Wheel Talk

Escape Collective

Weekly breakdowns of what is going on in the Women's World Tour plus exclusive interviews with professional riders and influential people in the sport. Hosted by Abby Mickey with Gracie Elvin, Georgie Howe and Loren Rowney. Escape Collective is member-funded. If you like this podcast please consider supporting us by becoming a member: https://escapecollective.com/wheeltalk/

Play

Open in

30 episodes
weekly
Avg 56 min
English

Episodes 30

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

Yesterday · 1 hr 5 min
The G.O.A.T. never left
Abby, Loren, and Gracie get together this week to talk about Marianne Vos's Gravel World Championships victory, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney's move to Lidl-Trek, and a couple other transfers to keep an eye on.
October 5 · 1 hr 19 min
Teamwork is everything (again) at European Championships
This week the band is back together! Abby, Loren, Gracie, and Georgie talk about the Dutch support for Demi Vollering at the European Championships, Laurens ten Dam, and the importance of the U23 category. They also dive into the Junior races and the need for an age limit in the WorldTour.
September 29 · 52 min
Montréal Worlds delivers pure entertainment
Another World Championships is over, and it was one for the books. The best rider in the women's peloton claimed the top step and a rainbow jersey she can wear for the next year, but her two top rivals gave her a run for her money. Abby, Gracie, and Georgie, joined by 2024 ITT world champion and Olympic gold medalist Grace Brown, to talk all about it.
September 21 · 1 hr 10 min
2026 Worlds road race preview
This week, Abby and Loren are joined again by Hannah Barnes Bewley and Anna Shackley to talk about the World Championship Time Trial, Marlen Reusser's rollercoaster season, why the Italians excel at national team events, and if Demi Vollering can win the road race on Saturday.
September 14 · 51 min
Demi and the Dutch WC team
Without World Tour racing to talk about, Abby, Loren, Anna Shackley, and Hannah Barnes discuss the Dutch World Championship selection, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's season, and the Faun Tour.
September 7 · 1 hr 1 min
The future of Mischa Bredewold
This week Abby, Gracie, and Georgie talk about the Classic Lorient Agglomeration, Mischa Bredewold's future, Elisa Balsamo, and the biggest transfers so far.
August 31 · 50 min
One epic climb, five months to prepare: Abby's Ventoux Challenge
As so many of these side quests do, this particular adventure started with an offhand remark on the Wheel Talk Podcast… This week we dive into Abby's self-inflicted five-month journey to beat a past version of herself up Mont Ventoux. Today, she sits down with the coaching duo who helped her through it - Lizzie and Phil Deignan. We will be back next week with more from the world of women's professional cycling. A written story is coming to Escape Collective later this week.
August 25 · 1 hr 15 min
What the Tour of Britain can tell us about the upcoming Worlds
The five-day Tour of Britain wrapped up on Sunday, and of the five stages, four were won by one ever-dominant rider. The one stage where another shone was a masterclass in bike racing tactics, but even though two riders topped the race, others proved they are coming into form just in time for the World Championships in Montreal in a few weeks.
August 17 · 1 hr 10 min
Lasting impressions of the Tour de France Femmes
Loren and Abby are back in the "studio" with Gracie and Georgie a week after the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Now that the dust has settled, the four talk more about their lasting impressions of the race, what went right and what needs improving in the future. Plus! The Lloyd's Tour of Britain is coming! With some big names set to race this week, it's going to be a fantastic edition of the long standing five day stage race.
August 14 · 49 min
Kate Courtney's road to LA 2028 with FDJ United-Suez
Before the start of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in Lausanne, Kate Courtney sat down with Abby and Loren to talk about her move to the WorldTour with FDJ United-Suez, how her first road races went, and why she values building her personal brand.
August 9 · 47 min
Tour Femmes Daily, stage 9: A definitive finale
With only eight seconds separating two riders, the final stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift came down to one final, absolutely brutal, stage in Nice. It was short, but packed a punch, and the overall classification was decided definitively. Abby, Loren, and Anna are here to talk about the stage and the final GC standings, with audio diaries from Nat Quinn (Mayenne Monbana My Pie), Franzi Koch (FDJ United-Suez), and Amanda Spratt (with a cameo from Niamh Fisher-Black) (Lidl-Trek).
August 9 · 20 min
Tour Femmes Bonus: Other stories from stage 7
Every person in the race, from mechanics to riders to directors, has a unique story from each stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Stage 7 was particularly chaotic, and we highlighted it on our episode from the stage, but Abby wanted to share two alternative views on the race: Shawn Clarke, Director for Liv AlUla Jayco, and Fiona Mangan, who rides for Mayenne Monbana My Pie.
August 8 · 1 hr 11 min
Tour Femmes Daily, stage 8: Let's rip up the script
If there's anything we've learned in the past eight days, it's to expect the unexpected. Any stage can become a GC stage if it's played right. The race is finally in Nice, with the final stage set on a hilly course in the hills, but FDJ United-Suez aren't here to wait for the finale, and 400 metres of road is all they need to flip the script. Abby, Loren, and Anna have made it to Nice, mostly in one piece, but can hardly belive the stage they just watched. With audio diaries from Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike), Nadia Gontova (Liv AlUla Jayco), Heidi Franz (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), and Pfeiffer Georgi (Picnic PostNL). Thank you to Lizzie Deignan for previewing the final stage and to Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly) for kicking off the episode.
August 7 · 1 hr 11 min
Tour Femmes Daily, stage 7: Celebrations on Mont Ventoux
Atop the iconic Mont Ventoux, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift shattered. Favourites suffered and celebrated; all while the roadside party chanted and cheered. Today, Abby, Loren, and Anna stopped by the Cheer Squad to talk to some old friends, including Iris Slappendel, Alice Wood, and Matilda Raynolds. They also ran into the Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney cheer squad, who perhaps just had the best day of their lives. With audio diaries from Pfeiffer Georgi (Picnic PostNL), Marion Bunel (Visma-Lease a Bike), and Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek). Stage analysis for stage 8 by Georgie Howe and Gracie Elvin, and a big thank you to Pauline Ferrand-Prévot for the stage introduction. The race is far from over, and far from wrapped. With two stages remaining, can the yellow jersey change hands (again)?
August 7 · 1 hr 6 min
Tour Femmes Daily, stage 6: Redemption
Sandwiched between a brutal stage on Wednesday and Mont Ventoux on Friday, the sixth stage could have gone to an early breakaway, a group of gutsy riders who attacked early and stayed away, allowing the GC favorites a break. Instead, eight women, all with something to prove, made the day theirs. After a season of setbacks, one woman earned redemption, as Mont Ventoux looms in the distance. The sixth stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift saw Kim Le Court-Pienaar take an incredible victory ahead of Cédrine Kerbaol and Puck Pieterse. The win was one she had to fight for, and even though she had some bad luck, the race repaid her in kind. With audio diaries from Liane Lippert (Movistar), Alice Towers (EF Education-Oatly), Alison Jackson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), and a stage 7 preview from Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal).
August 5 · 1 hr 1 min
Tour Femmes Daily, stage 5: Perfection amid chaos
Stage 5 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift was set to be a stage where the plan was mostly just a piece of paper, but as the day unfolded, a few teams found themselves in the perfect situation. After the hardest day at the Tour so far, three riders soared while others sank, and the general classification battle became a little bit clearer. With audio diaries from Sigrid Haugset (Uno-X Mobility), Alison Jackson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), Lily Williams (Human Powered Health), and Alice Towers (EF Education-Oatly).
August 4 · 1 hr 6 min
Tour Femmes Daily, stage 4: A spicy time trial in Dijon
The race against the clock on stage 4 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift shook the general classification and ruptured quite a few hopes. Abby and Loren saw the course before the riders raced on it from the follow cars of Liv AlUla Jayco and EF Education-Oatly, and it was not one for the faint of heart. It was for the pure time trialists, and they proved it. The yellow jersey changed hands, and Abby, Loren, and Alex were joined by the one and only Anna Shackley to talk about it. With audio diaries from Marlen Reusser (Movistar), Heidi Franz (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), and Juliette Berthet (FDJ United-Suez).
August 3 · 48 min
Tour Femmes Daily, stage 3: A long shot
Abby and Loren are back from the third stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, alongside Escape Collective Tech Reporter Alex Hunt. After driving the entirety of stage three, the trio discuss the real condition of the roads, how the winner perhaps had the upper hand, and more. Plus...bras? With audio diaries from Alison Jackson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), Lily Williams (Human Powered Health), and Nadia Gontova (Liv AlUla Jayco).
August 2 · 55 min
Tour Femmes Daily, stage 2: All in, every day
Abby and Loren talk about the second stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift with a little help from an old friend. Lidl-Trek tried to shake up SD Worx-Protime, and it almost worked. One of the best in the world continues to show why she has that title. With audio diaries from Amanda "Spratty" Spratt (Lidl-Trek), Lily Williams (Human Powered Health), and Pfeiffer Georgi (Picnic PostNL).
August 1 · 46 min
Tour Femmes Daily: GC battle on stage 1?
The crowds at the start of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift highlighted just how impactful the race has become. In the Grand Depart of its fifth edition, the Tour remains the biggest race for the women's peloton, with the best riders fighting for the win. All the top riders were at the front today, but one in particular proved herself the best and redeemed herself in the process. Abby and Loren report from the first stage of the Tour de France Femmes with special guest Andy McGrath. Before the stage, Abby sat down with Dominique Powers to talk about photographing the race and how she's seen the Tour change over the years. With audio diaries from Alice Towers (EF Education-Oatly), Nadia Gontova (Liv AlUla Jayco), and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike). Read Abby's story with Chrissie Wellington and Emma Pooley here. (edited)

Showing 1–20 of 30 episodes