Life in the Peloton, presented by MAAP

• Bikepacking New Zealand: Waihau Bay, Māori Resilience & Surfing in Gisborne – Part 2

  Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by MAAP Well, guys, if you enjoyed part 1 of my epic trip across to New Zealand then get yourself a cold one, sit back, relax, and get ready to enjoy the second part of the story. If you didn’t catch part 1 earlier this week then make sure you go back and listen to that first. We pick up the journey at the start of day 3, and head straight to the iconic Waihau bay. This stunning area was made famous by Taika Waititi’s film ‘Boy’, and oh man was it special; what a way to kick off the second half of the trip. After some delicious home made ice cream at the Pacific Coast Macadamia Store we cracked on down the coast. I bumped into a fella called Giles who was undertaking a similar bikepacking trip with his son, and we cracked open a few Gizzy Golds and yarned into the evening.  Heading back down the coast towards Gisborne we took in more stunning views, and surveyed the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle that struck the region back in 2023. Still in the cleanup stages, it’s clear to see how the disaster decimated the land and the sea, but the way the Māori people have rallied around each other and is really heartening, and left us all feeling pretty inspired.  What better way to wrap up a trip through some of the hottest surfing on the planet than with a quick lesson? I was taken out into the water with legendary local surfer, Holly Quinn, who showed me how to master the waves and helped me get up. We sealed off the adventure by visiting Sunshine brewery; the home of the iconic Gizzy Gold which I’d become so familiar with over the week. Honestly, guys, if you ever get the chance to head out to the North West coast of the North Island and explore Gisborne and the surrounding area - jump on it; you won’t regret it.  I hope you really enjoyed listening to these two eps; I had an amazing time and I’m really grateful to Tairāwhiti Gisborne - the Gisborne Tourism Board - for making it happen. If you want to read more about my trip and see some of the incredible pictures, check out this cracking feature by our friends at FLOW MOUNTAIN BIKE.  Cheers, Mitch!   Chapters 00:00:00 - Introduction & Recap 00:02:21 - Day Three Begins: Waihau Bay & Movie Locations 00:12:54 - Macadamia Farm & Local Treats 00:14:55 - Coastal Riding & Māori Cultural Insights 00:20:41 - Bikepacking Father & Son Duo 00:34:13 - East Cape Lighthouse & The First Sunrise 00:49:08 - Famous Café 35 & Power Pies 01:02:15 - Māori Facial Tattoos (Moko Kauae) & Cultural Significance 01:05:07 - Final Stretch Back to Gisborne ----more---- This episode is brought to you by our friends over at NordVPN. For a huge discount on your plan plus 4 additional on top head over to nordvpn.com/pelosurf. The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

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  1:25:07
• Bikepacking New Zealand: Gisborne’s Hidden Gems, Māori Culture & Gravel Adventures - Part 1

  Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by MAAP G’day guys, I’m back with another ep of Life In The Peloton; and this one’s a little bit different. Earlier this month, I was invited out to a little town called Gisborne over on the East Coast of New Zealand’s North Island for a bikepacking adventure.  Gisborne Tourism gave me a call and wanted to see if I’d come over for 5 days of bike riding, soaking in the Māori culture, and - of course - enjoying a few cleansing ales with some local legends and finding out more about the region; naturally, I jumped at the chance and hopped on a plane over to NZ.  This hidden gem is on the South East coast of the North Island, and loosely follows the infamous Highway 35. Gisborne is a pretty remote area. It’s raw, and refreshing - really back to basics. There are a lot of indigenous Māori living off the land out there respecting the natural environment just like their ancestors have done for generations. It’s totally different to anywhere I’ve been before, and it was really powerful and inspiring to learn more about their culture and experience the landscape by bike. 550km over 5 days, this trip was hard enough without being too hard, if you know what I mean. We cruised on the bikes and took in all the sights, sounds, and smells of Gisborne along the way. We checked out some super cool spots; including the Eastwoodhill National Arboretum, some ridiculous beautiful waterfalls and wild swimming spots, and - of course - some world class gravel riding. I couldn’t turn down this opportunity - to be invited out to a place I’ve always wanted to explore was too good to miss. This ep is actually part 1 of a 2 parter - so much happened on the trip I couldn’t contain it into 1 episode, so I’m treating you guys to a double! Keep your eyes peeled for episode 2 dropping at the end of this week. If you want to read more about my trip, check out this cracking feature by our friends at FLOW MOUNTAIN BIKE.    Cheers! Mitch   Chapters 00:00 - Introduction & Setting the Scene 02:15 - Flying into Gisborne & First Impressions 07:30 - The Māori Connection & Cultural Insights 18:10 - The Bikepacking Route & The First Ride 25:05 - Eastwoodhill Arboretum: A Hidden Gem 39:06 - Waterfalls & Wild Swimming 42:00 - Arrival in Motu: End of Day 1 46:00 - Looking Ahead to Day 2 ----more---- The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

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  1:21:53
• BONUS: Grounding, Sunlight & Life Beyond the Peloton

  This is a cheeky bonus excerpt from the longer episode. To listen to the whole thing and future episodes become a member of The Pelo. You won't want to miss these exclusive chats dropping throughout the 2025 season! Sveino and I are back for another episode of the Life In The Peloton Chronicles. I absolutely love getting so sit down and catch up with my old mate for an hour or two each month, and this month’s pod is a banger.  Svein’s always been a guy I look up to for a whole heap of reasons. Sure, he was an absolute weapon on the bike - that goes without saying - but I’ve always admired the way he goes about things off the bike, too. He’s a real deep thinking guy who prioritises a clean and healthy lifestyle and a deep respect for the natural world - so I handed the reins over this month to learn more about his mindset and lifestyle. I have really fond memories of racing alongside Svein back in the Greenedge days. He was a great guy to be around in the races and someone I learnt a lot from. One of the first pieces of this holistic ‘grounding’ that Svein showed me and the team was making sure we all got our shoes off and got a bit of time spent barefoot on the grass to really connect with the Earth, and whenever we got the chance, we’d jump in the ocean; something else Svein is really passionate about. We talk about the importance of looking after your body whilst also respecting the natural order of things, and the impact a lot of bad modern habits can have on a person. Svein’s knowledge about things like circadian rhythms, solar callouses, and more is incredible, and I always come away from chats like this with a new found motivation to live a healthier, more wholesome lifestyle. Hopefully you do, too.  This ep is really insightful, and I think we can all learn a lot from Svein. He’s also just dropped his brand new book called ‘We Will Never Be Here Again’, which is all about his adventures in cycling; from the wilderness to the Tour de France. It’s an absolutely incredible read, and makes me think back to the crazy stories Svein would tell over the dinner table when we were away racing together. If you love listening to Svein, get yourself a copy and get stuck into it because it’s absolutely loaded with some great insight into what makes Svein tick. Grab a herbal tea for this one, and listen closely. Hopefully, you come away from this one having learnt something and feeling a little bit more enlightened.  Cheers! Mitch

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  22:41
• The Race Communiqué: UAE’s Power Play, Classics Preview & Geraint Thomas Trivia

  We’re coming towards the end of February, and the road racing season is well underway. Since we last recorded together on the eve of the Tour Down Under, we’ve had a whole heap of European racing in Spain, France, and Portugal, the UAE Tour, and more! Southam and Durbo join me once again to dissect the races, talk about the season ahead, and - of course - have a proper laugh in the Communi-quiz. A highlight of the last month for me has been seeing a really dominant start to the year from the young Brit, Tom Pidcock, at Alula Tour and Ruta Del Sol, which really vindicates his move to Q36.5 over the offie. But, if we’re talking about dominance in races, we have to talk about UAE Team Emirates XRG. They have had a MONSTER start to the season, and not just from Pogi. Me and the boys talk about their insane roster that’s going to have the rest of the bunch shaking in their boots all year long. Of course, the early season races are exciting, but they’re only building tension for the real racing to kick off this weekend. That’s right, guys, it’s almost time for my favourite races: The Spring Classics. Opening weekend is right around the corner, and we discuss the upcoming classics season, as well as make a few cheeky predictions. Durbo’s ‘Pelo Chat’ dives right into the technical advancements in the bunch over the last few years. Skinsuits, tubeless tyres, aero positions on the road bikes, and absolutely MASSIVE chainrings. I thought I was pushing big gears with a 53 tooth chainring back in my pro days, but the 2025 Pelo has literally stepped up a gear. The bunch is getting faster and faster every year, so they need the gearing to keep up. One of Durbo’s teammates is even trying out a 58 tooth chainring on their road bike! You’ll have to listen to find out who.  Tom’s ‘Talking Tactics’ segment takes a look at the UAE Tour and some…questionable decisions from Lotto and Lennert Van Eetvelt. Riding the front to boost the TSS, doing intervals on the erg after a hard stage, seriously - what were these guys thinking? It was great to hear Tom and Luke, who were both out there, dissect their tactics in the Middle East and give the Lotto boys a fair ribbing.  Of course, it wouldn’t be The Race Communiqué without the Communi-Quiz, and it’s my turn to host. With the Welsh legend, Geraint Thomas, announcing his retirement at the end of 2025, I thought it would be a fitting send-off to have a G-themed quiz to test the boys’ knowledge on one of the most versatile racers of his generation. This is a banger of an ep packed with some proper racing analysis, good old-fashioned tech chat, a whole heap of banter, and lots more. You’re going to love it. The Race Communiqué is brought to you by TrainingPeaks! Track, plan, and train smarter—just like the pros. Get 20% off TrainingPeaks Premium now at www.trainingpeaks.com/partners/life-in-the-peloton/. Cheers, Mitch

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  1:02:45
• Race Radio: 2025 Season Preview – 10 Things to Get Excited About!

  The boys are back in town for the second episode of Race Radio! Harry & Stu have passed their probation and been let loose on the mic once again to talk about what they’re most excited for in the 2025 season. These boys are fanatical about pro cycling, and their enthusiasm is infectious, so it was great to hear them giving their overview of the coming season. As always, Harry’s given me a blurb for the episode so you know what you’re in for:  “Are you excited for the road racing season to start yet? In the latest episode of Life in the Peloton’s Race Radio, we’ll get you ready for another rollicking, rollercoaster year of pro cycling with our top ten things to look forward to in 2025.  From the new stars set to shine, the first women’s Milan-San Remo, comeback Queens, the first ever road world championships to be held in Africa, and much more, we guarantee that this’ll get you ready to rock and roll. Let’s go!” I do love the Tour Down Under as the kick-off for the racing season, but the lull between TDU and Opening Weekend has always been a tough one to fill. This definitely got me even more excited for the big races to kick off - as if I wasn’t buzzing already. I hope you love this one as much as I did and, remember, you can drop the boys an email at [email protected] to let them know what you think of this ep, what you want to hear them discuss, or just to tell them you think they’re handsome young-ish men!  

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