Podcast 6 Mar 2014: Paris-Nice, the Charlie Walsh years, and Track Worlds - a podcast by SBS

There’s plenty of history being rewritten of late in road cycling circles, but with former Australian Institute of Sport rider Scott McGrory recently demystifying the ‘legend’ that is – or was – Charlie Walsh, the annals of Australian track cycling are also getting a thorough workout.

In this week’s Cycling Central podcast, we – that being Al Hinds, Phil Gomes and Anthony Tan – speak to Jonathan Lovelock, author of ‘The Human Cost Of Gold Medals’, published today on the CyclingTips website, which follows up from the fallout created by McGrory’s nervy but stirring retrospective.

We also get on the blower to Kevin Tabotta, performance director at Cycling Australia, to review the Cyclones’ medal tally-topping haul following the track world championships in Cali, Colombia, and ask what we can expect down the (pun alert!) track (at least we warned you!) as we move inexorably closer to the 2016 Games in Rio.

The 72nd edition of the ‘Race to the Sun’, Paris-Nice, begins this Sunday. With no prologue, no time trial, and no hilltop finish it’s a surprisingly open parcours that could favour a puncheur like Simon Gerrans or Sylvain Chavanel or GC contender like Richie Porte or Tejay van Garderen; the only certainty, it seems, is that the cycling world will be watching.

Aside from Strade Bianche and Roma Maxima also on this weekend there’s the Australian MTB championships – yes, we know, it’s only March and you’re already glued to the couch! – so Al and Tanny defer to the Wisdom of Phil, who guides us through the contenders hoping to book themselves a seat to Glasgow for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

Ye up for that, laddies and lassies?

If yoos say aye then press ‘play’!

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