The racing season is over but the pods continue and we’re beefing with Geraint Thomas in this week’s episode. The recently retired Welsh legend told Cillian to ‘get back in his box’ on Watts Occuring last week, but our Irish hero claps back. Tasty! Harry then starts a beef of his own, and of course, there are stats, lots and lots of stats.
It's Worlds week, but that's not enough for some riders, as the boys discuss why so many great GC riders over the years have been crap at the worlds and one-day races in general. Is the Worlds not enough for you, lads?! Somebody get Pierce Brosnan on the blower.
No, not that much-loved prime time British gameshow but your favourite fun fact-based cycling podcast back for its regular emission, this time inquiring into when a race is worth the effort for riders and fans.
Inspired by goings on at La Vuelta, we take the Delorean to 88 for some adjacent facts/stats from days gone by, Harry reports back from taking the tumble at the Geraint Thomas retirement tour, Cillian issues a gentle rebuttal to a fellow podcast, Stu offers a rendition of some inspiring words dredged from LinkedIn, before we all delve into the mailbag for some global fan action and find out what Cillian's been doing fraternising with a Frenchman on the tellybox.
It’s a topical statistic this week as we discuss the upwardly-mobile Tom Pidcock and his enormously inflated pay packet, along with other poor value for money cyclists (we’re looking at you, Carlos Rodriguez). Harry gets all misty-eyed at the thought of an Englishman up on GC at La Vuelta and Cillian goes on a rant about Pidder’s pampered pooches before we talk about cycling as ‘content’ and whether some cyclists should just focus on doing viral stunts rather than actually, you know, racing.
It's two pods in two weeks as the lads come roaring back into form just in time for the final grand tour of the year: the Vuelta. They discuss why everyone hates the race, Cillian has a semi (topical stat), Harry tells a crazy story about French pros taking sleeping pills, and there’s more Jens Voigt chat. Shut up DNF!
The boys are back after a long (long) break, and while there is a topical statistic – always a treat when Cillian keeps things relevant – to kick things off, this episode is more of a post-Tour post-bag special. There’s excellent correspondence on OTLs, English Scotsmen, Sad Pog, UCI rankings, downhill racing, and much more!
After a brief pod hiatus due to boozy Center Parc holidays and work trips to the tax-dodging home of pro cyclists, Andorra, the boys are back and ready to stat. Cillian has incontrovertible* proof that Ireland are the greatest cycling nation of all time, but what happens when an Irishman, a Scotsman and an Englishman talk nationalities? A huge debate that almost ends in tears. Don't miss this one...
* Not incontrovertible, at all.
We don’t do Tour previews here on DNF, but we do still talk a little bit about the very big bike race that’s about to happen in France as Cillian brings a Grand Tour champion-related stat. Our resident statto is hard at work prepping for his debut as the official numbers man for his corporate overlords this July, while Harry is very nervous that he’ll make a complete bollocks of a stat and get in trouble. The Tour is almost here!
This episode starts with Cillian telling a true shaggy dog story before presenting our stat of the week: a neat little number about Geraint Thomas at the Tour de France. The boys discuss the Welshman’s incredible longevity and versatility, Cillian challenges Harry and Stu to a quiz, and there is the usual excellent correspondence from our brilliant listeners.
It’s a big, somewhat wobbly step away from the usual format this week on DNF as Cillian decides to bring ALL of his Dauphine stats to the table in one go. We discover how long it’s been since a French rider won a World Tour stage race (answer: a very long time) and who the youngest rider ever to finish the Dauphine was – and he also finished in the top ten! And if those facts sound underwhelming, don’t worry, our mailbag is bulgier than ever, and the correspondence has been truly top notch, thanks all!
Pog. Ving. Remco.
Cycling's 'Holy Moly' trinity are racing together this week at the Dauphiné - a real rarity as Cillian's stat reveals. We discuss whether they should compete against each other more or not, which one of them is our favourite, why Ving doesn't do the monument classics, does anyone care about 'One Cycling' or not, and much more. There's also a bulging mailsack of listener emails, and, of course, we refer back to Jasper Philipsen Toiletgate...
As we settle in for a rip-roaring final week at the Giro, Cillian uses the magic of stats to ask the question: "What makes a great grand tour?"
Harry tells some disappointing (for him, at least) stories about spending a few days with Jasper Philipsen last week, the group debate the merits of time trials (boring!) before pondering whether the first two weeks of the Giro has been absolutely fascinating or rather dull.
Oh, and did Cillian mention that he's done the Etape before? All that, and much more from your home of unprofessional cycling: DNF.
It’s lucky no. 13 for DNF as the boys discuss why Italy hasn’t had a good GC rider since Vincenzo Nibali in the latest episode.
Harry tells us about the Shark’s enviable Lego collection while Cillian reveals a life in gambling before the trio debate the merits of gravel stages in grand tours (the argument is one-sided–we love them).
After a week off, the DNF trio are back and firing to preview the Giro (sort of). In this episode, we discuss why Giro winners never return to defend their title, Cillian is dethroned as the king of the funky penis, Harry has continued problems with bonking, and Stuart recalls being on the mountain when Tom Dumoulin almost sh*t his bibs.
In this week’s episode, Cillian brings an entirely un-topical stat to the table – one relating to Chris Froome’s never-ending pre-retirement tour – but the boys have a merry old time discussing it anyway. There’s talk of Andy Schleck’s boyish charm, tarnishing your reputation for cash, more superb listener emails, and tall tales from La Redoute to finish off.
Double digits for DNF and a triple for MVDP, what a weekend in cycling.
The best UK cycling podcast (verified) returns to unpick a topical statistic. Harry knocks off a Belgian's triple (think baker's dozen) of heady blondes, Stu sees unseasonable Scottish weather, and Cillian has his aunties round for tea before getting into the meat and potatoes of this week's fact. Adjacent topics include race names, pronunciations, whether perceived (or received) wisdom is any use, and some toast pops up (again).
A bulging email inbox also returns – send yours to didnotfinishpod@gmail.com – and we round out with a bit of John Williams and a longing for cycling's equivalent of the Drake v Kendrick feud.
See you in the douches!
In episode 09 of DNF Harry is in a campervan somewhere between Ghent and Oudenaarde having just witnessed not one but two rainbow winners at De Ronde, and a few more besides. Rainbows abound! Magic.
After briefly basking in tales of watching racing and going roadside, Cillian regales the fellas with a topical week's stat – a triple rainbow on the podium at the men's race, which has not been done for a surprisingly long time. How long, we hear you ask? Listen in to find out.
We also briefly discuss Belgian beer (of course), the genesis of Johan Museeuw staying dry at Vlaanderens Mooiste, bike changes and getting lost in your own museum, plus a tantalising tale from Harry's pro cycling pillow talk palmares.
There's also an end to the email drought of 08 – thanks listeners! Send future correspondence to didnotfinishpod@gmail.com for consideration (we love it).
Come away in!
For episode 08 of DNF, we join together to celebrate the life and rides of Primož Roglič—the greatest stage racer to never win the big one. Cillian, Harry and Stu discuss whether we care about the ‘other’ jerseys in a race, Wout van Aert’s demise as a race animator, and the numbers on your toaster. Cillian then has a radical plan to make racing more exciting in the boring middle bits, Harry brags about being inside Philippe Gilbert's 27 million euro apartment, before Stu tells us about the time he almost shared a cryo-chamber with Rog.
Why do so many riders obsess over Milan-San Remo? And who have got the closest the most times without winning? After a barnstorming Saturday of San Remos, with both the men and women serving up a gourmet feast of tasty racing, Cillian, Harry and Stu talk through what makes La Classicissima so fantastic for so many reasons. There’s also a homage to Elisa Longo Borghini, and stories of Juan Antonio Flecha, but most importantly, this week’s episode has a topical stat! Enjoy.
It’s the week of Tirreno-Adriatico and Paris-Nice in bicycle racing, and our factmaster Cillian brings a stat about his legendary compatriot and namesake Sean’s success at weeklong stage races. We also talk Strade Bianche, Demi Vollering as a great new cycling villain, and whether Pidcock should have stuck the knife in, before finishing up with a couple of bonkers reader emails.
Long live Ireland's Sun King!
