In this week’s episode, Daniel Friebe is joined by Rob Hatch and Lionel Birnie, fresh back from his trip to the GP La Marseillaise for the start of the French season. 

We round up a flurry of racing over recent days, including that curtain-raiser in Marseille, and exchange hot takes about what we’ve seen so far in Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Spain. We also reflect in greater detail on an emphatic start to the season by two teams, Intermarché Circus Wanty and Team DSM, with contrasting approaches to rider recruitment in particular. 

In the final part of the episode, we ponder the news announced by Peter Sagan last week - that 2023 will be his final campaign in the sport’s biggest races. What was Sagan’s impact, what is his legacy and what chance is there of a Monumental swansong?

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The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.