Richard Moore, Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe discuss a week packed with racing as the Classics riders tackled the first, and longest, Monument of the season while the stage racers continued their build-up to the Tour de France.

In part one: We review Milan-Sanremo and Wout Van Aert's incredible Italian double. Last week he won Strade Bianche, this week the Jumbo-Visma man took La Classicissima, outsprinting defending champion Julian Alaphilippe, who had launched a searing attack on the Poggio.

But what did we make of the new route, and will it be only temporary? It seemeed to shed most of the sprinters but set up the thrilling finale – will the organisers be tempted to mix up the course in future years as a result?

In part two: We discuss the French stage races, particularly the Tour de l'Ain, which Daniel described as being like open mic night at the local pub turning into Live Aid. We witnessed a showdown betweeen Jumbo-Visma and Team Ineos. Does this hint at what we should expect when the Tour de France starts at the end of the month?

We also hear from Team Ineos sports director Gabriel Rasch about how things are shaping up for the Tour.

In part three: We turn our attention to the Tour of Poland, which started with a terrible crash in the finishing straight that caused serious injury to Dutch champion Fabio Jakobsen. Sprinting has always carried an element of danger and cannot be made entirely safe but what can be done to minimize the risks to riders?

And what of Remco Evenepoel, the overall winner, who continued his 100 per cent record in stage races this year?

The Cycling Podcast is supported by iwoca and Science in Sport.

My first Tour de France
Our four-part series, My First Tour, is available for Friends of the Podcast. Sign up on our website. In the series, Richard, Lionel, Daniel and François take turns to recall their first Tours – whether it be the first they saw on television or from the roadside, the first they covered or, in Lionel's case, the first they covered in a camper van.

Also, with the peloton set to return to the Giant of Provence this week, we've made the 2016 Friends Special about Mont Ventoux – Heat, Wind and Fear – available for current Friends of the Podcast.

OUR NEW CLOTHING RANGE
We have teamed up with Katusha to produce The Cycling Podcast Collection. The launch range is a cycling jersey and a t-shirt in both men's and women's cuts. To check out the range go to our website.

OUR SPONSORS

iwoca became The Cycling Podcast’s title sponsors in March 2020. iwoca specialises in supporting small businesses and can lend between £1,000 and £250,000. iwoca have been accredited by the British Business Bank to offer CBILS (Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans Scheme) – the scheme is now open, so businesses can apply for a loan rather than just register interest. To find out more, go to iwoca.co.uk

Science In Sport is The Cycling Podcast’s longest-standing supporter. It’s a relationship that stretches back to the 2016 Giro d’Italia. Listeners can get 25% off Science In Sport’s range of energy drinks, bars, gels and cakes at scienceinsport.com with the code SISCP25

This episode is also supported by Beer52.com To get a case of eight craft beers delivered for just the price of postage (£5.95) go to beer52.com/cycle