For The Love Of Cycling

Stage 8 of the 2026 Tour de France took the peloton 180.4km through the Dordogne, from Périgueux to Bergerac, for another day that was always expected to end in a bunch sprint.

After a relatively controlled stage, the sprint teams took charge in the closing kilometres before Tim Merlier once again proved he's the fastest finisher at this year's Tour. Biniam Girmay chased him home in second, with Olav Kooij taking third, while Jasper Philipsen could only manage fourth despite receiving the leadout help he needed.

The result leaves the battle for the green jersey finely poised. With Merlier, Pedersen, Girmay, Philipsen and Kooij all taking points from one another, is the points classification becoming the most unpredictable competition of this year's Tour?

Away from the racing, David Millar and Ned Boulting also discuss David's recent interview with L'Équipe, where they asked him: Is Tadej Pogacar ruining cycling? Is he clean?

Ned Boulting and David Millar break down Stage 8 of the Tour de France and more.

🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music

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🏅 For The Love Of Cycling is presented by Science in Sport, a pioneer in endurance fuelling: Backed by science. Trusted by athletes.

Find out more at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Science In Sport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The sprinters were back in the spotlight on Stage 7 of the 2026 Tour de France, with a flat run into Bordeaux offering another nailed-on bunch sprint.

After a controlled day in the peloton, the sprint teams took charge exactly as expected, delivering another high-speed finish in one of cycling's most famous sprinting destinations.

When the lead-out trains peeled away, it was Tim Merlier who once again proved he's the fastest finisher in the race, timing his sprint to perfection to take victory.

But while Merlier continues to impress, the questions are beginning to grow around Jasper Philipsen. Has he simply been beaten by a faster rider, or is there something missing from the sprinter who once dominated finishes like these?

Away from the sprint, Ned and David also revisit the fallout from Stage 6, discussing the tension between Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz on the Tourmalet, the questions over why they weren't working together, and whether that decision ultimately cost them valuable time.

The episode also includes a reflection on Mark Cavendish's extraordinary Tour de France career, with Ned and David sharing their own personal experiences of covering and racing alongside him, what made him such a dominant force, and whether cycling will ever see another sprinter control the Tour in the way Cavendish once did.

🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music

_______________________________________________________________

🏅 For The Love Of Cycling is presented by Science in Sport, a pioneer in endurance fuelling: Backed by science. Trusted by athletes.

Find out more at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Science In Sport⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Stage 6 of the 2026 Tour de France took the riders over the Col du Tourmalet, the climb that has featured more times than any other in the history of the race, and for good reason - it delivers days like this. As the Tour's first major mountain stage, it was always likely to shape the general classification, and it did exactly that.

Torstein Træen started the day with a lead of almost eight minutes, but there was never any real doubt that Tadej Pogačar had his sights set on the stage and the maillot jaune. Isaac Del Toro set a blistering pace while he could, but it wasn’t long before Pogačar launched his trademark acceleration, even if this time it was earlier than usual.

One by one, the competition cracked. Jonas Vingegaard was the only rider able to respond initially, but even he eventually let the gap grow to 30 seconds over the summit and more than a minute by the end of the descent.

Pogačar wasn't finished there. He attacked the descent with the same aggression, extending his advantage all the way to the finish to take the stage, reclaim the yellow jersey, and put more than 2 minutes 30 seconds into his biggest rival and the rest.

Ned Boulting and David Millar break down Stage 6 of the Tour de France 2026

🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music

_______________________________________________________________

🏅 For The Love Of Cycling is presented by Science in Sport, a pioneer in endurance fuelling: Backed by science. Trusted by athletes.

Find out more at: ⁠⁠⁠Science In Sport⁠⁠⁠

_______________________________________________________________

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The sprinters finally got their chance to make their mark on the 2026 Tour de France, and after a long day on the roads of southern France, the fastest men in the world delivered exactly the spectacle everyone was anticipating.

The one rider determined to delay the inevitable was Baptiste Veistroffer, who spent almost the entire stage riding solo off the front of the race. His brave breakaway finally came to an end with just 14km remaining, as the sprint teams took complete control and lined up for a frantic finish.

What followed was classic Tour de France chaos. High speeds, nervous positioning, crashes and near misses turned the final kilometres into a battle of survival before the fastest man in the race powered through the carnage to claim the stage victory.

Ned Boulting and David Millar break down Stage 5 of the Tour de France 2026.

🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music

_______________________________________________________________

🏅 For The Love Of Cycling is presented by Science in Sport, a pioneer in endurance fuelling: Backed by science. Trusted by athletes.

Find out more at: ⁠⁠Science In Sport⁠⁠

_______________________________________________________________

🚴‍♂️ Head to ⁠⁠Muc-Off⁠⁠ and use code FTLOC20 for 20% off

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Stage 4 of the 2026 Tour de France was always expected to be a day for the breakaway, and that's exactly how it unfolded. A 34-rider move escaped early and stayed clear, setting up a fascinating tactical battle between some of the strongest breakaway riders in the race.

Biniam Girmay bested rivals Jasper Philipsen and Mads Pedersen to the intermittent sprint points and then sat up. He was never interested in the stage, but Lidl-Trek were the team of the day. Mads Pedersen, Quinn Simmons and their teammates were in complete control. It was inevitable that one of them would take the stage. While Lidl-Trek celebrated the stage victory, the yellow jersey also changed hands as another rider moved into the overall race lead. Tadej Pogacar was clearly happy to allow this.

Ned Boulting and David Millar breakdown the action

🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music

_______________________________________________________________

🏅 For The Love Of Cycling is presented by Science in Sport, a pioneer in endurance fuelling: Backed by science. Trusted by athletes.

Find out more at: ⁠⁠Science In Sport⁠⁠

_______________________________________________________________

🚴‍♂️ Head to ⁠⁠Muc-Off⁠⁠ and use code FTLOC20 for 20% off

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices