CASTELLI Cycling Podcast Castelli Cycling

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 up the speed under the flamme rouge to guide Tim to the final meters.
Less than a week after their unforgettable Giro d’Italia, the Belgian duo triumphed again at the Danish Gravel Challenge Blaavandshuk. They stayed in the lead group all day, with Bert closing down attacks in the final kilometers before Tim broke away near the finish to win and Van Lerberghe finished third, making it another perfect day for Soudal Quick-Step.
In this interview, we’ll go behind the scenes to get to know Tim and Bert better, from their first pedal stroke to succeeding in the pro ranks of the WorldTour. We’ll also gain deeper insight into their personal lives, passion for cyclocross and gravel racing, favorite Castelli products, and more.
So, sit back and enjoy my conversation with Tim and Bert. I promise you, it's packed with insights and excitement.

🏆 We have TWO signed Soudal Quick-Step jerseys of for grabs. To participate, simply comment on your favorite moment or quote from this podcast episode on YouTube or in our pinned Instagram post. 
CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome 
03:10 Tim’s Journey into Pro Cycling 
11:04 Bert’s Journey into Pro Cycling 
18:50 Gravel Racing 
24:07 Bert’s Strengths and Weakness
26:55 Tim’s Strengths and Weakness
28:29 First Castelli Memory 
29:41 Favorite Castelli Products 
31:30 Favorite Race to Win one Day Tim
32:42 Winning Gesture when Crossing the Line Tim
33:32 Favorite Race to Win one Day Bert
34:52 Favorite Paris-Roubaix sectore?!?
35:25 Quick Fire Round of Questions
37:40 Perfetto or Gabba?
43:44 Should Cobble and Gravel Stages be Part of a Grand Tour 
45:35 Ending
45:50 Giveaway
(Recorded on December 13, 2023)
– LINKS –
Tim Merlier
Bert Van Lerberghe
Host: ⁠⁠Soren Jensen⁠⁠

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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 as introducing turquoise Lycra shorts and the evolution of cycling jerseys.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome 
01:22 Castelli STRAVA Challenge
02:34 Marco Pantani's Legendary Attack To Oropa 1999
05:57 Passo Gavia 1988, Andy Hampsten's Epic Day
08:49 Castelli innovations, First Colored Lycra Shorts 
09:42 Castelli innovations, Evolution of Cycling Jersey
14:09 Ending 
– LINKS –
Castelli STRAVA Challenge
Castelli Giro d’Italia Collection
Host: ⁠Soren Jensen⁠
SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@castelli-cycling.com⁠
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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 your PR because pushing just a little over your limit for half of the climb will ultimately cost you later. 

The Rocacorba will never attain the status of an Alpe d'Huez, Stelvio, or Tre Cime di Lavaredo, but thanks to a lucky combination of geography, local patronage, and technology, It has already become much more than a footnote in cycling folklore.

We hope you’ll enjoy this fully packed and insightful episode with Ashleigh Moolman Pascio of AG Insurance - Soudal cycling team
 
CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome 
05:20 Live From Columbia 
09:31 Rocacorba Cycling, How It All Started
20:23 Rocacorba
21:45 A Bucket List Climb, the Pros Test Climb
29:29 Strava Segment, Mastering the Pacing Strategy
36:20 When Getting to the Top 
38:49 Tips for Descending Rocacorba Safely
41:16 Training Intervals and Efforts 
48:41 The Benefits of Riding with Local Guides in Girona
52:08 Rocacorba Strava QOM
56:25 Ending 
– LINKS –
⁠Rocacorba Cycling⁠
⁠Rocacorba Strava Segment⁠
⁠Ashleigh Moolman Pascio⁠
Host:⁠ ⁠Soren Jensen⁠⁠
SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@castelli-cycling.com⁠

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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 riders, showcasing his prowess with numerous victories and promising potential in sprints and one-day races.
Packing an impressive speed, the 21-year-old is keen to show what he is capable of, not just in bunch sprints but also in the Classics, which he is very fond of.
In this podcast episode, Luke Lamperti shares his experiences and insights on crit and kermesse racing and his career. He discusses his training, favorite race courses, and the importance of comfort and trust in the pack. Luke also talks about his transition from US racing to European racing and his goals for the future.From his affinity for Castelli gear to his race-day nutrition strategies, Lamperti provides a comprehensive glimpse into the life of a professional cyclist, offering invaluable insights for both amateur enthusiasts and seasoned professionals keen on crit racing.
We hope you’ll enjoy this fully packed and insightful episode with Luke Lamperti of @soudalquickstep 
TOPICS DISCUSSED
00:00 Introduction
03:06 Luke's Background and Journey into Cycling
4:51 Return to Castelli
7:56 Transition from US Racing to European Racing
9:21 Move to Girona and Signing with Soudal Quickstep
21:17 Crit and Kermesse Racing
27:18 Training for Crit Racing
31:36 Tire Size, Pressure, and Nutrition for Crit Racing
34:00 Ending
– LINKS –
Luke Lamperti
Host: ⁠Soren Jensen⁠
SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS
If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@castelli-cycling.com⁠
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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 captivating conversation.
From the chaos of the Tour of Flanders to the relentless battlefields of Roubaix, we uncover the strategies, challenges, and split-second decisions that shape the outcome of these monumental races, the intense pressure, camaraderie, and occasional controversies that unfold behind the scenes.
Discover the untold stories of mechanics scrambling to find the riders' foul-weather clothing in the rain bag, spare wheels, the strategic game of supplying riders during crucial moments, and the delicate balance between following the rules and prioritizing rider safety and performance.
Gain insight into the human side of professional cycling as Tom reflects on the joys of victory, the frustrations of defeat, and the unwavering dedication to supporting riders through triumph and adversity.
Get ready to experience the thrill, tension, and exhilaration of cycling races like never before.
Take a seat inside the Soudal Quick-Step team car as we explore the dynamics during some of the most iconic races in cycling history.
Welcome inside the team car and the unseen drama of cycling races.

TOPICS DISCUSSED
00:00 Introduction
04:43 The Early Years, Tom’s Journey Into Cycling
13:59 Transforming Young Talented Riders into Champions
18:04 The Transition to DS
21:50 Studying the Race Course
24:59 Race Radio vs Moving on Instinct
26:11 Racing, Communication, Post-Race Briefing
39:02 Race Rain Bag Logistics
48:43 UCI Rules and Fines
59:29 Eddy Merckx
01:10:15 Ending
It's a fully packed and insightful episode with Tom Steels of Soudal Quick-Step. 
– LINKS –
Tom Steels
Host: ⁠Soren Jensen⁠
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If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@castelli-cycling.com⁠
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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 harshest conditions and most demanding terrains.
We chatted with Nicolas Coosemans, technical and development manager of Soudal Quick-Step to find out more about the life of a World Tour mechanic, his wildest fixes of all time, the evolution of bike equipment over the last decade, which riders are interested in bike maintenance, how quickly their mechanics can set up a bike, and more. 
(Recorded in Calpe, Spain, December 14, 2023)
TOPICS DISCUSSED
00:00 Introduction
01:50 Nico’s Journey
07:19 What makes a good mechanic? 
10:01 A Day In The Life Of A Pro-Mechanic
20:02 Tubes, Tubular or Tubeless? 
21:16 Tire inserts and Extra Sealant for RBX
24:55 Grand Tour Custom Paint Job and Bar Wrap
26:48 Transition To Disc Brakes
28:58 Maintenance and Evolution of Bike Tech 
38:32 Crashes, Broken Parts
39:48 UCI Safety Rules
43:18 Ending
– LINKS –
⁠Nicolas Coosemans⁠
Host: ⁠Soren Jensen⁠
SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS
If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@castelli-cycling.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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