The Bradley Wiggins Show By Eurosport

Sir Bradley Wiggins and Orla Chennaoui summarise an action-packed first week of cycling action at Tokyo 2020 with a look at both the men's and women's road races and time trials. There's also a look at the mountain bike event, won by Team GB's Tom Pidcock, as well as a reflection on how athletes deal with the mental weight of competing at the Olympics. Wiggins adds that he will never forget Tom Dumoulin’s post-race interview after the men's time trial.  The pair also take time to acknowledge cyclists from the Refugee Olympic Team and why their story is so important. Finally, there is a look ahead to the track events which kick off next week.Brought to you by Zwift, where fun is fast. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Tour de France arrives on the Champs-Élysées for the most prestigious sprint stage in cycling. Sir Brad and Graham Willgoss were hoping for a bit of history from Mark Cavendish, but instead saw a thrilling finish in the heart of Paris and a third stage victory of the race for Wout van Aert. “I don’t think anyone would deny Van Aert,” says Brad. “What he’s done this race is truly exceptional. He’s won a mountain stage over the Ventoux, he’s won a time trial and he’s won a Champs-Élysées sprint stage. The kid is on another level in terms of his all-round ability.”And what about the resurgence of Mark Cavendish, who finished third on the day, the comeback story of the Tour?“I was disappointed for Cav,” says Brad. “I know he’s an absolute winner and he’ll be gutted with today. That was the one he wanted to win the most. But let’s look at what he’s come away with: equalling the record of Eddy Merckx, four stage wins and he’s taken the Green Jersey 10 years after he last won it.“It’s nice that he’s up ther

Sir Brad and Graham 'door destroyer' Willgoss are in a brand new van talking Stage 20 of the Tour de France, when Team UAE’s 22-year-old Tadej Pogacar won his second Yellow Jersey with another masterful performance beyond his years. “I actually got a little bit emotional on the bike,” says Brad, who followed Pogacar on the moto. “Listening to the roar of noise coming up the road, and him shooting through – and the crowd went crazy. “I followed him for the last 10km to the end then, and he was shifting. He was rocking and rolling. It just shows that after three weeks of racing, he is not infallible. He is beatable, on any given day.” It was a moment that also took Brad back to the 2012 time trial. “I remember it being the most lonely, solitary place being in that time trial. And the whole world is watching you, being the leader of the Tour de France. Everything that’s going through your mind after three weeks of racing, the closer you get to the finish. And I knew exactly what he was g

Matej Mohorič wheeled away from the break to take a second victory on Stage 19 of the Tour de France on a day when Yellow Jersey Tadej Pogačar showed the pack who’s the boss.“It was good to see him taking control of the race from the leader’s point of view, because everyone looks up to him now, he’s clearly the best rider, and I think that’s a good sign of the next few years, of what’s to come,” says Brad. “I think we’ve got a patron back in the peloton.“Marking his dominance, at the front of the peloton, in the Yellow Jersey, on world TV, I thought that’s exactly what he should be doing. There’s no unity in the peloton.”Brad also gives co-host Graham Willgoss a crash course in crash tactics from his 2012 playbook, and questions whether there is unrest in the Team Ineos camp.Break, or bunch sprint? That was the question on a stage where the big question was whether Mark Cavendish would surpass Eddy Merckx’s record of 34 stage victories.“It doesn’t work out every day,” says Brad. “The team has done quite a big

Stage 18 of the Tour de France saw a second dominant victory for Tadej Pogačar in the clouds of the Pyrenees, on the summit finish of Luz Ardiden – where Sir Brad and Graham Willgoss are marooned in a traffic jam for their latest look back at the day’s racing. Did a short and sharp stage – just short of 130km with two HC climbs – play into the champion elect’s hands? “He didn’t really have to blow his rivals away, he just did the last bit,” says Brad on Pogačar’s supremacy. “They could have done with another climb in there really, instead of having 60-70km on the flat beforehand. “Stages like that, with climbs like that, almost need another two climbs in there to make it a proper Pyrenean stage. It lends itself to everyone being fresh at the end.”Questions, too, for Ineos, still empty-handed at this Tour. We saw the familiar Ineos (/Sky) mountain train of old going full gas on the final climb, but that just meant Pogacar willingly climbed aboard. “Is it worth doing that knowing t

Brad welcomes back Bernie Eisel to talk over how the blue touch paper was lit on the Col du Portet for a statement victory from Tadej Pogacar over his nearest General Classification challengers on Stage 17 of the Tour de France.In the company of Graham Willgoss, the pair discuss how Pogacar's UAE team are finally showing themselves to be the strongest in the race: "UAE isolated Richard Carapaz, and we expected it to be the other way around," says Brad."Pogacar wanted to put a mark on it: 'I'm here to win this Tour,'" says Bernie. "And it makes it easier for the team in the coming days... his team just took it on. It was great to watch, and it was the first time they had to do something in the mountains."But was Pogacar, at one point, going to let Carapaz have the stage? Brad thinks that might have been on the cards, but after Carapaz refused to pull his wait on the front, Brad wonders whether Pogacar called his bluff, "got pissed off and went for it himself". The 2012 Tour de France winner also

Brad steps off the bike after Stage 16 of the Tour de France to talk over the day's events with Graham Willgoss in Toulouse – Brad's home when he first signed for the Linda McCartney Racing Team."It was quite an anti-climatic day for the GC on a stage where everyone is pre-empting the next two days," says Brad. "It might have been one stage too many. The race is in bits already. The harder you make the course... it almost neutralised the race today with what they've done already and what's to come."Bora-Hansgrohe's Patrick Konrad proved strongest on the day, with another breakaway win. It is, says Brad, an impressive turnaround: "Kudos to Bora! They've had a great race since Peter Sagan went home."With time running out for Ineos to make up time with Richard Carapaz, Brad is certain the next two summit finish stages will provide a platform to take the fight for the yellow jersey to Tadej Pogacar."I think the next two days, Ineos are looming to do something."And what of the race for green - can anyone really ch

Stage 15 of the Tour de France was another brutal affair, ending in a brilliant breakaway victory for Jumbo-Visma's Sepp Kuss. Sir Brad and Bernie Eisel look back on an epic day of racing in the Pyrenees in the company of Graham Willgoss. But is Kuss too nice to be a killer on the bicycle? Brad thinks so. Bernie’s not so sure: "Riders, when they put their cycling shoes on, put their helmet on, they're absolutely a different person," he says. "Trying to be that leader, and delivering at the moment it's expected? Chapeau." In what could have been a big day for the GC shake-up, Brad says Ineos played into Tadej Pogacar's hands: "They did the job UAE should have been doing, but they don't have the leader to match him and finish it off. They have to change tactics. I'd have liked to have seen G and Richie Porte in the break, and see how that panned out.”There is no doubt who will be happiest heading into the rest day. Especially with the mountain tests ahead – with or without back-up.“Pogacar h

Sir Brad and Graham Willgoss look back on Stage 14 of the Tour de France, and Bauke Mollema's 40km lone attack that saw him climb to victory in the foothills of the Pyrenees."That was the most impressive race I’ve seen him win," says Brad. "He had a lot of work to do, and I’m surprised there weren't more attacks from behind to try and bring him back in."The Trek-Segafredo man picked his moment to take advantage of a peloton Brad believes has many riders running on fumes:"There were so many tired legs today. A lot of people are really spent now, on this Tour. The race has just been frantic – they got through 100km in the first two hours."On a day when UAE were happy for the break to go, there was some criticism as to why they wouldn’t commit earlier to driving on the front. But Brad believes Yellow Jersey Tadej Pogacar’s right to say other teams have got to take up the riding with Guillaume Martin (Cofidis), the day's big winner, jumping from ninth to second overall.“That’s put more pressure on Ineos and EF Ed

Brad is joined by Bernie Eisel on a day for the history books when their old teammate Mark Cavendish equalled the great Eddy Merck's record of 34 stage wins at the Tour de France.Reflecting in the company of Graham Willgoss on Cav going deep to match The Cannibal's legendary landmark on Stage 13 of the Tour, the pair agreed the two riders can't be compared."You don't have to compare them," says Brad. "Merckx is the greatest cyclist of all time. Cav is the best British cyclist of all time, and the greatest sprinter of all time. And he's up there with Eddy Merckx in terms of tally..."Is anyone going to beat Cav's record? I don't think another sprinter will. Is anyone ever going to beat the record of Merckx and Cav as the greatest sprinter of all time and the greatest cyclist of all time?Brad and Bernie also pick the Cav stage wins they've been involved in that mean the most to them – and Brad believes his old mate isn't done just yet: "I wouldn't underestimate how well Cav is going, and it's not because other p

Brad and Graham Willgoss look back on Stage 12 of the Tour de France into Nîmes, when Bora-Hansgrohe's Nils Politt attacked off the front of the break to take a solo win on the day that Peter Sagan dropped out of the race.The attack, says Brad from his vantage point on the motorbike following the action, was a little bit cheeky. "Julian Alaphilippe was at his team car getting bottles and I was next to the Bora Hansgrohe car," he says. "And it was 'Go go go go go!'"But was it in the spirit of the game? "Somebody had to start attacking," says Brad. "Politt picked his moment, and he went. Sagan going home this morning liberated the team. They've had a tough Tour up until now, and they're chasing a lot... The strongest man won today." Looking ahead to another potential stage for the fast men, the pair could not avoid talking about Mark Cavendish, on 33 Tour stage victories – one shy of the all-time benchmark."Does Cav chase the record?" asks Brad. "And what's more important: winning a green jersey and winning thr

"It was on like Donkey Kong from the start," said Brad after a brutal Stage 11 of the Tour de France which saw Wout van Aert win after two ascents of the mythical Mont Ventoux.Brad and Graham catch up after another day on the bike for Brad, which gave him the perfect vantage point to see Tony Martin crash for Jumbo-Visma.However, Van Aert brought smiles to the faces of the Dutch team thanks to a masterclass from the Belgian rider, who can pretty much do anything on a bike. Brad also gives credit to Ineos Grenadiers for at least giving it a go, in contrast to some other "negative" teams.And we reflect on the moment Brad drove past the memorial to Tommy Simpson on Ventoux, and why it meant so much to him.Brought to you by Zwift, where fun is fast.The Bradley Wiggins Show is produced by Pete Burton See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Brad and Graham Willgoss chew over Stage 10 of the Tour de France – and another brilliant win for Mark Cavendish. “It was textbook,” says Brad. “They’ve got it down to a T now… The team were amazing with him… He sounded in a right hole on the rest day. The fastest man in the world again? I don’t think there’s a single person in the peloton who’s not delighted for him.”Elsewhere, Brad reacts to his first day being back on a motorbike following the race for Eurosport. “It’s so exhilarating being in that peloton,” says Brad. “And the closest thing I’ll have to bring back in the peloton. I love it.”The pair also talk about how being part of the race makes Brad think about his own Tour de France success nearly 10 days on: “You watch them do it now and I’m in such awe of what they do. If you’re away from something for long enough, you sort of question and wonder: ‘How’d I do that?’ Because – and I’ve said it many times – you’re a different person. “And that gets enforced every year that goes pas

Brad and Graham Willgoss look back on another rip-roaring day at the Tour de France that saw AG2R-Citroën's Ben O'Connor solo to a brilliant stage win that cut Tadej Pogacar's lead on GC to just two minutes.One HC and two Category 1 climbs on the Queen Stage of the race took their toll on the peloton, decimating the field on Stage 9."The last two days, it's been hard to follow it," says Brad. "I've not seen a Tour de France like it. It was savage today, and there's not many riders who could have coped with those conditions and those temperatures like Ben O'Connor did. He did it in such style, as well."Tadel Pogacar again looked imperious, hitting the rocket boosters on the final climb and riding away from Team Ineos's Richard Carapaz. Pogacar's superiority has brought with it questions from some quarters that Brad believes are unfair."It's funny how it's always Ineos who face those questions when there's a performance like that, and people like Chris Froome after his performance on Ventoux," he says. "But the

Brad and Graham Willgoss look back on another day for books as the Tour de France enters the Alps and Tadej Pogacar seizes the Yellow Jersey with what Brad calls a "sheer display of dominance".In a torrid stage of pouring rain that saw action at every turn and the peloton splattered across the road, Dylan Teuns took a solo win to make it two in two for Bahrain Victorious, with Pogacar fourth."I can't see Pogacar faltering or losing his form," says Brad. "Having said that, anything can happen in the Tour."While the 2020 winner "bounced back and stuck to 'em" to displace Mathieu van der Poel in the overall lead, GC hopefuls Geraint Thomas and Primoz Roglic were definitively dropped early on after a fierce pace was set on the first climb – and the race never let up."They went from the gun," says Brad. "This Tour has delighted us with race action. The rule book is out the window. It's like kids' racing just watching it. It's quite something."Brad also has praise for Wout van Aert's performance to remain seco

Brad and Graham look back on an unexpectedly epic Stage 7 of the Tour de France – the longest of this year's race – while still in quarantine in the Ardèche.Bahrain Victorious rider Matej Mohorič stormed to the line first off the front of a fiercely strong breakaway that included Maillot Jaune Mathieu van der Poel and riders from practically every other team. "It was some feat," says Brad. "He never looked like flinching."The big team not represented off in the break? Tadej Pogačar's UAE, who had to ride on the front of the pack for practically the entire stage, making them, in Brad's words: "The biggest losers of the day."Primoz Roglic, meanwhile, finished a way behind – out of gas and out of hope."I felt for him today," says Brad. "He's suffering the consequences of his fall and his injuries. There's no way back for him after this."Can Wout van Aert, now second on GC, take the lead for Jumbo Visma? Brad thinks now could be his big chance:"Sometimes you have to take the opportunities when they arise. It land

Mark Cavendish Zooms in to The Bradley Wiggins Show on the back of another special day on Stage 6 of the Tour de France, where the Manx Missile powered to his second victory of this year's race.Cav tells Brad he was on the rivet all day and didn't know if he had the legs to finish the job as history repeated itself in Chateauroux, where he took the first of his 32 Tour stage victories in 2008.In the second episode recorded from quarantine in the foothills of Mont Ventoux, Brad tells Graham that Cav is thinking on his feet with split-second decisions and can continue dominating the sprints."He's still doing something very difficult with the greatest of ease," says Brad. "He's back where he should be, and he looks happy."The pair also try and work out Alpecin-Fenix's two-sprinter strategy and Brad is full of praise for Tadej Pogacar smashing the Tour's first time trial."I don't think any of us were expecting him to come to the fore so early,," says Brad. "He's proved that last year wasn't a flash in the pan."Br

In a very special bonus episode of The Bradley Wiggins Show, we reflect on the incredible scenes on Stage 4 of the Tour de France as Mark Cavendish recorded his 31st stage win at the biggest bike race in the world.Graham, Brad and Pete have arrived in their quarantine villa in the South of France and there was only one topic to kick off with...Brad gives his reaction to seeing his great friend enjoy one of the most emotional victories the Tour de France has ever seen."Cav means a lot to a lot of people," Brad says, "I love him to bits and it means a lot to him."Brad also reveals a conversation with Cavendish where he said he thought about retiring there and then after winning on Tuesday.But could he even win another three stages before the race is out?Brought to you by Zwift where fun is fast.The Bradley Wiggins Show is Produced by Pete Burton See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A day of carnage at the Tour de France concluded with Tim Merlier (Alpecin–Fenix) taking victory on Stage 3 and a worrying crash involving Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) and Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe). Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) kicked off the drama when he dislocated his shoulder in a crash with 145km remaining, Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) hit the deck with 10km remaining to spark a frantic chase, and Ewan and Sagan collided metres from the line as Merlier swept to victory. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Graham and Brad are joined by Eurosport presenter Orla Chennaoui to look back on an emotional and eventful first weekend of the Tour de France.To begin with, the trio discusses the emotional significance of Mathieu van der Poel moving into yellow after his Stage 2 victory, wearing the jersey that eluded his grandfather, Raymond Poulidor. Wiggins said that it is the sort of moment that can make people fall in love with cycling.For Chennaoui the brilliant performance for Van der Poel is something that anyone can appreciate, even non-cycling fans. For Wiggins, it reconfirms that he is the best in the world and he is now carrying the future of the sport in his hands, while the human side of Van der Poel is what helps elevate him in terms of public affection.After that talk turns to Ineos Grenadiers rider Geraint Thomas. Wiggins said he expected more from Thomas so far with Ineos in general not performing as we might have expected. By contrast, Wiggins has been hugely impressed by Primoz Roglic.Later on Wiggins “d