First of the Cobbled Classics | Episode 8

March 1 | The cobbled classics got underway at the weekend and The Cycling Podcast discusses Greg Van Avermaet’s win at Het Nieuwsblad and Peter Sagan’s at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. We hear from Cannondale-Drapac manager Jonathan Vaughters whose rider, Sep Vanmarcke, was third in the first of these two races – but did Vanmarcke get his tactics right?

Daniel Friebe is back from the Abu Dhabi Tour and, with Richard Moore and Lionel Birnie, he discusses how racing in the desert matches up to the more traditional events in Belgium.

The future could perhaps be the Hammer Series, a new weekend of racing to be held in Holland in June and announced on Wednesday by Velon. We hear from Velon chief executive Graham Bartlett, who explains the format and the thinking behind the new event.

The Cycling Podcast is supported by Rapha and Science in Sport