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/

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23 episodes
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English

Episodes 23

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Tuesday · 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)
July 31 · 49 min
The 2026 Tour de France Femmes Contender's Preview
Every year the course changes, the contenders shift, but the Tour only grows in prestige. This year, the organizers have delivered what might just be the hardest course we've ever seen at the Tour. The time trial on stage 4 and the Queen Stage that finishes atop Mont Ventoux on stage 7 are standouts, but to win, every stage is important. Demi Vollering and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot might be the two everyone is talking about, but are Marlen Reusser and Anna van der Breggen the real threats in this Tour de France Femmes? Here is a breakdown of the true contenders for the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift: those who have been on everyone's lips, and those who have quietly targeted the Tour and will stop at nothing to take the top honors. Find the written piece here.
July 30 · 21 min
Niamh Fisher-Black is learning how to be a leader
A few weeks before the start of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, Niamh Fisher-Black was in a hotel in Andorra with Lidl-Trek already preparing for the biggest race on the calendar. Fresh off a gutsy ride that landed her fifth overall at the Giro d'Italia, Niamh spoke with Abby about her progression in the sport and why it's important to always find the fun in racing a bike.
July 29 · 21 min
Antonia Niedermaier has the best poker face for a reason
In the build-up to the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, we at Wheel Talk wanted to highlight a few riders. First: Antonia Niedermaier, German rider for Canyon-SRAM. Niedermaier finished second at the Giro d'Italia after a gutsy ride in the final stage. Going into the Tour, she will be riding support, but who knows what's next in store for this horse-loving phenom.
July 27 · 1 hr 32 min
The 2026 Tour de France Femmes Route (in detail)
With the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift starting on Saturday, Abby, Loren, Gracie, and Georgie break down the 2026 route in detail. Plus, Abby talked to Iris Slappendel about the Cheer Squad that will be on Mont Ventoux for stage 7.
July 20 · 1 hr 2 min
The Wheel Talk Tour de France Femmes Draft
This week, with the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift on the horizon, Abby, Loren, Gracie, and Georgie draft their own teams for the nine-day race. But first, they talk about the Baloise Ladies Tour and Kate Courtney's introduction to road racing with the top team in the WorldTour. A disclaimer: the finalized rosters for the Tour are not out, so the draft is based on assumptions. Adjustments will be made once the final start list is released.
July 13 · 22 min
Elise Chabbey talks pregnancy postive days before Giro d'Italia
This week on the podcast, Abby sat down with Elise Chabbey, top rider for FDJ United-Suez and winner of Strade Bianche, to talk about how she found out she was pregnant and what her thought process was after. With big goals on the horizon, what does the time away from the peloton mean for the Swiss rider, and for her team?
July 6 · 1 hr 7 min
Maternity leave and ice socks
This week, Abby, Loren, and Gracie talk about the recent news that Elise Chabbey and Emma Norsgaard are pregnant, Kate Courtney, ice socks and the future of the sport amid the recent heat waves, and BTS.

Showing 1–20 of 23 episodes