The Cycling Brief

[BRIEF] Nike's Crash Is a Warning for the Bike Industry

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Nike's stock plunged 11% on weak guidance and tariff exposure. We break down why cycling brands face the same structural supply chain risks — a...

[BRIEF] Flanders Countdown: Van der Poel Edge Over Pogacar

01 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Three days out from the Tour of Flanders. Van der Poel vs Pogacar, Van Aert form concerns, and why Paris-Camembert tells you more than you think.The C...

[BRIEF] Carbon Reshoring: Why Ibis's Factory Matters

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ibis is making carbon frames in-house at a solar-powered California factory. We dig into why this is really a supply chain play, not just a sustainabi...

[BRIEF] Red Bull's Tour de France Leadership Dilemma

30 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe faces a co-leadership problem at the Tour de France with Evenepoel and Lipowitz both in top form. We break down why the "...

[BRIEF] Van der Poel's Gent-Wevelgem Bluff Sets Up Flanders

29 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Van der Poel won E3 solo then sat up at Gent-Wevelgem. Was that fatigue or a calculated move? We break down the heart rate data, the Van Aert dynamic,...

[SUNDAY] Your Heart Doesn't Care How Fit You Think You Are

28 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Cycling Brief — Daily cycling intelligence, produced by SEMIPRO CYCLING. 

The Cycling Debrief: The Knucklehead Question

27 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Chris Horner called Remco Evenepoel a knucklehead. Two voices pull apart the label, the data, and whether aggressive racing is reckless or rational wh...

Van der Poel's Real Problem Isn't His Hand

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The hand injury from Milan-San Remo is a convenient distraction. The real problem is structural — Pogacar has changed what it means to race a Monume...

Garmin's Burrito Strategy Is Winning Cycling

25 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Garmin is quietly dominating the cycling market by sponsoring adventure content instead of performance data. We break down why the LA-to-Vegas burrito...

When Your Garmin Becomes Your Coach (And Shouldn't)

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Garmin's training algorithms have changed how millions of cyclists make daily decisions. We examine the pattern of algorithmic dependency, what t...

The eMTB Bet: Why Every Brand Is All In

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Canyon's Spectral:ON giveaway is more than a social media play. We break down why eMTBs are the primary growth engine for the bike industry throu...

The Free Speed Hierarchy: Where Your Watts Actually Are

22 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Where are the real watts hiding? We rank the free speed hierarchy from body position to chain lube, put real numbers on each category, and explain why...

Want to Live Longer? Sign Up for That Cycling Event Now!

21 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A soulful dive into how cycling doesn’t just make us feel more alive—it might actually help us live longer.→ Subscribe to the Cycling Science Di...

The Knock That Changed Everything

14 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What would change if you truly believed in your ability?→ Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO

Breath-Holding, Doping, and the Truth About Cycling Performance

07 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if holding your breath could make you faster? Allen Lim thought so—until Floyd Landis showed where the real gains came from.→ Subscribe to th...

They Never Saw It Coming

28 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The week started off like any other—routine, predictable. But by the weekend, everything had changed.→ Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest →...

The Mistake That Cost Him the Race

21 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

He trained harder than ever—so why did his race fall apart at mile 100?→ Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO

Two Riders, Two Paths: The Difference Between Super Champions and Almost Champions

14 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Two talented young cyclists start with identical potential - but what leads one to European glory while the other fades into obscurity?→ Subscribe t...

The Shift That Changed Everything for One Cyclist

07 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How an unexpected holiday shattered a performance plateau and revealed the hidden cost of everyday stress.→ Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest ...

Caffeine might not enhance performance for everyone!

31 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When too much caffeine ruins a race – the science behind it.→ Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO

INEOS using aero undershirts and the Vuelta stuff you missed

02 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In today's QuickSpin Cycling Digest, we dive into new and cool cycling products. We cover Remco Evenepoel's road bike, Lachlan Morton's...

Did Tramadol Help Nairo Quintana at the Tour de France?

02 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Delving into the controversy surrounding Nairo Quintana's positive tests for tramadol during the 2022 Tour de France. We discuss the complex cons...

Did Fairings Help Jonas Vingegaard Win the Tour de France?

02 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jonas Vingegaard and Jumbo-Visma had a secret weapon or two at the Tour de France that could of given him a drag reduction of more than 9% that meant ...

"From 'Little Guy' to Leader" Jonas Vingegaard Interview

02 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How did Jonas Vingegaard transform from 'the little guy' working at a fish factory to a Jumbo-Visma leader? I have top the top 5 takeaways f...

How Much Do Pro Cyclists Make? Shimano 105 12-Speed Mechanical?

02 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s show, and… Damian has news on bike launches from Canyon and Bianchi, a glimpse at the potential next-Generation SRAM AXS Shifters, and ...

The surprising reason Pro MTB rider uses gum before a race

02 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The surprising reason and performance benefit Pro MTB rider Puck Pieterse uses gum before a race.We dive into the fascinating connection between gum a...

What is the Specialized Speed Sniffer? And what is Peter Sagan doing in Retirement?

02 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode of Quick Spin, Damian provides a comprehensive rundown of the latest happenings in the world of cycling. This show covers...

Pro Cyclist: Jai Hindley - The making of a Giro d'Italia winner

20 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we talk with Giro d'Italia winner Jai Hindley to find out what it takes to win a Grand Tour. And we’re not only talking about t...

Cycling Performance Club: Dr. Teun van Erp - How do World Tour cyclists actually train and perform in races? - Part 2 of 2

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this two part series we chat with Dr. Teun van Erp, current data scientist with INEOS Grenadiers, about how World Tour cyclists train and perform d...

Cycling Performance Club: Dr. Teun van Erp - How do World Tour cyclists actually train and perform in races? - Part 1 of 2

28 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this two part series we chat with Dr. Teun van Erp, current data scientist with INEOS Grenadiers, about how World Tour cyclists train and perform d...

Cycling Performance Club: Dr. Elisabetta Borgia- A new emphasis and approach to sport psychology in cycling performance

16 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Cycling Performance Club Podcast! In this day and age of power meters, advanced physiologic metrics, and emphasis on aerodynamics it i...

Cycling Performance Club: Luke Plapp - From world class track cyclist to World Tour road racer

06 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Cycling Performance Club Podcast! In this episode we chat with Luke Plapp - Olympic bronze medalist on the track, current Australian R...

Cycling Performance Club: Dr. Nicholas Jamnick- Down the rabbit hole of exercise intensity, Part 2 of 2

26 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Cycling Performance Club Podcast! In this episode we continue our trip down the rabbit hole of exercise intensity with Dr. Nick Jamnic...

Cycling Performance Club: Dr. Nick Jamnick - Down the rabbit hole of exercise intensity, Part 1 of 2

18 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Cycling Performance Club Podcast! When it comes to performing and prescribing training sessions, there are four main principles to con...

Cycling Performance Club: Shannon Malseed - Life lessons in mental wellness and high performance

05 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this show we really enjoy talking about the nuts and bolts of cycling performance. Whether it’s determining thresholds, approaches to training, o...

Cycling Performance Club: Dr. Dajo Sanders- Research evolved into practice at the highest level of cycling performance, Part 2 of 2

22 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we continue our discussion with Dr. Dajo Sanders (part 2 of 2), an individual whose skill and expertise in the realm of cycling perfor...

Cycling Performance Club: Dr. Dajo Sanders- Research evolved into practice at the highest level of cycling performance, Part 1 of 2

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There are many components within endurance training. Take for example field-testing, training intensity distribution, or training load. Each of these ...

Cycling Performance Club: Australian road nats, training apps, the coach’s role in athlete success, and CP musings

17 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hey there! After a bit of a break in recording at the end of 2021 we (the co-hosts) sat down for a catch-up and to talk some shop. This episode can be...

Cycling Performance Club: Simon Jones- Coaching, science, and a post-marginal gains world

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Follow this link to take the listener Survey: Take the SurveyOr copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:https://forms.gle/dCkiBuWDSdet...

Cycling Performance Club: What is best practice for implementing critical power into your training? w/ Jason Bartram, PhDc, Part 2

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Follow this link to take the listener Survey: Take the SurveyOr copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:https://forms.gle/dCkiBuWDSdet...

Cycling Performance Club: What is best practice for implementing critical power into your training? w/ Jason Bartram, PhDc, Part 1

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Follow this link to take the listener Survey: Take the SurveyOr copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:https://forms.gle/dCkiBuWDSdet...

Cycling Performance Club: Dr. Paolo Menaspà - A master generalist in high-performance sport

17 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Paolo Menaspà is the current Chief Science Officer at the Australian Institute of Sport and has had a long and interesting career in the world of...

Performance Mind Operating System

03 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The performance mind may be touted as the last frontier of human performance - but what we’re talking about today has nothing to do with the explora...

Cycling Performance Club Bonus: How the Cold Impacts Performance

26 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is a bonus episode where Jason Answers a question from Harry Sweeny on thermoregulation and how it affects WorldTour riders. If you ever ride aro...

Cycling Performance Club: Harry Sweeny - Performance lessons from a World Tour neo-pro

20 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we talk to World Tour neo-pro Harry Sweeny about his journey to the top level of the sport. How he has developed as a rider through national...

Cycling Performance Club: Jimmy Whelan

10 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We bring our very first guest onto the show, pro cyclist for EF Education Nippo, Jimmy Whelan. We discuss his transition from running to cycling and q...

Cycling Performance Club: Paradigms of Performance

06 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we take a look at the current performance model of cycling at all levels and ask the question - can we do better?Show Sponsor:For a li...

Lessons from my first year coaching in the World Tour

28 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I’ll be upfront here - it’s a bit of a clickbaity title so to be clear I coach one rider at pro-level - the level under the World Tour. This rider...

Cycling Performance Club: Should we be blood lactate testing cyclists?- Part 2

20 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There’s plenty of information around how to conduct blood lactate tests, but information on why we test blood lactate is often entangled with confli...

Cycling Performance Club: Should we be blood lactate testing cyclists?- Part 1

13 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Lactate and its association with exercise has been known for more than 200 years after Jöns Jakob first observed it in the muscles of hunted stags. C...

Cycling Performance Club: Everesting Guide

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in as we guide you through everything you need to complete a successful Everesting.The idea is fairly simple but climbing 8,848m on a bicycle i...

Cycling Performance Club: An exercise in intervention evaluation: Does nasal breathing improve performance?

24 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We take a dive into the nasal passage and look at whether there are performance gains to be obtained through nose breathing. This leads to a discussio...

Cycling Performance Club: What you need to consider when testing cyclists- Part 2

16 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Last week we discussed the theory surrounding testing cyclists. This week we build on that discussion and look at ways the underlying theory can be ap...

Cycling Performance Club: What you need to consider when testing cyclists- Part 1

09 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Testing cyclists is a key component of a science-based approach to improving cycling performance. And there is a surprising amount of important theory...

What does it take to prepare for a Grand Tour?

31 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Take a look inside the planning and execution of a 3-week altitude training camp in preparation for a Grand Tour and learn how you can run your own.Wh...

Cycling Performance Club: Cyclist case study challenge!

25 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week the co-hosts challenge each other with hypothetical athlete cases. Each cyclist differs in physiology, cycling background, and lifestyle, bu...

Cycling Performance Club: Is that true?! Does that even improve cycling performance?!

19 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Your time and money are valuable. That’s why it is important to invest these commodities wisely and carefully consider the claims of products and pr...

Cycling Performance Club: Are you pacing your intervals effectively?

10 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

1:30 A training advice anecdote6:40 Interval pacing athlete conversation9:45 Oxygen-deficit and ‘lag’ in VO2 increase during an interval15:20 What...

Cycling Performance Club: What is the Best Cycling Warm Up?

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

2:10 More momentum for Critical Power over FTP7:30 What is the research supporting warm-ups for endurance events?12:30 What happens within the body du...

Cycling Performance Club: Threshold, Thresholds, Thresholds?

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You probably realize that ‘threshold’ is an important measure for endurance athletes. But there seem to be many different types of thresholds meas...

Cycling Performance Club: Can we cut ~40% off of race time in one year for a gravel endurance race?

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

2:55 Listener feedback6:05 What is SEVEN?11:05 Race day factors that could be rectified ‘easily’.15:25 Ride analysis from the 2021 edition of SEVE...

Cycling Performance Club: Wasn’t FTP Supposed to be Dead? & The Pathway(s) from Amateur Cyclist to Pro.

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Host topics covered in this episode:1:20 A few years ago it was claimed that FTP was dead. We discuss whether the newer alternatives have any sound sc...

Cycling Performance Club: Layman’s Articles vs. Scientific Articles, Coaching To-Do Lists.

05 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Host topics covered on this episode:1:30 Listener feedback4:20 What is a graded exercise test?8:15 Where do you get your training information? We disc...

Cycling Performance Club: Session Failure, Training around Carbs & the “Ultimate FTP Builder” Session.

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Host topics covered on this episode:1:25 What happens when an athlete can’t complete a session? What is the role of the athlete and the role of the ...

Cycling Performance Club: Does core strength increase FTP, Purpose behind VO2max tests and Rest weeks.

22 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Host topics covered on this episode:2:05 Is there a correlation between core strength and FTP? At what point does this correlation end and should we b...

Cycling Performance Club: Skills Training, Openers & Training Plans

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Host topics covered on this episode:1:45 Developing an athlete’s skills. Does skills training find its way into a training program? When is the righ...

Introducing: The Cycling Performance Club Podcast

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Introducing a new podcast called The Cycling Performance Club Podcast and, you might already be able to guess it’s about all things cycling training...

A Look at Sepp Kuss and Consistency

07 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this show a bit more Strava stalking as we follow the break and build-up for the first 16 weeks of Sepp Kuss’s 2021 season. Following his trainin...

Preparing for the first race of the season

02 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we go inside the steps I took to get this rider race-ready. It’s a look at my coaching process, like how to determine race demands and fitnes...

Cycling Science Digest Chat + The Future of Training Platforms

12 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I sit down with fellow reviews of the cycling science digest to discuss a couple of papers that were released in Feb 2021, and in the...

Heat, Intervals and Performance with Jason Boynton Ph.D.

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Heat training - and pardon the pun, a hot topic in the world of sports performance - and frankly it’s been covered to death all over the internet. S...

Muscle Oxygenation for Cycling Training

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is part 2 on muscle oxygenation.In part 1 we started to go down the rabbit hole that is muscle oxygenation - with a smidge of muscle activation t...

A product and a primer on muscle oxygenation and muscle activation

04 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This show is about a new product on the market called Graspor. A product that might be able to help you:Find your optimum training intensity zonesFind...

Body monitoring for sports performance

20 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’re not far from a future of 24/7/365 monitoring of all of your body vitals.,but how close are we really? What technologies are available today - ...

How to read a scientific study (and why it’s essential for coaches)

04 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The science of cycling performance is always changing. But you already know that - if you’ve been around cycling even for a few years you might have...

Muscle fibre typology and the individual responses to training

10 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Where do you fall in the common road cyclist categories? Are you a climber, a sprinter, a time trialist, a rouleur, a sandbagger...If you didn’t kno...

Does time of day impact performance?

28 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, not only are we going to try to work out how to perform in the middle of the night - but ask the question - how does the time of day ...

How To Analyse Ride Files and Bike the World

05 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, how I analyse rides in WKO5. Plus - an immersive indoor training app with an epic 790km ride across the Pyrenees.Find more cycling po...

How to Finish Strong on Long Rides + Heat Training in 2020

21 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, 3 ways to finish long rides strong even if you don’t have time to train your endurance as much as a pro. Working on positioning, bo...

How to Win an Elite Men's Mountain Bike World Cup

07 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

With a maximum elevation of 171m or 561ft, Denmark is one of the flattest countries on earth, yet, it’s produced some of the world’s best climbers...

Victor Campenaerts’s Training and Numbers

30 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Take a deep dive into the training of Belgium pro Victor Campenaerts as we get a look at his power numbers, training load, FTP, Vlamax, etc. and the m...

Aero Testing Field Guide + Supersapiens CGM

23 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today, the Aero Testing Field Guide, where share everything I know about reducing your CdA, and the process of testing to find the gains.Plus - anothe...

Power Speed Profile Aerobic Assessment

11 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Power Speed Profile Aerobic Assessment is used to assess your medium and long critical period power.There are a few important things to understand...

7 Common Mistakes that Cyclists Make (and How to Fix Them)

09 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this show a quick and dirty listicle with 7 Common Mistakes that Cyclists Make (and How to Fix Them). Plus - in the ‘Science of Fast’ segment ...

Compound Training: How smart cyclists build assets for an unfair growth advantage

02 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, the components of compound training that deliver long term compounding growth as opposed to short term results. Plus - how Chirs Fro...

Power Speed Profile Anaerobic Assessment

28 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Power Speed Profile Anaerobic Assessment is used to assess your short critical period power so you know understand your current power.This is day ...

Power Speed Profile: A more specific performance comparison tool for cyclists

26 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Critical periods, such as the forcing of a break-away or a final sprint, are often decisive in a cycling race. It is therefore important to know how y...

The Latest Science on High Intensity Intervals and Foam Rolling

19 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode - intervals, what is the optimal interval prescription in 2020, what does the latest science say and does it change the way we’ve be...

A Breathing Toolkit for Focus and Motivation & N+1 Adventure Road Bikes

12 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Real-Time Tools for Focus and Motivation. Meditation is often brought up as a way to learn how to be calm and focussed - but when yo...

The Scientific Way to Learn Cycling Skills Faster

05 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how attentional focus through external coaching cues can speed up your learning process so that you reach a higher skill level, faster.Plus in t...

Training in 2030 + How to Increase Repeated Sprints and Power Output

29 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this show, we’re going to talk about how AI will impact your cycling training. Inspired from a beautifully written and thought-provoking article ...

The Most Underrated Skill for Coaches and Athletes

22 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We explore communication in this episode - how communication is related to your performance and what’s important to communicate both as an athlete a...

The 8 Best Cycling Tips You’ll Ever Hear

15 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this show a bunch of rad cycling tips. From why confidence is key to peak performance (and how to build yours) to when you should ignore your coach...

The Transition to Triathlon

22 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever thought about taking your cycling fitness and doing a triathlon? It might be harder than you think ;)We cover the only cyclist to win th...

Introducing INSDIE - Targeted Nutrition

13 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We uncover the reason why the former World Champion would shove two fists full of gummy bears into his mouth immediately after a hard effort and how t...

Introducing INSIDE

27 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Opening up the professional cycling and sports world.Professional cycling has secrets. No, not the Omertá but the many thousands of people directly i...

High pressure washing, calming nerves before a race, dual-sided power meters, and more

12 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode you ask your cycling related questions, and we answer. It's as simple as that.Question 1: I live in an apartment block and have n...

How to fuel evening rides, going tubeless and choosing the right insoles

22 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode you ask your cycling related questions, and we answer. It's as simple as that.Question 1: I’m finding it hard to work out a goo...

Altitude Training for Cyclists Revisited

15 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Back in 2014, on the Semi Pro Cycling Podcast we looked at the arguments for and against the three families of altitude training; Live High Train High...

Stages Power meter failure rate, the latest on carboloading, and how to get your confidence back after a crash.

07 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode you ask your cycling related questions, and we answer. It's as simple as that.Question 1: I’ve crashed recently and just don’...