It's the final Tour de France episode, and we're featuring the team behind a World Tour team. To finish, we're taking a deep dive into the most crucial job in cycling—the soigneur. Are they a butler? A friend? A rider's Mum?

We chatted with Kevin Verstaen, an experienced soigneur working for Soudal Quick-Step, who described the role as looking after the welfare of team members and being a "cyclist laborer."

Soigneur stories often include humorous and challenging moments, and they usually see the riders more than their own family. Ultimately, a good soigneur is worth their weight in gold.

Despite the long hours and demanding tasks, the role is fulfilling for those who love the sport, with good soigneurs being invaluable to the team.

Hope you’ll enjoy this episode!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:50 Kevin Verstaen Journey into cycling

07:37 A Tipical Day at The Tour

13:01 Logistics at the Finish Line

18:07 The Feed Zone and Bottles

21:56 Setting Up the Hotel

27:01 Massage and Building Trust

35:21 Gianni Moscon, Apples

36:17 Ending

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Nutrition is a hot topic in the modern peloton, and for good reason. A grand tour like the Tour de France is an immense challenge for the body. Fail to fuel or eat properly, and you'll pay the price.

In this episode, we uncover the latest strategies that pros use to sustain themselves through three weeks of grueling racing. Joining us is Maaike Polspoel, the performance nutritionist for the top-ranked Soudal Quick-Step team.

Tune in to this episode for insights and tips that you can apply to your own training regimen.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:50 Meal Times

06:31 Pre-Race Nutrition and Timing

09:36 Fueling During the Race

19:36 Feed Zone Nutrition and Rice Cakes

23:12 Making Rice Cakes at Home

25:02 Sourcing Local and High-Quality Products

27:38 Nutrition in the Last Week of the Tour

29:40 Cheat Meals and Celebrations

32:18 Hydration and Electrolytes

37:43 Supplements: Bicarbonate and Ketones

39:17 Nutrition Advice for Everyday Cyclists

41:31 Biggest Nutrition Myth: Whole Foods vs. Processed Foods

42:00 Ending

Hope you’ll enjoy the conversation with Maaike!

– LINKS –

⁠Maaike Polspoel⁠

⁠⁠Soudal Quick-Step⁠⁠

Host:⁠⁠ ⁠Soren Jensen⁠⁠⁠

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If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@castelli-cycling.com⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode, live from the Tour de France, we're joined by Koen Pelgrim, Performance Coach at Soudal Quick-Step and personal trainer to Remco Evenepoel.

Remco has had an outstanding first week at the Grande Boucle, securing a stage win and the white jersey with an impressive and consistent performance. As we prepare for the race's second half, discover how Remco and his Soudal Quick-Step teammates have been gearing up for the season's biggest event.

We'll explore mastering cycling performance and training using today's technology, including power meters, heart rate monitors, and lactate testing while emphasizing the importance of personal feeling over numbers. Highlighting the significance of sleep and body awareness for recovery, Koen offers valuable advice for cyclists on balancing training with work, family, and more.

Koen coordinates the team's training, testing, and performance analysis. With a rich background in exercise physiology and sports nutrition, Koen’s work is pivotal in pushing the boundaries of cycling performance.

Join us for an insightful discussion on the cutting edge of cycling performance!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:29 Koen's Background and Early Years

09:19 How Training Has Changed Over the Last Two Decades

18:18 Blood Lactate Testing

24:04 Challenges and Benefits of Altitude Training

27:01 Preparing for the Tour de France: Recon Rides and Training

31:01 Remco's Performance in the Dauphiné and Goals for the Tour

46:03 The Importance of Sleep for Recovery and Keeping Things Simple

50:38 Massage vs. Stretching and Foam Rolling

52:57 How the Team Staff Maintain Mental Fitness During a Grand Tour

54:05 Ending

Hope you’ll enjoy this one!

– LINKS –

Koen Pelgrim

⁠Soudal Quick-Step⁠

Host: ⁠Soren Jensen⁠

SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS

If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@castelli-cycling.com⁠

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We're also on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠STRAVA⁠⁠⁠

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.