Tils: Well, welcome back all of our domestics to the podcast. A massive thank you to everyone who tuned in last weekend. We had 125 % increase on listeners last year. All the peekers got around us. So hopefully you've returned for this week, but we got a huge amount of love. last week so thank you if you messaged, you commented, you tuned in or shared it with a mate. A massive thank you. We come here weekly, talk about our opinions, try to give you the best of local and global news in cycling and try to do it a little bit differently from everyone else. So big thank you for joining us and all the support and love. Today's pod we're going to cover Grafton in Burrell, Perry Neese has been on alongside Torino Adrago. The women's binda has also been on, one of the best women's races and one of the oldest. And of course the monuments, Milan, San Remo, the classics are well and truly kicking off MSR with this weekend. Before we get into it, Black Sheep Cycling, they're our premier partner. They have the Brisbane Roubaix. It's in two weeks time. So if you're up there around Brisbane on the 29th of March, they've got a couple of distances, a really, really good event to get involved in, and they've got some new kit coming out shortly. So make sure you've signed up to their e-newsletter. And also there is a big signing Hollywood. We can't announce it yet, but there is a big black sheep signing coming up. It's pretty much the Marin of Oz. Hollywood: ⁓ yes, yes, yes. Tils: I'll give you that, it's not Marion Vos, but it's very much like Marion Vos is coming. Hollywood, how was your post-Peaks week? Hollywood: Yes. ⁓ It was pretty quiet. I did do Hell Ride Saturday with Marco, which was nice. It was good to do that. Then yesterday I rode to Safety Beach and I thought to myself, how the fuck do I do Peaks last week? Because I could not, I struggled to make it to Safety Beach. I couldn't be bothered. We stopped about eight times. I had about 15 chocolate bars and cakes. And I thought, how did a week ago I do... Sub 8 when I'm limping to Safety Beach, 130 Ks, I just, my motivation has gone. And then when the mind switches off, ⁓ man, the legs just will not work. So yeah, it's a bit yuck at the moment, but I'm sure I'll bounce back in November. Tils: Sixth time. God, could try to get you, make sure you don't fall off the cliff too far. Marco, it is a bit like that. And Lee and I went riding quickly around the boulevard and it felt like the back of falls, which was about, I don't know, 50 meters. And I was struggling. I was struggling to get up the hill. There is something around when you switch off and you enjoy that recovery that the body really knows that, yeah, you're in a Rico mode and. Hollywood: Yeah... Yeah... ⁓ that's right. Yes. We both were. Marco doesn't know recovery. wouldn't, he wouldn't, he doesn't. Yeah. Marko: That's where you're wrong. That's where you're going wrong, Tills. Just, if you never stop. I think this is something like an alcoholic says, isn't it? It's like if you never stop drinking, you don't get anything out of it. Like that with training. Just keep it rolling. I, as I said in last week's pod, I actually had a ⁓ bit of a sore throat coming on and I was like, ⁓ god. I'm like, this is bad. Like, I never get sick, but, ⁓ fortunately, ⁓ not even an illness wants to live inside this body, so, ⁓ Tils: Yeah, I know that's... How was your week Marco? You just kept it flying. Hollywood: Yeah, yeah, it's true. Ha ha. Tils: Hahaha! ⁓ Marko: It was gone within 12 hours. I was good. I was back. was back to the Belgium on Wednesday and the teardrop was keen for Wednesday night, but um, got rained out so I just rinsed myself on the ergo instead to make up for it and um, held right on Saturday and uh, then drove to Bright and did a fantastic gravel race in Bright run by Rowan Adams. So I have to give a shout out to Rowan. Puts on an excellent show. I don't know if you guys are familiar with some of the stuff that Rowan does, but... Hollywood: ⁓ god. Tils: Mmm. Yep. I do know Rowan Adams. Yep. Mmm. Hollywood: It's right in the home. Marko: Yeah, Roland Adams, big hill events. He puts on so many races all year long, mountain bike and gravel, and just like keeps pushing and pushing and pushing, even though some of them don't get much support and he has to then can them. He keeps on pushing, pushing, pushing, trying. Did a great race. It was really, really good. ⁓ Very well organised. Some really nice prizes. I won some beer, wine, chocolate and a nice voucher. So I was stoked, but it was excellent. The weather was perfect. Finished at the Bright Brewery and... ⁓ Tils: Hmm. Marko: had a refreshment and jumped back in the car and booted back to Melbourne. yeah, was a really nice weekend and week since peaks, but certainly a little bit of fatigue, know, fluffing around in the body. You can feel a sort of a deeply in there, but you just, you know, you just push that deep down much like your feelings and just don't pay attention to it, Hollywood. Tils: Honestly, I had a very social weekend and it was so much harder than training for peaks. Like I was on the floor by Sunday night. The social battery was up, but the energy, it was... Hollywood: ⁓ yeah... ⁓ god, I limped around pickleball. I could hardly move around the court. I felt like a sloth because honestly I've eaten. I was so disciplined prior to peak, so disciplined with my food and then after it I've just been a fucking sloth. I've eaten that many cakes, biscuits, ice cream, chocolate. just Pepsi Max. I just going so hard and I just was felt like a sloth at pickleball. I really did. I've got to snap out of it. Back to tuna, brown rice and avocado for lunch today. So hopefully I'm on the right path. Tils: I think you just need to pick a date, like just go crazy and then when's the date or you get a day or the balance, the balance, the balance. Yeah, but the date that you picked was in nine months time. Hollywood: again. Yeah, but then I did that last year, then I blew out to 88.9 kilos and it was so far. Yeah. ⁓ Tils: Like pick a date in like three four weeks that you're like, okay I'm coming back because it is very important to have had time off reconnect with your loved ones stop living like a monk and make sure particularly if you've got family or a partner that you pull your head in and Hollywood: you Yeah, I guess I go overseas though in July. So even though you do ride overseas, it's not like riding here where you're trained properly. When you're overseas, you're just fluffing around doing Insta stories and just like cruising around with Ali going slow. when I get back from overseas, I'll step it up. Tils: Hmm. Speaking of gravel events, Bicycle Network, they have heard everyone, there was huge demand for it. They've got the gravel Macedon coming back on the 17th of May. So if you're around for that, really, really nice. It's not a race, it's just a really good local gravel event happening on the 17th of May. It's early bird pricing at the moment, so make sure you check that out. Marco, you and I will be in seven that weekend. We're heading across to the west. So if you're not taking on the UCI gravel events, we'd recommend checking that out in Victoria, otherwise we'll see many of you over in WA. But speaking of local racing, let's get into some of the Pro Velo Super League. I was there on the mic with Keenan on Sunday doing the highlights of the Grafton to Inverrell and then doing the... call for the crit, which who knew in Varell has a purpose-built crit course, which is unbelievable. And it was a really good course. It was about a four minutes a lap in the women's and yeah, really, really cool. But. Marko: That's news to me. Tils: I think the Grafton at some times gets undersold against the Warney but it's over 65 years old the Grafton and it has produced some absolute champions in the area. It is a race for the men of over 230 kilometres, over 2000... 500 meters, like it's a really hard day out. It is one more for the climbers and then the women do a shortened version. They start at Mount Mitchell so they don't do the actual Gibraltar range, which is an 18 kilometer climb. ⁓ But looking at the coverage Marco on the men's side and how that race played out, they, it was actually like, it was a better. race in terms of race dynamics and tactics than the warning I would say just because so much was changing at the front it was unbelievably aggressive they had a tailwind they were 20 minutes quicker than last year averaging close to like 48k like it was it was so so quick um on men's sides and just attacks after attacks and in the end and they were on their hands and knees at the at the finish and it was Finlay Walsh I think Liam Walsh's brother from Cache Brody WAP who's known more as a climber up there at the Bower Morrill ⁓ cycling club. ⁓ He got the win ⁓ over Lyndon Milostick, whose father was both in the race and has also come second at this event. So very much keeping it in the family for team Roland. Jeremy Smith took it for Butterfields and it was team Brennan. They had Levi Hone in ⁓ fourth position. yeah, really, really strong racing. in the man's graft in Toonvril. Marko: Yeah, it was issue with the Grafton is the ⁓ the reception's so shit that you can't actually follow the race. It's it's like terrible, terrible through a lot of it where you can't actually know what's going on in the race so it's hard but I've always loved Grafton, such an excellent race, really well organised, ⁓ bit of a shame there, New South Wales you often struggle to get the full rolling road closure so you're often pushed to the one side of the road and you've got oncoming traffic so that's always a part that I don't love about the race but... Tils: Yeah. Marko: in terms of the course and the history and everything like that it was um I've always loved doing the Grafton um and yeah I enjoyed watching I mainly just watched the highlights back um because I was on the car all day on Saturday so I didn't really get to have a close look at it so I went back and watched and I did really love the um the basically after I guess the uh whacking we gave the Brenning guys anyway and how all the major teams raced at the Warney they came out firing in this Grafton it was just so aggressive Tils: Yeah. Marko: the whole race, people launching and then defending champion Tristan Saunders went on a big solo mission. He got brought back by the Kane Richards moving, Elliot Schiltz, Finlay Walsh. It was actually really exciting. Even when Brendan Davids went, it looked like he might be able to go the distance and then Kane Richards come charging past and it looked like they got to the last climb. They just all raced such an aggressive race. then anyone who actually did a decent job conserving, which Lyndon Molostic, I think you said Pete Molostic was his brother. Tils: Mmm. I did. I did at one point and then I... yeah. Marko: in the cover, but Pete Molostick's, yeah, Pete's been racing forever and a day and yeah, such a weapon, but Lyndon's been doing great, ⁓ doing really well on my wish. Yeah, yeah, but Lyndon's been getting better and better, certainly more of a climbers build and he launched at the bottom of the last climb, ⁓ opened up a decent gap and then... Hollywood: Oh god, 100 years. Tils: Yeah. Peter, it was a compliment. If you listen, I was complimenting you, brother. Sorry, and with that Marco, Big Kane Richards came out of nowhere. He was represented in Team Roland as well. So they were, yeah. Marko: Yeah, yeah some really strong riders there and then I haven't actually raced Finlay Walsh much before or Finn. He just whacked it from behind and just rode everyone else off his wheel. So powerful. Rode across the Linden, they obviously kept riding through to the finish and then they nearly had the two guys coming back onto them, the end with Levi and Jeremy Smith. Also haven't been across Jeremy Smith for Butterfields there as well so... Tils: Mm. Mmm. Marko: a few guys popping out and then Finlay Walsh just absolutely towered them in the final sprint which is an amazing ride for Keish and really really exciting for them on the same time that Liam Walsh then went and got second at the Tour of Taiwan so um the Walsh are doing bloody well but yeah that was amazing win quite young as well so I think it was really exciting race I know just purely from a power point of view I saw a couple guys around that 310, 320 normalised power for five and a half hours so Tils: Mm. Yeah. Marko: Out of the guys that were ripping it was really really aggressive ⁓ Super exciting racing and anyone that wins that race as well deserves So yeah kudos to all the guys who made it such a great race I think that was the way to do it after a disappointing from a viewing perspective in the warning Yeah, it was really exciting having the guys the strongest guys all going at each other Hollywood: Wow. Tils: No. That's disgusting. Yeah. Yeah. And one of the, it's a bit harsh to say it loses. ⁓ but one of the disappointments for themselves was, ⁓ Pat Eddie that day, he was really targeting it and had a mechanical in the last part of that race and couldn't really, ⁓ contest, ⁓ into the, the last phases of that race. Olly Bledden also was up there. He ended up getting a puncture and had to try to make it back across. ⁓ so yeah, team Brennan were doing everything they could to try to have riders up there. ⁓ as always, you know, their team and they have such strong riders. Brendan Davis was a huge tractor for the team that day and was in all the right moves. But we then did the crit the next day, where Pat Eddy just pretty much took out all of his frustration. And it is actually the last race that he's going to do ⁓ as a part of the Pro Velo Super League. But they're a really strong group of seven went up the road on this purpose-built course, and they just chopped off. ⁓ all day really and then Dylan Proctor Parker went on and alas Hail Mary did a fantastic job almost looked like he was going to make it and Pat Eddy on his own bridged across and then dropped him into the finish. We heard from Pat at the very end that yeah I think just a bit of disappointment that he targeted the Warney and Grafton and neither of them worked out and now he will be going across to Europe. With team Brennan who are a new Conti team this year So it will be a big fight for Pat to try to get back into the world tour Peloton Marko: Yeah, definitely. And then the women's side tails run us through it. Tils: On the women's side, yeah, much shorter race, but usually it can mostly finish in a bunch sprint. Last year there was a group of five, but it was Kirsty Watts. They just led her up the road and that's a dangerous thing to do, particularly if someone who's got the under 23 individual time trial in New Zealand and she just powered away. She looked fantastic the entire time, held incredible form, got seven minutes at one point. some really shitty tactics were happening. ⁓ There was quite a bit of blocking happening from Team Red Cat towards Butterfields. ⁓ A lot of that was caught on the GoPro of a dead lynch as well. And there was actually a crash in that group as well that was caused. But... ⁓ Yeah, a lot of blocking and I think the hard thing is that the GC overall was starting to affect the individual race. And I just don't think that works out for anyone really. It doesn't work out for the race. It doesn't work out for the individual and most people just walk away with nothing. But we saw ⁓ Maria Laurie, another ⁓ Kiwi, she was second position. She was able to break away and Keely Bennett brought home a reduced bunch just ahead of the main bunch. ⁓ in front of Belinda Bailey and Sophia Salmon. So for Sophia Salmon, she hangs on to the overall, Olly Bledden hangs over to the overall in the men's. guys, we're already down to the last round. This is it. Pro Velo is about to be over for its second season. We head to Queensland this weekend to see if Sophia Salmon can hold it. Looks like Olly Bledden will hold it. ⁓ But I think people are missing that... If you can get some really good individual races and performances, it can go a long way. It's not just about trying to win the overall this year like it was last year. Marko: Yeah, I also think someone like Oli Bledden, after his ride at Nationals in the TT, being second there, did some good rides at our TDU as well, it's probably, yeah, I think now he's shown himself enough that I'm surprised that he already get a little bit of interest or a couple of nibbles from Europe. So winning this is a nice confirmation. There's no direct stage air, he's not under 23 anyway, but it's a, yeah, I think it's good to just get that publicity. Tils: Yeah. Mm. Marko: as well and I'm hoping that this will then lead to at least an opportunity while he's over in Europe this year with Brennan as well. ⁓ But yeah, it's a bit of a hard one sometimes for Aussies to get their foot in the door. Like someone like Liam Walsh who I mentioned before, second in a stage at Tour of Taiwan, by the fact that was on the podium at road nationals last year, won some races in Europe last year and still doesn't get even a pro-conti gig in Europe, it shows that it's really, really hard to... Tils: Eww. Marko: Unless you're an absolute standout that's dominating, it's very hard for Australian riders to get their foot in the door at the World Tour, but ⁓ hopefully this Pro Velo keeps getting that interest and it worked well for Jack Ward and Zach Marridge last year and I hope that the top sort of Tour 3 and the Pro Velo this year also get an opportunity to show themselves over in Europe. Tils: Yeah, well I think there were seven riders that went across Hollywood last time, so you go. Hollywood: Just while we're on Provelo, I want to cast our mind back to one of the great NRS writers and he sent me a message for you Marco and he has asked, next time on the podcast ask Marco why he hasn't got the official fastest time on King Lake. Marko: Joseph Cooper? Hollywood: Who do you reckon... Yes, Sir Joe Cooper, Sir Joseph Cooper. Yes, he sent me a message to pass that on, so can we answer that question for ⁓ Joey Cooper? Marko: I can't help that Joe sold he doesn't know how technology works and that he lost all of his Strava KLMs that I can't control that for Joe Yeah, he has some ripper times. He was unbelievable when it come to Strava times and yes I think Coops has about 15 seconds or so quicker than what I am up King Lake But I think he must have when he heard he's back at one point that you remove Strava put it back on and lost a hippo file So even I think Green Hill wrote in Adelaide Hollywood: ⁓ is that what happened? Tils: Hahaha Marko: I don't know if he's faster than Harper's current time, but yeah, he had some unbelievably fast Strava comms and yeah, now he's just chipping away, stuck in dad mode and messaging me as to why I'm not at Warney and why I'm not at Grafton and... Hollywood: Hahaha! Tils: ⁓ Let's just final thing on Grafton shout out to Rhino Keith, friend of the pods. You go Hollywood. Hollywood: Yes, I was going to mention that. What a big three weeks this guy's had. He's obviously done a Melbourne and Warrnambool and finished second in his age group category. Obviously got beaten by my teammate, actually, Shane Cockerill. So he got second there, then he's gone up and done Peaks and done, what's he done, a 730 something at Peaks. And then he's gone to Grafton and won his age group at Grafton to Inveral. So what a big three weeks for the great man. Marko: Mm-hmm. Tils: Yeah. And a reminder who Rhino Keith is for... Hollywood: 2012 Norm Smith Medalist, Sydney Swans Legend. Marko: He's absolutely beast on the bike. It's so impressive watching his ⁓ watching his yeah lovely fella But he was watching his development and how quick I guess it's just that he can't take that competitive nature out of people which is why I'm excited being a mad essence supporter seeing James Hurd on a bike and doing peaks I'm like now hoping that the Yeah, yeah, good. He can come pick me up for some coaching. I'm waiting here for him Tils: Yeah. Hollywood: Aye, and a good dude, and a good guy. Yeah, he's doing it next year. Ha ha ha ha ha Tils: ⁓ god. Well, Herdy was almost on the front page of the Herald Sun promoting Peaks Challenge this week, so... Hollywood: Yeah, because he said it was the hardest thing he's did. All I can say is he's lucky for his lovely daughter Steph because she waited for him and helped him get through. So she's a real champion. Marko: Yeah, impressive. Tils: Yeah. ⁓ let's roll on team to Paris Nice. ⁓ they used to call this race to the sun. I don't think we saw the sunshine as seeing like something's got to change with this race. It's now getting ridiculous. Hollywood: sun. ⁓ yeah, I know, it's getting worse, the weather. All I saw was Vindigard's ridiculous clothing choice. Tils: Well, Hollywood, let's come to the fashion corner. This is your input to this part of the segment. Thoughts? Thoughts? Hollywood: I just don't know how I feel about it. Because it's smart, because obviously he had to put them on afterwards or something. What happened? No, just know he had longs over the top of his kidneys. His straps were over his jersey. He wore them on the outside. Tils: So wind it back Hollywood on actually, do you know what, like, you know, yeah, yeah. Do you know what happened? So what happened was they planned that. So in the team bus, they had Victor Campenaerts of Vismalisa Bike, his teammate, he cut the shimmy out of those bibs. Then he cut the middle of the bibs and he wore those long bibs. So ladies and gentlemen, you missed it, was like sub zero temperatures. It was raining. It was like a Steve Bradbury moment. If you got through the race, you'll probably win. Everyone was falling over. Hollywood: looked ridiculous, like a farmer. Marko: Okay. Tils: He was so cold that he wore long bibs over the top of all his clothing, straps over his jersey, right? The plan was for his teammates to come behind him and rip the bibs off him. Marko: Like a stripper. Tils: during the race, like those pants you wear on a Saturday night and they just come straight off those Velcro ones that I've heard about. So they were meant to come up to him, rip them off. His teammates wasn't there and it got so cold and so hard that it never came off. So they'd actually planned it. They'd actually planned it in the team bus and then... Hollywood: Look at this trooper. Yes, yes. I would have stopped. Marko: He also had he had a rain jacket over the top of it too, so the brace wasn't visible at the start Yeah Hollywood: ⁓ I wanted to stop like I did at ⁓ Three Peaks at top of Twonga and just ripped it off and chased and got back on. ⁓ Tils: ⁓ But Ayuso, he was in the leaders jersey, he crashed out, was really disappointing. So it did become a bit of a one man show, Paris Nice with ⁓ Jonas Vindagor. But there were a few good moments. think the sprints, somehow Jensen Plaurart who got through that stage unscathed, at one point he was sitting ninth overall in GC. We saw, ⁓ you know, like Martinez isn't really known. Hollywood: Yeah. Tils: as being a GC rider. ⁓ He was sort of the most, I guess, giving it to Jonas Vindegaard. Kevin Vakulán, who the new signing for Ineos Grenadiers. A lot of these riders really missed out on that really hard day due to the weather. They lost a bucket load of time. We saw last night Lenny Martinez do an all out sprint and take the stage from Jonas Vindegaard, but he was never really under pressure and just shows again just how like another level above he and Tadde are from majority GC riders in the peloton Marco. How did you find the week? Marko: Yeah, yeah, it was alright. Like that filthy weather stage was interesting. Obviously it ruined, like the GC was over. Danny Martinez, since he was second in the Giro, when Pogacar won. Tils: Mmm. Marko: Couple years back he other than that. He hasn't really done much on the GC front the last couple of years He's sort of fallen down the pecking order a little bit at Red Bull there And just what specular was he's not in the same sphere as obviously Jonas and then only must have been sick because he had dropped off a little bit Since Algarve as well ⁓ Tils: Mmm. Marko: Kevin Vakalan was in really good shape but still he's not going to match Jonas on those sort of climbs. So at the end of the day was pretty, from a GC it was pretty weak depth of the field. Yeah, shout out to Jensen probably going top 20 overall. He actually held on there as well which is just unbelievable and that sort of racing. think I did say to a mate this morning, I was like do you think that Pog would be sitting at home laughing to himself that Jonas can't drop Lenny Martiners? Tils: You Marko: Like, I think, ⁓ you'd like to think if Poggy was letting it off, you'd disperse. And I know that Lenny can do some incredible 5-10 minute power if you give him a steep climb. He's what's peculiar, he's very good. But still, you'd like to think someone who wants a challenge for the tour would get rid of him. But Jonas, I think, is excited that he's come back up to a really good level because last year he never really got firing. The year before that he looked excellent until his big crash at Bass Country. Hollywood: ⁓ yeah, true. Tils: Mmm. Marko: So, ⁓ this is really, really good. Having this as his first race, he goes from here to Catalunya where I think you'll actually get to see him with a bit stronger competition. Cause once Ayuso was out of here, ⁓ Almeida didn't start with illness, Evo Mignolte, there's a few guys that dropped off. So I think Catalunya is going to be a really good test to see if he actually has taken a step back up in the right direction. And all these interviews are saying that he's hitting, ⁓ best ever numbers for this time of year. So, ⁓ Yeah, he's going through to Catalonia and then onto the Giro where he should dust everyone up. yeah, it was entertaining tools, but a little bit underwhelming ⁓ at points as well. Yeah. Tils: Mmm. Yeah, bit boring. Yeah. More and more I'm finding, let's move segue to Torino-Adriatico, is that is becoming the tour that is more engaging. And it's hard because Paris Nice has been the premier tour out of those two. And it's fantastic that SBS has coverage of it, but more and more I'm wanting them to cover Torino over Paris Nice. Because Torino we had... Hollywood: Mm. Marko: Some repository night. Hollywood: Yeah. Tils: The winners included obviously Ghana, we covered that with his TT, but the stunning, gorgeous Matthew Van Der Pol, what he was doing there. He took two stages. We saw Tobias Lund take a stage who was a main character at TDU. ⁓ Michael Valgren who finally took another win, pro win. think it's taken him four years for EF, which was fantastic. But of course, Isaac del Toro, he took a win in the leaders jersey and took the GC overall and the Jonathan head-bombing Milan took the final stage who ⁓ I'm just waiting for that front-enemy's bike to snap off one day. Hopefully it doesn't happen but yeah I think that this battle that was happening between the three of Pellizzari for Red Bull who's really good mates with Del Toro around the same age and then of course the likes of Matteo Jorgensen who's won here before but Del Toro got the better of both of them. Hollywood: Milan. Yes. Tils: and he won overall I think with about 40 second lead Marco. Marko: Yeah, well think, well Del Toro beat Pelasari in Lavonier two years back. well now in 2023 I think it was. So I remember that when they took the lead off Matthew Ricciatello and quite explosive racing. So they keep getting better and better. think Del Toro's hit the ground running a little bit better in the world tour, but it was really cool watching that first gravel finish. Van Der Poel was challenged really hard there by... Tils: Yeah. Marko: Palazari and del Toro there in the sprint, but then Vanderpool's next win there I mean well, it's just like Van Aert just makes some odd choices on that one where Jan Christian took a flyer towards the end and then Wout starts reacting and Garner comes flying and even though he knows Vanderpool's on his wheel he decides to hit out from that far out it's just um I feel like he's a little bit rattled there and not making like killer instinct sort of calls he's more just like trying not to try not to lose and then in the end he does lose from that but um Tils: Hmm. Marko: Vandepal look sharp as a knife heading towards San Remo. So that's a that's really really exciting and we all know that Pogge is doing ⁓ best ever numbers as well. So I think the ⁓ Trapressor will be really exciting there. And then from the rest of the race in there, Pelasari was really great on that second last stage on the hilltop. He actually took a good fly after Roglic had a crack. And I feel like if it wasn't for Uno X taking it up at the front for Tobias Johansson. He actually would have put Del Toro on a bit of pressure there, ⁓ unfortunately they panicked first, started riding hard, and then Del Toro just went, hummed him past and got the win there. it's really, really exciting. think now Del Toro has won UAE and Torino Adriatico this year, which is sort of continuing on from the form he had last year where he had, ⁓ he finished second best rider in the world, UCI points wise last year. ⁓ and I think going to Milan San Remo. He's gonna be the man to light it up for Pogge at the bottom of Chepressor and then on to Tour de France's today's right hand man there as well. So it's very, very exciting. But the only other shout out I'll make while I'm rambling on is ⁓ Sammy Wellsford. I feel like him getting not far off stepping off Milan in that final sprint. And if he had a clean Milan, close the door a little bit, which nothing untoward, but. Tils: Mmm. Marko: Just meant that Sam didn't get quite a clean run. Otherwise, I think he would have stepped around in which from Ineos's point of view after it took so long for someone to actually give him a contract I think that's huge for their confidence in him and I think you'll see Sam Wellsford grow and grow now That Ineos fully believe in that he can beat the best sprinters in the world Tils: Yeah, well before we touch on the women's race the weekend, let's just segue to the men's preview for Milan-San Remo. So as they call this, the easiest race to complete, the hardest race to win. It is because it is such a, I put it in italics, cruisy. ride ⁓ to the back end of this course. I think there's actually a website you can go to that is called Is Milan San Remo interesting yet? And it will tell you when you can tune in, which is usually around the last 30K. But we have the likes of where it goes up the suppressor and obviously the Poggio. It is one of the most electric best. Marko: Yeah. Tils: 10 kilometer finishes in the world. ⁓ But the writers that you just mentioned there, Marco Del Toro is doing Milan San Remo. Obviously you have Poggi doing Milan and of course the favorite in Matthew Van Der Poel. Marko: Yeah, well see Del Toro had his interview at end of Torino, saying he was really excited about San Remo. Last year his job was to light it up on the Chepressa, but he was terrible in positioning, so it ended up being Welland and Navarez, but both of those guys are out injured now, and he's come out and said he has zero personal goals there. His goal is to light it up for Pog on the Chepressa. ⁓ Tils: Hmm. Marko: And historically that Trapressor was too far to go, also not hard enough that it was actually split until last year, the first time ever. It's just annihilated up there, you only had Today, Vanderpool and Garner left, and then they worked together perfectly through to the Poggio to keep away. But for Light and a Struck twice to one to split it up there with the right combo, because I think if Pogacar actually got away solo there, I feel like there's enough numbers still together that through the valley they could chop off to Come back at him by the Poggio. So you kind of need, in my head you need company between the two. So for to have that perfect combo again where, you know, three guys get away over the top and then work perfectly together to the Poggio and then race up there. It seems unlikely but, ⁓ so I almost feel like Poggi-chan needs some company over the top but then I don't think he can drop Vanderpool on the Poggio if the same scenario happens again. Going by last year with Vanderpool taking a drink as Poggi was attacking. So yeah, I'm so excited for it. think it's one of the most entertaining races. Yeah. Tils: ⁓ no. The anticipation, like make sure SBS are covering it, men's and women's, do not ruin it for yourself. No, no, I'm not, on the bench, but, ⁓ not on the bench, but obviously we have a lot of very good commentators. ⁓ Hollywood: Are you commentating it? Are you commentating it? ⁓ wow. Who's doing it? Do you know who's doing it? Tils: No, I'm not sure. think I caught up with Grace Brown on the weekend actually. Shout out to Grace Brown any moment now. She could be in labor right now. Who knows? But a world champion is about to be born this week, ladies and gentlemen. ⁓ So yeah, no, like we've got such a world-class lineup. I think Caleb Ewan will hopefully be on there. The guy you would hope who came second twice, did he? Twice. Twice. Marko: Mm-hmm. Hollywood: ⁓ yeah, he's good. Marko: Yeah, Kayla would be great at calling that. I'd love to get his takes on the Poggio descent. ⁓ yeah. Hollywood: Yeah, he would be good. Tils: He'll definitely be on the call. Obviously Matt, maybe Brady, who knows? ⁓ yeah, so like it's just gonna be amazing to get his insights, I think, alongside the crew. ⁓ yeah, make sure you do not ruin it for yourself. SBS do such a good job where you can go into the On Demand app and just watch the half an hour highlights. will be everything you need will be in that half hour highlights ⁓ come Monday morning. Hollywood: or ID. Tils: Hollywood, it's your favourite race? Sunday morning, sorry, it's Italian, it's Italian, there's no racing on Sunday. ⁓ Hollywood, your favourite race? And yeah, Ken Milan, what can he do this time? ⁓ Marko: Sunday morning I believe, it's Sunday night. Yep. Yep. Hollywood: Yeah, my favourite race. Yeah, my favorite race. Yeah, I love it. Yep. I've done a music video. I did a music video up there, Trapressor, if you can remember. I've actually done a shot of music video out there. Doing... It's about white bibs and stuff. We'll put it up there. I'm sure John will link it somewhere one day. Good video, that. Marko: Can you sing it back to us Hollywood? Tils: Getting back, totally throwing me. I'm just thinking about your white bibs video. The women's over the weekend. Now, Trofea Binda, if you don't know the history, this actually used to be one of the main races that the women's professional peloton had. So it wasn't a world tour race it is now. But yeah, this used to be the... Hollywood: You Marko: You Hollywood: Wow. Tils: one day race for the women. we never used to have classics races for the women. So this was the biggest race. It's the oldest one day in the professional peloton for the women as well. So it holds a lot of history and the writers that have won this ⁓ is a prestigious list to be on. But it had all the big names as well. We had Puck Piteisay, Cassia was back, Naomi Rueg who won obviously Tour Down Under, a lot of Kapeki. Hollywood: Mmm. Tils: and a boss they were all there but it was UAE. just played this like a fiddle they had multiple options in every move and it was Carlyne Swinkles who got off the front with Anna van der Breggen. Van der Breggen tried to call a bluff she didn't do hardly any work ⁓ to try to stay away ⁓ and Carlyne Swinkles did it all but then was still able to roll Anna van der Breggen at the finish so what I would suggest everyone does go on to TNT on YouTube Hollywood: Mm. Tils: watch the highlights, it's six minutes, it's fantastic. ⁓ And this is a, yeah, just a really, really good race and a bit of a great lead up for the women, a fantastic one day Italian race ⁓ heading into Milan-San Remo, which, yeah, I think last year. So last year this was won by, let's talk about women's Don, Donne, won by Lorena Weibus. And what I think Marco is happening with the women. So I'm pretty sure last year was the first iteration of the Milan San Remo. Yeah, the first ever time the women had done it. And remember Milan San Remo on the men's side used to be a sprinters classic. It now has turned into, you know, the likes of Tadeu Picatra and Matthew Vanderpoel. ⁓ So I think that's what happened, has happened. Marko: The proper one, yeah. Tils: with the women's as well ⁓ and I think we may get another sprinter but I do expect that to change potentially over the coming years that we will get much some of the stronger climbers being able to take this on but it will be very hard to beat Lorena Weavis again this year I imagine. Marko: Yeah, I think they don't still have the depth in the teams to do the full blitz on the Chepressa and I think Weebers can last over the Poggio's distance anyway because she is quite a handy climber and at end of day if it comes down to a bunch sprint and she's there she's going to most likely belt everyone quite comfortably so I'd say Larina's going to win again but then that's two in a row of being quite dominant and you'd like to think then people start shifting their tactics a little bit and going alright Tils: Mmm. Yeah. Marko: this isn't a good idea to go to the end with her and then you have a few more people throwing their hat in the ring to try to make it a harder race and see if you can dislodge her but when the arena's on which is just I think too hard to drop on that sort of course without the full distance ⁓ to have a bit more fatigue resistance coming into it so but we could be wrong on maybe a late minute flyer could also get it as it has many a times in the the men's when they come off the Poggio and then someone takes their chance towards the end so We'll watch this space. Tils: Should we pick a pick an outside chance for men's and women's? Is he doing it? Hollywood: Luke Platt. He does it, doesn't he? ⁓ shit. Marko: He's not this year. No, he's ⁓ I think he's next race next race is Romandy ⁓ Also, he's just you battle too hard to go into the Chepressor ⁓ Now that that's the defining moment in the men's where typically it'd be hard up there and I'd get rid of a lot of the Volume of the bunch and therefore you'd have a better chance of positioning into the podger the way it's race now I feel like Luke could just be too far back into the Chepressor because everything I've read about that leading People are packing their decks pretty much like it's much like Tils: You can picture. Mmm, positioning. Marko: going into Arenberg so yeah it's quite quite hectic going in there ⁓ Tils: Mmm. You can have Mara Schmidt, Hollywood. Marko: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Hollywood: Yeah him, surely it can't be harder than like going into Oliver's on a sad day on hell ride. Surely it can't be like that, surely not. Tils: Oliver's. ⁓ interested to see what Tom Peacock could do. ⁓ I'll go and outside, you know, come on, Aussies. Kayden Groves, he's one of the Aussies that is on the start list. Good climber, but will probably be there obviously for Matthew Vanderpoel. Jasper Philipson, opportunities can he do? He's made that front group before. So it'll be interesting, Marco. Yeah. Marko: Well he's won it, he's won it before. He has won it before, Jasper. And like, I think, if it's coming back to a bunchie from that point, he should still be the favour, although he hasn't really shown any speed this year, because I think at this time of the year he tends to be trying to build for getting through Rude Bay, because I think he's been up there on the podium a couple of times ⁓ now, so I think Jasper probably has little bit blunt at his edge there. I'd say for my outsider, ⁓ maybe Matt Brennan. I think someone like that, if it comes back, because what I saying before that I think that it will blow apart on the Trapressor again. It just depends how many are left at the top, which I can't see it be more than four or five. But the chances of having a Garner and Vanapel only, that both of them are like, yep, this is a good scenario. Let's keep chopping off. I just can't imagine you get that sort of cooperation again. It's just too hard to see. Hollywood: ⁓ yeah good pick good pick Tils: Mmm. Marko: the perfect combination being there and I think if Pogchart is going so so well that he's solo I don't think he can hang off any tight like I know he does his solos all the time but this size of bunch he get over there should be different where they'll be able to mow him back so yeah I think it'll split and it might come back together towards the Pogchart some more attacks up there but a little bit of the Venom's taken out of the bite and then you might have your Van Art leading out to Brennan in the finale Tils: Mm. I'm gonna go then if we're going sprinters, I'm gonna go Tobias Anderson Who's already shown good form and I just think to Kathalon to Kathalon are everywhere They need to be at the moment So hopefully they will all be together at the end ⁓ on the women's side an outside chance Kat Ferguson the 19 year old What can she do ⁓ up with the big dogs in in the women's side? But obviously the heart pick would be ⁓ Lamborghini the Italian winning from the biggest one day Marko: or good. Hollywood: Yeah, they're going well. Tils: Italian races would be just beautiful. Hollywood: Mmm. Marko: I'd love to see that that would be excellent the the late flyer. I should really like the cat Ferguson picked hills I don't know if she's got the duration actually how long is the women's race this year's about 160 ish Yep Okay. Yeah, so I think from that Tils: Mmm. Yeah. 156, yeah. Marko: point of view, yeah, Kat could get through there. I think that's actually a really good get and she has some excellent speed on her, once again, I just really find it too hard to look past Lorena Wibbers winning ⁓ again and then I'd like to think moving forward changes and Kapecki hasn't really looked that dangerous yet this season. ⁓ Tils: It's a fantastic list though on the women's side. Vollering, Kapecki, Balsamo, Neodoma's back, Weebus is obviously there, Lecorte is there. Yes, so Mark, so Hollywood, you are going ⁓ for, no, you're going Marvy. ⁓ of course, UAE. ⁓ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, Yeah, you might. Hollywood: Who for J.Co? Who for J.Co? Mackenzie Coupland, is she doing it? Ruby? No, Marvie's not J.Co. She's not J.Co though. She's not J.Co. She's UAE. So who's on the start list? Ruby? Marko: Yeah, UIA. I did see Mackenzie Kooplin, our Australian champion, did win a race in Europe the other day, so that was quite exciting. ⁓ So nice to be able to throw your hands in the air while wearing the green and gold. Not that I'd know, but it sounds cool. Tils: She's doing pretty well, yeah. Hollywood: ⁓ yeah, on new bike too. Tils: We're going for Ruby or to be honest Paternoster she did crash at ⁓ to be honest or yeah if Ruby's doing it get around it not sure she's on the list but they have been doing the Italian classics so I expect her to be there. So yeah the the monument start that's really all I've got guys what are anything else want to pop off the pod with? Hollywood: ⁓ yeah. Yep. What did do last night? Tils: Hahahaha Hollywood: What did you do last night? Can't we unpack that? I asked for live updates on one of the chat groups I'm on. I didn't get any live updates, so I thought it must have been going well. Tils: Guys, I went on a date. We don't need to unpack it here on the pod. ⁓ Marko: Hehehehehe Tils: Stop it. Stop it. Anyway, very good. Marko: You did say, Tills, you had something to bring up with Hollywood in the pod. Hollywood: Yeah, what was that? Tils: ⁓ God now I've already forgotten. ⁓ no yes okay wait I remembered thank God Marco save me. We're thinking about doing Peaks Challenge merch bang bang. Now I just wanted to check with you what is the trademark cost of using the phrase bang bang? Marko: Yeah Yeah. Hollywood: Alright. Geez, I'd want... I would want a copyright of this. This is unbelievable. Wow, you steal my commentary lines when you're commentating now this. This is unbelievable. ⁓ good, definitely. Tils: We can pay you for the trademark. We are a not-for-profit though, so it'll probably be a dollar on the send. Marko: Yeah. No, you could get all different kinds of shirts. You could even get one like, you know, Bagnum style or something like that. Hollywood: you I know Giants done bang bang t-shirts before for Two Down Under for me. Tils: Yeah, yeah. Anyway, I think Peek's merch would really go off. we've already, I've already run a few designs into my Charlie chat GPT. So I'll check them off with you and you can let me know what the negotiating price for, but let us know Peek's merch for 2027. Should we order it? Hollywood: Peaks merch, aww. Marko: Yeah. Hollywood: Okay, no problems. Marko: Hollywood for sub seven and a half. We just need to find you. We need to find you another goal Hollywood We can't let you go and lose it again. I can't Yeah, I Can't take six months of you moping Hollywood: ⁓ God, no way. Tils: I know it's because you don't do gravel. Marco and I have gravel goals, so. Moping? You should feel my back after the winter carrying him around. Hollywood: It's so true. It's so true. Oh God, I know. I've been talking to my teammate Shantae, both whinging going, oh, I've got no motivation, blah, blah, blah. I was actually even gonna go for a run tonight. So if you do see something on Strava, I did go for a run tonight. I'm thinking about it anyway. Marko: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Tils: my god. Okay. Look out for the two hamstrings that have been torn off the bone. Marko: You ⁓ the Anzac... Anzac Day Classic Hollywood. That's where you gotta go with Carnegie Club. Hollywood: I always it's yeah it's a good race but it's always windy and miserable I just love watching the Anzac Dave clash between Collingwood and S and even though I don't barrack for either it's just such a great spectacle that game so yeah I don't know you reckon? Marko: It's not. SNL get done by 100 points, so ⁓ moving on. Tils: Alright guys, let's wrap it up. We're going to, for everyone that's joined us off our peaks pod, look we just had a bit of recovery week. We're not potentially at our best, but we will start getting our guests back on from the world tour and about, so stay tuned for all of that. We're gonna get a couple of big names who have been doing the biggest races in the world are gonna be joining us over the next couple of weeks. Milan San Remo this weekend, the last round of the Hertz Pro Velo Super League as well, so we're looking forward to that. I will be commentating. Hollywood: Will there be a second date? Tils: Yes. Don't think he listens to this one might be keener than the other But yeah big thing you to black sheep cycling for powering us along and Yeah, get involved in their event on the 29th of March And if not stay tuned for a couple new kids coming out and that big news who is their new signing? Big signing. Yeah, we will speak to you next week. Have a fantastic week everybody. Bye for now Hollywood: God. Yeah, the big sounding, big sounding.