What We've Learned: Taylor Swift Fixes All
Criterium Nation
5 years or 5 episodes, it's all about celebration and a learning curve. Jordan Cheyne and Rob Kelly sit down and talk about what they've respectively learned about podcasting and North American bike racing over their respective tenures hosting a podcast about it. And yes, Taylor Swift can fix all problems.
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Mike Creed Tells It Like It Is
Criterium Nation
As a rider, Mike Creed raced on some of the most storied teams in North American cycling history, from US Postal to Slipstream to Optum Kelly Benefits. As a director, he guided the Smartstop team to one of the great underdog seasons in recent memory, featuring a win at Nationals. He now leads the charge at Aevolo Cycling, the premier US based development squad which will be part of the EF Education First organization starting next season. Mike has lived this sport for decades. Fortunately for us, he isn't afraid to talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly. Tune in for insight, entertainment...
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Potential Featuring Joe Laverick
Criterium Nation
When have we lived up to our potential? A lot of us never really get to answer that question; but rather must deal with the pitfalls life throws in our way. Some of us are lucky, or stubborn enough, to push on beyond those pitfalls and create opportunities for themselves when none present. That is the story of Joe Laverick of Ribble Rebellion. When opportunities did not present themselves at the close of his U23 career Joe set out to make his own, and found a willing partner in Ribble. Together they've built an impressive bike racing team that has come to the US and taken the fight to all the...
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Coming to America with Cecile Lejeune
Criterium Nation
At a time when many American racers are taking to Europe to race, Cecile has done the opposite. Trading in Mt Ventoux and baguettes for Mt Lemmon and burritos, Cecile is making the bike racing dream work in North America from crits, to UCI podiums to gravel wins. Whether it is for the adventure, the laughs or the complimentary French lesson-you don't want to miss this one.
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Into the Wild with Kimberly Lucie
Criterium Nation
New host, who dis? Can our Criterium Nation survive a new host? And a Canadian one at that? We are about to find out as retired pro Jordan Cheyne takes the front. But what better guest than the lead out woman herself, Kimberly Lucie of DNA Pro Cycling. Kim is one of the few bike racers in the peloton who can actually say they are really, genuinely, 100% a Tucson, Arizona native.
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Four Take Aways from Stage Race Season
Criterium Nation
We are now at the end of the beginning and poised for a new phase of the domestic racing scene. That means it is a perfect time for us to check in on what has happened, identify some solid trends and talk about all the takeaways that we can from the first part of 2024.
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What Happened with the NCL
Criterium Nation
On April 15 the National Cycling League shuttered its doors for 2024, and announced that it will focus on 2025. That has left riders and teams in limbo, and a lot of confusion as to what is happening. We are joined by journalist Logan Jones-Wilkins to help provide context and build a historical picture for what has led up to this point.
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The Project Echelon Files: The Working Man Pro with Matt Zimmer
Criterium Nation
Job, wife, child, pro bike racer. That's a full day and for Matt Zimmer that's his reality. He's come a long way since being the high schooler in Iowa who just raced bikes, and he is here to share that journey with us along with tidbits about racing in Europe and how we can make racing here more inviting.
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Reputation with Jordan Cheyne
Criterium Nation
Your reputation is who you are before you actually arrive. It's the version of yourself that stays behind long after you have left. It opens doors and definitely gets some doors closed very hard. In bike racing your reputation is just as important as the results that you put on your race resume. This episode we talk with retired pro and current stand up comedy star Jordan Cheyne about reputation.
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Season Opener 2024
Criterium Nation
There are a lot of firsts that are set to happen this year, one thing that we are very proud of is our effort to be the first to bring data into American bike racing. It's all in an effort to do what has not been done before which is to set basic standards within our community. By building a medal count and collecting data on who is winning the biggest events in the country we are poised to help the fans follow the sport closer and at a higher level of education than previous. So let's get this party started with Allan and me, sitting on a couch.
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The coronavirus pandemic may be a defining moment in our lifetimes, and it certainly has been a story that has, and will continue, to dominant the world and our news cycles. It definitely has had an impact on our lives including the sport of bike racing. With events being postponed/cancelled, and an uncertain future, we are confronted with options on how to respond. In this episode we change the script a bit and talk with four different people from four different parts of the sport to see how it is effecting them.
First we speak with Bill Schieken, @CXHairs on Twitter and Instagram, about his views on the impact the virus has had on the cycling season and the emotions that come with it. Then we turn to Zack Allison, @zacharylallison on Instagram, a cycling coach for Source Endurance (www.source-e.net), a pro with Team CLIF Bar Cycling, @clifbarracing on Instagram, and an event director for the FoCo Fondo, @focofondo on IG. Zack tells us how he’s approaching the situation when it comes to his event and how Team CLIF Bar is managing to maintain its focus without racing.
Up third is Ali Sheehan, @ali.sheehan on IG, you may remember her British accent from last season’s show about her journey to the US from England to explore our crit scene. She had an adventure three times as large planned for this year and because of the virus it’s all been interrupted. That would upset the best of us; but Ali shows us how she’s managing and keeping a positive attitude despite it all. The episode wraps up with Adam Pulford, @coach_AP on Insta and Twitter, a cycling coach for Carmichael Training Systems (trainright.com) and provider of perspective. As always, Coach Adam helps us see the forest for the trees and dial in on the things that are really critical.