In episode 29 of She Rides, Saar and Kristof talk through the final stages of La Vuelta Femenina and the start of Itzulia Women. They look at Marlen Reusser’s big comeback, Misha Bredewold’s strong season, and FDJ’s teamwork in the mountains. There’s also a look ahead at Lotte Kopecky’s race plans, a chat about whether Grand Tours should be longer, and a thoughtful discussion about doping bans and second chances, with Shari Bossuyt’s case as a key example. It’s a relaxed but honest conversation about the latest in women’s cycling.
[Applause] [Music] Hello everyone and welcome to She Rides, the podcast where women cycling takes the lead. I’m S and I’m Kristoff and today we’re diving into the latest race results and hot topics in women’s cycling. Let’s get started. Ready? Uh hi everyone and welcome to episode 29 of She Writes. Um again we announced uh a nice guest la last episode. Um yeah but it didn’t work out again sadly. Uh yeah we’ll see. Maybe third time will be the good time. Um but for now um it’s uh just um yeah an an episode without a guest. Um there have there has been some racing. Um but I’ve also asked very last minute. Uh I’m sorry to to send in some topics. We got some. So we we will discuss those who we got uh in time. Um but um I think we we can maybe start actually uh with Laa Feminina. We discussed everything uh till the two last stages. It feels already like a long time ago. So um it’s hard maybe to to to remember what happened but um the second last stage was uh one who I I was about to say the one who Mar who Mariana Vos won. Uh but she won she won multiple. Um but no actually it was um Vos uh it was a very close sprint between Fos and Breold. It was not totally flat. Uh and it was also with a corner and it was super close. First of all, I didn’t expect that. Uh second of all, how good is Misha Breald riding both on uh more hilly parkour and in the sprint too? Uh, and then third, I actually think if Bradold would have been on the inside of the corner, she could maybe have beaten Va, I think that’s where she lost it because in the end she she was a bit faster than V. Uh, but mainly Wow. Super impressed again uh by by Bra. Yeah. And she beats the likes of Ali Wister and Lara Gillespies. Both are not that slow either at the finish. who uh yeah great job Misha is really having a breakout season as where last season I thought like ah with Misha Bradol it’s just like hit or miss swing or miss but now this season she’s she’s performing on a higher level very constant and then then yeah she’s she’s winning big races she’s there in the front hilly stages sprint stages well yeah she’s uh well yeah she’s really finding her way to to to the elite club of the palatin almost. It’s not just like I’m almost at the top, but no, it’s like very close to like the elite club of the women’s palatin. So, uh super cool to see also a great personality in the palatum. So, yeah. Yeah, I think so. She seems to be always smiling. So, we like that. That’s just that’s just great. Yeah. just first when I thought when she when she became European champion I was like oh this is like yeah you got lucky but I don’t know what to think about this but now she’s proving that that she’s not uh well that she’s capable of doing a lot there’s there’s also just more space at as works right now with two of the leaders gone she I think there’s also just some more space to to show what she can do and also to to get in in uh in a great spot to to to um yeah to battle with the rest for victory. Um so yeah, cool to see and uh cool um to see what she can do in the future. So yeah, sure. And heads off for a little threat because they saved the world as all the other stages were were a duchy who won. yellow jersey, Dutchy. Green um the the points jersey. The red jersey duchy. Of course, it’s not the yellow one. Pola dot is a duchy. I mean, yeah. Okay. Team’s ranking was for for the Frenchies for FD, but still. Yeah. Um but you know, it’s it’s always been that way. And you know if you if you now look like if you for example look at the final GC top 10 there’s quite some variation in nations it’s not completely Dutch anymore. So yeah, okay. The there are more Dutchies winning races than other nationalities, but you know, you have some good Italians, some good France riders, and yeah, you know, it it’s it’s getting better. And you also have some new non-Dutch talents, which is nice to see. So yeah, it’s just something for sure if you have okay, Valta is is big and Jirro is big, but there they are not all the best riders of the world. So if you just I would say if you have no names, but if there are like five best riders um in the world right now and there there’s a Belgian in there, there’s there’s an Italian and the rest of them are Dutchies, for example. and the Italian and the Belgian are not riding the Jirro and the Valta. Of course, it’s more obvious that the Duchy will win because there are still more of them. But I think too if you come at to the France sum, it will be more more split up between countries. Not too big of only the polka dot jersey. That one could have been from Bel, but it it just wasn’t this time for Jessine. But it’s all it’s also pretty good for pretty good, right? Because uh she will uh have to fight for it again next year. And um even better if it then works out. So she’s already the mountain queen like also today was the first stage of it and even she wasn’t in the break but she was already taking the last points available from Natalon. So yeah, everyone knows it’s right. It’s just like something typical Justine and it’s like yeah just super cool points the point spread too was not in favor of Justine as Dami won the two mountain finishes. So yeah that’s yeah yeah but you know the harder you have to fight for it and the longer you have to wait for it the more beautiful the victory is. So um next chance another chance next. Yeah, of course. Then we had we we Yeah. Mhm. Then we had we had the final stage to uh onto Nico that and I had the impression like where I was a little bit skeptic about the teamwork on Laguna Della from FDG. I was like, hm, why are you just using using all your teammates already on the first climb? Yeah. Now, with alto the cult, I was like, okay, FDG is is giving a masterclass in teamwork. And although the difference was not that much on top by Damy uh on Marlin Royer, it was still pretty clear that nobody else took the chance. Uh they they were strong with Labus with with um and with uh with music as well. So yeah, that was um that’s how it should be played. Well, maybe for us viewers it might be a little bit boring, but that’s like as teamwork as we often criticize teamwork uh and then as the media often criticizes teamwork in women’s cycling. Well, this was a this was a nice class that uh that that’s how you do it. I I would love to see some more like action and attacks, but it wasn’t possible. But I was jumping. Okay, not jumping. But I was so excited for Marlin Royer already. The the the mountain stage before she was showing some good form. Uh some good climbing form, but but again just losing 11 seconds on Dami holding like wow this is crazy. I was really surprised and excited for her again after that comeback after long co. It’s yeah just like I I I answered on her Instagram post. What an inspiration. Like this is crazy to just return in your first grand tour and only lose I don’t know what’s it in the GC a minute on name voling. That’s like crazy. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Crazy. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. What I hoped for uh during last episode that uh JV would uh break top 20. She just missed it as she finished 21st in the GC overall. Yeah, but still that’s painful. Yeah, but yeah, it’s it was still one minute to go on on Shin Andro. So would have been a would have been a would have been a tough nut to crack anyway. So, but still the young sweet is uh heads off. Really? What a strong wa she wrote. Yeah. Also just the Spanish rider I did practice. Okay. She didn’t make my f my uh my uh five position prediction, but uh Oola doing really good again. and also in the next race in the races after in Spain like super cool Spanish talent really um finding our way to to uh to uh the top and the world pelon which is al always nice to see and also I just like it if they are from like a smaller smaller team really up there between the big teams great to see um and then of course in terms of she rides guest we of course had only one at the part she leave on a uh but she did some great work of course or super domestic uh but she was already working uh before the last climb for Ashley Mman of course and then uh Ashley also had bad luck um and then she she tried to help her as far as possible. Uh she she mentioned it also Ashley on her video after that well that she did did a great job. So, uh, yeah, good to see. Of course, Shulie always does a great job. She’s the pocket knife. Remember, you can use her in every situation. Uh, yes. And then, so I think besides the weather, I think it was a nice uh nice feminina for 2025. For sure. Yeah. Maybe the riders think otherwise because it was not really that good of a weather. So I saw I saw Talita Deong her post like uh she was showing off her so-called pan lines from Lavalta. There were none actually. It’s like ridiculous in the month of May racing eight days in Spain. Also shout out to Tena Colonel. great race. Seventh in GC, Ninkke ninth in GC. Um, so that were also two that stood out. KBA also really good. She was good at LBL. But this is like really proving, oh, I can do it on the mountains. Not only if we go down, also if we go up hills. So also good to see. Always nice to see some youngsters in the mix too, right? And then also Oulasa 12 think that’s pretty good. Uh also if you’re just coming to say hi at the top of the pal at the top of the the wela pelatin and ending 12 it’s pretty good. So u yeah good for Spanish cycling because yeah good for Spanish cycling because they need a successor for Mavi Garcia. I mean she cannot keep on going actually. Yeah, some someone will have to step in their footsteps uh rather sooner than later, I think. So, good to see uh good to see someone rise to the top. Yeah. And then points of course an easy win for Mars. But yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That was I don’t think there was anyone who said, “Oh, no. It won’t be Mariana.” Yeah. It was keep doing it right. Yeah. crazy. I think all the rest just didn’t care because Dami Vering ends second and she’s not chasing any way the points jersey. So yeah, you you also had it. Yeah, if she starts believing in it next year, maybe she might be a competitor. She was fast. She was impressive. Mhm. Yeah, for sure. But I think at least at this point is there okay she can sprint but she’s also there like in function of the team still while Mariana is really the leader so that’s also like a difference. Yeah, true. Yeah, if she has a year to grow, why not? I guess also depends where we is starting, of course. But yeah, and then maybe I don’t know if you want to mention something, but I think then we can go to France. Yeah. To the BA block of racing like very underestimated racing block because those are nasty races. I mean everybody tend to forget about modha and uh and and stuff but they are heavy like really yes indeed. So we had quite a few I watched most of it uh but the first one I didn’t watch the the images were so horrible I was like okay you know what never mind I actually don’t even have to have the time to do this I I I’ll probably study instead. So that was a smarter move at that moment. But I did watch some others. For example, Grand Prix. You uh you could ask me why am I choosing this one? Okay. Do you have to ask? Mar was racing and she was actually really showing her again. Okay. Yeah. Um we’re keeping the bias fight going. Um but she was doing great. As I said, she’s she’s really racing super good. Uh also festival LCA races like that. But uh again she she I think they had a gap starting from 27k uh something like that till the finish with another rider. I can’t remember who it was. Um but yeah and they had like 30 seconds for a pretty long time. They were working very good together. And then I cursed a bit at UAE and I don’t know I think it was coffee too uh and Ara even who are chasing. So yeah I was like no way we’re not going to do this and then it was even sad because when what was even worse was that um I think 5k before they catched Margo and the other rider you had like Dixon and those riders dropping. So it was like guys you you you you almost catched Maru for nothing because your team leader just dropped and if they are dropping here they won’t they won’t be able to sprint on that hilly finish. So yeah, you know, it was good. Too good to be true, but great race from Margo again. That’s for sure. Always. Yes, we stand behind Margo. That’s right. Yeah, for sure. Also, Shababel is was racing. I actually didn’t know that before. I was watching. Uh she got second and she already looked super strong again. So, uh Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Pretty nice race. It’s always like I would really recommend if you have the time and if you feel like browsing through the internet for live streams or keep keep um our Instagram in mind. I try if I’m watching and I found one I try to post it only if our guests are racing because other otherwise I’m probably not searching for it that hard. But if it is I I put it up there. Um but yeah I I would always recommend like go watch it. It are mostly like the races. Those are not like the the top riders, but you have like the the ones just underneath the top and they they keep racing. Like even if there are strong groups up on the road, they keep racing and it’s it’s just a super nice dynamic and also quite exciting. you you get to know some new names and some names who maybe otherwise have to battle for a top 20 or have to work for their leader can now show what they are capable of. So um yeah, nice and Gasparini won in the end. Uh yeah. So, uh yeah, nice nice UAE racing block in in Britannia because we were talking about Ostada and sorry listeners, I did not practice uh name as a Spanish possible successor for Mavi Garcia. But we had we had someone rising to the top as well, the 22year-old Spanish rider for UAE, Paula Blazi. Actually um she she she won um well before the Britany already she won the Grand Pri Liat 1.1 race and then she went on to win point us ladies classic and today she she became fourth in the first stage of itsya and good news for Paula Blazi she got uh promoted from the deo team for to uh to the world tour team two days ago so well She’s uh she’s uh on the rocket to to stardom. So keep going. Nice new name. If we if if we talk about her uh need fourth in uh the first stage of it. So uh we can just maybe go to that one first because today we are recording on Friday. So we just uh had the first stage of it. So it was only as long as you go back to Navara. Yeah, of course. Of course, it was just a nice bridge between the two of them. Um, so no. Yeah. So, it was the one of the three who isn’t a real mountain stage. It was still not pan flat, but of course we’re in it’s a flat back country stage. It’s not even Spanish flat. It’s bust flat. It’s even worse than Spanish flat. Honestly, the most surprising to me was like the last after you you had some really hilly part where we saw the lights of and attacking, but after that it was like really flat. It was like, whoa, are we in Spain? This is like flat. But, uh, we saw a great sprint win again from Misha Breedold. Um, was there the biggest comp competition here? you know, it it wasn’t against the walls, but she won with um with uh yeah, quite a gap on the others, I think, bike length. So, um super nice. Um then second, Millie Kousins also wouldn’t really expect that, but but great result because she she really had some speed. She came from a little bit further and she she really catched up. So, that’s good to see. um on three. Then of course we had Paula Blazy on four. Also Sarah Vanam is also uh is also uh riding top fives uh recently. So that’s good. Also good. Uh look who’s back. Carl Swinkles. Yeah. Um was nice to see. Um so yeah, there were some things. Of course I’m already mentioning our guest so I can just stop now. Would you leave us in the breakaway? for quite a long time. I think of course we didn’t see all the coverage uh cuz yeah it’s still women’s cycling. Um uh together with Ava Van actually um so yeah was a a good cool strong break and then as said we saw Queen of the Mountain grab the points who were left behind and um so I think that was a stage because Oh no no no no that was not the stage. Um, in the final, I think some like 12k from from the line. I’m not too sure. We saw a pretty bad crash actually. Um, with Anna McGa, also a picnic postal rider. Uh, but I don’t know who that was. I do know that they were looking both pretty hurt. I’m sure uh I also don’t see a picnic personal BNF. So they will be they uh went on the bike the the both of them started again. Um but I didn’t think for dragon looked that good. Uh I yeah no she looked uh not good. I think I first I thought she she wouldn’t go on her bike again because it it really took her like two minutes to get on the bike again. Um, yeah, and the picnic personal rider really fell on her head because she she took off her helmet and stuff. So, that also didn’t look good. But, I’m not seeing a DNF for a picnic. I just hope the concussion tests are are are done by uh for the both of them and also for the rider’s wellbeing because we know what happens what can happen if you don’t really let um a concussion rest. Um it was not visible if they did that but I just hope they did because it was a pretty big impact crash. Um yeah, so I hope they they did that and we don’t have any further updates right now. So um yeah, just let’s just hope that those who crashed are okay. Yeah, we have to see. We have to wait. Let’s just hope everything is okay and if not that they did the right protocol because well it’s okay to to be to be diagnosed with a concussion as long as you have the diagnosis of course. So that’s well I’m I’m not saying it’s okay to have a concussion but to have the diagnosis and the protocol is uh is very good. So yeah, we’ll see tomorrow. Just wondering I think I’m seeing red uh cuz we actually talked about this before. Uh I think from Dragon Harvey and Shriber both lost an additional 20 seconds if this is right. I think because they they it was clear because they went from um they went from two minutes uh out of nowhere till 130 and then 40 seconds from so they probably it could be that it because they rode behind the car for a bit bit too long. But I’m seeing with like where other riders have bony seconds like for example she leave on the val three bony sec three bony seconds because she got uh one on the intermediate sprints but with vom harvey and shriber I’m seeing min I’m seeing a minus 20 so uh I think she will have lost one minute and 1 minute 03 eventually. I’m just checking the GC for a second to see if that’s correct. Yeah, she lost 1 minute 14. Yeah. So um she she clear but it was obvious we can imagine but we were blessed with the commentary of listen uh on Dutch Euro sport and she was also like the car must have driven pretty fast here. But I actually wonder I would say if really doesn’t feel good after that crash. I would just be like you know stay in the hotel don’t start again. You you already have to start with a minute behind voling. You crashed. It was a pretty bad one. Just I don’t know. I wouldn’t bother. Yeah. No need to take that type of risks actually. That’s uh that’s not necessary at all. Yeah. Anyways, think we can run it off here. So, what actually happens is Bra won pretty pretty um yeah, she won. She just won. Um and it was a great and impressive win and then we had maybe a s surprising second for Millie Kens and then we had of course crashing pretty bad and also getting um yeah getting some uh extra seconds for the GC. So uh yeah more to come the next stages. Yeah, exactly. Nice. Nice Julia. Yeah. So you want to go back to Navara? So um go. Yeah, for sure. I mean um I’m not caring about the winner. Uh first of all, Navara is Cat Ferguson. Come on. A great winner. We care about this. We do. Okay. We love to see winning this one. So, let’s again we care about this winner, but is more exciting about something else. Let’s say it like that. I was uh my my excitement was uh was was winning here actually. I’m sorry, cat. Oh my god. Yes. A beautiful weather in the first place. Yeah. Uh let’s just let’s just start by saying that Bara is is also pretty tough race with with pretty you can you can just compare it with with some Britannia races with with some steep deep nasty short hills and climbs. Uh but of course why I’m excited it’s like um team coupe got eighth and ninth in this Navara Classic with on eight India and on ninth Jurgensen. Mhm. And especially it’s so nice to see Tina Jorgensson break a top 10 in a in a points pro race actually because she loves Navara but she had some some bad luck some years but now finally breaking that top 10 that’s very nice because yeah you should all follow T Jurgensson. You should all cheer for her because she’s a wonderful person and just happy that she breaks the top 10 finally in a big race. So hats off. I’m happy as a fan. Great to see nice top man and nice manner too. Yeah, for sure. Um, but maybe uh as said we have some topics before we go over them. I since we’re in Spain right now, I might also uh want to mention is that Lopei is almost uh racing again. She will be racing in Burgos and then normally the the sources say she will um go on an attitude camp altitude camp not attitude altitude camp uh till the Belgium championship um and then she will do either the Jirro or the BA as a ladies tour and then to the front of course. So um yeah from one side I’m like yeah come to BA the ladies tour in your home country but I can cheer but on the other side h please go in Italy because these crashes here in the BA ladies tour stay away from that. So um yeah it’s a double one lady. Yes. Yeah, indeed. It’s not always that um but we had some topics maybe one to to start with actually we talked already before about um yeah FDG actually using the strong super domestic approach uh to to the first grand tour of the year. Um when for once what do we think of this and next to that does this mean anything for the two of like do we see it or are they going to do the same there or will they try something like more attractive with labus and music to France writers in their home country or will they have to be in um in domestic duty again? I think they will have to be on domestic duty on on home. So yeah, if you have a tour and if you have a rider like holding in your teeth, it’s easy. The pecking order the picking order is quite clear. I think unfortunately of course for a labusan music but uh that makes absolute sense if we are honest it makes sense that that they would do it that way but I’m just like ah it’s also like I would love to see to see uh Iita and Juliet get their own chance to but dots are pretty small maybe in maybe in the first stages like when you have this puncher stages maybe they can try and attack or something like that. Why not? Uh yeah, they are not going to going to going to sprint for the win of course, but like do an attack maybe. But I think from the moment they get in the high mountains, it will be the strongest team. Yeah, they mountains. They are like you just can’t begin any anything against it. It’s like if they want if they want no attacks that there won’t be attacks like you have to know the strongest team with the strongest riders. Yeah, they have two riders who can top 10 in tour. So, you know, if they are going to be on super domestic duty, then yeah, you know, it’s almost like putting two sepus in one team and letting them ride for for you swinging already the strongest climber of the pack. Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, I think it will be this. It it’s also I think if if they are um going to I think with seeing what they saw from Roy from I think right now one of the only opponents they didn’t really see anything from on the mountains how she would do against the following is copi so and I think if we know her I think for her it would be perfectly fine if FDG attacks a bit and and it goes up and then it’s it’s I I think a harsh tempo is how FDG thinks the the odds are the biggest to beat her. So yeah, I don’t think we we have to expect any firework attacks from uh from the FDG team and it will be of course if Voling is not going with too much of a time difference uh with other leaders into the mountains. It will be pretty much domestic train and then attack couple of days and finish. Yeah, for sure. For sure. Yeah, the strongest team. They have to fall in line. So, um they they they have the team to do team tactics. They don’t Yeah. Well, I would say they don’t have a true sprinter, but Yeah. You have Ali Wist, of course. Yeah. It’s my second enemies again. Yeah. Yeah. And I’m such a big M Ferguson and Ali Willis fan. I mean, yeah. It doesn’t even make sense. What am I doing here? I’m just I’m just making make Yeah. Friends into enemies. Oh my god. Bad job. Um but yeah, another topic actually that that’s um yeah, that fits with it. Uh pretty good. Should women’s grand tours be longer? Yay or nay? Or and why or why not? And how could we make them or what’s the best way to make them longer? So on the first questions because they’re like three in one question. Uh yes, I think they should be longer. What’s longer? Why should they be longer? Yeah. Well, it’s fine. Longer. Why should they be be longer? Because I think if you have longer grand tours, there’s uh more space for tactics. there’s more space for if you have like a bad day, if your leader have a bad day and there are only two mountain stages, okay, it’s pretty hard to to to make up for it then. But if there if you have like I’m also not saying like next year three weeks, no, please don’t do that. But I mean, if you have like a bit of a longer grand tour and more different uh stages, every rider has more chances to go for the win. I think there can be more chances for a breakaway. So not one of the let’s say 10 riders who can technically win a stage if they go to the tour of defam if there doesn’t happen anything crazy like she seen a bit last year that’s also just because she’s an incredible good rider. Um so that also sprinters like for example now there’s maybe one where all the sprinters will be able to compete and then a second where some will already be will already be a bit struggling where it’s a bit tricky. So also for the sprinters there could be an extra stage and maybe some more chances and yeah just for the dynamic I think is good. I think you also give riders who maybe aren’t the best climbers day one, but if they are a bit more fatigued, if everyone is more fatigued, maybe other names who will uh who will be up there too. So, I just think for dynamics and for for um more attractive racing tactic-wise for yeah, just to make it more enjoyable for every type of rider because if you’re a sprinter and I think yeah, the the last sprint stage is for example I I don’t know how it is like when Wednesday or something and you have to continue till Sunday. Yeah. If you’re not wearing a green jersey, why you know? So that’s why um how I would say slowly, not too fast because meanwhile we still have the palatin growing and they not all of them are ready for let’s say twoe grand tour. So actually I’m quite liking how uh the tour is doing it right now a day every year. I don’t know how long it will continue, but that’s their plan for the coming years to add a day to it, which I think is pretty nice. So, uh what is it right now? 9 days, 10 days, something like that. So, that’s nine already. I’m not mistaken. Yeah, I also think nine, but that’s already like a decent amount, I would say. Um so, yeah, I would just do it slowly. I would maybe also like to see it for the Valta and for the Jirro that way, but they have to look at calams. Um I would say for example, can we take the Jirro to to August? Um yes, because it’s so packed. You have like the VA in May and then you have the early Jul July the Jirro and then you have like max two weeks in between and it’s already time for the tour that’s so if we could just have let you know we know we they don’t like to change that much to the calendar so just let the net of wela be where it is let the tour be where it is but just move over the jirro to somewhere end of August beginning of September number something like that would be great right and you don’t have to say yeah but then it clashes with the VA right now the J clashes with the two of the phones so yeah I think that would I think that would be the perfect option yes it can grow not too fast and move it a bit yeah that’s uh my po my point of view on this one I think Mhm. say perfectly not do not make grand tours longer than they already are. The pelaton the let’s say it right the world tour pelatons improved a lot the quality of riders. Yeah. So I think where it stands now with the tour to France with nine stages you can go to 10 today I think. But what’s most important and what I what I keep seeing like today the first st first stage in it truly was 140k. So, you need to make the races a bit longer. Don’t make it build. Don’t make it 230 kilometers like you see sometimes in the chirro. Uh, nobody wants that anyway. So, nobody needs that. But 140, 160, 170, that’s possible with those stages of 90ks. I mean, women really know how to race 140 kilometers, guys. I mean seriously don’t don’t treat them like little children or like junior men boys races of 90ks like gradually increase the distance of the stages and I think you should land on on a two week grand tour with the with the women’s pelaton because what I always think in the men’s race like three weeks you have at least seven bill stages that you think like I don’t care like a classic tour of France for the men the first week with all those spin stages, nothing to see. You’re just like, “Yeah, sure. I don’t need to take a holiday yet because nothing happened. So, just skip that part.” It’s a so I think it would be healthy to to to improve um like you said start slowly to two week tours and of course you have to replace ora or uh the jiro on the calendar because that’s not feasible especially with with lava and the whole Spanish block like coming afterwards that’s that’s that’s not I mean that’s not healthy that’s not sustainable u and don’t do it like the bands race love in September because then it’s scorching hot in Spain. So people love VA. It’s also like with with the VA and the Jirro it’s actually like always like yeah we should put the Jirro in in in at the end of August September and Valta where the Jirro is now. So let’s try that out with the women. I I’m sure no one would mind to do it like that. It would be perfect also for the calendar. Let’s just start with scooting lava at least one week further. So it’s not just like straight after the classics. It’s at least a little break and let’s take the JRO and move it over to end of August, beginning of September, something like that. And then and it’s not a punishment for the Jirro because you have such a low in the calendar in the month of August. So if you put a grand tour there, it’s brilliant. It’s just brilliant. just take the opportunity. It was also um it was also a topic with uh on Dutch country of San Lebron was like it’s still the end of May then it’s way too packed and she was like okay classics are classic that makes sense May is way too packed and then it’s just okay you have some big races like uh to Swiss and and races like that but there are also aren’t many alternatives if you are talking world tour level or pro tour It’s just you take it or leave it and then the further you head into the season. Yeah. There there’s just not much choice anymore. Um so um so just move it there. Develop the grand tours. I mean and we all know to the front is not going to change from the calendar somewhere. That’s never going to happen. So one of the two grand tours uh Jirro or Yeah. And also it would be good for Vegeta, right? Because VA from man’s side is less of competition than the two of France from the man’s side. So why not give it a try? Everyone will be very thankful. Yeah. And if the commentary is like, “Yeah, but then it collides with Lua for the man.” Well, then just move Lela for the man. That’s a little bit out of the box thinking, but it’s not really as well. I mean, what are we complaining here? Okay, that’s a very fake. Um, yeah, that’s all. That’s obviously obviously joking, but what are you saying? Like, no, but that’s colliding with a man’s face. Whatever. This is for the women. I’m here for it. But, uh, no, let’s just try to make them gradually longer, but for sure, don’t go too fast. Let’s move them on the calendar. um and just look at it year by year, day by day. And uh yeah, so uh pretty interesting topic actually. And then maybe to to to to add one more topic, it’s a completely different topic topic actually. Um should writers suspended for doping be given a second chance? This is such a different a difficult topic because of course like I think I’ve I’ve let it shine through here a couple of times. I have a big problem with the the cases of like and who get suspended for two years because they can’t prove or they can’t they don’t know where it comes from even if they they they get recognized that as not guilty. So you have to be suspended two years which I also think is like is this the way to go? No, I don’t agree with that. So for this kind of situations I’m like yes of course can’t we get them back sooner in a pelatin. Um but it’s also such and then like yeah such a difficult topic. Um of course for most situations I would said like yes you always deserve a second chance. Um it of course the depends if you’re really like in in a kind of network. We we have heard some stories from certain writers where you really are in a network and stuff like that that’s maybe different but if it’s like yeah it’s a difficult topic but I would say in in most cases yes you deserve a second chance. Um so yeah don’t know what you think. Um, so yeah, the answer to the question is rather pretty easy. Uh, yes, you deserve a second chance. Yes, you deserve to come back in the pelaton because it’s the same thing when you when you’re serving jail time when you committed a crime. Well, if you serve your time, you need to be reintegrated. Uh, and and deserve a second chance. What’s more important, make the punishment right to the crime you committed. Uh I mean that’s a whole other discussion in real life of course but to cycling when you see the situations of tun or sharet it’s like yeah technically okay they were they they they were they were catched like like okay doping uh but you see the results they got it’s like yeah okay this is this is the gray zone so maybe the punishment shouldn’t have been 2 years like directly the case of Lance Ar Lance Armstrong like he set up a whole carousel. Yeah. Ban the guy for life. I mean for sure there’s no place for for such guys in in the pelaton or or tenure. I mean well of course everybody deserves uh a second chance eventually but I mean get the punishment straight. That’s the most important thing. I mean, shi spending two years. It’s like it’s like like like shooting a cannonball on a little mosquito like like like it’s it’s way too it’s it just doesn’t make sense at all. And for two years straight I haven’t asked me like why why just let her race she didn’t do okay like if you really want to make your point suspender for two months to just make clear for like or till for the rest of the season okay I can fight just to give like a sign of watch out what you get in for me it would like okay two months that’s it you know you know you have to have to watch out for this but like two whole years for something you didn’t do, Mike. Yeah, you have to draw you have to draw a line with doping, of course, and then then when you go over the line if it was voluntarily or not, that that’s a whole other question. But if you cross the line, then you need a punishment because that’s the rule. I mean, it’s easy like that. You can start discussing like, hey, I didn’t do it. Hey, this is not doping. If the UCI says it’s doping, then it’s doping. Whatever. If it’s in your in your body contaminated by whatever it is, it’s completely unfortunate for what happened to Shi. But then the additional punishment of two years when you see the results, the the the dose that was found with her is like almost Alberto Contador uh 0000 like he like he famously quoted. Uh I mean come on, you you need to adapt it. I mean, it it’s not like you like like you got caught with um with your car full of uh full of needles. I mean, that’s a whole different question. I mean, or or when you caught red-handed with the with the blood blood transfusion. Uh I mean, come on. That’s obviously a big big uh infraction of the doping rules. This is like, yeah, it’s sketchy. It’s a gray zone. Do you need a punishment? Yes, because technically you broke the rule, but do you deserve two years of of suspension? Like that’s a whole other question. I think that that’s that doesn’t seem fair to me that um so so the question is very easily answered I think. Um but on the other hand, you need to look at the punishment. I mean yeah that’s just the case. So, uh, and I think secretly this question was about Shah’s case. Yeah, probably. Probably. Uh, but yeah, she’s almost back. Doesn’t make it um better that she she she was out of course for so long, but it’s finally almost over, right? Yeah, indeed. And uh I think she will she will uh be back and do great for sure in AG insurance. She will nice team, nice rider, everything will be all right in the end. Just um not so now not so nice two years but um yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, it’s a young athlete who lost two years of her career. Of course, two years of income, two years of progress. That sucks. Uh yeah, but yeah. Anyway, it’s a difficult discussion that’s for sure. But I I think about one more month, something like that. Yeah. Was it June, end of June, beginning of June? Some somewhere in June, I think. I think it was mid somewhere mid June. So I I think yeah, about a month and then it’s time. So that’s great. Finally. Good to have Sherry back. Let’s finish on that note. Indeed. Um so yeah I think that was it in terms of topics and latest news. Um yeah uh we we are normally having a guest episode again uh next time but you never know right? Uh no no no. Uh I believe we we will be able to deliver this time. Um, at least we will we will we we always do everything on our side to to make it. Sometimes you just don’t have it in hand and you just have to go with the flow. Um, but uh yeah, that’s life. So, normally super nice guest. Um, yeah, we’ll be great and I hope you enjoyed this episode with just the two of us. Oh, it was again like a short one 53 minutes in. And yeah, I’m hungry now. Yeah, but you know, for us it’s actually one of the shorter episodes if we’re honest, right? Um yeah, but we’ll uh wrap it up here. Um it will be sure it won’t be too long till we till we’re back actually. Um not as long as as last time. So uh no worries. We’re back soon. bit more episode. Yeah. So, that’s a wrap for episode 29 of Sheer Rides. Thanks for joining us. 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