The Giro route and Chris Froome’s bid for glory | Episode 32

The Cycling Podcast this week is devoted this week to the 2018 Giro d'Italia, with the route for the 101st race unveiled on Wednesday. We discuss the route and Chris Froome's decision to try to win his first Giro before going for his fifth Tour de France.

It was already known that the Giro would start in Israel, becoming the first grand tour to start outside Europe, but already this is generating controversy and headaches for RCS, the Giro organisers.

We hear different viewpoints on the Israel start, with a report from Hannah Troop, who recently visited the country and interviewed members of the Israel Cycling Academy team, which seems certain to get a wildcard to start the race. We also have an interview with Omar Barghouti, a founding member of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel and co-founder of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. Barghouti is opposed to the Israel start, calling on RCS to exercise the "plan B" that he says is in place, and promising "non-violent protests" if it goes ahead.

The Cycling Podcast is supported by Rapha and Science in Sport.