The Domestiques

Warny week is here and this episode is stacked. We break down the headlines from the UAE Tour, where Isaac del Toro impressed, Luke Plapp climbed with confidence, and plenty of questions were raised, before diving into the chaos and GC shake-up from the ProVelo round in Tasmania ahead of the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic. To close, we sit down with Maeve Plouffe for an honest chat about Europe, burnout, rediscovering joy on the bike, and her renewed focus on the track as a home World Cup approaches.

We've got a bit on this week. Peaks Challenge is almost here and the nerves are real. This week the crew dives deep into pacing Tawonga, surviving Hotham, fuelling like your life depends on it, and why the race is often won in the valleys, not on the climbs. Over in Tassie, the ProVelo Super League Tour of Tasmania is shaping up as one of the most open editions in years. With key names absent, the hilltop finish at Poatina could reveal the next breakout climber. In the Middle East, Jayco go on a UCI points raid, Luke Plapp takes a big step forward against Adam Yates, and UAE Tour looms with Remco, Del Toro, and a stacked Aussie contingent ready to test early season form. On the women’s side, Demi Vollering returns with intent, while the classics conversation is already heating up.

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The crew are back with a deep dive into training, and racing for Peak Challenge. Marko maps out a very real plan to go very fast for a very long time, and Tills slowly realises just how cooked a sub-8 hour Peaks can be. There’s serious talk on climbs, watts, group dynamics and strategy. if you’re training for Peaks, thinking about Peaks, or just want to feel better about your own climbing, this one hits close to home

The crew unpack a massive weekend of racing at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, breaking down both the women’s and men’s editions lap by lap. From Ally Wollaston’s historic back-to-back win and the growing depth of women’s racing, to a chaotic men’s finale shaped by wind, positioning, and split-second decisions, there’s no shortage of analysis. The conversation digs into team tactics, standout performances from Mackenzie Koopland, Matthew Brennan, Tobias Lund Andresen and Brady Gilmore, and the fine margins that decide races like Cadel’s. Off the road, there’s strong opinion on SBS vs Channel 7 coverage, Cyclocross Worlds, rising teams, and the future of the sport. Plus, a major update on the Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool, confirming dates and putting an end to weeks of uncertainty.

It’s an emergency pod as the crew reconvenes to unpack the chaos and intrigue around Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race weekend. From final Tour Down Under reflections to sharp takes on ProVelo, form riders, and tactical trends, the conversation quickly turns serious with bushfires threatening the Surf Coast, Cadel’s, and even the Melbourne to Warrnambool. The team dives deep into what route changes, postponements, and uncertainty mean for riders, teams, and momentum across the Australian summer. Expect informed analysis, strong opinions on the women’s and men’s races, bold podium picks, and the usual mix of insider knowledge, gallows humour, and passionate bike chat.