Why Do Fans Hate Pogačar? Tour Tech, Kate Courtney & Cycling Safety | Ep. 40

Why do cycling fans turn against the sport’s most dominant riders? In Episode 40, Ed Philbrick, Kurt Stockton and Derin “DS” Stockton compare the criticism surrounding Tadej Pogačar with the remarkable career of recently retired mountain bike legend Nino Schurter. Is the backlash simply what happens when an athlete becomes too dominant—or is road cycling still carrying the weight of its doping history? The conversation then moves through UAE’s marginal gains, short cranks, aerodynamics, heat acclimation and wearable technology, including WHOOP, Garmin and Oura. Also in this episode: • DS shares the difficult news about his knee injury and upcoming recovery • Tour de France Stage 13, Tom Pidcock and Quinn Simmons • Tim Merlier’s sprinting technique and crank length • Kate Courtney’s move to the WorldTour • Vintage Superweek racing stories and listener photos • The early days of SRAM and Grip Shift • Are 35 mm road tires actually faster? • Pidcock’s unusual shifter problem • The controversy surrounding lime-treated Tour roads • The Radial race-tracking app • UCI video review and cycling’s need for concussion baseline testing Thanks to our first official sponsor, Lazer Helmets, and the Vento KinetiCore helmet. Please like, subscribe and share the episode. Send us your cycling questions and old racing photos—you might find one of us hiding somewhere in the pack. #TourDeFrance #TadejPogacar #CyclingPodcast