Sigma Sports Podcast Archive

Episodes 71 - 80

Whether it's Nico Roche's migration from saddle to dancefloor, Dr Tanja Erath swapping hospital shifts for Paris Roubaix, or Fred Wright's story of how he met Bradley Wiggins as a kid, there's a lot to pore over in this batch of ten podcasts. What's more, Matt's trip to the Giro d'Italia 2022 with Ned Boulting is documented from Episode 75 - 78.

Listen to the latest episodes over on the Sigma Sports Podcast page.

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Episode seventy-one - Kasper Asgreen explains how he won the Tour of Flanders

Kasper Asgreen tells Matt Stephens exactly how he beat Mathieu Van Der Poel to win the 2021 Tour of Flanders.

Matt Stephens enjoys the company of the 2021 Tour of Flanders champion, Kasper Asgreen, in this monumental episode. Knowing your strengths is a key attribute of any successful bike racer, but it's the execution that really matters, as Kasper recalls his tactical approach to winning the Ronde Van Vlaanderen last season. He also remembers the moment Patrick Lefevere really made him sweat - just before offering him a place on his dream team, Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl. But it was Kasper’s hidden talents that left the biggest impression on our host, and it's a matter of time before we find out if he will fulfil Matt’s request to display them on the podium.

Listen to episode 71 below.

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Episode seventy-two - Nicolas Roche on how dancing changed his life

Nicolas Roche admits to Matt Stephens that not having a filter can sometimes get you in trouble.

Matt Stephens joins Nicolas Roche in his hotel room for an up close and personal chat about his recent retirement from the pro peloton and his plans for the future. With a fascinating insight into the differences between bike racing pre and post Covid lockdowns, Nico reckons things will never be the same again. Having recently stepped out of his comfort zone to take part in Dancing With The Stars on Irish TV, Nico admits the challenging experience changed his life. And after a somewhat nomadic upbringing, the Franco-Irishman elected to be quizzed on his current hometown of Monaco - but how well does he know his Eurovision song contest winning titles?

Listen to Episode 72 below.

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Episode seventy-three - Tanja Erath from Zwift Academy Champion to Paris Roubaix

Tanja Erath and Matt Stephens discuss Paris Roubaix tactics, working as a doctor in the off-season and German Jazz club entry prices.

Matt Stephens chats with Tanja Erath about her life-changing Zwift Academy victory and her subsequent professional cycling career, which has led her to recently finishing her second Paris Roubaix. A fully qualified doctor, Tanja is seizing the opportunity to enjoy every moment of her racing career with EF Education-TIBCO-SVB, safe in the knowledge that returning to work as a medical doctor is just like riding a bike. But how does her knowledge of medicine affect her decision making on race day, how did fracturing her vertebrate make her a better doctor, and how much does entry cost to the Jazz Club in Heilbronn cost for non-members? The answer to these questions and more are all in this fascinating episode of Matt Stephens Unplugged!

Listen to Episode 73 below.

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Episode seventy-four - Fred Wright would love to win Flanders one day 

Fred Wright tells Matt Stephens how Herne Hill Velodrome and its people shaped him as a rider, and a person.

Matt Stephens and Fred Wright discuss that itching feeling to get back on the bike after a few days of rest, which might come as a surprise given the depth of effort Fred put into his Spring Classics season. Now with his sights firmly on the Tour de France, the Team Bahrain Victorious rider is so versatile that he has the luxury of picking and choosing whether he goes for it in a bunch sprint or a Time Trial stage. Having met Bradley Wiggins there as a kid, it wasn’t until he reached his teens that he realised that Herne Hill Velodrome and its volunteers had shaped him as a rider, and a person; setting him on his path to stardom in the pro peloton.

Listen to Episode 74 below.

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Giro Unplugged Stages 1 to 3 - Hungary for Goulash with Stephen Roche

A unique behind the scenes look at the Giro d’Italia with Matt Stephens.

A new series of short catch-ups with Matt Stephens from the heart of the action at the 2022 Giro d’Italia. Recorded on rest day one, Matt looks back on stages one to three to reflect on Mark Cavendish’s emotional sprint victory. He also enjoys some Goulash, and finds out how the Giro came to Hungary from Stephen Roche. Matt tells us what he’s looking forward to in the coming stages and uses the term ‘Netflix and Chill’ with innocent naivety.

Listen to the Giro Unplugged below.

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Giro Unplugged Stages 4 to 9 - The Story So Far with Ned Boulting

Matt Stephens and Ned Boulting are behind the scenes at the Giro d’Italia, with a fascinating insight into how the race has played out so far.

The second instalment of our Giro d’Italia special series, with Matt Stephens behind the scenes with Ned Boulting to discuss the drama of the race so far. Looking back at stages 4 to 9, there’s plenty to discuss - Cav’s emotional 300m sprint victory, Biniam Girmay’s incredible Giro debut, and the joys of the most unpredictable grand tour they’ve ever watched. Find out what the pair are looking forward to over the coming week, and get a real flavour of how it feels to be on the road following the race with Matt’s random recordings; there’s an incidence of Eurobeat road rage, a haunted mole grips, and a very windy volcano to contend with - an episode not to be missed!

Listen to the Giro Unplugged below.

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Giro Unplugged Stages 10 to 15 - Girmay’s historic victory and Ned’s new shirt

Join Matt Stephens behind the scenes at the Giro d’Italia, as he and Ned Boulting react to Biniam Girmay’s historic victory and subsequent misfortune..

Episode three of Matt Stephens’ behind the scenes Giro d’Italia 2022 podcast series. With Biniam Girmay securing an historic victory on Stage 10, Matt and Ned Boulting reflect on the gravity of that victory as well as the Eritrean’s misfortune on the podium. We find out what the chaps are looking forward to seeing in the final week of this thrilling grand tour, with three more stages in the high mountains, a sprint and a time trial remaining - it’s all to play for. And with Matt busy making phone recordings whenever he can, we’re treated to a critique of the Giro Caravan, Matt’s struggle with a continental breakfast, and a round robin review of Ned Boulting’s new shirt.

Listen to the Giro Unplugged below.

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Giro Unplugged Stages 16 to 21 - Bellisimo Giro di Hindley, mate!

From the heart of Verona, fresh from the finish line of the final stage, Matt Stephens looks back at the most dramatic Giro d’Italia in decades.

Matt Stephens joins us from behind the scenes of the Giro d’Italia 2022, in this the fourth and final podcast in this special series. Rarely has a Grand Tour left it so late to be decided, Jai Hindley can put the ghosts of 2020 to rest and the Australian can take home that Maglia Rosa for keeps. Matt reflects on the final six stages of this wonderful race picking out his highlights and key moments that will live long in his memory.

Listen to the Giro Unplugged below.

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