Hello and welcome to the Cyclingnews podcast. This week we have three exclusive interviews just for you with Jonathan Vaughters, Alex Howes and French journalist Pierre Carrey all featuring on the episode.

 First up, just to remind you, our friends at Sportful have come up with a 20% discount on all products at sportful.com. All you have to do is head to their website and use the code: cyclingnews20. This deal is in place throughout all of August.

Sticking with Sportful, we still have two signed Bahrain-Merida jerseys from Vincenzo Nibali to give away. All you have to do to win is go to our iTunes page and give us a review. We'll pick the two lucky winners later this month.

 We start with Jonathan Vaughters and a similar theme to last week’s transfer special. In this interview, Vaughters talks about what he looks for in a rider, the different criteria at play and how he has build EF Education First. It’s an eye-opening journey into the complex dynamics in play when it comes to structuring for the future and balancing both long term and immediate goals. There’s also a cameo from Alex Howes, after we caught up with the US national road champion at the Tour of Utah.

 Our final interview is with the well-respected French journalist Pierre Carrey who is a regular for Liberation. Carrey gives us the rundown on the Tour de l’Avenir, which starts Thursday. The ten-day race is viewed as mini Tour de France with a raft of U23 riders and future stars taking part. We talk about the relevance of the race, how team managers use it as a hunting ground for talent; how the style of racing compares to the WorldTour, and who to watch over the next fortnight.

 Sponsor message

Born in the Italian Dolomites, Sportful has been making athletes faster, more efficient and better protected since 1972. Official apparel supplier to Team Virtu Cycling, Bora-Hansgrohe and Bahrain-Merida.

The same Pro Issue apparel, which includes our BodyFit Pro and Fiandre lines, worn by Marta Bastianelli, Peter Sagan and Vincenzo Nibali is available to purchase by all cyclists.

BodyFit Pro; a form fitting design with a focus on enhanced aerodynamics was created specifically for the rigours of pro bike racing. Our versatile Fiandre line uses proprietary technology to keep you dry and comfortable in inclement, variable weather conditions.

Sportful leads the market with innovative and technical apparel so you can experience those unforgettable moments, your very best days on a bike. For more details visit sportful.com. Follow the ride on Instagram @sportful.