Ever wondered what life is like as a professional cyclist?
Australian ex-professional cyclist Mitch Docker takes you inside the world of Professional Cycling.
Bringing you the stories behind the individuals in the sport - from the pros in the peloton to staff behind the teams - to commentators & legends, plus training insights & debriefs on major races throughout the year. It’s all here!
Newly retired from the professional peloton, Mitch is exploring his new pelotons - all the pelotons that exist outside of the world tour - bringing you new stories from within the cycling community.
His spin off series, Talking Luft - a bit like the DVD Extras - is where cycling style & culture takes centre stage. Talking cycling caps, bikes, kit, coffee stops, training loops and all the best things about riding a bike.
Listen to all episodes here weekly!
Find all our episodes, merch and more at lifeinthepeloton.com
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Hot Off The Press - Vuelta España Virtual Press Room
Episode 71
Monday, September 2, 2024 • Duration 01:05:51
Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by MAAP
Life in the Peloton has been cooking up something a bit different for you this week, I’ve thrown my press badge back on, and jumped in on the rest day press-conference action, to bring you the very first “Hot Off The Press”, Life in the Peloton’s Virtual Press Room from the Vuelta España.
With so much action and suspense at the Spanish Grand Tour, which - I keep reminding everyone, was a favourite race of mine, I figured why not get on the phone, dial in to the pelo, and get the freshest possible take on what is going on.
I was lucky enough to speak to some of the most important characters from this year’s race, including the current red jersey wearer, Ben O’Connor, stage winner Mike Woods, Richard Carapaz’s sports director at EF, Juanma Garate, as well as top domestiques Robert Gesink and Carlos Verona.
Make no mistake this is a brutal edition of the Vuelta, and our guests fill us in on everything from what it takes to try and win at the race, to what it feels like to try to survive, and everything in between.
This pod is a new one for us at Life in the Peloton and I’m delighted to be bringing you all these hot-off-the-press takes as we head into the third week, where we can expect plenty of action from our guests and the rest of the Vuelta peloton.
Sit back, relax and tune in before it cools off!
Cheers!
Mitch
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The Dirty Docker is almost here! Dirty Docker is my multi-day event for all things cycling and running in the Macedon Ranges. For the last few weeks of winter, you can get an exclusive discount code by signing up to the Life in the Peloton Newsletter here.
The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.
The Race Communiqué - Episode 8
Episode 70
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 • Duration 58:32
Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by MAAP
It’s Race Communiqué time at Life in the Peloton, and this week Luke Durbridge, Tom Southam and I, are once again covering all of the latest action from inside and outside of the peloton as we move into the final big phase of racing for the year.
First up, we dive into the latest news from the Vuelta a España. It’s been a thrilling race so far, and along with my take on all of the action from the commentary box, we also have some great behind-the-scenes info from Tom who has just come back from a stint at the race. From the breakaways to the brutal climbs, we break down all the key moments and what they mean for the GC contenders.
Next, we catch up with Luke Durbridge, who’s been on a rollercoaster ride to recovery. Luke opens up about his journey back from injury, the challenges he’s faced, and how he’s gearing up for the rest of the season. We also talk about how riders manage to return to racing and what it takes to come back from setbacks and injuries.
Tom also takes us through the latest transfer news. The cycling world is buzzing with big moves and surprising switches, and we all share our opinions on who’s going where and what it means for the teams involved.
To top it all off, we’ve got a super special edition of the Communi-quiz - all about a rider who will close the curtain on his career very soon, the one and only Rigoberto Uran.
So, grab your coffee, settle in, and join us for another epic episode of Life in the Peloton.
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Sleep
Episode 61
Wednesday, July 3, 2024 • Duration 01:18:14
Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by MAAP
In this week’s episode of Life in the Peloton, I’m learning more about one of the most important parts of life; sleep.
When I retired from the professional peloton a few years ago, we were already wearing sleep tracking devices and starting to tap into how we can improve our sleep and, therefore, our performance. Since then, professional cyclists have stepped it up another notch and are hunting out those 1% gains to help improve the quality & quantity of their sleep.
I spoke to Dr. Ian Dunican - an expert on the topic - to find out more about how important sleep is, what we can do to get better quality sleep, and what happens to us if we neglect it.
Dr Ian’s a keen ultra distance swimmer and practices jiu jitsu, so he understands the importance of recovery and sleep better than most. We spoke about the increased societal awareness of sleep, and how humans today are so much busier than they were a few decades ago - stretching themselves even more thinly and putting even more onus on getting good quality shut eye to keep ourselves healthy.
Sleep science is a relatively new discipline, and Dr Ian talked to me about the different phases and cycles of sleep, various sleep disorders that a huge percentage of the population struggle with, and seemingly minor environmental factors that can have a massive bearing on how well we’re sleeping.
I also wanted to know about sleep and pro cycling. Sometimes you’re so tired from a stage race that no matter how long you sleep for you never feel truly wide awake. Dr Ian gave me some great tips about optimizing sleep around competition, and debunked a lot of popular myths around wearable devices and biohacking - which I found super eye opening.
Next, I spoke to my old team mate; Lawson Craddock. Lawdog currently rides for Jayco AlUla and is one of the first riders I remember seeing pick up a wearable sleep tracking device and look more closely at his own sleep and what changes he could make to improve it. We spoke about how much things have changed in the pelo’ in just a few years, and how things Lawson was doing earlier in his career have become the new normal amongst other pro riders.
Talking Luft! with Alec Briggs. S3.E6
Wednesday, March 30, 2022 • Duration 35:25
Rapha presents Talking Luft!
I’m Talking Luft with the legend from London, Alec Briggs.
Alec grew up in SE London and has raced track, cross, MTB, road and made his way to fixed-gear racing in Red Hook Criteriums, or 'Moto GP on bikes’ as he was first introduced to it.
He’s hugely passionate about cycling & getting people involved in the scene. As well as being a super talented rider himself, Alec went on to start his own team, Tekkerz CC, as a place to support young guns coming into the sport. Make sure you head back and listen to last week’s episode to hear all about it!
I knew he would be a great guy to have on the podcast to not only hear his story but also to Talk some Luft.
So this episode we jump into all the usual questions, how does he wear his casquette? Luft or no luft? He shares his favourite ‘training’ loop that’s a little more exciting than most, his favourite ever bike, we agree to disagree about the AG2R kit & he tells a war story that ends in triumph at a Red Hook Criterium. Plus a whole lot more!
This was a lot of fun and I know you’ll love hearing more from Alec. Enjoy guys!
And stay tuned next week as it’s time for some cobbled classics chat with Luke Durbridge.
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Alec Briggs - Tekkerz CC, Red Hook Criteriums & growing up racing London
Wednesday, March 23, 2022 • Duration 52:57
Rapha presents Life in the Peloton!
One of the great things about looking at cycling from a new perspective this season has been coming across people who are making their mark outside of World Tour racing, and are doing things their own way. Alec Briggs may not be the most well known name in the cycling world, but the Londoner is a truly great cycling personality and is one of the most passionate guests I’ve had on the pod.
As well as being a hugely talented cyclist himself, Alec is the founder of Tekkerz C.C. (if you don’t know you’ll have to have a listen to find out what that all stands for), and his unique outlook has made him a real name to look out for in the sport in 2022.
I have been waiting to chat to Alec for quite a while as I love what he does, from the way that he promotes his team, to the philosophy that he’s created it with.
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Talking Luft! with Brendan Johnston. S3.E5
Wednesday, March 16, 2022 • Duration 01:00:47
Rapha presents Talking Luft!
Talking Luft is back for another week & following on from my first on-race episode at the MTB epic Otway Odyssey, I’ve got a MTB-themed Talking Luft, with local Aussie legend Brendan Johnston, also known as Trekky (who won the Otway Odyssey!).
Brendan is a huge name on the Aussie Mountain Bike scene. He’s Australia’s most successful MTB marathon rider, consistently taking the top step of the podium. But he not only races MTB -he also crosses over to other cycling disciplines – racing at the highest level on the Aussie road scene, having won the prestigious Melbourne-Warnambool and placing in the Australian National Road Championships – all this while working normal hours running his own business!
He’s a great guy and has overcome a lot to get to where he is today. I learn about his journey overcoming cancer at the age of 17 when his cycling career was just taking flight. It changed the path of his life but he never lost his love of cycling.
He’s a lover of all forms of cycling and I knew it would be fun to sit him down to Talk some Luft – MTB style.
I loved getting into the ins & outs of the mountain bike scene – we chat Peaks on Helmets, bikes, Bar ends, an epic MTB World Cup from 2013 & a whole lot more.
Enjoy guys!
Cheers,
Mitch
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My Opening Weekend at Otway Odyssey - On-Race Diary. E5.S7
Wednesday, March 9, 2022 • Duration 41:40
Rapha presents Life in the Peloton!
My "Opening Weekend" of racing looked a little different this year. I swapped out the brutal cobbles of Belgium for the beautiful, yet unforgiving trails of the Otway Ranges in Victoria - swapping my classics bike for my Mountain Bike and Gravel Bike.
It was my first race of the year, and one hell of a baptism by fire into the MTB/Gravel racing scene; a 100km marathon MTB Race backed up by a 100km Gravel Race. It wasn't quite Belgium but it was for sure on another level of epic (that I was very underprepared for!) Join me for a bit of fun as I take you on the road at my Opening Weekend - Otway Odyssey 2022.
This episode is brought to you by Rapha, makers of the world’s finest cycling clothing & accessories and the worlds largest cycling club, RCC. Find out more about Rapha: their kit, their club, their events and awesome clubhouses at rapha.cc.
. . .
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Talking Luft! with George Hincapie. E4. S3
Wednesday, March 2, 2022 • Duration 49:53
Rapha presents Talking Luft!
Talking Luft is back for another week of cycling culture chat. This week I’ve got none other than a legend of the sport, American ex-pro & super domestique, George Hincapie
I grew up watching George race – staying up late here in Australia to see the big hitters of Team US Postal light up the TV. George has always been a lover of the cobbled classics, and for this I was especially keen to get him on the podcast.
In this episode I asked George a few more than the usual Talking Luft questions – I couldn’t resist asking about his love for the classics & his 2001 classics season, which was arguably a breakthrough year for him, and I hear about his win at Gent-Wevelgem and a muddy Paris-Roubaix in which he finished 4th.
We then chat a bit of style on the bike - how he wears his casquette, racing with no helmet, his favourite training loop from his Girona days, a cautionary tale about waving when out of the saddle, his best and worst roommate on tour and a war story from a very cold Col du Galibier. Plus a whole lot more!
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this chat, as you’ll hear he’s a great guy. I really hope you enjoy the listen.
Stay tuned next week for my first on-road diary of the season from ‘My Opening Weekend’ at the Otway Odyssey MTB & Gravel race.
Show Notes
https://youtu.be/cQYSOxpebtU
https://youtu.be/56UTneSPyr8
. . .
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Dr Andre La Gerche - How Exercise Impacts the Heart E4.S7.
Wednesday, February 23, 2022 • Duration 53:34
Rapha presents Life the Peloton
Are the best pro cyclists simply born that way - if so, is it Mum or Dad whose genetics have the biggest impact? What would happen to riders if Grand Tours were six weeks long? Dr Andre La Gerche is a sports cardiologist whose work with top athletes - including many pro cyclists, gives us answers to these questions.
I talked to Dr La Gerche here in Melbourne for the latest episode of the pod and got to ask the important questions about the heart and performance, as well as, for good measure, clarifying his position on choosing training or beers (never both!)
2:42min to 51:20 – Episode with Dr. Andre La Gerche
51:20min to end – Outro and next episode preview
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Talking Luft! with Peta Mullens. S3.E3.
Wednesday, February 16, 2022 • Duration 35:55
Rapha presents Talking Luft!
Photo: Mason Hender
Talking Luft is back for another week of cycling style & lifestyle chat and learning a little bit extra about my guest from last week.
Last week on the podcast I had Peta Mullens, Australian champion in multiple bike disciplines, talking about her diverse career and following her passion through the ups and downs in the sport. It was a super inspiring chat and I loved hearing Peta's story as well as her new role at Team Roxsolt Liv SRAM.
This week with Peta we dive into a bit of fun with Talking Luft – we chat cap style & kit style – where she makes a damning confession about her personal kit collection, her favourite training loop, her favourite race on the road and trail, plus some incredible stories and a war story from her favourite enduro mountain bike race, Tour of East Timor.
If you loved her episode from last week you’ll love this one!
Enjoy and stay tuned for my episode next week with Cardiologist Andre LeGerche, where we talk heart adaptations in athletes, heart health with exercise and much more.
Watch Peta’s ‘Most Re-watchable Race’: The 2018 Elite Women Val di Sole MTB World Cup:
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I was blown away by how much there is to learn about sleep, and what a massive difference it can make. I’ve always been someone who thinks they can get away with 5-6 hours sleep a night and still function pretty well throughout the day, but, after chatting to Dr Ian and Lawdog, I need to rethink my sleep schedule.
Find show notes and more at the Life in the Peloton website.
Episode breakdown:
0:00min to 1:20 – Snippet from last week’s episode – Alec Briggs’
1:20min to 4:45 – Episode Intro
4:30min to 33:20 – Talking Luft with Alec Briggs
33:20min to end – Outro
. . .
Check out Alec’s Most Re-watchable race – Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2015 – where Ian Stannard outlasts a breakaway with 3 Etixx-Quick-step riders.
Watch the final 20km here:
https://youtu.be/RW2DoqVnxYU
. . .
This episode is brought to you by Rapha, makers of the world’s finest cycling clothing & accessories and the worlds largest cycling club, RCC. Find out more about Rapha: their kit, their club, their events and awesome clubhouses at rapha.cc.
Paris-Roubaix Caps are back for the classics! Jump over to our online shop to grab one in time for that Sunday in Hell!
Shop LITP casual Merch anytime online at our store. From casual caps to mugs, embroidered tees, logo tees, sweaters and much more..
The theme music for Life in the Peloton was composed by Pete Shelley, who was lead singer of the punk band Buzzcocks. It was commissioned by the production company behind Channel 4’s coverage of the Tour de France in the 1980s and was used as the theme music for the nightly highlights show. Pete died in December 2018. We were given permission by Pete’s widow and his manager to continue using the music for the theme tune to Life in the Peloton. To hear more about the music, listen to the Andre Greipel episode of Life in the Peloton.
2:30min to 17:30 – London Racing Scene & Herne Hill Velodrome
17:30min to 29:05 – Alec’s transition to Cross & Red Hook Crits
29:05min to 40:20 – Tekkerz CC
40:20min to 47:55 – Tekkerz kit
47:55min to end – Alec turns the mic on me & outro
. . .
Follow what the Tekkerz CC team is up to on their Instagram & check out the Tekkerz CC website to buy some of their awesome merch.
. . .
This episode is brought to you by Rapha, makers of the world’s finest cycling clothing & accessories and the worlds largest cycling club, RCC. Find out more about Rapha: their kit, their club, their events and awesome clubhouses at rapha.cc.
Shop LITP casual Merch anytime online at our store. From casual caps to mugs, embroidered tees, logo tees, sweaters and much more..
The theme music for Life in the Peloton was composed by Pete Shelley, who was lead singer of the punk band Buzzcocks. It was commissioned by the production company behind Channel 4’s coverage of the Tour de France in the 1980s and was used as the theme music for the nightly highlights show. Pete died in December 2018. We were given permission by Pete’s widow and his manager to continue using the music for the theme tune to Life in the Peloton. To hear more about the music, listen to the Andre Greipel episode of Life in the Peloton.
This episode is brought to you by Rapha, makers of the world’s finest cycling clothing & accessories and the worlds largest cycling club, RCC. Find out more about Rapha: their kit, their club, their events and awesome clubhouses at rapha.cc.
Shop LITP casual Merch anytime online at our store. From casual caps to mugs, embroidered tees, logo tees, sweaters and much more..
The theme music for Life in the Peloton was composed by Pete Shelley, who was lead singer of the punk band Buzzcocks. It was commissioned by the production company behind Channel 4’s coverage of the Tour de France in the 1980s and was used as the theme music for the nightly highlights show. Pete died in December 2018. We were given permission by Pete’s widow and his manager to continue using the music for the theme tune to Life in the Peloton. To hear more about the music, listen to the Andre Greipel episode of Life in the Peloton.
My Opening Weekend at Otway Odyssey - An On-Race Diary
When I finished my professional racing career last year, I knew there would still be an itch - a part of me that wanted that thrill of racing my bike. Even though racing at the highest level on the road was no longer for me, I just love riding and racing my bike too much to let it go completely.
Being back in Australia has allowed me to go back to the scene that I started in, and to discover some new forms of cycling that I had missed out on the first time around.
After getting involved and chatting to people here, I started to understand that the Otway Odyssey, held in the Otway Ranges south of Melbourne, was an event that I could not miss.
The Otway Odyssey is legendary for anyone who lives over here, and it is an amazing event. The first day is a 100km Marathon MTB race over the Otway ranges, starting and finishing in the Victorian town of Forrest. If that’s not enough then we had to back it up on the second day which was a 100 km gravel race in the same area.
The Otway Ranges are spectacular and there was some absolutely beautiful riding: but holy hell it was tough!
I went in unknowingly very under prepared, and I payed for it.
After being in the World Tour for over a decade I was in for a big shock to go well out of my comfort zone and step away form the luxury of team busses and a high group of staff dedicated to helping me go faster.
This was in fact my own "Opening Weekend" of racing: the start of my new adventure. It all came as a bit of a shock, and you can hear in the episode just how I got on (and how hard these things are!).
I also got the chance to meet a whole new crew of people, and be part of a new peloton (but this time it was me who was the total amateur). In the name of the pod, I threw the mic in there and started to document just what my new life in the peloton is going to be like..
I hope you enjoy coming along for the ride!
Cheers,
Mitch
. . .
LITP x ÇOIS Cycling: Find the last sizes of the Road Worlds Collection at coiscycling.com. Snapbacks have now been restocked. Shop now!
Shop LITP casual Merch anytime online at our store. From casual caps to mugs, embroidered tees, logo tees, sweaters and much more..
The theme music for Life in the Peloton was composed by Pete Shelley, who was lead singer of the punk band Buzzcocks. It was commissioned by the production company behind Channel 4’s coverage of the Tour de France in the 1980s and was used as the theme music for the nightly highlights show. Pete died in December 2018. We were given permission by Pete’s widow and his manager to continue using the music for the theme tune to Life in the Peloton. To hear more about the music, listen to the Andre Greipel episode of Life in the Peloton.
0:00 to 1:30min – Snippet from last week’s Life in the Peloton episode with Cardiologist Dr. Andre La Gerche
1:40 to 3:45min – Episode Introduction
3:45 to 20:30min – George Hincapie Intro & Cobbled Classics chat
23:30 to 47:50 – Talking Luft with George Hincapie
47:50 to end – Outro & preview of next episode
. . .
Watch the full Gent-Wevelgem 2001, where George takes the win:
.
Watch a muddy Paris-Roubaix 2001, where George takes 4th:
https://youtu.be/cRQtz-yI59E
.
Watch George’s ‘Most Re-watchable Race’: a muddy Paris Roubaix 2021:
Highlights below, or watch the full race on GCN
This episode is brought to you by Rapha, makers of the world’s finest cycling clothing & accessories and the worlds largest cycling club, RCC. Find out more about Rapha: their kit, their club, their events and awesome clubhouses at rapha.cc.
Shop LITP casual Merch anytime online at our store. From casual caps to mugs, embroidered tees, logo tees, sweaters and much more..
The theme music for Life in the Peloton was composed by Pete Shelley, who was lead singer of the punk band Buzzcocks. It was commissioned by the production company behind Channel 4’s coverage of the Tour de France in the 1980s and was used as the theme music for the nightly highlights show. Pete died in December 2018. We were given permission by Pete’s widow and his manager to continue using the music for the theme tune to Life in the Peloton. To hear more about the music, listen to the Andre Greipel episode of Life in the Peloton.
This episode is brought to you by Rapha, makers of the world’s finest cycling clothing & accessories and the worlds largest cycling club, RCC. Find out more about Rapha: their kit, their club, their events and awesome clubhouses at rapha.cc.
Shop LITP casual Merch anytime online at our store. From casual caps to mugs, embroidered tees, logo tees, sweaters and much more..
The theme music for Life in the Peloton was composed by Pete Shelley, who was lead singer of the punk band Buzzcocks. It was commissioned by the production company behind Channel 4’s coverage of the Tour de France in the 1980s and was used as the theme music for the nightly highlights show. Pete died in December 2018. We were given permission by Pete’s widow and his manager to continue using the music for the theme tune to Life in the Peloton. To hear more about the music, listen to the Andre Greipel episode of Life in the Peloton.
This episode is brought to you by Rapha, makers of the world’s finest cycling clothing & accessories and the worlds largest cycling club, RCC. Find out more about Rapha: their kit, their club, their events and awesome clubhouses at rapha.cc.
. . .
Episode breakdown:
0:00 to 3:00min – Snippet from Life in the Peloton Episode 3 with Peta Mullens
Shop LITP casual Merch anytime online at our store. From casual caps to mugs, embroidered tees, logo tees, sweaters and much more..
The theme music for Life in the Peloton was composed by Pete Shelley, who was lead singer of the punk band Buzzcocks. It was commissioned by the production company behind Channel 4’s coverage of the Tour de France in the 1980s and was used as the theme music for the nightly highlights show. Pete died in December 2018. We were given permission by Pete’s widow and his manager to continue using the music for the theme tune to Life in the Peloton. To hear more about the music, listen to the Andre Greipel episode of Life in the Peloton.
