The Piste Take

Episode 51: An Ode to Katie Archibald + Canada Women's Team Pursuit Scandal latest

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2369265/fan_mail/new] This week on The Piste Take, we pay tribute to one of the greatest track cyclists Britain has ever produced. Katie Archibald, two-time Olympic gold medallist, four-time world champion, has announced her retirement, and we think she deserves her flowers. After 13 years at the very top of the sport, she walks away with 51 major medals, seven world titles and a record 21 European crowns. We reflect on a career that was like no other, and the impact she's had on the sport not just as an athlete, but as a person.  Then we turn to a story that has the track cycling world furious. Cycling Canada has told its women's team pursuit squad, two years out from the Los Angeles Olympics, that they will not be sent to the UCI Track World Championships in Shanghai this October, the first qualifying event for LA 2028, and that the program will not be supported through to the Games. We break down what's happened, why it matters, and what it says about how national teams understand (or don't)  what it's like to be on of their athletes.

Episode 50: Down Under-rated with Alessia McCaig

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2369265/fan_mail/new] We return to the podcasting world with a blockbuster episode where we're joined by Aussie Track Sprint sensation Alessia McCaig. As the keirin winner at the recent Perth World Cup, we catch up with Alessia. We chat through her journey with the Australian Sprint Programme, her keirin racing identity & the recent impact of Women's Sprint Coach, Kaarle McCulloch. Alessia has went from strength to strength in the last few years, winning World Championship medals & making the keirin final at last years Worlds' in Santiago, Chile. We also learn about her dream training group from riders past and present - it doesn't disappoint! Tune in to find out all about our thoughts from our listener questions too. Please feel free to ask us any questions you have via our social media channels @thepistetake!

Race Roundup: 2026 UCI World Cup Series with Joanna Rowsell

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2369265/fan_mail/new] Hot off the press, we welcome back to the podcast 2x Olympic Champion and top TNT Sport Commentator, Joanna Rowsell to debrief the last 3 rounds of Nations Cups.  We tackle the series as a whole, look at the progress the UCI has made in delivering a 3-round series & some of the pitfalls along the way. Tune in to hear the expert analysis of some of the racing trends too - from the Rise of China, to the new sprint wars on both Men & Women's side. Listen right to the end to hear our thoughts on all the implications of this World Cup series on the upcoming Olympic Qualification for team events.  Thanks again to the Legendary Joanna Rowsell for jumping on with us, and as always our sponsors at the Velodrome Shop. You can check them out today at www.velodrome.shop

Episode 49: Making German Track Cycling Great Again with Luca Spiegel

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2369265/fan_mail/new] We are back with breakout German Men's sprint star Luca Spiegel. We hear all about Team Deutschland's 4 week training camp in Perth before the recent World Cup, his experiences with riding with the best at Paris Olympics and the long road since.  This was one of our favourite episodes to record with one of TrackSprinting's good guys, we hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Thanks again to our sponsors at the Velodrome Shop!

Episode 48: From Track Sprint to World Tour & Back again - Theo Bos Part 2

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2369265/fan_mail/new] This week we welcome back to the podcast track cycling legend and newly anointed Belgian Cycling Sprint coach, Theo Bos. We hear all about his exploits as a World Tour road racer, the transition from track sprint. Theo tells us about his shock return to the track in 2016 and his unique road to the Rio Olympic Games. We also learn about his hobby project of BEAT cycling and his route into coaching. This was a fascinating conversation and we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!