Stay ConnectedOh Watts Occurring! Professional cycling from the inside.
Geraint Thomas, Luke Rowe, Emma Finucane and Manon Lloyd share their perspective on the personalities and everyday realities of life in cycling at the highest level. From the biggest races to what happens between them, expect honest opinions, personal stories, tales from within the teams and plenty of laughs along the way.
For cycling fans who want more than the result.
We're back baby. That's right, Luke and G are reunited for the first official Watts Occurring of 2025. The season starts now.
And, of course, there is a lot to catch up on - first and foremost, Sunday's Roubaix. And it was a cracker. Mathieu van der Poel won his third on the bounce (how nuts is that?) and Tadej Pogacar showed the world that one day he could well add it to his palmares.
Luke's day was equally eventful and he told G all about his first Paris-Roubaix as a Sport Director.
Attention now switches to the Ardennes - and G's eyeing up a final ride at Liege-Bastogne-Liege. What do you reckon: should he do it? Let us know by emailing gtcc@crowdnetwork.co.uk.
We'll be back next week with a bumper pod.
Want to try NordVPN? Head to https://nordvpn.com/gtcc for a special sign up deal.
We're also hosting a retirement party for G at the Millenium Centre in Cardiff on Sunday 16th November! Tickets are available here: https://www.livenation.co.uk/geraint-thomas-tickets-adp1206752
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This week on the GTCC we've got another racing debrief from G. He's fresh off Catalunya where he enjoyed a solid week and where Ambassador De Pluski rode to a strong second on the final stage and a top 10 overall.
And then we've got a bumper interview for you. Adam Hansen, the President of the CPA (essentially, the riders' union), joins us for a lengthy chat about his role, how he helps the riders, and the sheer breadth of topics his job covers. It gives a fascinating perspective on the considerations at play for all types of major decisions in professional road cycling.
We hope you enjoy this one.
Don't forget to use our code GTCC1M for a free month on ROUVY when you sign up for the first time - and let us know how you find it!
Want to try NordVPN? Head to https://nordvpn.com/gtcc for a special sign up deal.
We're also hosting a retirement party for G at the Millenium Centre in Cardiff on Sunday 16th November! Tickets are available here: https://www.livenation.co.uk/geraint-thomas-tickets-adp1206752
Music courtesy of BMG Music Production
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This week on the GTCC it's a hefty debrief of G's final Milan San Remo and a soggy opening day at the Volta a Catalunya. He's been a busy boy. Oh, and the team bus ran out of hot water. Long story.
After G updates you all on that, it's time to head back a couple of months to sunnier times, and G's trip to Australia. While he was there, he headed to the driving range with his old, old teammate from Barloworld, Daryl Impey.
Impey's a cult hero of the sport, a South African who wore the yellow jersey at the Tour and forged a brilliant career for himself. They chatted about the evolution of the sport across their careers, retirement transitions... and if G will ever get decent at golf. It's a cracker.
We're just not sure we'll ever run Daryl's proposed GTCC Golf Day.
Join us for this week's GTCC ROUVY ride right here: https://riders.rouvy.com/events/72d92560-01bc-4e07-b3d1-ce8a0f4f7d95. And don't forget to use our code GTCC1M for a free month on ROUVY when you sign up for the first time.
We're also hosting a retirement party for G at the Millenium Centre in Cardiff on Sunday 16th November! Tickets are available here: https://www.livenation.co.uk/geraint-thomas-tickets-adp1206752
Finally, don't forget you can pre-order G's new book, Geraint Thomas According to G, right here: https://geni.us/AccordingToG_Signed
See you next week for one of our most interesting guests of the season...
Music courtesy of BMG Music Production
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Can you imagine racing against each other as kids round a park in Manchester and just a few years later you find yourselves at the top of the sport, winning some of the biggest races around?
That's G and Swifty.
With G's career coming to an end we thought it was time to finally welcome 'Swifty' to the GTCC - and take a big old trip down memory lane. It didn't disappoint.
From leading Swifty out to his first major win at the Tour Down Under many moons ago, to Swifty becoming domestique deluxe to help G to a multitude of big wins over the years, these two have been through a lot together since those early days racing as juniors.
And to be honest, Tom could have let them chat away for hours. Maybe we will one day.
In the land of ROUVY, we're tackling part of the IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire route for this week's GTCC social ride. Sign up to join us for the spin here: https://riders.rouvy.com/events/a6eb8b98-5774-4c81-bd6e-ae12111ecc57
And don't forget to use our code GTCC1M for a free month on ROUVY when you sign up for the first time.
We're also hosting a retirement party for G at the Millenium Centre in Cardiff on Sunday 16th November! Tickets are available here: https://www.livenation.co.uk/geraint-thomas-tickets-adp1206752
Finally, don't forget you can pre-order G's new book, Geraint Thomas According to G, right here: https://geni.us/AccordingToG_Signed
See you next week.
Music courtesy of BMG Music Production
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This week we're welcoming Luke back to the pod, for our very own GTCC Book Club. Yes, as you may have seen, both Luke and G have new books coming out in 2025!
You can pre-order Luke's book, Road Captain, here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0857507826
And you can pre-order G's new book, Geraint Thomas According to G, right here: https://geni.us/AccordingToG_Signed
The boys chatting through their respective books and also did a deep dive into a fascinating Strade Bianche that saw Pog win (of course) but Brits Tom Pidcock and Conor Swift put in memorable rides to challenge him. We also toasted Luke on his 35th birthday!
In the land of ROUVY, we're heading to the iconic Horseshoe Pass for this week's GTCC social ride. Sign up to join us for the spin here: https://riders.rouvy.com/events/4b7378d1-1d0a-450a-b33a-82f34db4e3cc
And don't forget to use our code GTCC1M for a free month on us when you sign up for the first time.
We're also hosting a retirement party for G at the Millenium Centre in Cardiff on Sunday 16th November! Tickets are available here: https://www.livenation.co.uk/geraint-thomas-tickets-adp1206752
See you next week.
Music courtesy of BMG Music Production
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TICKETS ON SALE NOW! As we told you on Tuesday, we're planning our next live show: G's retirement party! And tickets went on general sale this morning. Get yours here: https://www.livenation.co.uk/geraint-thomas-tickets-adp1206752
At the Millenium Centre in Cardiff on Sunday 16th November, G and Tom will be looking back on his incredible career - and we'll have plenty of surprises up our sleeve on the night.
Let us know if you're coming by emailing gtcc@crowdnetwork.co.uk and we'll shout you out on an upcoming pod.
See you in November!
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LIVE SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT! Yes, we're planning another live show - and this one will be our biggest ever.
We're hosting a retirement party for G at the Millenium Centre in Cardiff on Sunday 16th November. Pre-sale tickets are available at the link from 10am, Wednesday 5th March: https://www.wmc.org.uk/geraint-priority
Before then though, G's got some big bike races to ride - and plenty of pods to record.
Today, we're welcoming INEOS' new recruit Axel Laurance to the GTCC. When G first met Axel, he knew that he would be a brilliant pod guest - and he didn't disappoint.
Just 23, and with the cycling world at his feet, we can see some big wins on the horizon for Axel in 2025. Enjoy getting to know him.
In the land of ROUVY, we're heading to Wales for this week's GTCC social ride. Sign up for a spin along the Pembrokeshire coastline here: https://riders.rouvy.com/events/aeb15efd-5f82-4928-bd76-d24a3fc234ab
And don't forget to use our code GTCC1M for a free month on us when you sign up for the first time.
See you next week.
Music courtesy of BMG Music Production
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The cycling world wondered what would happen to Caleb Ewan this season. Seemingly on his way out of Jayco Alula, where was he going to end up?
INEOS swooped in, midway through January, and now have themselves a top level sprinter. Exciting, right?
G certainly thinks so, and is delighted the team have signed a close friend. He called him up and, following the move, we thought it was the right time to get Caleb back to talk about it.
Why did he leave Jayco? Did he ever consider stopping? What can we expect in 2025? Will he be at the Tour? He answers all of those - and plenty more besides. Enjoy.
In the land of ROUVY, a new update went live last week which allows full compatibility with Zwift hardware on the platform. Until now, the Ride plus Click and Cog were only compatible with Zwift software. However, with the introduction of ROUVY’s virtual shifting compatibility, riders using Zwift hardware can now access ROUVY software and ride any of the 1,500+ immersive routes on the app.
Riders will have full use of all 24 virtual gears, which are displayed on-screen to indicate their current gear status, alongside the already existing on-screen data including power, heart rate and cadence. If you've been waiting for this tweak to give ROUVY a try then use our code GTCC1M for a free month on us when you sign up.
See you next week.
Music courtesy of BMG Music Production
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It's been far too long. GTCC members the world over have been writing in to ask: when will he be back?
Well, he's back. Yes, Ambassador De Pluski is back on the pod - and he's back in action with G. The Volta ao Algarve kicks off this week and the duo will be tackling the climbs of southern Portugal against the likes of Roglic, Vingegaard and Wout van Aert. It should be a cracker.
With De Pluski back on the pod, we thought we'd take the opportunity to pick his brain and hold our first GTCC preview of the season. Can Pog win San Remo? Will he ride Roubaix? Can Vingegaard reclaim his Tour throne? Why is Roglic riding the Giro?
There's lots to discuss and boy oh boy are we excited for the 2025 season.
In the land of ROUVY, a new update went live this week which allows full compatibility with Zwift hardware on the platform. Until now, the Ride plus Click and Cog were only compatible with Zwift software. However, with the introduction of ROUVY’s virtual shifting compatibility, riders using Zwift hardware can now access ROUVY software and ride any of the 1,500+ immersive routes on the app.
Riders will have full use of all 24 virtual gears, which are displayed on-screen to indicate their current gear status, alongside the already existing on-screen data including power, heart rate and cadence. If you've been waiting for this tweak to give ROUVY a try then use our code GTCC1M for a free month on us when you sign up.
See you next week.
Music courtesy of BMG Music Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Yes, that's right: G's got some big news for you all today.
This year in the peloton will be his last.
A pro career that started in 2007 will finish at the end of this season. It's been a pretty good run hasn't it?!
He sat down to tell Tom all about his decision and his plans for the final year. It's gonna be a good'un.
There'll be plenty of time to reflect come the end of the year but, for now, if you want to send in your favourite memories from G's career we'd love to hear them: gtcc@crowdnetwork.co.uk.
The GTCC is sponsored by ROUVY. Get a free month on us using the code GTCC1M when you sign up - and join our weekly ROUVY rides every Wednesday at 18:30 UK time.
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