixeira,
Jeff Kralik,
:
00:55:17,772 --> 00:55:20,900
Brian Colon, Chris Merritt,
Tim Farriss, Jim,
:
00:55:21,234 --> 00:55:24,154
David Swartwout, Bill Babcock,
:
00:55:24,154 --> 00:55:26,906
Randy Corbett, Nancy Ness,
:
00:55:26,906 --> 00:55:30,327
Michael Terblanche,
Jim Burns, Swim School Bob,
:
00:55:30,452 --> 00:55:35,790
Steve, Scott Nabors, Joseph, Philip Shama,
Mark Payne, Steven Martin,
:
00:55:35,999 --> 00:55:40,253
Jeff Seckendorf and Jeff Hartley
who've done just that.
:
00:55:40,337 --> 00:55:43,298
And remember, if you want your question
:
00:55:43,298 --> 00:55:48,219
in our next mailbag episode,
make sure you keep sending us
:
00:55:48,219 --> 00:55:53,683
your questions
to OddTandem@shockedgiraffe.com
:
00:55:54,059 --> 00:55:57,896
or any of our Odd Tandem
social media channels.
:
00:55:58,313 --> 00:56:01,775
And please keep sharing the podcast
and leaving your reviews
:
00:56:01,775 --> 00:56:02,942
wherever you're listening.
:
00:56:02,942 --> 00:56:05,612
It really helps us to build our audience.