In 1985 and 1986, mercurial climber Robert Millar twice came one step away from becoming Britain’s first Grand Tour winner – only for a combination of bad luck, mismanagement, Machiavellian machinations and team alliances to thwart him. We remember how the Scot fell short of glory in controversial circumstances.Re-Cycle is written by Felix Lowe, narrated by Graham Willgoss, and produced by Pete Burton. Sponsored by Zwift, where Fun is Fast! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Re-Cycle: The cycling history podcast

Re-Cycle: How Robert Millar lost the 'Stolen Vuelta' and finished second again one year later

In this episode of Re-Cycle, we re-count when Federico Bahamontes blew a 16-minute lead to hand his big rival Jesús Loroño the yellow jersey on a plateIt was one of cycling's bitterest rivalries and that fateful Vuelta 1957 took things to a new level. But there’s much more than there seems to a story that blends social, political, economic, sporting and personal conflict.Re-Cycle is written by Felix Lowe, narrated by Graham Willgoss, and produced by Pete Burton.Sponsored by Zwift, where Fun is Fast! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When Federico Bahamontes gifted the 1957 Vuelta to rival Jesus Lorono

In this episode of Re-Cycle, we re-count the time Rudi Altig defied teammate Jacques Anquetil to win the 1962 Vuelta.  Frenchman Jacques Anquetil entered the 1962 Vuelta a España aiming to become the first rider in history to win all three of cycling’s Grand Tours.  But the time trial specialist was beaten at his own game by his young teammate, who became Germany’s first ever Grand Tour winner. Re-Cycle is written by Felix Lowe, narrated by Graham Willgoss, and produced by Pete Burton. Sponsored by Zwift, where Fun is Fast! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When Rudi Altig defied teammate Jacques Anquetil to win the 1962 title

In this episode of Re-Cycle, we look back on a ride that really was too good to be true.A day after handing the initiative to Oscar Pereiro for a second time following an implosion at La Toussuire, Floyd Landis turned the 2006 Tour upside down. Going clear on the first of five climbs 120km from Stage 17’s finish, Landis blew his rivals away with an unbelievable solo win in Morzine to revive his yellow jersey bid.Re-Cycle is written by Felix Lowe, narrated by Graham Willgoss, and produced by Pete Burton. Sponsored by Zwift, where Fun is Fast! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When Floyd Landis did the impossible on the road to Morzine

In this episode of Re-Cycle, we’re riding with Eros Poli, a man famous for being the tallest rider in the peloton as well as finishing last in the Giro d’Italia, while also piloting Mario Cipollini to multiple stage wins. Then, on a sweltering day in the Tour de France, Poli went on the attack en route to Mont Ventoux. Here’s the story of how some quick thinking, a little James Brown and a hot can of Fanta fired a giant to victory up and over the Beast of Provence.Re-Cycle is written by Felix Lowe, narrated by Graham Willgoss, and produced by Pete Burton. Sponsored by Zwift, where Fun is Fast! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eros Poli's historic Mont Ventoux attack: How some quick thinking, a little James Brown and a hot can of Fanta fired a giant to victory

Sunstroke and a bottle of wine made Abdel-Kader Zaaf a household name at the 1950 Tour after he passed out on his bike then, in a daze, rode back towards the peloton. A year later, the Algerian trailblazer finished last after launching the move that ended the grieving Fausto Coppi’s bid for yellow. Felix Lowe remembers a man who blurred the lines between myth and reality, between patronising praise and casual racism.Re-Cycle is narrated by Graham Willgoss, and produced by Pete Burton. Sponsored by Zwift, where Fun is Fast! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Abdel-Kader Zaaf: The trailblazing Algerian who rose above racism to outsmart and out-earn his legendary contemporaries

In the first of our 4-stage Tour run of Re-Cycle, Felix Lowe tells the story of the accidental yellow jersey. Eddy Merckx’s bid to wear the Yellow Jersey from start to finish at the 1971 Tour de France was scuppered when his Molteni teammate Rini Wagtmans took the race lead by mistake on a crazy triple-split stage. Felix Lowe remembers a chaotic race at the height of Merckx Mania, when the Cannibal was pushed to his very limit by his great rival Luis Ocaña.Re-Cycle is narrated by Graham Willgoss and produced by Pete Burton.Sponsored by Zwift, where Fun is Fast! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When Rini Wagtmans denied Eddy Merckx to become the accidental yellow jersey

In this episode of Re-Cycle, Felix Lowe turna back the clock to June 1946, just a few months after the end of World War II. A reduced field took to the start of the Giro d’Italia in Milan, with Italy divided and in turmoil.His career derailed by the War, Gino Bartali’s third victory in the Giro came 10 years after his first. But he had to battle hard to deny his former apprentice Fausto Coppi the Maglia Rosa by a margin of just 47 seconds, as their great rivalry came to a head.An epic duel between the legendary pair was just what Italy needed – but as these two men resumed their rivalry, another less renowned rider would emerge to become the unexpected hero Italy was searching for in its time of need.Re-Cycle is narrated by Graham Willgoss and produced by Pete Burton.Sponsored by Zwift, where Fun is Fast! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Re-Cycle: When Bartali beat Coppi and the Giro unified war-torn Italy in 1946

It’s rightly gone down as one of the most legendary stages in the Giro d’Italia: when the race hit Tuscany’s Strade Bianche amid a deluge of rain turning the usually dusty affair into a mud slick.Stage 7 of the 2010 Corsa Rosa, saw world champion, Cadel Evans prove too powerful for Alexandre Vinokourov, as the Australian called on all his strengths to come away with the win.“That win really stands out as one of my favourite victories because it really encapsulated everything about me as a rider – my career, my mountain bike background, the preparation of equipment down to the Paris-Roubaix wheels I used. It really encapsulated my team, how I was as a rider, and everything”.Felix Lowe recalls a chaotic day’s racing and conditions so grim, you could barely tell one rider from the next. Re-Cycle is narrated by Graham Willgoss and produced by Pete Burton.Sponsored by Zwift, where Fun is Fast! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When Cadel Evans rode through the mud to pip vino at Montalcino

Luxembourg climber Charly Gaul braved blizzards and frozen temperatures on Monte Bondone to win Stage 20 of the 1956 Giro. By doing so, the ‘Angel of the Mountains’ overturned a seemingly impossible deficit to take a heavenly overall victory as his rivals gave up or hitched a lift to the summit. In the latest episode of Re-Cycle, we recall one of the Corsa Rosa’s most extreme stages...Re-Cycle is narrated by Graham Willgoss and produced by Pete Burton. Sponsored by Zwift, where Fun is Fast! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

'His face was no longer that of a man' - Charly Gaul and an apocalyptic day on Monte Bidone

Part Two of a Cipollini two-parter. As Mario Cipollini moved towards retirement, his flaws were amplified, his words were heard differently and his true nature became clear."In the pantheon of Giro greats – the names that have really shaped the history of the event – he wasn’t fit to shine their shoes".Re-Cycle is narrated by Graham Willgoss and produced by Pete Burton.Please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The legacy of The Lion King | Part Two of the Mario Cipollini saga

Part One of a Cipollini two-parter. Alfredo Binda’s record of 41 stage wins in the Giro d’Italia stood for 70 years, until Mario Cipollini went one better. With his wavy blonde locks, bulging biceps, and a penchant for an eye-catching skinsuit, Super Mario was as ruthless as he was fast. Cipo made headlines and Giro history – but few friends during his controversial and colourful career.Felix Lowe not only documents the incredible run that saw 'Mousselini' reign supreme but pits him against Binda: a man who on the surface was a cold and detached champion, a man who had about as much in common with the charismatic Cipollini as a smooth Barolo to Grappa. One was a champion vintage to savour long on the lips, another a coarse digestif enjoyed – if that’s the word – at the very end of a meal, something that came and went in a matter of seconds. And, once it hit the spot, it left behind a bitter aftertaste.Part Two will be released as the Giro peloton hits the streets of Turin on Saturday the 8th of May, where Felix delves into the murky world of Cipo's retirement.Re-Cycle is narrated by Graham Willgoss and produced by Pete Burton.Please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When Mario Cipollini broke Alfredo Binda’s Giro d'Italia stage record | Part One of the Cipollini saga

For 10 days in the spring of 2011, Philippe Gilbert was invincible. Having won Brabantse Pijl, the Amstel Gold Race and La Fleche Wallone, he held his arms aloft in Liege at the race most dear to his heart. A decade on, Felix Lowe recalls a mesmerising run on home roads with the brilliant Belgian.e-Cycle is narrated by Graham Willgoss and produced by Pete Burton.Please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When Philippe Gilbert owned The Ardennes

Swedish powerhouse Magnus Backstedt felt so strong going toe-to-toe with Johan Museeuw in 2004’s Hell of the North, he even questioned whether there was a chain on his bike. Felix Lowe recalls the Lion of Flanders’ last major race, when a flat tyre stopped him sprinting for a record-equalling victory.Re-Cycle is narrated by Graham Willgoss and produced by Pete Burton. This episode was edited by Ola Fisayo.Please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

'Second doesn't exist' - When Backstedt denied Museeuw in his final Paris-Roubaix

Thirty-four years before Mathieu van der Poel won the Tour of Flanders, his father pipped Sean Kelly to the line. Felix Lowe turns back the clock to 1986, and the race in which the Irishman would come closest to glory in the only Monument that would forever elude him. Re-Cycle is narrated by Graham Willgoss and produced by Pete Burton.Sponsored by Zwift, where Fun is Fast! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

'That was my best chance' – When Adrie van der Poel denied Sean Kelly in Flanders

Welcome to Re-Cycle, by Eurosport – a retrospective series on the most compelling, the most controversial and the most extraordinary riders and races in cycling history. Written by Felix Lowe, narrated by Graham Willgoss and produced by Pete Burton.A new episode of Re-Cycle will drop every Thursday morning until the end of January - so subscribe now, and if you enjoyed the show please rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts.

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Re-Cycle: The cycling history podcast

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