The Giro d’Italia went to Fausto Coppi country and The Cycling Podcast’s episode from stage 11 of the Giro d’Italia starts outside Villa Coppi near Novi Ligure.

The sprint finish happened a few hundred metres from Coppi’s house – still home to his son, Faustino – and the press room was at the Museum of Champions, which pays homage to the careers of Coppi and the region’s other great, Costante Girardengo.

Not a lot happened in the stage but don’t let that deter you from listening. Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe talk Coppi, wine, sprint finishes, de-training and ask whether the criticism of the opening week is fair and whether it means we’re in for a barnstorming second half to the race.

We hear from Roger Kluge and Bart Leysen, lead-out man and sports director for stage winner Calen Ewan, and from Fabio Sabatini and Rik Van Slycke of Elia Viviani’s team after the Italian champion ended his Giro empty handed. 

We put the criticism of the route to Giro boss Mauro Vegni, ask Bauke Mollema whether he feels it’s possible to lose form during easy stages and look ahead to the climbs in the coming days.