Re-Cycle: The cycling history podcast

In this episode of Re-Cycle, we re-count when Federico Bahamontes blew a 16-minute lead to hand his big rival Jesús Loroño the yellow jersey on a plateIt was one of cycling's bitterest rivalries and that fateful Vuelta 1957 took things to a new level. But there’s much more than there seems to a story that blends social, political, economic, sporting and personal conflict.Re-Cycle is written by Felix Lowe, narrated by Graham Willgoss, and produced by Pete Burton.Sponsored by Zwift, where Fun is Fast!

In this episode of Re-Cycle, we re-count the time Rudi Altig defied teammate Jacques Anquetil to win the 1962 Vuelta.  Frenchman Jacques Anquetil entered the 1962 Vuelta a España aiming to become the first rider in history to win all three of cycling’s Grand Tours.  But the time trial specialist was beaten at his own game by his young teammate, who became Germany’s first ever Grand Tour winner. Re-Cycle is written by Felix Lowe, narrated by Graham Willgoss, and produced by Pete Burton. Sponsored by Zwift, where Fun is Fast!

In this episode of Re-Cycle, we look back on a ride that really was too good to be true.A day after handing the initiative to Oscar Pereiro for a second time following an implosion at La Toussuire, Floyd Landis turned the 2006 Tour upside down. Going clear on the first of five climbs 120km from Stage 17’s finish, Landis blew his rivals away with an unbelievable solo win in Morzine to revive his yellow jersey bid.Re-Cycle is written by Felix Lowe, narrated by Graham Willgoss, and produced by Pete Burton. Sponsored by Zwift, where Fun is Fast!

In this episode of Re-Cycle, we’re riding with Eros Poli, a man famous for being the tallest rider in the peloton as well as finishing last in the Giro d’Italia, while also piloting Mario Cipollini to multiple stage wins. Then, on a sweltering day in the Tour de France, Poli went on the attack en route to Mont Ventoux. Here’s the story of how some quick thinking, a little James Brown and a hot can of Fanta fired a giant to victory up and over the Beast of Provence.Re-Cycle is written by Felix Lowe, narrated by Graham Willgoss, and produced by Pete Burton. Sponsored by Zwift, where Fun is Fast!

Sunstroke and a bottle of wine made Abdel-Kader Zaaf a household name at the 1950 Tour after he passed out on his bike then, in a daze, rode back towards the peloton. A year later, the Algerian trailblazer finished last after launching the move that ended the grieving Fausto Coppi’s bid for yellow. Felix Lowe remembers a man who blurred the lines between myth and reality, between patronising praise and casual racism.Re-Cycle is narrated by Graham Willgoss, and produced by Pete Burton. Sponsored by Zwift, where Fun is Fast!

In the first of our 4-stage Tour run of Re-Cycle, Felix Lowe tells the story of the accidental yellow jersey. Eddy Merckx’s bid to wear the Yellow Jersey from start to finish at the 1971 Tour de France was scuppered when his Molteni teammate Rini Wagtmans took the race lead by mistake on a crazy triple-split stage. Felix Lowe remembers a chaotic race at the height of Merckx Mania, when the Cannibal was pushed to his very limit by his great rival Luis Ocaña.Re-Cycle is narrated by Graham Willgoss and produced by Pete Burton.Sponsored by Zwift, where Fun is Fast!