Is the cycling off-season ever really off? Even though road racing has been done for a while (except for Saitama, of course!), there's plenty to talk about. Tadej Pogačar's new contract with UAE is massive - €8 million a year until 2030, making him the highest-paid rider in the peloton. It's sparked a larger discussion about the economics of pro cycling and how teams are built around these superstar riders. Demi Vollering’s move from SD Works to FDJ is a big shakeup in the women’s peloton. It seems, unlike on the men's side, that the women's transfer market is wide open, with teams throwing around big money to secure top talent. This move also prompts questions about the role of sponsors like Specialized in rider moves, and the cultural differences between Dutch and French teams.

Then there’s some good old-fashioned paperwork drama. Ceratizit messed up their WorldTour license paperwork and might lose one of their star riders. Is this just an "admin error," or is there something more going on? And of course, no Spin Cycle episode would be complete without some listener interaction. This week, we tackled Drew’s question about the aerodynamics of a leg-shaving mullet, with Ronan offering his expert analysis. Don’t forget to send us your own cycling-related queries at escapecollective.com/hello. We’ll be answering them in an upcoming mailbag episode.

Jonny Long, Kit Nicholson, and Dane Cash join Caley Fretz to break down the route of the 2025 Tours de France (men's and women's), and they also talk squirrels, rally car racing, and crypto in cycling.

This week on the Spin Cycle podcast, Caley, Jonny, and Kit kick off with an update on Tom Pidcock's dramatic transfer saga. It turns out he's going nowhere. Or is he? This whole situation adds to the growing narrative that INEOS is a difficult team to be on, as evidenced by Ethan Hayter's recent comments about the "weird environment." Despite the failed transfer, it sounds like there are a few other teams still interested in acquiring Pidcock, but it'll probably take a hefty buyout to pry him away from INEOS at this point.

Next up, the crew discuss Chris Froome's shocking admission that he won't be vying for another Tour de France victory. It's tough to see a legendary athlete come to terms with the limitations of their body, but we admire Froome's honesty and grace in addressing the situation. We also take some time to discuss the UCI's exploration of budget caps within the WorldTour. Chris Marshall Bell, who broke the story for Escape Collective, joins to talk about the potential implications of these financial regulations. While there's no consensus on the matter yet, it's clear that the UCI is serious about addressing the financial disparities within the sport.

And finally, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the tough news regarding Chris Hoy's health. His strength and positivity in the face of such a challenging diagnosis are truly inspiring, and we wish him and his family all the best.