Cycling podcasts have gotten complicated with all the shows competing for your attention. As someone who’s listened to hundreds of hours across multiple platforms, I learned everything there is to know about which ones actually deliver quality content. Today, I will share it all with you.
If you’ve got limited listening time and want the best analysis, storytelling, and entertainment, here’s an honest assessment of the major players.
The Cycling Podcast
Hosts: Richard Moore, Lionel Birnie, and rotating guests/correspondents
Format: Long-form daily episodes during Grand Tours, weekly otherwise. Deep-dive specials on specific topics.
Tone: Thoughtful, measured, journalistic. British sensibility with intellectual depth.
What Works
The Cycling Podcast set the standard for professional cycling audio. Their Grand Tour coverage is genuinely excellent — daily episodes recorded at race locations with access to riders, team staff, and the actual environment. You feel like you’re at the race.
Their investigative pieces are outstanding. Multi-part series on doping history, team dynamics, and individual rider profiles offer depth you won’t find elsewhere. If you want to understand cycling’s complex history and culture, this is essential.
That’s what makes this show endearing to us serious cycling followers — the chemistry between Moore and Birnie is comfortable without being lazy. They challenge each other and bring genuine expertise from years of professional cycling journalism.
Downsides
Episodes run long — 60-90 minutes isn’t unusual. If you want quick race summaries, this isn’t the format. The pacing is deliberate, which some find slow.
British perspective dominates. American and Australian cycling gets less attention than European racing.
Best for: Serious fans who want comprehensive, thoughtful analysis and don’t mind investing time. Essential during Grand Tours.
Lanterne Rouge
Host: Patrick Fletcher (and guests)
Format: Episode lengths vary from quick 20-minute race reviews to longer interviews. More frequent posting during racing season.
Tone: Enthusiastic, accessible, fan-oriented. Less formal than The Cycling Podcast.
What Works
Lanterne Rouge hits the sweet spot between hardcore analysis and accessible entertainment. Patrick Fletcher is genuinely passionate about cycling, and that energy is infectious.
The interview roster is impressive — current pros, retired legends, team managers, and cycling industry figures all appear. Fletcher asks questions fans actually want answered rather than generic media queries.
Episode structure is efficient. You get substantial content without excessive padding. Race reviews are timely and focused.
Downsides
Solo hosting means less variety in perspectives compared to The Cycling Podcast’s team approach. When Fletcher is tired or distracted, it shows.
Production quality varies. Some episodes sound professional; others have audio issues. This has improved but remains inconsistent.
Best for: Fans who want quality content in a more casual format. Great for commutes or workouts.
THEMOVE
Hosts: Lance Armstrong, JB Hager, and George Hincapie
Format: Daily episodes during Grand Tours with post-stage analysis. Weekly otherwise.
Tone: Insider perspective, opinionated, American.
What Works
Love him or hate him, Lance Armstrong knows professional cycling from the inside. His tactical analysis during Grand Tours draws on experiences no other podcast host can match. When he explains why a specific attack worked or failed, you’re hearing from someone who made those decisions at the highest level.
George Hincapie adds valuable perspective as a domestique legend. His insights on team dynamics and the unglorious work of supporting a leader are unique.
Probably should have led with this section, honestly — the podcast doesn’t shy away from controversy. Armstrong addresses his past directly and offers unfiltered opinions on current racing that other podcasters avoid.
Downsides
The elephant in the room: Armstrong’s history. Some fans simply won’t listen to anything he produces, and that’s understandable. His perspective is colored by his experiences and public rehabilitation campaign.
Production leans heavily on casual conversation that can feel meandering. Episodes sometimes lack structure.
American cycling coverage dominates when racing isn’t happening. If you’re not interested in US domestic scene, off-season content is less compelling.
Best for: Fans who want tactical insider analysis and can separate Armstrong’s current content from his past.
Worth Mentioning
Watts Occurring: Geraint Thomas’s podcast offers genuine pro peloton insights with Welsh humor. Excellent for Tour de France coverage.
The Bike Shed: GCN’s podcast covers broader cycling topics beyond just pro racing.
VeloNews Fast Talk: More training/science focused but includes pro analysis during Grand Tours.
The Verdict
If you’re choosing just one: The Cycling Podcast for pure quality and depth.
If you want variety: rotate between Lanterne Rouge for interviews and The Cycling Podcast for analysis.
If you want insider tactical perspective and can handle the baggage: add THEMOVE during Grand Tours specifically.
Best combination for obsessive fans: all three during Grand Tours, then The Cycling Podcast plus Lanterne Rouge for off-season.
