Episode 177: Taylor Phinney is on a Comeback

King of the Ride

Ted King

Sports, Health & Fitness, Business

4.8 • 660 Ratings

🗓️ 26 May 2026

⏱️ 67 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Taylor Phinney, once one of the biggest names in American cycling is back! In this wide-ranging conversation, Ted and Taylor reconnect in Monterey, CA at Sea Otter shortly after Taylor’s announcement of a return to cycling with eyes on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Recorded in two parts; part one in the chaos (and comedy) of a busy Sea Otter afternoon and a second via Zoom ahead of gravel’s Holy Week, Unbound. The episode blends reflection on his early career, his 2014 injury, life outside cycling in Girona, and what’s driving his comeback now. Check out Ted's time at Holy Week! Part 1 -- Flanders: https://youtu.be/8p3Rxgi5EaY Part 2 -- Paris-Roubiax: https://youtu.be/FYlJzsvGaaY Improve your sleep by visiting LagoonSleep.com/king and use the code KING for 15% savings Thanks Bicycle Accident Law for supporting this show! Visit https://www.bicycleaccidentlaw.com/bicycle-accident-legal-articles/ted-king-podcast Support gut health and overall health with www.DrinkAG1.com/tedking

Transcript

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0:00.0	Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back. This is King of the Ride podcast, episode 177. I'm your host, Ted King.
0:11.2	I want to congratulate you, the listener, in advance, because this is a barn burner of an episode.
0:17.7	You dropped in on an amazing one. Heck, it's two episodes and won. You see, our guest
0:24.6	today is Taylor Finney. Once upon a time, the biggest name
0:28.5	in American cycling. Taylor earned national titles, world titles.
0:32.7	He won stages of some huge bike races.
0:36.2	He wore the pink leaders jersey at the Gillesia de Italia, among other accolades. He wore the pink leader's jersey at the Gilles
0:38.0	among other accolades.
0:39.6	He then somewhat unpredictably retired early
0:42.8	at the age of 29.
0:45.0	And you likely know his story
0:47.4	or some sliver of his story.
0:50.2	He's gone on to become an artist and a DJ.
0:53.2	He has remained overseas as he has lived in Girona, Spain for a decade now.
0:58.1	Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, I was racing for liquid gas.
1:02.7	He was racing for BMC at the time.
1:05.4	And Luca, Italy was this cycling hotbed.
1:08.9	We both called Luca home at that period.
1:11.3	We shared some meals together, some rides together.
1:13.8	I just remember witnessing this young, young, cycling hot shot coming into this sport and being a little bit in awe.
1:22.4	And the point being, he left on his own terms.
1:26.8	Taylor had some huge wins.
	...

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