Sigma Sports Unplugged with Matt Stephens

Tour de France Rest Day Reflections 2026 - Stages 10 - 15 Dominance and devastation 20.07.2026 42min

Matt Stephens is back with another week’s worth of reflections on rest day two of the 2026 Tour de France. This is the mini series where Matt takes you behind the scenes at the WBD Sport studios, with thrilling in-race finish line action as well as post race analysis and insights. Matt also reflects on a heron reflecting on its own statue, chats tea vessels with his colleague Chappers, and pays homage to the Belgian accent with Adam Blythe… Which, to be honest, is probably why you’re here! www.sigmasports.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tour de France Rest Day Reflections 2026 - Stages 1 - 9 TTTs, Træen, and Tadej being Tadej 13.07.2026 50min

From the TV studio in Chiswick, Matt Stephens takes us behind the scenes at the greatest show on earth (Tour de France), to bring you the second greatest show on earth (this podcast). You’ll hear live finish line reactions from Matt and his Eurosport TNT WB Discovery colleagues, meandering vignettes about crows stealing his lunch, melancholic pizza sadness, and a reminder to those who are finding the Pogacar era a little predictable, that we’re witnessing history with perhaps the greatest rider of all time. www.sigmasports.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rebecca Charlton on her Cancer Diagnosis, Cycling and Recovery 26.06.2026 1h 4min

Matt Stephens chats to one of his best friends and colleagues, Rebecca Charlton, about the cancer diagnosis that led to the toughest year of her life. By approaching her treatments the same way she approaches cycling, Rebecca went all in with full commitment - the only way she knows how. She credits her cyclist mindset and ability to tolerate suffering for her ongoing recovery, and commends the cycling community for their ability to pop up just about anywhere, to chat about Matt Stephens’ balls. Support Mummy’s Star here - https://www.mummysstar.org/ Support Tour de Four here - https://www.tourde4.com/ www.sigmasports.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

LeBlanq Joyride Festival Special 18.06.2026 33min

Matt Stephens takes us to the LeBlanq Joyride Festival on the Isle of Wight. You can expect conversations with Olympian Denise Lewis, Tour de France stage winner Sean Yates, and DJs Lisa Medwell and Taylor Phinney! www.sigmasports.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Giro Rest Day Reflections 2026 Stages 16 - 21: Vingegaard makes it look easy! 01.06.2026 45min

Technically yet again it’s not a rest day; the Giro d’Italia 2026 has just been won. As the dust settles on Rome, Matt Stephens reflects on the final week of racing from behind the scenes at the Breakaway studio for TNT Sports / HBO Max Studio. Expect opinions, views and points of view throughout the final six stages, before Matt shares his thoughts on this year’s Giro on the whole, and looks forward to the prospect of a mouthwatering Tour de France showdown between a rampant Jonas Vingegaard and perhaps the only man who can beat him; Tadej Pogacar. www.sigmasports.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Giro Rest Day Reflections 2026 Stages 10 - 15: Time Trials, High Mountains and Soggy Chips 25.05.2026 49min

It's a rest day at the Giro d’Italia, so Matt Stephens is back with another podcast reflecting on the previous week of racing, as well as all the peculiar goings-on in his life in the Breakaway studio for TNT Sports / HBO Max Studio. The past week has seen every type of race stage with an individual time trial, some rolling stages, a proper GC mountain stage, and a much-debated Milanese city circuit to finish the week. You can expect expert opinions, live finish line reactions, along with equally pertinent reviews of vitamin volcanoes and soggy chips! www.sigmasports.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Giro Rest Day Reflections 2026 Stages 4 - 9: Metatarsal Madness 18.05.2026 56min

Matt Stephens is back on Breakaway duty for another week of racing from the TNT Sports / HBO Max Studio, and for the first time ever at an external broadcast featuring a live studio audience at the Sigma Sports store in Hampton Wick. It wouldn’t be Matt Stephens without some unpredictable tangents, and this week’s spanner in the works comes in the shape of a fractured Metatarsal. Brave Matt soldiers on to tell us about Thai curries, Toblerones, the merits of automatic vehicles while sporting an injured left foot, and of course a full week of action packed Grand Tour racing! www.sigmasports.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Giro Rest Day Reflections 2026 Stages 1-3: Drama, Ducks and Smooth Sprinting 11.05.2026 41min

This year, Matt Stephens is more nomadic than ever, as he presents his Rest Day Reflections podcast mini series from the TNT Sports / HBO Max Studio, in-store at Sigma Sports, and from the Giro d’Italia itself. In this episode, Matt looks back at stages 1-3 of the 2026 Giro d’Italia as it kicked off in Bulgaria. Exciting finishes, an almost untimely end for a Stockley Park duck, and of course those two horror crashes in stages 1 and 2 all feature. With cameos from Adam Blythe and Orla Chennoui, there are plenty of laughs along the way too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Niels Vandeputte on winning the Belgian Gravel Champsionships and Chasing a Cross Jersey 17.04.2026 1h 1min

Belgian cyclocross star Niels Vandeputte joins Matt Stephens to unpack a huge season of 40 races, breakthrough podiums, and the challenge of going head-to-head with legends like Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. The Alpecin-Premier Tech Development Team rider shares insights into the demands of elite cyclocross racing, how training camps and setbacks shaped his form, and why consistency might be his greatest strength. They also dive into his Belgian gravel championship win, ambitions on the road, and the long-term goal of earning another coveted championship jersey - this time in cyclocross! www.sigmasports.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Carlton Kirby on French Biscuit Factories and Emotional Crescendos 03.04.2026 1h 11min

Carlton Kirby chats to Matt Stephens about their first encounter in the Eurosport commentary booth together over 10 years ago. His love of cycling might have been born in a French biscuit factory, but it was in the years after that summer job that saw him DJ in Tuvalu, become a breakfast broadcaster, and have an unfortunate encounter with the world’s biggest dog. If you think Matt is tangential, just wait till you hear some of Carlton’s stories! Warm, funny, and full of behind-the-scenes detail, this episode offers a unique look at the voices behind the racing and the stories that keep fans coming back for more. www.sigmasports.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anders Mielke on Breaking Into Cycling Media and Chasing Cobbles with Mads Pedersen 20.03.2026 1h 10min

Sports broadcaster and journalist Anders Mielke joins Matt Stephens to share his journey from junior cyclist in Denmark to one of the most exciting young voices in cycling media. Anders reflects on the moment he realised a pro career wasn’t for him, how he built a podcast from scratch, and the path that led him to the commentary booth. He also lifts the lid on creating Chasing Cobbles, his behind-the-scenes documentary with Mads Pedersen, offering a unique insight into trust, storytelling and life inside the pro peloton. And in the hometown quiz, we witness a standout performance with a uniquely Danish twist. www.sigmasports.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Imogen Cotter on Resilience, Reinvention, and Life Beyond the Peloton 06.03.2026 1h 6min

Former Irish road race national champion Imogen Cotter joins Matt Stephens to discuss a cycling journey defined by grit, ambition and resilience. From funding her racing career while working as a postwoman in Belgium to winning the Irish National Championships in 2021 and signing her first professional contract, Cotter’s rise was hard-earned and rapid. But just weeks into life as a pro, a serious collision while training in Girona changed everything. In this episode, Imogen speaks candidly about recovery, early retirement, rediscovering her love for cycling, and pursuing a new path in sports journalism. A thoughtful and inspiring conversation released ahead of International Women’s Day. Read the accompanying article on the Sigma Sports Hub: https://www.sigmasports.com/hub/news/imogen-cotter-resilience-and-reinvention www.sigmasports.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stefan Küng on Chasing Monuments, Precision, and a New Chapter at Tudor Pro Cycling 20.02.2026 1h 2min

Swiss powerhouse Stefan Küng joins Matt Stephens from Tudor Pro Cycling’s training camp in Spain to reflect on a career built on consistency, curiosity, and quiet ambition. Küng opens up about leaving Groupama-FDJ for a new challenge, the vision behind Tudor’s project, and why the Classics success still drive him. The conversation dives into racing with instinct in an era of marginal gains, evolving nutrition and technology, and the balance between innovation and safety in modern cycling. Stefan also shares formative stories from his youth, the people who shaped his self belief, and a memorable European Championship win before taking on a somewhat unfinished hometown quiz to round it all off. www.sigmasports.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matthew Riccitello on Removing his Power Meter and Riding on Feel 06.02.2026 1h 6min

Matthew Riccitello is one of the most exciting young climbers in the WorldTour. Fresh from a breakthrough fifth place at the Vuelta a España, the 23-year-old American joins Matt Stephens from altitude camp in Sierra Nevada to reflect on his journey so far and his move to Decathlon CMA CGM Team. In this episode, Matthew discusses GC ambition, training philosophies, racing without a power meter, and why consistency and confidence are his greatest strengths. Matt learns about life in his hometown Tucson and his adoptive European home of Nice. Wise beyond his years, Riccitello explains how he feels the final week of a Grand Tour is the best stage on which to shine. www.sigmasports.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alistair Brownlee on Life After Gold Medals, Gravel Racing, and his Yorkshire Roots 23.01.2026 1h 5min

Double Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee joins Matt Stephens from his home in Yorkshire for a wide-ranging conversation about life after elite triathlon. Brownlee reflects on retiring from professional sport, the pressure of delivering at a home Olympics, and why daily movement still matters as much as ever. The pair dive into Alistair’s growing love of gravel racing, sibling rivalry with brother Jonathan, and that unforgettable moment at the 2016 World Triathlon Series. There’s also time for business ventures, community impact, and a proper Yorkshire Bramhope quiz covering pubs, tunnels, chippies and baked goods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Julian Alaphilippe on Racing with Instinct, Fatherhood, and Finding Balance at Tudor 09.01.2026 1h 2min

Former world champion Julian Alaphilippe joins Matt Stephens from Tudor Pro Cycling’s training camp near Calpe to reflect on a career defined by courage, instinct and unforgettable moments. Julian opens up about leading the Tour de France, the pressure of wearing the rainbow jersey, and why that period was both a peak and a personal challenge. He discusses becoming a father, finding balance beyond results, and why joining Tudor has reignited his motivation. The conversation also explores modern cycling’s obsession with numbers versus feel, the responsibility of leadership, and the emotions behind his standout victory in Québec… before a lively Saint-Amand-Montrond hometown quiz rounds things off. www.sigmasports.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andrew Strohmeyer on Chasing the European Cyclocross Dream 19.12.2025 1h 4min

2025 Pan American Cyclocross Champion Andrew Strohmeyer joins Matt Stephens from his European base in the Netherlands to discuss racing World Cups, funding a full European season, and chasing a professional career. A multiple US national champion and Pan-American title holder, Andrew explains the “Mud Fund,” the impact of gravel’s boom in the US, and the technical skill gap between American and European racing. He breaks down his impressive 12th place at the Tábor World Cup, the demands of elite cyclocross training, and why the discipline keeps pushing him to improve - before contemplating the existence of exploding goats in the Mount Airy, Maryland hometown quiz. www.sigmasports.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

João Almeida on Grand Tours, Team Dynamics & That Pidcock Moment 28.11.2025 1h 11min

Portugal’s finest export since the pastel de nata, João Almeida joins Matt Stephens for a brilliantly honest conversation that dives into the life and mindset of one of the most consistent GC riders in the modern peloton. Matt also digs into what it’s like sharing a team with superstars Tadej Pogačar, Juan Ayuso and rising talent Isaac del Toro. Does riding for UAE Team Emirates limit his personal ambitions, or unlock even more potential? What did he really say in that infamous Tom Pidcock moment? João answers all of this and more with refreshing honesty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Hall on his stupid bike challenges for Movember 14.11.2025 1h 25min

Matt Stephens chats to ultra-distance bike racer, content creator and charity fundraiser Chris Hall about his recent challenges for Movember. Despite atrocious weather conditions, Chris completed a lap of Britain unsupported during the summer of 2025, learning valuable lessons along the way. With a history of severe depression, Movember is a charity close to his heart and this monumental effort is documented superbly in Chris’ film “Bikepacking the Perimeter of Britain”. Cycling has played a huge part in Chris' recovery from depression and continues to help him maintain his mental health. www.sigmasports.com Support Chris’ Movember fundraising at his MoSpace: https://uk.movember.com/mospace/6408721 Chris Hall’s ‘Bikepacking The Perimeter of Britain’ on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLGuamHY2pc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emma Pooley on competitiveness, privilege and roast potatoes 31.10.2025 1h 11min

Matt Stephens chats to Emma Pooley about her incredibly varied career, which spans from professional cycling through long distance running and triathlon, to a victory on University Challenge and some Geotech Engineering thrown in for good measure. The very definition of a multi-disciplinary champion, Emma talks candidly about her struggle to retire from pro sports and how her love for the mountains is undying. The former UCI Individual Time Trial world champion and Olympic Silver medalist shares the origin story of her competitive nature, which to Matt’s surprise, involves roast potatoes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices