S14 Ep1: The Speculation Episode 2026
The Cycling Podcast
The Cycling Podcast
4.7 • 3K Ratings
🗓️ 15 January 2026
⏱️ 81 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The first regular episode of the year is traditionally our excuse to indulge in some rare speculation ahead of the coming season – and Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie are back to uphold the time-honoured ritual here.
In addition to our hosts’ often leftfield prognostications, we hear what our international carousel of regular contributors is expecting from the next few months. Which one of our regular guests, for example, reckons that Primož Roglič won’t win a single race in 2026? Who reckons that Jonas Vingegaard will complete the Grand Tour Grand Slam before Tadej Pogačar? And what on earth is a Noni fruit – and what ‘juice’, exactly, does Daniel have on their miraculous ability to boost performance?
All of this and more will be revealed!
Episode art created with Nano Banana Pro.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | You're listening to the cycling podcast brought to you by Babel, the app that can help you learn a new language step by step, building your confidence from day one by giving you the skills and phrases that mean you can make real progress with just 10 or 15 minutes of learning a day. |
| 0:19.9 | As we prepare for the new professional cycling season, |
| 0:22.9 | perhaps you're planning a trip to see one of the grand tours, |
| 0:25.5 | and you'd like to learn enough Italian, French or Spanish |
| 0:27.9 | to help you get the most out of your adventure. |
| 0:31.3 | However you learn best, Babel will adapt to your strength, |
| 0:34.4 | and you can tailor your lessons to focus on listening, |
| 0:37.0 | speaking, reading or writing, as well as the lessons which build your strength and you can tailor your lessons to focus on listening, speaking, reading or writing. |
| 0:39.2 | As well as the lessons which build your knowledge and confidence, they're a podcast so you can |
| 0:43.2 | really immerse yourself in your new language. Right from the start, you'll learn practical |
| 0:48.1 | words and phrases that you can use in real life situations because the lessons are devised by |
| 0:53.2 | real language experts. |
| 0:55.2 | You can start speaking with great confidence in as little as three weeks. |
| 0:59.3 | Stick at it and you could become as fluent as Daniel. |
| 1:02.5 | There's a special limited time deal for all of our listeners. |
| 1:05.6 | Right now get up to 60% off your Babel subscription at babble.com forward slash cycle. |
| 1:11.7 | That's 60% off at babble.com forward slash cycle. |
| 1:16.2 | And it's spelled B-A-B-B-B-E-L.com forward slash cycle. |
| 1:21.6 | Rules and restrictions may apply. |
| 1:24.1 | Get Grand Tour ready with Babel. |
| 1:26.5 | Now let's get the 2026 season underway. |
| 1:38.1 | You are listening to the cycling podcast. Michaeling Podcasts. |
... |
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