Cadel Evans has achieved many accolades during his career, part of a small select group of riders who've won both the rainbow bands and the yellow jersey - Australia's first Tour de France winner and now - the first guest to appear alongside Bobby and Jens three times.

We discuss what a route announcement is actually like for riders, whether Mark Cavendish could come back and who the route actually suits!

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That could have been the end of my tour.

2

Right there for the stupid glass

of champagne photo Hello and welcome

3

back to another episode of The Odd Tandem.

4

Today just happens to be the day

5

that the 2025 tour de France race

route was announced.

6

And what better opportunity than to speak

7

about that with our guest today, Cadel

Evans?

8

Cadel has been on the podcast before,

but we get to talk a little bit

9

about the tour de France route, his career

and what he's doing now.

10

Yancey

always great talking to Cadel, isn't it?

11

Oh, absolutely it is.

12

He is still close to the cycling scene.

13

He is an inside out.

14

Interesting point of use

15

and obviously brings back memories

because that tour he won.

16

My captain and my team mate Andy Schleck

finished second.

17

So we spent basically three weeks

trying to beat Cadel,

18

And we came up just a little short.

19

And Cadel won the tour.

20

So yes, it's always good to see him again

and to see him being happy

21

and having a good place in life.

22

So sit back, relax and listen

23

to this great conversation

with Cadel Evans.

24

All right.

25

Today we have a special guest, Mr.

26

Cadel Evans.

27

Welcome to the odd tandem, boys.

28

Absolute pleasure to be here.

29

And it's been a little while, a few....

30

I can’t remember it was a year ago

I was with you guys at, But

31

it is a pleasure to be here and tell me

what's what's been going on in the world.

32

Update me.

33

I know there was a big race

presented today. Update me?

34

Yeah, that's, you know, everything

works out here on the odd tandem.

35

You know, we have an ex

tour de France champion on the day

36

that the tour de France

37

So I have a question about that because I

was never invited to one of those things.

38

Or maybe I was and I was on the other side

of the world, but I was never there.

39

So what actually goes on

at the tour de France presentation?

40

Like, how long are you there? Is it?

41

Yeah, just tell us about it.

What is it like?

42

It's the first thing.

43

Why a lot of riders I noticed, like, past

winners weren't weren't present there.

44

It's, First, first of all, it's

in the middle of the holidays

45

or the off season, and riders off

season is shorter and shorter,

46

and they get you less

and less time off, too.

47

So they have an obligation in that short

window of time where you can.

48

And if you've got

if your family still still recognises

49

you and once you welcome you home,

you can go back, go back and see them.

50

So that's the first part of it.

51

But I went to quite a few of

especially the years

52

I was on the podium and things

is that of respect to the organisation.

53

In Palais de Congres

you have this enormous theatre.

54

it's a huge stage.

55

And it's a fantastically,

really well presented show.

56

And a lot of journalists there

and some team managers

57

and things because a lot of them

exposed to riders and things.

58

It's a train ride from Brussels

or something for them.

59

So it's not a big deal to get there.

60

But and I think the year after

I won, I was invited up on stage

61

and have a little talk with them was

because it was already monsieur Prudhomme

62

was, the race track down

when for most of our careers,

63

and, yeah, it's

64

a huge professional show

in this big screen, and it's, Yeah,

65

they present and they roll at each stage

and show you a bit of a brief on it.

66

And from there

on, all the journalists happen,

67

and the journalists

68

are there and asking questions

and getting grabs and things and,

69

and then all of a sudden

everyone just goes home.

70

So it lasts,

71

a long winded answer to say,

oh, you go there for about an hour,

72

say big show, and then you go,

so it's got to be all these journalists

73

and wanted to ask questions to the riders

or former riders So,

74

hey, what do you think about this stage?

75

What do you think about the crosswinds

or the near Audis and death and so on.

76

So that goes on until midnight or.

77

Oh no, because it's what is it?

78

So I think it's probably,

79

So it's some kind of morning thing.

80

You might be

I would have gone there the night before.

81

I particularly like going there

when I was with BMC because Andy would

82

go there with Andy Rihs,

unfortunately no longer with us,

83

but we got to dinner

and it would be great.

84

And in the off season you can go to a nice

restaurant and so on and spend some,

85

you know,

just social time with you, team management

86

and and then the next thing, yeah,

go to the presentation.

87

But then sort of by about midday,

people are sort of

88

walking off out of there

and going to the airport and,

89

and going home

because they've got holidays

90

that they're going on or something.

91

So that's it's sort of yeah, it's a big,

a big white

92

and a big, a big show and a big,

what do you call that, a big build up.

93

But all of a sudden, you,

which everyone go and which is, like,

94

if I,

95

if I can say it as a personal experience,

96

I sort of found myself on the train

platform sitting down there on my on a.

97

Wait, wait, wait, wait,

is everyone go or something?

98

But, certainly to be there in the show,

99

sitting with the riders,

that's pretty special.

100

And especially when you're there

with your next year's competitor

101

or the guy you came second to

or something, the city in the crowd there.

102

That's oh,

that's kind of a a different experience.

103

Well, you know, since it was

104

only released today,

we don't expect you to have,

105

dove into it and studied it at the depth

that Jens and I have done it.

106

And as I was doing that today,

I was kind of laughing.

107

And, here

we are getting ready for this podcast.

108

So we need to kind of know

what the tour de France is, right?

109

There were years that I don't think

I knew the stages of the tour

110

until we got to the tour

and opened up the book.

111

Oh, we're doing this.

112

Oh, we're doing that now.

113

You know, it's it's released.

114

It's online.

You can research it perfectly.

115

You know,

everything's analysed already for you.

116

So we can sit here like armchair

quarterbacks and give our opinion of it.

117

So Cadel cliff notes of the 2025

tour this year.

118

Right.

119

It starts on the 5th of July

and ends on July 27th.

120

There's two time trials, one flat,

one uphill, seven sprint stages, six

121

mountain stages and six

122

quote unquote hilly stages,

which we all know

123

are some of the most dangerous stages

out there.

124

So all in all,

125

it's a pretty common

and classic tour de France.

126

And the thing I like about it the most,

and this is what I want to ask you about,

127

was it's the first time in quite a while

that the entire tour is in France, right?

128

Like they started in all these satellite

locations, which, I don't remember

129

starting a tour out of France,

except for maybe the year

130

that it started up in Belgium.

131

And we did the prologue

up there, in Liege.

132

So it was, you know, the next day

I think we were in France, but

133

what does that first week

134

of the tour,

when you have to go to a different country

135

and then transfer back to France, like,

is that

136

is that just added stress or,

you know, kind of cool.

137

I think the, the one year

we had the biggest amount of stress was,

138

to for the tour start was when the,

when there was the traffic that

139

pilots strikes

140

and I think the start was in Britain.

141

That that was the biggest amount of stress

I ever had for a tour start.

142

But the overseas starts,

my son made me realise this,

143

so I said, oh, I'm going to the tour.

144

Where are you going?

145

Oh, Copenhagen. He's like, what?

146

Every year it's the same thing.

147

Go to the start of a Giro or Vuelta

or a Tour with it

148

where they start overseas. But,

149

I was really a as a, as a

I look as a rider now.

150

I look at it, of course, as a more

as a fan and as a tour guide host.

151

So I look at it much different like now,

152

but as a rider, I was just so

I was quite rational about it.

153

Okay, that stages crosswinds,

that stage is cobbles, that stages

154

change to get to recovery.

155

That stage is going to be important.

156

Whether it was in Belgium,

France, Luxembourg.

157

For me, it really it didn't didn't change

that much at all for me.

158

Like I was really

I suppose I was really rational.

159

I just looked at the sporting aspect

and, and I left it at that.

160

I remember also

161

our early tours,

we didn't really have internet,

162

so we were really relying on

these books on paper.

163

Right. That's all the information you had.

164

And if on that map

it shows three arrows, it means, oh,

165

that's a steep up because I got three

little arrows going up. It.

166

So yeah, that that really has changed.

167

It made it a lot easier, for us,

the two of you.

168

One, that one was 3320km long.

169

It this one is 3400 No, yours was 3400.

170

This year is 3300.

171

It's just a honeycomb a difference.

172

So that's more or less the same, right.

173

You would say that that doesn't

change too much in the last 20 years, No.

174

In the last 20 years I go about five

can faster for the whole thing.

175

So yeah, it's like being even shorter too.

176

But, but, no, I mean, those things are

even new for this stage is 200 or 220.

177

It's like everyone's going to be tired

after 150. Anyway.

178

I would, I was always sort of this

much. Too much is better.

179

Obviously, once you go 180,

180

60 there where it sort of

it makes a really big difference.

181

But those little distances again,

I didn't.

182

Yeah.

183

I'm more looking like how how fast

184

is the short like GC deciding stage

from the start, which are stage

185

two is already a bit lumpy,

186

So there are just going to be finish up

187

with the time trials on stage five,

if I remember correctly.

188

You know, I've got in from day one

and I am

189

now that we have the internet,

I put my map away

190

because I've got a chance

to go for a ride tomorrow.

191

So I pulled out the map and had a

look at it because, you know,

192

all that old habits die hard.

193

And and

194

I learned had

I learned a map rides off of a paper map.

195

So it sort of stuck with me.

196

We better.

197

I still use the internet now,

of course, for that.

198

Sorry. Let me get the router. But.

199

And then you're like,

it's quite a short time trial.

200

Well, I look at like,

201

as a as a time trial, as GC rider,

you got all the GC

202

riders are going to be looking to be sharp

for that, especially,

203

and even Paul, I'll be looking at,

204

you know, training my time trial bike,

like leading up to the race.

205

Those kinds of things would probably be

the first thing I look on, on it

206

may I might be a stage.

207

I'd have a bit.

208

One Asterix

next two for a chance of trouble.

209

I think.

210

Dunkirk. Valenciennes.

211

I can't remember those roads.

I'd have to ask advice on that.

212

But then, you know, I'd look straight

to where the first block of mountains and.

213

And then being really ready for those.

214

No rest time, Paul as well.

How long since that's happened?

215

Well, I

216

kind of block, I cut it down into three

different blocks.

217

Right.

218

So block number one is nine

pretty mellow stages with one flat TT.

219

And then that last stage of that ten day

block is the first big uphill

220

mountain day, right

then into the Pyrenees.

221

So that's that first block is mostly up

in the northwest corner of France,

222

which we know can get windy,

ups up and down,

223

even if it's not on the profile,

it's altitude.

224

Metres are there.

225

Then block number two,

is only five stages long, so that's.

226

But there's three uphill finishes

and one uphill one.

227

And including the the uphill time trial.

228

That's in the Pyrenees.

229

So ten days rest day,

230

five days rest day, and then block

six in the Alps with six stages,

231

with Ventoux, Superbagnères and La Loze

and finishing in Paris again this year,

232

after our one year hiatus

from the Champs-Élysées

233

to to finish that awesome stage in nice.

234

So did you ever race a tour

when there was only one rest day?

235

No, I think I was in the era I was in.

236

There are still nine

riders, but, two rest days.

237

I don't think I ever wrote

a grand two with only one rest.

238

I actually,

239

yeah,

240

maybe maybe that was, I forget the year

that they changed to two rest days, but,

241

you know, that that blocks it off

pretty good, right?

242

Today's on a rest day.

243

You know, some hard mountain days.

You know,

244

another rest day after five more days

and then the final push to Paris.

245

You know, we can go into the minutia,

you know, any other time.

246

I don't think we need to do that

totally here.

247

But the one thing that's missing

and was always one of my favourite stages.

248

And yet you probably are with me on

this one,

249

is there's no team time trial again

this year.

250

Have we seen the end of team time

trials in in Grand Tours

251

or at least the tour de France? Cadel

252

It seems that way, doesn't it?

253

And but there's also no sort of,

if I can say this, a spectacle stage

254

like cobbles, gravel roads or something,

which I'm kinda surprised about

255

because it seemed to have been the been

becoming the norm in in Grand Tours.

256

But Yeah, it's team time trials.

257

Because because as for

from an organisation point of view,

258

it's the TV time.

259

So there have to be a certain distance,

it has to fit in a certain time.

260

And then of course, keeping the riders

and the teams happy,

261

and the like, the equipment

sponsors are happy with team time trials.

262

They seem popular on TV and they.

263

I've not not not

not really up to date with the ratings,

264

but yeah, they sort of

they're becoming less and less and

265

they're it's a bit of a dying on this one.

266

Were you a fan of the team time

trial in the in the tour de France?

267

Did you like it when I rode with BMC?

268

Yes, when I didn't ride with BMC, no,

269

because I used to lose a lot of time

with a team like Lotto,

270

but we saw, another little comeback

271

of the, mountain, mountain top,

uphill time trial, what do you call it?

272

And probably uphill.

273

We haven't had one of them for,

Yeah, I suppose it's a bit

274

a spectacle stage and it's on

275

because it goes up to that

one of those, mountain airports, right?

276

One of the ones on an angle like this

stage, was that, 20, 23,

277

that spectacular stage there

where, where Pog lost

278

six minutes to Vingegaard Where there

that finish and really stayed there.

279

That would be,

280

I've never I've never had the chance

to land in an aeroplane

281

landing on one of those.

282

But I don't know if I'm missing,

but it looks kind of intimidating.

283

Man, I mean, the tour de France

we get so excited about.

284

But like, honestly,

285

you could probably put that on any route

and it would still be the classic.

286

But, I want to go back to

287

when you won the tour de France

288

in 2011, right?

289

That final day going into Paris.

290

Right. You've got the race in hand.

291

I mean, barring any catastrophe.

292

But I always see,

you know, guys passing around champagne

293

every everyone's patting each other

on the back after basically

294

going to war with each other for,

you know, three weeks.

295

What was that like, knowing, okay,

I got to take this picture with champagne.

296

I may have a sip of it.

297

I'm going to accept all these accolades

from my counterparts,

298

but I'm about ready to fulfil a lifetime

dream.

299

I mean, my head

would just be all over the place

300

with, hey, celebrating,

but I'm not quite to the finish line yet.

301

What was that final day like for you?

302

And in 20,

303

I'm like, I, I, like I mentioned before,

I'm a bit rational about these things.

304

I'm like, we celebrate when we get the

yellow jersey over the line.

305

Stay calm, stay concentrated to the line.

306

Because after it was 20 years of dreaming,

I'm working or something to

307

to get to that point,

I wasn't going to throw it away

308

for a small thing,

just on the champagne thing.

309

I always had this thing for myself.

310

If I was going to win the tour, I'd win

open a bottle of like Aussie Aussie beer,

311

just to do something different.

312

But of course I don't want to jinx myself,

313

so I never bought some Aussie

be with me for that reason.

314

Though the year that.

315

Oh, you like,

you have to do the photo every year

316

we do the photo with the champagne

and you have to do it for L’Equipe,

317

and the organisation

and the tradition. You have to do it.

318

Or can't we just get racing

and get this over with?

319

Because I want to get this like, Jersey

across the line.

320

The year that 2011 glass of champagne

in hand.

321

There you there with the director doing

chin chin and,

322

I have a sip

and the TV made it back in front of me.

323

Crashed like, right in front of me. I

324

know, like,

325

I had the gutter on this side, the team

car on this side and the motorbike crash.

326

I had absolutely nowhere to go, and I was

holding a glass of champagne in one hand.

327

Fortunately, because I'm Australian,

have my brakes going the other way

328

so I can with my left,

grab a handful of rear brake.

329

But like that could have been

the end of my tour

330

right there

for the stupid glass of champagne for my.

331

I was a little bit disappointed

this annoyed about that one.

332

But I did this this get the get

get this over the line.

333

And, and yeah, it was,

334

the thing for me

was, like, I had a couple of key moments

335

and you guys raced with this, like,

so you know them well,

336

but I could sort of

see with and in his body language,

337

I think, oh, I think he's,

I think he's losing confidence in this.

338

And then, my, my biggest moment

I think on Saturday evening,

339

before going to,

340

let's say stage,

my phone rang with a number I didn't know,

341

and it was Andy ringing me up.

342

And he congratulated me and I was like,

I was really taken aback by it.

343

I was just stunned.

And I was impressed. Stunned.

344

And I was really

that was sort of one in those moments.

345

And then, of course, when you cross

the finish line, it's just like, oh,

346

thank God.

347

At least that was the biggest celebration

ever, which I think the clip of us

348

hugging after the finish line was played

in the halftime show.

349

The Super Bowl the following year.

350

Oh, that would be big.

351

We need to do some research on that.

352

Yeah, it was, it was played in the yeah.

353

Like me George Quincy Burghi,

Amaël, Steve Morabito?

354

Yeah,

it was at the super Super Bowl, show.

355

So you, in your tour, the one you won,

356

you had to work hot

and work late into the tour.

357

This year's tour de France.

358

Pogacar headed relatively early,

and it looked like,

359

okay, this is safe

and it is cemented, right.

360

So what do we expect for the 25 tour?

361

Will it be done?

362

Stage 19 short vicious mountain stage

with a hilltop finish.

363

Will it be decided

only two days before the finish or you?

364

You think already? I don't know, in the up

time.

365

Try in the Pyrenees or what do you think?

366

Early or late? But I don't want to put it

that predictable.

367

I don't want to put a damper

on the excitement for it.

368

But when I first, looked at the info

for the for the race route,

369

I looked at it and said,

oh, Pogacar’s going to win eight stages.

370

I'm sure that there will be a lot.

371

I'm sure that's not going to happen.

372

Well, I'm

pretty sure this I'll never say that.

373

I'm sure I'm sure that's going to happen

with him.

374

It's ridiculous.

375

But, but I, Well,

376

I'm really hoping that, like, Vingegaard,

I think what was great to see in victory

377

in 2024 was,

it was nice to see some humility from him

378

and the fact that he went out and like

379

showed that towards Pog as well.

380

But I, I think, I hope a healthy,

concentrated

381

Evenepoel, are going to be able

to present really different competitors

382

towards, Pogacar

but at the same time, I'm pretty sure,

383

yes, I can imagine

he's going to ride the Giro Tour again.

384

I imagine in his case, if he wanted

to do two, he could do Giro Vuelta as a

385

as a leading to

won the world Championships or something.

386

Would be would be my recommendation.

387

But,

388

but I think we're going to see, Yeah,

hopefully,

389

hopefully the guys stay safe enough

after what happened to them.

390

Evenepoel and Vingegaard in 2024,

I'm sure they're going to have a slightly

391

different approach to the to the season

and staying safe and being there.

392

And and I think we're going to have a

three, four pronged attack from all sides.

393

I hope that,

394

the monkey is off from Rogla’s back,

and that he can

395

also be in the mix as well,

because that would be great.

396

And, you know, after what Hansgrohe

and Red bull and all this, is there

397

any sort of big,

398

And they put everything on Rogla

and the next thing he wasn't there?

399

You think

400

maybe Primoz is getting

just this one year too old?

401

His body, I mean, these other young kids

are like at their prime.

402

And Primoz has a lot more experience,

maturity and all that.

403

But do you maybe think it's just just

as one more year or one year, two old?

404

I don't know.

405

I love the man and he wants so many races.

406

He's a classy rider,

but you think he still has a chance

407

to come up against the three young guns?

408

Well, I think the young guns.

409

Well, what would take it?

410

Are we talking about their five years

before they prime?

411

But they've already run

a couple of grand tours each.

412

Certainly.

413

Yeah.

414

Everything's changed.

415

So Roglic at his age, is already

416

way too old by if you look at

417

the the new what

what the prime ages is a Grand tour rider.

418

But I agree with you where I like

same Roglic.

419

I love the guy.

420

I met him a few years ago,

421

before he was sort of a known rider and,

super nice guy, great, fantastic

422

bike rider.

423

But, the, the,

as I once you go to sort of 30, 32,

424

that window of opportunity is really,

really closing because your recovery

425

is really compromised.

426

And I remember being,

I think I was 32 myself when I read,

427

I think it was a quote from Eddie Merckx

or something or whatever, whatever.

428

But, one thing goes wrong

and then you never come back.

429

When I, when I started back,

it's like 35 full problems

430

and so on, but all of a sudden my recovery

just was nowhere what it was before.

431

And, and I think that's unfortunately

the just being honest about it,

432

that's the case.

433

I hope I hope that Roglic can prove me

wrong, but, he's it.

434

I think his biggest thing is

he's just been really unlucky in the tour

435

where he crashed this year,

like he was nowhere near the gravel stone

436

sections in the stage.

437

He crashed in things,

but it was a really unlucky crash.

438

There's a crash

on the other side of the road

439

on the other side of a traffic island,

and he got taken out.

440

It was kind of like,

how does how does that even happen?

441

But but that happened to him.

442

And that was the start of the end of his

443

I think Red bull have made

a bit of a strategic error

444

in sort of holding, my compatriot

Jai Hindley back.

445

Of course I got a little bit of bias,

but also a great guy.

446

But, you know, it's better

to have one more up there if you can,

447

at least for the first half of the tour,

until it's clear that you've got a

448

a designated leader.

449

But I think they made a mistake in

450

like having him slip out of GC

so early to Hindley.

451

Come out of GC so early.

452

Well talking about

453

compatriots your boy Ben O'Connor

454

had one heck of a year this year

and he's switching teams.

455

You know

tell us a little bit about your opinion

456

of how his season went

with such an amazing,

457

you know fourth place in the Giro,

second place in in the Vuelta,

458

second place in the world

Championship road race.

459

I mean pretty pretty impressive stuff

right.

460

Incredible

especially are the worlds for me.

461

That was the one that really

because he's a GC rider and we have here,

462

we expect things from me

as a in a three way race.

463

When he was called up

to go to go to the Olympics,

464

the guys who rode with him, there's like

this guy who's in a one day race, right?

465

And then he comes out

and gets second worlds.

466

Obviously the worlds being special

this year. I think it was a bit

467

such a hard race that it sort of.

468

Yeah, it was it was, it was just

staying there and being patient

469

in the end, which got him his result,

but still think he did it in probably

470

what was one of one of the hardest world

championships for a long, long time.

471

Amazing season, amazing turnaround.

472

I think you for him,

if he had been continuing

473

on this team, on this, on paper,

I would say what he can do this year

474

with this team, with, Alula and,

being on an Aussie team, normally he would

475

that would lift him.

476

They'll believe in him more,

they'll support him more.

477

He should be able to do more hunting

with all of his best results.

478

His fourth place at the tour de France.

479

I think he's second place at the World

Championships as well.

480

He sort of come in

as an, underrated rider.

481

He hasn't come in with,

when he's a watch rider.

482

Whereas when he went back to the two,

tour de France after his fourth place,

483

he got into

fourth place from coming from a breakaway.

484

When I think a lot of his competitors

really, underestimated him, whereas,

485

now he won't have that, advantage of

being underestimated by his competitors.

486

I think he might,

that might work against him.

487

Unfortunately.

488

And, just out of the blue, your opinion.

489

Will Cavendish race

another tour de France?

490

I mean, he says he's retired, but he.

491

You know,

he said it already somewhat before.

492

And then we didn't know

if he has a contract or not.

493

And I don't know.

494

I mean, I don't trust this whole team yet.

495

Plus was the first relatively like,

496

you know, nine stages,

relatively flat or easy for we could win.

497

And I said, do you think it's 5050

or you go, nah, that's bullshit.

498

No, it like this, when you put it like

that, might you feel you shift my opinion?

499

When we were speaking before we were

recording, it's like we can't sit still.

500

Like he's going to be.

501

He's probably going to be out

riding his bike any, every day anyway

502

because he doesn't know differently.

503

He'll be like,

I'll just go and do the race.

504

But, yeah, I suppose there is some

better opportunities for him this year.

505

And Cav, it's, I started

want to say this on TV,

506

but when you're doing a live TV,

as you know, it's

507

sometimes a bit difficult,

but he's kind of like a Hollywood script.

508

He sort of just convinces the US,

the viewers

509

or the fans that it's impossible,

that he can't do it and he won't do it.

510

I'm thinking of the image, even from me

riding into Emilia-Romagna in the heat.

511

He's got to take me to it.

512

Two team-mates with him. He's

ten minutes behind.

513

It's like

514

this guy isn't even going to make it

through the first week,

515

never knowing

when to start at 35th stage of the tour.

516

Sure enough, what does he do?

517

Everyone's just completely convinced

that he can't do it.

518

And then he turns around and does it.

519

Maybe does kind of stick

with that Hollywood script thing

520

where he does it intentionally, and

I don't think he does it intentionally.

521

If if we all say, no, no,

he won't, he's done.

522

He can't do it.

523

And we'll probably, yeah,

to turn everything around and go again, I,

524

I, you know, with some

525

I'll just be a

526

bit vague on this info,

but I know, Astana did turn down

527

a good sprinter that they could have had

in their team just recently.

528

So, so, so, so maybe that maybe

529

there could be a slight indicator.

530

Well, I got to spend some time with Mark.

531

Last week here at the Hincapie

Grand Fondo.

532

I was here before.

533

You know what? It's

wish I could have been there this year.

534

It was a little bit different this year

because of the hurricane

535

that blew through.

We had to adjust the course a little bit.

536

And I was sitting there with at lunch

with Mark and George, Christian and Brad,

537

and we were just kind of,

you know, chewing the fat a little bit.

538

And I wasn't 100% convinced

that he's not going to race next year.

539

He's all over the place.

540

He's super busy until the end of the year,

but I couldn't

541

I was trying to pull that out of him like,

so this is it, right?

542

Because you're absolutely right

and you're absolutely right, Cadel.

543

Like you just never know with him.

544

And he could just flip the script

and be racing next year.

545

And you know, it'd be great to see.

546

But, you mentioned about Ben.

547

You know, Ben's changing teams.

548

We just read today

that Demi Vollering is changing teams.

549

Cadel, you know, we were team-mates.

550

You started

your career at Seiko, went to Mapei

551

You went to Telecom?

552

I don't know if that was the best place

for either you or I.

553

At that time, I.

554

And then you went to, you know, the,

the Belgian teams Davitaman-Lotto

555

and Silence-Lotto before ending your

career with, what, 6 or 5, five years?

556

Six years at at BMC.

557

So can you talk a little bit about,

from your experience

558

changing teams,

what that means to the rider

559

and what sort of little pitfalls

you may have to navigate?

560

Yeah, I think, and I'd be interested

in your opinion,

561

especially when you went to, CSC,

we'd we've on a race.

562

There was, a turnaround in your career

for all for the better.

563

What I think, for that,

for the most part,

564

personally, I was always,

motivated for a new environment.

565

Like, I was changing teams

normally for a reason. I.

566

I normally change teams

because I wanted to,

567

it was it was my choice not being forced

out of a team or something.

568

So I was sort of like,

anyone would be better than here.

569

So I'm going to change.

570

And I was always really motivated

and also motivated.

571

One thing,

and I always say this to young riders

572

who are starting out,

be primed and ready from the first race

573

because you

that's where you sort of set the bar

574

and you go to the first race,

and if you win a stage of

575

what is it to Down under the

My Great Ocean Road race or something?

576

You're

that's where you really win respect

577

from the staff, your team-mates,

the riders, management, everyone.

578

So, so get get the ball rolling.

579

Well, but also, you know,

you don't just sometimes

580

you can't

you don't have a choice of teams,

581

but if you have a choice of teams,

you make the choice

582

based on an opportunity or something, or

this is a better environment to work in.

583

And and so in my career,

it was always a step for the better.

584

It was strange

585

when I was at Lotto, but there

I left a year before my contract ran out.

586

I had to pay myself

out of my contract and things,

587

but I just wanted to get out of that team

because it just was not working for me.

588

But then I was going from the world

589

tour to the Pro Conti team,

which was kind of unusual, really.

590

But, in the end, it,

and the BMC Racing team

591

was a team on a on a huge growth

curve on a great positive growth curve.

592

And, yeah, it was

it was great timing for me.

593

And the best one of the best,

594

decisions I ever made.

595

But I'm interested

for you to go from telecom to CSC.

596

What was it?

597

Was it called CSC then the first year?

598

Yeah, we've been it was like,

that's not the Bobby Julich I kow he's

599

he was like,

you had 2 or 2 extra legs to ride with.

600

Yeah.

601

I'm glad this came up.

602

Wasn't really planned, but,

603

you know, when you sign your contract

for your first team, right?

604

You're over the moon, you're like,

I'm a pro. I've made it.

605

And then when those options come up,

you know, it can't be just financial,

606

right?

607

You gotta think about the team

environment, your team-mates.

608

I mean, you just rattled off

609

BMC Racing

team, tour de France team, right.

610

You remember their names, right?

611

Because you guys were brothers.

612

You guys your family still family now?

613

Yeah. Yeah.

614

And, you know, it was it was hard

615

being an American on French teams.

616

It was hard then going to a German team.

617

Like I was always

chasing something that that

618

that perfection that I, you know,

you're like me.

619

I'm like, you could tell, like,

we think about the minutia.

620

We think about the little things.

621

For me at least, I could have 99 things

out of 100 lined up going perfectly.

622

And I could only think about that

one thing that I didn't have.

623

Right.

624

So that was that was always my

I was too much inside my own head

625

on those French teams, and especially

the German team that I was team-mates

626

with you all I can say, and it's funny

that any athlete that's a great mentality.

627

So going

628

so you be an Australian,

me being American, we both rode for German

629

team Telekom and this cat right here,

one of the best German riders of all time.

630

Never wrote for for for telecom.

631

I mean it's it's

and he's kind of mind blowing.

632

Kind of

mind blowing when you think about it.

633

But I had no options

634

after 2003 World

Championships up in Hamilton.

635

Right?

636

I was five years

removed from the tour de France podium.

637

I could not get out of my own way.

638

I was a mental milkshake,

and how I tell people how I was operating

639

was that I was driving around in my car

with the parking brake up, right?

640

So I was able to go, but I wasn't able

to go anywhere efficiently.

641

As soon as I went to CSC,

642

the first hour of the first team

meeting that we had there were Viana

643

just set the tone for the team

and the vision of the team.

644

I felt that parking brake

go all the way to the floor

645

and it was freedom and it was fun

646

and I'm still best friends with

most of the guys that are on that team.

647

That's what makes cycling

648

so much fun

and that's what I see with Totti Pogacar.

649

He's seems to have

that enjoyment that that real

650

you know, his team-mates are

651

amazing, but like he is the leader

and he has a smile on his face.

652

I had a smile on my face in 2004, 2005

653

until I crashed out of the tour in 2006,

which was my last tour.

654

But yeah, it's there's something there's

655

a lot more than the contract, right?

656

If you get paid, you know, a million

to go to this team or 1.2 to go to that

657

team, you need to find

what makes you happy around good people.

658

And I love what you said

about making those connections with staff.

659

You know, the riders

kind of know who's getting paid what.

660

So the pecking order is kind of,

already done.

661

But when it comes to the staff, which is

662

a monumental

part of your happiness on a team,

663

if you make that first

good impression on them and you show that

664

you're not just a jerk or a little prima

donna,

665

that's going to go a long way. So,

666

that team dynamic that Ben

667

is going to have to,

668

I guess, curate himself

669

and especially Demi going to,

the FDJ women's team,

670

that's my advice

671

is to go in there with no ego,

get your work done,

672

be professional, have fun and

and really get that whole team around you.

673

Yeah.

674

And also as a when you go in as a leader,

I think a big thing is to is like

675

go to the first race and like,

676

you know, the race plan gets in,

but then also put your hand up was like,

677

I'm not going with any good.

678

Anyone's going good.

679

I'll ride on the front,

whatever needs to be done.

680

Also, just straight away

being honest about that as well.

681

Like, because even if you go

there as a leader there,

682

you also go there with the expectations.

683

But it's also when you do have

those expectations for the whole season.

684

It's kind of nice to go the first race

of the year and ride on the front for

685

for someone who never gets, any chance

to lead a race or something.

686

And it also sets the tone, like you say.

687

And I think there's one thing saying

688

setting the tone,

but then there's going out and doing.

689

Oscar Freire told me this

when I was with him at my pay

690

is one thing saying, but when they go out

and do it, you like it.

691

Just you just convinced

692

two things.

693

If I can just touch on what you say,

Bobby.

694

I can relate to you with that, driving,

riding around with the handbrake

695

on, I had, I used the same.

696

I was in exactly the same situation,

and I used exactly the same metaphor.

697

And, something happened.

698

I had a meeting or whatever,

and the handbrake was released, and,

699

the next day was the World championships

700

to make a long story short, and, the today

701

his one thing that's so remarkable,

obviously he's amazingly talented.

702

He's a very good bike handler.

He seems to have a lot of luck.

703

But he can just stay

so relaxed and enjoy it.

704

If I relaxed and enjoyed it and laughed

like that, something went wrong.

705

I'd be in a crash.

706

Or I'd be like,

707

when psychology like under aroused, your

not not at your best because.

708

Because you're not in your peak condition.

Because I needed a bit of.

709

I need to be a little bit nervous

and stressed.

710

I just had to calm myself down to perform

well, but I couldn't.

711

I could also relax too much if I just

712

laughed around and looked around like,

713

like like today does in the bunch.

714

I agree, when I had a job,

I mean, there will be a few stages

715

where I wouldn't have a job.

I mean, I was never a GC rider.

716

You could relax a little,

but when you have a job,

717

when we plan a big attack with Cancellara

or Schleck brothers, I.

718

I even went to my gym friends.

719

Look, I can't talk. I'm focussed.

720

Sorry.

721

I just need my head in the game

and I cannot talk

722

and throw jokes

because we got a big day ahead.

723

So you both have been, a leader

724

and, gaming following changing teams.

725

Also, Ben O'Connor,

how much of a say does

726

the new leader has in a brand new team?

727

About the tour de France team.

728

Not the entire team, but the team.

729

The men and woman

to go within to tour de France.

730

And you knew in the team.

731

How did you guys handle that in your past?

732

I think I think this also relayed to you

what you're saying, Bobby,

733

I think Ben's got an easier transition

734

to make because he's

going from a French team to an Aussie team

735

where his team is going in opposite

direction.

736

I've never seen a French team myself, so

I don't know the culture very well. But,

737

I don't I don't know how that would go

if I, if I can say just about the tour de

738

France selection, especially my years

with BMC and Jim Ochowicz

739

where it was obvious

that I was going to be the guy for GC,

740

Yeah, I got to have a fair bit of input

into the, into the, selection of the team.

741

But but it's never up to one person

in the, in the selection.

742

In most of the teams that I've been

in, it's sort of a collaboration.

743

It's kind of like a vote of 4 or 5 people,

whether it's the coach

744

and four directors

and and maybe my input as well would be,

745

not quite

746

including that in that vote,

but maybe influence the votes of others,

747

maybe, directors

or something in my own thing.

748

But also that came, that comes.

749

So you go to the team presentation

and okay, there's no team time trial.

750

So there are eight

751

riders, maybe you have ten in mind

and no team time travel.

752

Well, it won't be him.

753

It'll be him.

754

But like, at this point, yeah.

755

Today

there might be some ladies thinking that.

756

Yeah, I can't really, I, I have no,

757

nothing to say there because I,

758

you know, when I was a leader on Cofidis

and then Crédit Agricole,

759

things were not going

right up here for me, so I had no,

760

no pull, no say, in the,

in the tour de France selection.

761

But, you know, nowadays it seems like.

762

Yeah, you get that little band of brothers

and those guys are the long team and,

763

you know, they can not many people

can ride themselves into the team,

764

but maybe a couple guys ride themself

out of the team or get get injured.

765

But it is such a stressful time,

you know,

766

not only as a, as a rider,

as a team leader, but also as a,

767

as a coach and in, in middle management,

when it boils down

768

to that final selection, you know,

we used to have nine riders in the tour.

769

Now we only have eight.

So that even makes it more difficult.

770

You got 30 guys on the team.

771

Only eight get to go to the tour de France

every single one of them

772

want to go to the tour de France.

773

So it's an incredibly stressful time

that we have, what, 250 days

774

to to talk about between now

775

But I do want to ask you something

about the tour de France next year.

776

Cadel Mont Ventoux,

777

you've had

778

great days on Mont Ventoux

when you won in Paris-Nice.

779

And you've had some average days,

to say the least.

780

I'm on, on two.

781

I have never had a good day

on Mont Ventoux.

782

To me, it's

my least favourite climb on the planet.

783

And what is your opinion

of of Mont Ventoux, and why is it such a

784

an absolute

classic climb in used in the tour?

785

I'm going to be rational

about this as well.

786

People always ask

what's your favourite car minimise

787

any climb that I'm going

and that I'm winning on.

788

It's it's my favourite climb.

789

Any climb that I'm not winning on

or getting dropped on, especially

790

when I have to be there for GC here.

I'm not.

791

It's not my favourite climb

and if you're okay on up to is, it's okay

792

if you're I up

the ways was a bit the same for me.

793

It was also famous

but I never had like a great day there.

794

And then we have one, two in the

in the two.

795

Yeah.

796

Outside of the Tour

797

I, I normally had good days there, but

in the tour, something always went wrong.

798

And,

so it was a bit for me. It was a bit,

799

whenever we went there, I was always,

in the last time we went down

800

Astana, split the field in a crosswind,

801

way before, way

before the start of the climb.

802

And they ride to the bottom.

803

It's like, I can't remember,

804

and, and.

805

Yeah, that was that.

806

I suppose

that was my probably my last race.

807

And what I'm doing. I'm back.

808

I've been back a couple of times.

This is a tourist.

809

And that it's just been fantastic to ride.

810

But, yeah, I'm just very.

811

If I'm having a good day in the climb,

it's a good climb of having a bad day.

812

Well, that's bad.

813

I don't like that climb on that day,

that's for sure.

814

I think one thing, so as Neil

Stephens said this to me

815

years ago about, like,

what makes a up to is famous.

816

It's not that I hope to

is is particularly hard or anything,

817

but because in the middle of the Alps

818

you've always got to

go over heaps of mountains to get there.

819

So what happens on it

afterwards is always very dramatic.

820

And I think von two is a dramatic,

it's openness,

821

it's wind, it's barrenness.

822

Like just to watch it.

823

It's it looks pretty imposing, doesn't it.

824

And then of course, like the Chris Froome

running up there without a bike and,

825

and those kind of days make it make it,

make it and just add to

826

that that

or I think we all have about one, two.

827

Well,

828

since we already talk about the memories,

do do you have any particular moment

829

in your entire tour France history

that sticks out to you?

830

Very likely it's your winning days

or is there, like, anything?

831

Oh, wow. That day was just amazing.

832

And like, you go nowadays,

just all in the tunnel of pain behind me.

833

Oh, I, I suppose I have, I had moments

834

I'm not one for

when people think about the climbs.

835

And the other day I had to look at Monte

836

Pana today like a stage

finish that I visit in the Giro this year.

837

But I tell names, those things.

838

I didn't remember any of them, of course.

839

Then the names of the big climbs,

I remember.

840

But, someone asked me today,

someone in the family of you rode

841

Paso Fedaia, cos I'm going for a ride

tomorrow, and I could ride there,

842

but I can't remember, but, But.

843

Oh, the. Oh,

the gradients and the entrances.

844

Narrow road by road, wide road, off

camber.

845

corner.

846

Caught a good, headwind up the valley

or something like that.

847

All those things I remember.

848

But things like names that

I don't remember, but certainly moments

849

and experiences really struck,

strongly in my mind about the two.

850

And especially you go back

and you write books

851

and you give like talks to groups

and things about everyone.

852

After my 2011 two, everyone wanted to hear

what was going through my head

853

in like the, stage to the Galibier

where I was chasing down Andy, trying

854

close down the gap to Andy

And so of course, I've relieved that

855

moment so many times.

856

It's kind of it's

quite heavily in my brain.

857

But there's a

858

oh, when

I, when I start thinking back to it.

859

Yeah,

I have a lot of really vivid memories.

860

And I think one thing you, as a writer,

especially if you're in the press

861

and on TV, you bring asked

862

you sort of reviewing the

your experience so many times

863

and if you had a good time,

it you're not just reviewing it

864

after each stage in the interviews

and the TV, but you reviewing it,

865

doing corporate talks in the offseason

in Australia for me, writing books,

866

and you just going, reviewing and reading,

which is just of course,

867

reinforcing your memory, of,

of, of all those experiences.

868

So a lot of a lot of mine

are really vividly etched in my mind.

869

But I still have to.

870

When I was writing a book,

I had to look up on Wikipedia

871

and see if you know who was one place

in front of me in the breakaway or,

872

what was the name of that town?

873

I spent a lot of time

874

looking on maps and Google Maps,

looking for town names and things.

875

You know, going back to the Mark

Cavendish, is he going to race?

876

Is you not going to race?

877

We kind of had the same question

about you, Cadel.

878

You know, like you you finished

879

you won the tour de France in 2011

880

You get seventh place, 2013 you,

881

you did a little bit less than that.

882

I think you were top 30. Top 40.

883

But then in 2014, your last full season,

you didn't even do the tour de France.

884

You did the Giro and the Vuelta, right.

885

And then,

886

yeah, that one question.

887

Is Cadel going to race the next year

and you get third in the tour Down Under.

888

And I think I have it here in my notes

somewhere.

889

I think it was at mine

that was my inaugural fifth in

890

the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road race.

891

And then well,

not the fifth point. And then

892

and then stopped.

893

Yeah.

894

Was that plan, did you want to or were you

I mean, when you get third

895

in the tour Down Under and fifth

or whatever in your race is

896

it wasn't there some itch to say,

hey, man, I still got it.

897

Well, you know, I'm still happy today

that I'm like,

898

you know, if any of you, if anyone asks me

about my career or whatever.

899

The day I retired, I was ranked

third in the world, because it only been

900

one WorldTour race, but, that

that sort of stays, I suppose, forever.

901

But, I had, illness in 2012

902

that wasn't discovered until,

after the tour de France was racing with

903

this,

904

virus actually for the whole year there.

905

But, that really, not only mentally,

but my, my relationship

906

with the team and my team-mates really

caused really, rattled things.

907

Then 2013,

908

the team wanted

909

me and but they came very late in the,

in the into the plan.

910

They came in some of the day before

Milan San Remo and said,

911

oh, you should ride the Giro

to get ready for the tour.

912

Come on, it's March.

913

No, I think I went home that night

and looked at the Giro stages

914

on the internet

915

just to know where I went,

because of course

916

I was getting ready for the tour, so

I hadn't paid much attention to the Giro.

917

But then, they didn't want me to ride

the tour.

918

They wanted me to try and do something

in the Giro because I thought I might be.

919

I'd do something a year, but a different.

920

Can't do anything.

921

I'm with at the tour,

and this was probably Jim Ochowicz choice,

922

I'd say, with recommendations

from people within the team.

923

But I was okay with that.

924

I wasn't, like, I was always fixated

in the tour de France in my career,

925

but I always actually wanted to ride

the Giro.

926

So for me, that worked out well.

927

But then, I did

actually want to continue after that.

928

And this is the thing between Jim Ochowicz

and I where

929

I remember earlier when I first joined

the team, he said to me,

930

I was we were talking about

retirement of riders or something.

931

He said he looked me in the eye

and he said, we need you to retire.

932

I'll tell you.

933

And so I've gone to him in

934

2014 and said, I, yeah, I'd like to ride

another two years and this.

935

And he looked at me and said,

936

this is not a place for you on this team.

937

You should retire.

938

And it wasn't

what I wanted to hear at all. Right?

939

Totally not what I wanted to hear, though.

940

And then, so my,

941

because I wanted to keep racing,

but it wasn't for the right reasons.

942

So, I asked, can

I just do the month in Australia

943

because it's the first edition

of my own race,

944

which I'd been working on

for some two years or so, more

945

to get going and get everything going.

946

And my thing was with him, I'm

going to train like there's no tomorrow

947

because I'm only going

to do one month of racing

948

and it's going to be in Australia,

and I'm going to do

949

everything I can to do

the best that I can.

950

And with the way the points work

and everything,

951

it worked out really well for them.

952

And Rohan Rohan Dennis was my, team mate,

and it was actually the fact

953

that I was there on GC

and he won two down Under.

954

He maybe he wouldn't have been able to

do that without, without me being there.

955

But it was a couple of months

later, actually,

956

and I was going somewhere with him again,

and I actually thanked him.

957

I said,

958

I said thanks to him for for saying that

because I needed to be told that.

959

And no one else could have said that

to me.

960

So, you know, I sort of I didn't

want to stop, but I was forced to stop.

961

But it was the right thing to do.

962

And and I did my last race,

and I always had this thing in

963

my career was always to become

a professional cyclist.

964

Was, for me, it was a I always saw it

as a fantastic opportunity.

965

It was a dream come true, an opportunity

966

to make a living racing my bike,

which is all I wanted to do anyway.

967

And so I always look at it, is this window

of opportunity to make the most of.

968

And that motivated me a lot in my training

and everything that I was doing.

969

But knowing that

this window of opportunity

970

would close one day and that window

of opportunity closed on the finish

971

line of of my own race, the great Ocean

972

But I have to say,

I crossed the finish line that day,

973

cramping and okay,

I wasn't happy with the result.

974

Like so often.

975

I was not happy with the result

that I got in the race, but

976

but I said okay, I gave it everything.

977

Now it's time for the next chapter.

978

Next chapter.

979

That is actually a good way

to go across to my next question,

980

there's,

any more few new chapters in your life?

981

Any new jobs coming up? For this year?

982

For next year?

983

Yeah.

984

I'm moving my family back to Australia,

which has been, it's only 26 years.

985

I've been based in Europe, actually,

so I'm I'm not going to know myself

986

in Australia, but that's, in my personal

life, a big thing.

987

I did get married this year as well.

988

I, we,

989

I, I'll be working more on my race,

the great Ocean road race in Australia,

990

doing more things in Australia,

of course, obviously being based there.

991

But it's been an interesting thing

that I have to say that with me

992

cycling in the tours

and particularly being,

993

I was nearly going to go to the tour de

France presentation today for this.

994

But I have to say, it's been really nice.

995

The first, group

996

that I hosted was at the Giro d'Italia,

and we were staying in Como,

997

and because I live 25 kilometre

or 25km from Como,

998

I've got like a story to tell about nearly

every corner of every street in Como.

999

But to be able to share that

00:50:34,614 --> 00:50:37,993

with my own, especially Australians,

but other anglophones.

00:50:37,993 --> 00:50:41,246

But having been a share, my experiences

of being in Europe, whether it's racing

00:50:41,246 --> 00:50:44,374

or racing,

culinary decides, politics or whatever,

00:50:45,083 --> 00:50:48,086

anything I've learned about this

time, it's just been a really,

00:50:48,420 --> 00:50:51,757

a really nice way to sort of be

at the races, enjoy the races.

00:50:51,757 --> 00:50:54,843

But, but better share it

with other people.

00:50:54,843 --> 00:50:59,056

And we had, and we were riding up

the Tourmalet, in July of this year.

00:50:59,681 --> 00:51:01,349

And there was a we had this guest.

00:51:01,349 --> 00:51:03,769

He was an awesome guy from Adelaide,

00:51:03,769 --> 00:51:06,772

and he just stopped and took a photo

and like nearly every switchback.

00:51:07,147 --> 00:51:10,817

But he just loved every metre of the

climb, every metre of every ride we did.

00:51:10,817 --> 00:51:13,570

It's pouring rain. It's so foggy.

This is fantastic.

00:51:13,570 --> 00:51:17,949

I just it just completely reinvigorated

my passion and appreciation

00:51:18,158 --> 00:51:21,578

for riding in, at least in France,

in this case in the Pyrenees.

00:51:21,578 --> 00:51:23,789

It was just

it was a really, really great experience.

00:51:23,789 --> 00:51:26,124

And that's

so I look forward to doing that again.

00:51:26,124 --> 00:51:29,127

Coming back for the Giro,

maybe some of the other, classics,

00:51:29,711 --> 00:51:33,757

next year and then the tour as well

with Australians, anglophones.

00:51:33,757 --> 00:51:37,094

But for the most part,

and that's been a great new experience.

00:51:37,094 --> 00:51:39,179

But of course, since stepping away from

00:51:40,180 --> 00:51:41,014

from being a rider,

00:51:41,014 --> 00:51:44,142

I think I've, it's been fantastic.

00:51:44,142 --> 00:51:48,939

I've gone into a race organisation

in the bike industry with BMC,

00:51:49,189 --> 00:51:53,527

then going back to the races of host

with a, with the, with a tour company.

00:51:53,527 --> 00:51:57,114

And I'm just so there you more a fan

as a spectator as well.

00:51:57,322 --> 00:51:58,907

It's really been a nice

00:51:58,907 --> 00:52:00,283

other than being to so concentrate

00:52:00,283 --> 00:52:03,328

on everything within the barriers

now been involved in sort of everything

00:52:03,328 --> 00:52:05,956

outside of the barriers,

which has just been a a great learning

00:52:05,956 --> 00:52:09,251

experience and,

you know, really, really enjoyable,

00:52:10,001 --> 00:52:12,462

enjoyable.

00:52:12,462 --> 00:52:15,048

Nearly ten years now, ten years next year.

00:52:15,048 --> 00:52:17,926

So next year's tour of France,

I will see you and my old friends.

00:52:17,926 --> 00:52:21,596

You had the great with cycling

in the first week of the Tour of France,

00:52:21,596 --> 00:52:24,599

because I'm going to be there

for Eurosport on a motorbike,

00:52:24,641 --> 00:52:25,392

and then we're going

00:52:25,392 --> 00:52:29,354

to have a coffee together in a village

de pas talking to tour de France.

00:52:29,354 --> 00:52:30,730

My very last question for you,

00:52:31,731 --> 00:52:34,651

who is your favourite and if it's Pogacar,

00:52:34,651 --> 00:52:39,239

what does Remco and Jonas

need to do to challenge him?

00:52:39,823 --> 00:52:42,826

Attack earlier? Attack later?

00:52:42,868 --> 00:52:45,495

Oh, Who?

00:52:45,495 --> 00:52:47,289

My favourite.

00:52:47,289 --> 00:52:49,499

Well,

I suppose my favourite tour guy probably

00:52:49,499 --> 00:52:52,502

was actually, Roglic.

00:52:53,753 --> 00:52:56,047

I just like the guy, met him know him

personally.

00:52:56,047 --> 00:52:56,882

I don't know personally Vingegaard,.

00:52:56,882 --> 00:53:00,468

I don't know personally

Pog, Evenepoel either.

00:53:00,969 --> 00:53:05,056

But I think he's just incredible

in this talent.

00:53:05,056 --> 00:53:07,726

What he's doing

is just absolutely incredible.

00:53:07,726 --> 00:53:08,768

Amazing.

00:53:08,768 --> 00:53:11,605

I mean, all of his talent, but I,

00:53:11,605 --> 00:53:14,608

I think I think I sort of

00:53:14,774 --> 00:53:17,777

of either of those three,

I probably probably

00:53:17,819 --> 00:53:20,947

in terms of a fan, I'm probably more

an Evenepoel guy, to be honest.

00:53:21,489 --> 00:53:24,910

He’s sort of just the quiet achiever

just goes right.

00:53:24,910 --> 00:53:26,328

And he's just very calculating.

00:53:26,328 --> 00:53:29,080

I think he's also a very well rounded,

well rounded rider.

00:53:29,080 --> 00:53:35,295

And he's really gone beyond what, what,

just I know, I just seem to like him.

00:53:35,295 --> 00:53:36,254

Him as a rider.

00:53:36,254 --> 00:53:39,549

Just just a little bit more,

with all respect, obviously to Vingegaard

00:53:39,591 --> 00:53:41,927

and Pogacar

they're not just the best riders

00:53:41,927 --> 00:53:45,931

at the moment, like the best

Grand Tour riders for at least decades,

00:53:45,931 --> 00:53:48,225

if not generations and generations

before them.

00:53:48,225 --> 00:53:51,228

So, but we're in this period.

00:53:51,353 --> 00:53:56,775

I probably I'm quite I'm glad I'm a spectator and a fan now, rather than a rider.

00:53:58,443 --> 00:54:01,696

Cadel, thanks for sharing your insights

and thoughts with us.

00:54:01,696 --> 00:54:06,284

Thanks a million for being our guest today

on the old tandem with Bobby and me.

00:54:06,660 --> 00:54:10,205

It was absolutely fantastic

to catch up with you and maybe

00:54:10,330 --> 00:54:12,040

getting closer to next is tour de France.

00:54:12,040 --> 00:54:16,127

We might invite you back for

another update on your experience of that.

00:54:16,670 --> 00:54:19,214

Thanks again

one more time for being our guest tonight.

00:54:19,214 --> 00:54:20,632

Thanks, gents. Thanks, Bobby.

00:54:20,632 --> 00:54:22,175

An absolute pleasure to be here.

00:54:22,175 --> 00:54:25,637

And, Odd

Tandemit is a bit of an odd tandem.

00:54:26,179 --> 00:54:28,223

I hope I can be back with you sometime

soon.

00:54:28,223 --> 00:54:30,558

Thanks, guys.

00:54:30,558 --> 00:54:32,018

That's everything for this week.

00:54:32,018 --> 00:54:35,981

Now remember to follow us at Odd Tandem

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00:54:35,981 --> 00:54:40,151

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00:54:40,735 --> 00:54:43,446

Thanks to Cadel for joining the podcast.

00:54:43,446 --> 00:54:47,242

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