S14 Ep24: It’s Coming Home

The Cycling Podcast's S14 Ep24, 'It’s Coming Home,' delivers a vibrant and emotionally charged review of the recent Paris-Roubaix, celebrating Wout van Aert’s long-awaited victory as a redemptive triumph over years of injury and misfortune. Host Daniel Friber, joined by Larry Warbass and Lionel Burnie, unpacks the race’s unprecedented drama—lacking a breakaway, rampant punctures, and chaotic neutral service incidents—while honoring van Aert’s emotional tribute to his late teammate Michael Gulartz. The episode also shines a spotlight on the meteoric rise of 19-year-old Paul Seixas, whose dominant performance in the Tour of the Basque Country has ignited excitement about his future, particularly his potential Tour de France debut. The discussion extends to broader themes: the commercial and cultural tension between holding the women’s race on the same day as the men’s (boosting viewership but limiting coverage), the evolving tech of cobbled racing, and the financial pressures facing French teams due to high social security costs. The episode closes with speculation on Seixas’s future, potential team moves, and the arrival of new stars in a sport increasingly defined by youth and intensity.