CASTELLI Cycling Podcast

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube, and don’t miss your chance to win a VIP experience for the Giro d’Italia Women this July with a chance to meet the ladies of AG Insurance Soudal. Share your favorite moment or quote from this episode in the comments to enter! The winner will be announced in a pinned comment on March 4, 2025, and contacted directly. YouTube: https://youtu.be/dMgIjZLu2xQ ___ In...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with one of Britain’s most versatile and exciting cyclists—Ethan Hayter. In this episode, Ethan reflects on his journey from turning pro with Team INEOS in 2020 to signing with Soudal Quick-Step for the next two seasons—a team with Grand Tour and Classics ambitions, while also working to help Ethan rediscover his best form. With past victories, including the G...

In this final episode of the year, we explore the full story of the Gabba — one of the most influential innovations in cycling apparel history. From a brutal Classics race in 2010 that changed how the peloton raced in cold and wet conditions, to the latest evolution, the Gabba R, this episode traces how a single idea became a category-defining product. Recorded after a wind-tunnel session in Milan...

In this second episode, Nathan Haas shares his inspiring journey from being a young, talented athlete in Australia to racing for some of the sport's biggest World Tour teams. He discusses the challenges he faced transitioning from downhill mountainbiking to road racing, the importance of team dynamics, and the evolution of Girona as a cycling hub.  Nathan also delves into his collaborations w...

Nathan is a household name in cycling, having raced at the World Tour level for 10 years, participated in all Grand Tours, and sparked many conversations about the present and future of gravel cycling—all while achieving top results and inspiring others. In this action-packed episode, we sit down with Nathan to explore gravel riding, the best routes around Girona, its coffee culture, cycling commu...

At just 22, Gaia Masetti is already making waves in the women’s WorldTour. With a deep passion for cycling that began in childhood, Gaia has raced in some of the biggest events on the calendar as part of the AG Insurance Soudal team. In this episode, Gaia reflects on her journey from winning her first race at the age of six to turning pro at just 21. She discusses the challenges she faced along th...

The pressure to achieve ideal weight in cycling and triathlon, hit competitive power-to-weight ratios, and meet physical expectations drives a surprising number of male and female elite athletes into a state of low energy availability. In this series, we explore RED-S, what it entails, and why diagnosing it is so complex. If you missed the first episode, we strongly recommend starting there as the...

As athletes, we constantly push to hit our peak, whether it’s achieving the ideal weight, nailing competitive power-to-weight ratios, or meeting physical expectations. But this pressure can sometimes lead to low energy availability and, in turn, the critical condition known as Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). Whether you're training for a race or managing your daily workouts, RED-S can...

Today's guest is truly inspiring—a superstar admired by millions of fans. We’re joined by NBA Hall of Famer and Olympian Reggie Miller. While Reggie is widely known for his legendary basketball career, today we’ll discuss his love for mountain biking and gravel riding, the cycling community, his missioan to boost diversity in the sport, and his passion for getting more kids and people of color inv...

Join us for a thrilling episode of the Castelli Podcast with João Paulo de Oliveira, a Brazilian racing ace in Japan's Super GT scene. Discover how João uses cycling to stay fit and explore the parallels between these two high-demand sports. Learn how cycling not only keeps João in peak condition but also allows him to explore Japan’s stunning landscapes, from the bustling streets of Tokyo to sere...

In this episode, we sit down with Belgian female pro-cyclist Justine Ghekiere. She shares her remarkable journey, from discovering eRacing during the COVID pandemic to making her mark in the women's professional peloton. Justine's story is a testament to the rapid pace of her rise in the cycling world, her obsession with indoor training, and the mental grit that fuels her passion for the sport. Jo...

The Castelli Podcast recap is a monthly episode highlighting some of the best bits from one of our past podcast episodes. You can find the full 57-minute episode from November 29, 2023, or at this link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-nutrition-ep2-what-is-the-optimal-diet-for/id1669906821?i=1000636862451 Expert sports performance nutritionist Dani Hofstetter shares invaluable insight...

It's the final Tour de France episode, we're taking a deep dive into the most crucial job in cycling—the soigneur. Are they a butler? A friend? A rider's mum? We chatted with Kevin Verstaen, an experienced soigneur working for Soudal Quick-Step, who described the role as looking after the welfare of team members and being a "cyclist laborer." Soigneur stories often include humorous and challenging...

Nutrition is a hot topic in the modern peloton, and for good reason. A grand tour like the Tour de France is an immense challenge for the body. Fail to fuel or eat properly, and you'll pay the price. In this episode, we uncover the latest strategies that pros use to sustain themselves through three weeks of grueling racing. Joining us is Maaike Polspoel, the performance nutritionist for the top-ra...

In this episode, live from the Tour de France, we're joined by Koen Pelgrim, Performance Coach at Soudal Quick-Step and personal trainer to Remco Evenepoel. Remco has had an outstanding first week at the Grande Boucle, securing a stage win and the white jersey with an impressive and consistent performance. As we prepare for the race's second half, discover how Remco and his Soudal Quick-Step teamm...

In this 'petite' episode, we’re giving you a speedy introduction to La Grande Boucle and its history, along with some fun and incredible facts. We explore its iconic climbs, the introduction of different leader jerseys, and the thrill of watching the race. We also highlight some of the early champions and pioneers, discuss the evolution of team sponsorship over the years, and much more. Hope you’l...

In our series profiling the team behind the riders, it’s all about communication activations, social media, partner marketing campaigns, and mental health awareness. You might have caught a glimpse of today’s guest in the background during rider interviews at races and Grand Tours. His name is Phil Lowe, Press Officer for one of the sport’s biggest and most historical WorldTour cycling teams, Soud...

Born just 31 days apart in the autumn of 1992, Soudal Quick-Step's Tim Merlier and Bert Van Lerberghe are a duo whose fates have long been connected. In the first bunch sprint of the 2024 Giro d'Italia, Tim Merlier made history by becoming the first Belgian in 46 years to win three stages in a single edition of the Giro d’Italia. With help from his childhood friend Bert Van Lerberghe, who ramped u...

The 107th Giro d’Italia kicks off on Saturday, promising three weeks of breathtaking climbs, scenic views, and, above all, great racing. In this episode, we'll delve into some iconic moments in Giro history; the first Maglia Rosa, Marco Pantani's legendary attack to Oropa in 1999, Andy Hampsten's epic day on Passo Gavia in 1988, and Castelli's innovations and marketing stunts during the Giro, such...

In this episode, I caught up with multiple South African champion Ashleigh Moolman Pasio. We talked about how she ended up in Banyoles near Girona, the Rocacorba Cycling business, her QOM Strava record on the famous Rocacorba climb near Girona, and the challenge she set herself to get the best women's time below 30 minutes. Ashleigh will share her advice on how to pace yourself when aiming for you...

There’s a great deal of excitement surrounding the young US talent Luke Lamperti, but no one – not even himself – knows quite what sort of rider he is or will become as he embarks on his first World Tour season with Soudal Quick-Step. Originally from California, Lamperti began riding dirt bikes at the age of three. Over the recent seasons, he has emerged as one of the most sought-after young rider...

Join us for a gripping journey into the heart of professional cycling as we delve into the last three decades of pro racing and the world of sports directing. From Tom’s excitement of joining the number one Classics team when racing pro to later becoming DS for the same team, discover the evolution of cycling, the challenges young athletes face, and the importance of mental toughness in this capti...

In the world of professional cycling, where the spotlight often shines on the riders conquering the grueling races, there exists a group of individuals working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure every pedal stroke is supported by a perfectly tuned machine. These unsung heroes are the mechanics, the wizards of the workshop who transform bikes into race-ready steeds capable of enduring the harsh...

In this episode, we are delighted to introduce Ilse Pluimers, a young and exceptionally talented athlete from the Castelli-equipped AG Insurance Soudal team, excelling in both cyclocross and road cycling. It's a lively conversation about Ilse's passion for cyclocross and one-day racing. We explore how she balances her road career with cyclocross in winter, and she shares insider tips and know-how...

[Video on YouTube] Join us as we delve into the heart-pounding world of professional cycling as Mikel Landa, the experienced Basque climber, gears up for an exciting season with Soudal Quick-Step. Fresh from a stellar performance in the 2023 Vuelta and a podium at the 2022 Giro d’Italia, Landa takes on a supporting role for Remco Evenepoel in the Tour de France, all while anticipating a lead in th...