QueenStage Women's Cycling Podcast

Episódios

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  Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2026 Recap: Vollering Wins, Reusser's Heartbreak, Kasia's Future 11.08.2026 59min

  The dust has settled on Col d'Èze, and the full Queen Stage crew, Rosael, Molly, Anne-Marije "Rook," and Betsy, reunites for a complete breakdown of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. From Sigrid Haugset's stunning eighty-five-kilometer solo breakaway on stage three to Demi Vollering's commanding overall victory in Nice, this year's race delivered some of the tightest, most tactical racing in the event's short history.The crew retraces all nine stages before digging into the storylines that defined the tour: Marlen Reusser's heartbreaking near-miss on the final podium spot, the swirling contract rumors around Paula Blasi and a reported move to Movistar, and whether Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney could be headed to Lidl-Trek in search of stronger GC support. They also spotlight the next generation of climbers to watch, including Antonia Niedermaier, Bella Holmgren, Nienke Vinke, and Marion Bunel.A major segment tackles the "was this tour too hard?" debate head-on with real numbers. Rosael walks through five years of start list and finish list data (2022 through 2026) to calculate the actual did-not-finish rate for each edition, correcting a common misconception fueled by inaccurate ProCyclingStats filtering, and finds this year's DNF rate wasn't the outlier some fans assumed.The second half of the episode answers listener questions sent in through the Queen Stage WhatsApp community, covering:How TV broadcast rights actually work, including the UCI's 2.5-hour minimum coverage requirement and why broadcasters like Peacock and FloBikes can only air what ASO providesThe current state of rider salaries across the WorldTour, ProTeams, and Continental tiers, and how far minimum wage has come since 2020Whether more non-endemic sponsors (Nike, Red Bull, On, Adidas) could reshape the sport's financial futureThe episode closes with an unsung heroes segment honoring Zoe Bäckstedt's grit on the final time trial, Uno-X Mobility's breakout season, and Saint Michel-Auber 93's improved finish, along with a candid conversation about the online harassment Celia Géry faced after a controversial racing incident, and why growing fandom has to come with better behavior.Massive thanks to presenting sponsors Bike Tires Direct and SRAM for making this daily coverage possible all season. Save ten percent on your post-tour upgrades at biketiresdirect.com with code queenstage.Rate, review, and share the show if you loved this year's coverage, and stay subscribed for off-season episodes. See you at the next race.
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  Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2026 Stage 9: Nice to Nice 09.08.2026 56min

  Betsy, Molly, and Rosael break down the final stage of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, a thrilling 99-kilometer mountain circuit from Nice to Nice featuring four ascents of the Col d'Eze.Stage 9 RecapThe 99-kilometer stage started explosively with early attacks from Franzi Koch and Maeva Squiban, who attacked despite a heavy crash the day prior.Lorena Wiebes secured the intermediate sprint early in the race, effectively locking up the green jersey.Zoe Backstedt put in a massive "tractor style" effort on the climb to isolate race leader Demi Vollering for her Canyon SRAM teammate Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney.Marlen Reusser crashed on a left-hand turn with 56 kilometers to go, forcing her teammates to drop back and pace her into the group.On the final, steeper ascent of Col d'Eze, Niewiadoma-Phinney launched an attack, but a comfortable-looking Vollering easily went with her.Vollering counter-attacked to reach the summit with an 18-second advantage over Niewiadoma-Phinney.Showcasing masterful descending skills, Vollering extended her lead to win the stage and become the first two-time overall winner of the race.Paula Blasi crossed the line in second place on the stage, 1 minute and 4 seconds behind, with Niewiadoma-Phinney taking third.Final General Classification: Demi Vollering secures the overall win, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney finishes second, and Elisa Longo Borghini claims third.Jersey Winners: Lorena Wiebes retains green, Puck Pieterse keeps the polka dots, and Antonia Niedermaier holds white.Deep Dive: Zoe BackstedtA profile on the 21-year-old Canyon SRAM rider from Wales who ripped the race apart on the Col d'Eze.She holds nine world championship titles across junior and under-23 categories in road, cyclocross, and track disciplines.Cycling is in her blood: her father is 2004 Paris-Roubaix winner (and Canyon SRAM sports director) Magnus Backstedt, her mother is 1998 British National Road Race Champion Megan Hughes, and her sister is World Tour pro Elynor Backstedt.Off the BikeThe hosts discuss the aftermath of the Stage 8 cornering incident between Celia Géry and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, agreeing that the drama is ultimately good for the sport as it highlights racing tactics rather than relying on gendered narratives.The hosts answer listener questions, noting the 2027 Tour is officially set for nine days, starting in Yorkshire on Friday, July 30th with a Team Time Trial on stage three.Approximately 46% of the Tour de France Femmes starting peloton (68 of 147 riders) do not have publicly confirmed contracts for the 2027 season, compared to just 25% of the men's peloton.Tips on how fans can support women's cycling, including hosting watch parties, buying team merchandise, supporting sponsors, donating to the Cyclist Alliance, and paying for sports journalism.Sponsors & InfoPresented by: Bike Tires Direct and SRAM, presenting sponsors of Queen Stage's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift coverage.Giveaway: Win the final daily Queen Stage musette (featuring an e-pump, watch the femmes cap, and a ride wallet). Head to Instagram (@queenstage.cc), find the Stage 9 highlight post, follow Bike Tires Direct, and tag two friends in the comments to enter.Save 10% at biketiresdirect.com with code queenstage.Contact: info@queenstage.cc
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  Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2026 Stage 8: Sisteron to Nice 08.08.2026 56min

  Anne-Marije, Molly, and Rosael break down stage eight of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, the longest stage in the race's history at 171.9 kilometers from Sisteron to Nice.Stage 8 Recap Maeva Squiban and Loes Adegeest formed a two-rider breakaway 140 kilometers out, building a gap of over six minutes. Adegeest took top points at the intermediate sprint before the peloton began reeling them in. Squiban suffered a painful crash on a descent, leaving her in severe distress, though she managed to finish the stage. FDJ United Suez set a fierce pace on the Côte de la Ginestière, catching Adegeest with under 8 kilometers remaining and dropping point leader Lorena Wiebes. On the final ramp toward Nice, Demi Vollering launched a stinging attack to go solo, holding off a chase by Elisa Longo Borghini and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney to win the stage. With bonus seconds and a 17-second gap, Vollering reclaims the yellow jersey by just 8 seconds over Niewiadoma-Phinney. Marlen Reusser sits third at 1:12, with Longo Borghini in fourth at 3:05. Wiebes retains green, Puck Pieterse seals polka dots, and Antonia Niedermaier holds white.Deep Dive: Loes Adegeest A profile on the 30-year-old Lidl-Trek rider from the Netherlands. A former speed skater who transitioned to cycling, she won back-to-back Esports World Championships (2022, 2023) and victories at the Cadell Evans Great Ocean Road Race and a stage of Volta Catalunya. Fun fact: Her partner is the brother of Lucinda Brand's partner, making them sisters-in-law and teammates.Off the BikePost-stage drama after Niewiadoma-Phinney expressed frustration in interviews over defensive team tactics by FDJ United Suez during Vollering's winning attack.Discussion on Vollering skipping top-of-mountain post-stage interviews after Mont Ventoux.A look at Paula Blasi's off-bike classical piano talents.Tire talk: What tire won today? Vollering took the victory on Specialized Cotton Tubeless Ready tires.Stage 9 Preview The final, action-packed stage: a 99-kilometer circuit starting and finishing in Nice. Riders face four ascents of the Col d'Eze, with the fourth and final trip featuring a modified, steeper route (6 kilometers at 7.6% average, with ramps up to 12%). Packed with over 2,100 meters of elevation gain, the stage concludes with a fast 15-kilometer descent to the Promenade des Anglais. With only 8 seconds separating yellow, expect an all-out tactical battle to the finish line.Presented by Bike Tires Direct and SRAM, presenting sponsors of Queen Stage's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift coverage.Giveaway: Daily musette giveaway. Follow Bike Tires Direct and tag two friends on today's Stage 8 highlight reel on Instagram (@queenstage.cc) to enter.Discount code: Save 10% at biketiresdirect.com with code queenstage.Join the conversation: Head to the link in our bio to join the Queen Stage WhatsApp Community.Contact: info@queenstage.cc
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  Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2026 Stage 7: La Voulte-sur-Rhône to Mont Ventoux 07.08.2026 1h

  Molly Hurford hosts with Rosael Torres-Davis and Anne-Marije Rook (back from parental leave) to break down the tour's most anticipated stage: the 147-kilometer haul from La Voulte-sur-Rhône over 3,500 meters of climbing to the summit of Mont Ventoux. Presenting sponsors: Bike Tires Direct and SRAM.Stage RecapAn aggressive start gave way to an eleven-rider breakaway near 75 kilometers to go, featuring Katrine Aalerud, Loes Adegeest, Nikola Nosková, Ruby Roseman-Gannon, and others. Puck Pieterse mopped up early Queen of the Mountains points, effectively locking up the polka dot jersey. On the Ventoux ascent itself, the break was swallowed and the race came down to three: Demi Vollering, the previous overall leader (name unclear in transcript, flagged below), and Katarzyna (Kasia) Niewiadoma-Phinney of Canyon-SRAM. While Vollering and the yellow jersey watched each other, Niewiadoma-Phinney attacked, opened a gap that grew to nearly two minutes, and soloed to her first stage win of the year. The overall leader cracked and lost 1:42; Vollering limited her deficit to 1:16.New general classification: Niewiadoma-Phinney in yellow, Vollering second at fifteen seconds, the previous leader third at thirty-nine seconds.Deep Dive: Kasia Niewiadoma-PhinneyThe 2024 tour champion had never won a stage until today. Her season had been quietly consistent rather than dominant (runner-up at Omloop het Nieuwsblad and Strade Bianche, third overall at the Tour de Suisse) with no wins before Ventoux. The hosts note she spotted her parents trackside, drawing extra motivation, and call the win a career-defining moment on the sport's most storied climb.Off the BikePauline Ferrand-Prévot fell off the pace early; the field is split on whether she'll start stage eightMultiple riders, past and present, have personal Ventoux history: Puck Pieterse posted a photo referencing a time she rode the climb at age tenJersey standings: Niewiadoma-Phinney (yellow), Pieterse (polka dot, effectively secured), Lorena Wiebes (green, commanding lead), Antonia Niedermaier (white)UAE Team ADQ leads the team classification by over half an hour with three riders inside the top tenWhat Tire Won Today's Race, presented by Bike Tires DirectNiewiadoma-Phinney rode a Schwalbe Pro One. Listeners get 10 percent off any tire purchase at Bike Tires Direct with code queenstage.Stage 8 PreviewStage eight is the longest in Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift history at 173 kilometers, run under a special allowance since women's races are typically capped at 160. Terrain is comparatively gentle (four cat-4 climbs, nothing over 5.4 percent) with a fast, descent-heavy back half that could favor breakaways as legs recover from Ventoux.Presented by Bike Tires Direct and SRAM, presenting sponsors of Queen Stage's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift coverage.Giveaway: Daily musette giveaway all nine stages. Comment "bike tires direct" and tag two friends on the stage highlight post on Instagram (@queenstage.cc) for a chance to win.Discount code: Save 10% at biketiresdirect.com with code queenstage.Join the conversation: Click here to join the Queen Stage WhatsApp Community.Contact: info@queenstage.cc
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  Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2026 Stage 6: Montbrison to Tournon-sur-Rhône 06.08.2026 56min

  Betsy, Molly, and Rosael break down stage six of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, a hilly 153.4 kilometer route from Montbrison to Tournon-sur-Rhône with six categorized climbs, including the category two Col de Lalouvesc at kilometer 105.6.Stage 6 RecapA three-woman breakaway (Loes Adegeest, Nikola Nosková, Katrine Aalerud) built a gap of nearly two and a half minutes before EF Oatley, Movistar, and FDJ-Suez reeled it in. Yara Kastelijn abandoned. Paula Blasi split the front group with an early attack, and combative-award winner Celia Géry (FDJ-Suez) went clear on the descent with 31 kilometers to go before a chase group closed her down. Kim Le Court Pienaar bridged back with 14 kilometers left and won a chaotic photo finish over Cédrine Kerbaol and Puck Pieterse for the Tour's first group sprint. Marlen Reusser keeps yellow; Demi Vollering is second at 12 seconds, Kasia Niewiadoma third at 1:17, followed by Elisa Longo Borghini (up two spots), Antonia Niedermaier, Dominika Włodarczyk, and Isabella Holmgren. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and teammate Femke de Vries remain 5:00 back. Pieterse leads polka dot over Nosková and Sigrid Haugset; Wiebes leads points with 144; Niedermaier leads white over Holmgren (25 seconds back) and Blasi (1:11 back).Deep Dive: Celia GéryA profile on the 20-year-old French national road champion racing for FDJ-Suez. A decorated cyclocross racer, she won the first-ever standalone U23 women's road race world championship in Rwanda in 2025, took her first pro win at Brabantse Pijl this spring, and outsprinted Lucinda Brand to win stage seven of the Giro d'Italia Donne. She keeps a low social media presence, mostly reposting FDJ-Suez content.Off the BikeContinued fallout at UAE Team ADQ, including Dominika Włodarczyk's pushback on media coverage of internal tension, and whether that dynamic is affecting Paula Blasi's form.Visma-Lease a Bike's uneven tour: no stage win yet for Marianne Vos and a five minute GC deficit for Ferrand-Prévot.A listener question on muscle cramping and the current thinking that briny remedies like pickle juice work on neural signaling rather than electrolytes.Stage 7 PreviewThe queen stage: 146.8 kilometers from La Voulte-sur-Rhône to a summit finish on Mont Ventoux, with 3,565 meters of elevation gain. Three categorized climbs precede the mountain: Col de la Grande Limite (category two, kilometer 14), Col du Colombier (category three, kilometer 41), and Col de Suzette (category two, kilometer 105). From Bédoin, riders face the 15.7 kilometer hors categorie climb of Mont Ventoux at an average 8.8 percent to the 1,910 meter summit. No spectators will be permitted at the summit due to wildfire restrictions. Race starts 6:50 a.m. Eastern; winner expected around 11:17 a.m. Eastern.Presented by Bike Tires Direct and SRAM, presenting sponsors of Queen Stage's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift coverage.Giveaway: Daily musette giveaway all nine stages. Comment "bike tires direct" and tag two friends on the stage highlight post on Instagram (@queenstage.cc) for a chance to win.Discount code: Save 10% at biketiresdirect.com with code queenstage.Join the conversation: Click here to join the Queen Stage WhatsApp Community.Contact: info@queenstage.cc
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  Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2026 Stage 5: Mâcon to Belleville-en-Beaujolais 05.08.2026 46min

  Betsy, Rook, and Rosael break down stage five of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, a punchy 140 km classics-style route from Mâcon to Belleville-en-Beaujolais featuring 2,900 meters of elevation gain and eight categorized climbs.Stage 5 RecapDemi Vollering takes a thrilling victory on Stage 5 after launching a decisive attack on the Mont Brouilly climb and out-sprinting Yellow Jersey holder Marlen Reusser and Kasia Niewiadoma in the final meters. Reusser rode a masterclass in tactical pacing—opting for an ultra-light bare frame over a custom yellow bike—taking second on the stage to successfully defend her GC lead. Niewiadoma rounded out the podium in third after jumping early in the final 500 meters. Dominika Włodarczyk (UAE Team ADQ) and young star Isabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek) completed the top five. Meanwhile, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot suffered another major setback, cracking hard on Mont Brouilly and losing over three minutes to drop to 17th overall (+5:00). In the jersey competitions, Puck Pieterse extended her lead in the polka dot jersey, while Lorena Wiebes scooped up intermediate sprint points early in the day.Deep Dive: Dominika WłodarczykA profile on the 25-year-old Polish talent for UAE Team ADQ. A multi-time Polish cyclocross champion and current dual national road/TT champion (notably besting Kasia Niewiadoma), Włodarczyk earned her WorldTour contract following a breakout four-win season in 2023. Beyond proving herself as a top Grand Tour contender, she balances professional cycling with studying civil engineering, reading, and baking.Off the BikeThe drama at UAE Team ADQ: the viral "#FreePaulaBlasi" techno song, rumored €1M contracts, and reported disorganization between Paula Blasi's GC potential and team leadership under Elisa Longo Borghini.Visma | Lease a Bike's underwhelming tour performance so far and the growing media mystery surrounding Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's form.Cumulative thermal strain in the peloton as consecutive 90°F+ days take their toll on the riders.SegmentsWhat Tire Won Today's Race, presented by Bike Tires Direct: Specialized S-Works Turbo Cotton tubeless-ready tire (likely in 28mm or 30mm to handle rough road surfaces)—securing Specialized’s third stage win of the Tour.Stage 6 PreviewThe peloton heads into high-altitude mountain terrain. The hosts preview the upcoming high-mountain stage and analyze whether Reusser can defend yellow against Vollering and Niewiadoma as the race approaches Mont Ventoux.Presented by Bike Tires Direct and SRAM, presenting sponsors of Queen Stage's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift coverage.Giveaway: Daily musette giveaway all nine stages. Comment "bike tires direct" and tag two friends on the stage highlight post on Instagram (@queenstage.cc) for a chance to win.Discount code: Save 10% at biketiresdirect.com with code queenstage.Join the conversation: Click here to join the Queen Stage WhatsApp Community.Contact: info@queenstage.cc
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  Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2026 Stage 4: Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon 04.08.2026 45min

  Betsy, Rook, and Rosael open the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift with daily coverage from stage four, a 21 km individual time trial from the wine village of Gevrey-Chambertin to the heart of Dijon.Stage 4 Recap Marlen Reusser takes the stage win and the yellow jersey after a blistering individual time trial. Lieke Nooijen (Visma Lease a Bike) and Demi Vollering round out the top three, with Zoe Bäckstedt and Mischa Bredewold completing the top five. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot struggled in the time trial setup, losing over two minutes to Reusser and dropping to 14th overall in the GC. Puck Pieterse retained the polka dot jersey, Lorena Wiebes kept the green jersey, and Paula Blasi held onto the white young rider's jersey. The hosts break down how a crucial, twisting descent into Dijon decided the stage and analyze the major GC shakeup.Deep Dive: Lieke Nooijen A profile on the 25-year-old Dutch rider from Team Visma Lease a Bike. Raised on a dairy farm in Helmond, Nooijen started riding 20km loops with her grandma at age three and is currently putting out massive power numbers after recovering from a broken vertebra earlier in the year.Off the BikeThe extreme heat in the peloton, featuring insights from pro rider Heidi Franz on core temp pills, constant dunking in ice coolers, and riders hitting 40 degrees Celsius.The impact of global climate change on cycling and the need for a modern UCI extreme weather policy.Frustrations with mainstream media sensationalizing UCI equipment and body checks ("Bra-gate") instead of focusing on the actual racing.SegmentsWhat Tire Won Today's Race, presented by Bike Tires Direct: A Continental Grand Prix 5000 TT tubeless-ready tire in the front and a standard GP 5000 in the rear—an aerodynamic road "mullet" setup.Listener questions from the Queen Stage WhatsApp Community: The physical difficulty and handling dynamics of climbing and descending on a time trial bike, and how teams are balancing heat training versus altitude training.Stage 5 Preview A brutal 140 km stage from Mâcon to Belleville-en-Beaujolais. With 2,850 meters (9,350 feet) of climbing and a relentless "saw blade" profile featuring gradients over 9%, this punchy, attritional stage is primed for aggressive attacks from GC contenders looking to claw back time.Presented by Bike Tires Direct and SRAM, presenting sponsors of Queen Stage's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift coverage.Giveaway Daily musette giveaway all nine stages. Comment "bike tires direct" and tag two friends on the stage highlight post on Instagram (@queenstage.cc) for a chance to win.Discount code Save 10% at biketiresdirect.com with code queenstage.Join the conversation Click here to Queen Stage WhatsApp Community.Contact info@queenstage.cc | @queenstage.cc
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  Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2026 Stage 3: Genève to Poligny 03.08.2026 54min

  Rosael, Betsy, and Molly break down stage three of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, a hot and hilly 157-kilometer route taking the peloton out of Geneva, Switzerland, and into Poligny, France.Stage 3 Recap Sigrid Haugset (Uno-X Mobility) pulls off a massive upset, winning the stage and taking the yellow jersey after a historic 88-kilometer solo ride—the longest in the history of the Tour de France Femmes. The hosts discuss the untelevised early action over the Col de la Faucille, Lotte Kopecky's lengthy chase, and the GC stalemate behind them. The stage podium is rounded out by Kopecky in second and Marianne Vos in third, with Usoa Ostolaza Zabala and Kim Le Court Pienaar completing the top five. Puck Pieterse takes the polka dot jersey, Lorena Wiebes holds green, and Paula Blasi stays in white. We also review untelevised crashes involving Demi Vollering, Puck Pieterse, and Noemi Rüegg, Urska Zigart's return from a jaw injury, as well as illness striking the Lotto team.Deep Dive: Sigrid Haugset A profile on the 27-year-old Norwegian rider who just secured her biggest career win. We cover her background as a runner, her transition to the WorldTour this year with Uno-X Mobility, and her incredible toughness—including finishing 50km of Paris-Roubaix with a fractured hip.Off the BikeTV broadcasting frustrations: Only the last two hours were shown, leading to a confusing viewing experience.A heated discussion on reports from WielerFlits that the UCI might start checking female riders for padded sports bras ("boobs are aero") during time trials.SegmentsWhat Tire Won Today's Race, presented by Bike Tires Direct: Sigrid Haugset’s Continental Grand Prix 5000.Listener questions from the Queen Stage WhatsApp Community: Why the UCI quietly changed the white jersey classification from U23 to U24 (making Paula Blasi eligible), and what fans can do to demand full start-to-finish race coverage.Stage 4 Preview Tomorrow is a 21-kilometer individual time trial from Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon. With a punchy 1.8km climb featuring three hairpins, it's not a pure flat ITT. Predictions include Kristen Faulkner (Betsy's hot take), Marlen Reusser (Molly's pick), and dark horse Anna van der Breggen.Presented by Bike Tires Direct and SRAM, presenting sponsors of Queen Stage's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift coverage.Giveaway Daily Queen Stage musette giveaway (featuring Bike Tires Direct bottles, a Zwift musette, a cycling cap, stickers, a rain wallet, and an electric mini pump). Comment "bike tires direct" and tag two friends on the stage three highlight post on Instagram for a chance to win. Congrats to stage two winner @KatiePatton1216!Discount code Save 10% at biketiresdirect.com with code queenstage.Join the conversation Click here to join the Queen Stage WhatsApp CommunityContact info@queenstage.cc | @queenstage.cc
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  Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2026 Stage 2: Aigle to Geneva 02.08.2026 53min

  Molly Hurford, Anna-Marije Rook, and Rosael Torres-Davis break down stage two, a sprint finish similar to stage one, despite 1,800 meters of climbing. An early breakaway of Eline Jansen (VolkerWessels), Yuliia Biriukova (Laboral Kutxa), Carlotta Cipressi (Human Powered Health), Emma Comte (Cofidis), and Anouska Koster (Uno-X Mobility) built a gap of over two minutes before being caught around 40 kilometers to go.Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) then launched a long solo attack, holding roughly a minute’s gap and forcing SD Worx to burn matches at the front, including GC contender Anne van der Breggen. Markus was caught with under four hundred meters remaining, and Lorena Wiebes sprinted clear for the win. Elisa Balsamo took second for Lidl-Trek, and Marianne Vos rounded out the podium in third.GC top three is unchanged: Wiebes in yellow, Kim Le Court second, Demi Vollering third. Wiebes also leads the green jersey with 111 points to Balsamo’s 30.Rider deep dive: Lorena WiebesBorn March 17 (a St. Patrick’s Day baby), Wiebes is 27 and has 133 career wins, seven of them at the Tour. Estimated sprint output is around 1,250 watts. Beyond the road, she’s a track world champion and a gravel world champion. Before cycling she competed in acrobatic gymnastics, which she credits for her balance and explosiveness, and she cross-trains with kickboxing.Tire of the day, presented by Bike Tires DirectThe Specialized Turbo Cotton tubeless-ready road tire in a 30mm width, chosen for grip and comfort on days like this one.Looking ahead: Stage Three, Geneva to PolignyA hilly, front-loaded stage of roughly 156 to 157 kilometers through the Jura Mountains, featuring the Col de la Faucille (category one, 11 kilometers at 6.3 percent), the Cote de Lajoux (category three), the Col de la Savine (category two), and the Cote de Chaux Champagny (category four), before a flat final 15 to 20 kilometers into Poligny. Riders to watch include Celia Géry (FDJ-Suez), Liane Lippert (Movistar), and Zoe Backstedt (Canyon//SRAM).Sponsors and communityPresented by Bike Tires Direct and SRAM. Use code queenstage for 10 percent off at biketiresdirect.com. Enter the daily musette giveaway by commenting “bike tires direct” and tagging two friends on today’s stage highlight post at @queenstage.cc on Instagram. Join the WhatsApp community for daily discussion, and send questions to info@queenstage.cc.
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  Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2026 Stage 1: Lausanne Delivers a Wild Finish 01.08.2026 58min

  Anne‑Marije, Rosael, and Betsy open the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift with daily coverage from stage one, a 138 km circuit starting and ending in Lausanne, Switzerland.Stage 1 RecapLorena Wiebes (SD Worx‑Protime) takes the win and first yellow jersey after a chaotic uphill finish. Kim Le Court Pienaar and Demi Vollering round out the top three, with Puck Pieterse and Noemi Rüegg completing the top five. A four‑woman breakaway (Maud Reinbeck, Idoia Erausquin, Nikola Nosková, Océane Mahé) stayed away for over 100km, with Mahé taking the polka dot jersey for Ma Petite Entreprise. Paula Blasi leads the young rider classification. The hosts break down the late attacks from Vollering and Amanda Spratt, the crashes that shook up the GC (including a rough day for Marlen Reusser), and why Wiebes's stealth positioning sealed the win.Deep Dive: Océane MahéA profile on the 24-year-old French climber and time trialist, a former competitive tennis player turned engineering student, now riding for Ma Petite Entreprise and wearing polka dots after stage one.Off the BikeFDJ‑SUEZ's new Red Bull partnership and the arrival of Kate CourtneyFactor's SpongeBob SquarePants bike collab with Ma Petite Entreprise and Human Powered HealthWildfires across Europe put the Ventoux stage in questionTeam budget breakdown: WorldTour teams average 5.7M euros a year versus 1.9M for Pro teamsSegmentsWhat Tire Won Today's Race, presented by Bike Tires Direct: Wiebes's Specialized cotton tubeless tireListener questions from the Queen Stage WhatsApp Community: team roles and domestiques, budget gaps between top and lower-tier teams, and the "gentlemen's agreement" behind the breakaway's sprint pointsStage 2 PreviewA likely sprinter's stage into Geneva, with early climbs and a flat finish. Prediction: Wiebes defends yellow, but Charlotte Kool, Elisa Balsamo, and Noemi Rüegg could make it a real sprint showdown.Presented byBike Tires Direct and SRAM, presenting sponsors of Queen Stage's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift coverage.GiveawayDaily musette giveaway all nine stages. Comment "bike tires direct" and tag two friends on the stage highlight post on Instagram (@queenstage.cc) for a chance to win.Discount codeSave 10% at biketiresdirect.com with code QUEENSTAGE.Join the conversationClick here to Queen Stage WhatsApp CommunityContactinfo@queenstage.cc | @queenstage.cc
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  Bonus Episode: Heidi Franz on Finally Reaching Her Tour Debut 31.07.2026 31min

  Nine years after entering the pro peloton, Heidi Franz is lining up for her first Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Rook sits down with the St Michel–Preference Home–Auber 93 rider ahead of the start in Vannes to talk about the road that got her here, a path that ran through team collapses, missed contracts and one very last minute decision to fly to Girona anyway.Heidi walks through the wreckage of the B'n'B Hotels Paris Cycling collapse, the December 2022 call that came six hours before her flight, and how she chose to go to Europe regardless and figure it out on the ground. From there, a run through Zaaf, DN'A, Life Plus Wahoo and Cynisca before a contract with St Michel finally came together in December, made possible in part by Scratch Labs joining as a nutrition and sports science partner.She talks about what a Tour start means for a team that finished last in the classifications the year before, the French squad's new emphasis on data and hydration science under Dr Alan Lim, and the North American contingent's push to learn French (Duolingo streak included). She previews the stages that suit her best, shares which teammates to watch (Allison Jackson, Emily Morier and Alicia Gonzalez all get a mention), and admits she is still a little starstruck riding alongside Marianne Vos, even while being coached by Lizzie Deignan and Phil.In this episode:The B'n'B Hotels collapse and the decision to move to Girona anywayFive team changes in five years, and what kept her goingHow St Michel's contract came together, and Scratch Labs' role in making it happenTraining camp in Boulder and the team's new sports science approachStage previews, from the QOM-friendly opening days to Mont Ventoux and the Nice finishTeammates to watch: Allison Jackson, Emily Morier, Alicia GonzalezWhat it felt like watching last year's race from the roadside instead of racing itSupport the ShowThe best way to support Queen Stage is to subscribe and leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Have a question, a hot take, or just want to say hello? Email us at info@queenstage.cc or find us on Instagram at @queenstage.cc.Join our new Queen Stage WhatsApp community for behind-the-scenes conversation during every stage of the Tour, and catch our TdFFaZ preview episode if you missed it last week.
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  Lizzie Deignan & Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio on the Rivalries Behind the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 30.07.2026 57min

  For the grand finale of our Rapha and Zwift series, we're joined by two legends of the peloton: Lizzie Deignan and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio. As the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift kicks off this Saturday, we look back at the rivalries, both personal and historical, that shaped women's cycling into what it is today.Moolman-Pasio, a chemical engineer turned climber, reflects on more than a decade at the top of the sport, from her early rivalry with Marianne Vos to becoming the first UCI e-sports world champion and the first African rider to win a UCI women's world tour stage race. She also shares an update on her work advising Team Amani, the first women's UCI continental team based in Africa.Deignan, one of the most versatile classics riders of her generation, traces her path from the track to a Tour of Flanders win, a world title in Richmond, and a career-defining victory at the inaugural Paris-Roubaix Femmes as a new mother. She opens up about what really fueled her that day, and it wasn't just the competition.Together, they talk through: The early years, when nearly every rider in the peloton was chasing Marianne Vos How the fight for equal pay and racing conditions bonded a generation of women riders La Course's evolution from a one-day Champs-Élysées curiosity to the modern Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift The virtual Tour de France on Zwift during the pandemic, and the moment both riders realized women's cycling had turned a corner Sprinters whose rivalries never got the coverage they deserved, and the stories we're still not telling Their picks for who to watch at this year's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, from Demi Vollering and Paula Blasi to Marlen ReusserSponsors and PartnersRapha and Zwift This episode is part of a four-episode Queen Stage series presented by Rapha and Zwift, built around the theme of fierce friendships and rivalries in women's cycling. The series builds toward the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, August 1–9, and the Rapha Women's 100, September 5–6. Join the Zwift community ride on Wednesday, June 24, at one of six available time slots.Ruckus Composites The home of Queen Stage. Experts in carbon fiber repair, inspection, and engineering.Support the ShowThe best way to support Queen Stage is to subscribe and leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Have a question, a hot take, or just want to say hello? Email us at info@queenstage.cc or find us on Instagram at @queenstage.cc.Join our new Queen Stage WhatsApp community for behind-the-scenes conversation during every stage of the Tour, and catch our TdFFaZ preview episode if you missed it last week.
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  Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2026: Full Stage-by-Stage Preview and Predictions 27.07.2026 1h 6min

  Queen Stage is back with a complete preview of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, the biggest race on the women's cycling calendar. Rosael is joined by co-hosts Molly Hurford and Anne-Marije Rook to break down all nine stages, the top GC contenders, and bold predictions ahead of the August 1 to 9 race.This year's edition is the longest in the race's five-year history, with a return of the individual time trial after a two-year absence and a queen stage finish atop Mont Ventoux. Whether you're a longtime fan or watching your first Tour, this episode has everything you need going into race week.What's in this episodeStage-by-stage breakdown, from the Lausanne opener through the Nice finale The return of the time trial: what it means for GC contenders Why Mont Ventoux on stage 7 is the make-or-break day of the race GC favorites: Kasia Niewiadoma, Demi Vollering, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Anna van der Breggen, Marlen Reusser, and Paula Blasi Riders to watch: Mavi García, Marianne Vos, and breakout talent like Célia Gery and Maëva Squiban A Tour de France Femmes 101 explainer for new fans: GC, points, polka dot, and white jerseys, time bonuses, and how to follow the raceStage-by-stage guideAugust 1: Lausanne to Lausanne, 137km. A flat stage on paper with nearly 1,800 meters of climbing and a punchy finish.August 2: Aigle to Geneva, 149km. Early climbs set up a likely breakaway and sprint finish battle for green jersey points.August 3: Geneva to Poligny, roughly 155km. The Col de la Faucille offers the first real test for climbers.August 4: Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon, 21km individual time trial. The race's first return to a time trial format in two years.August 5: Mâcon to Belleville-en-Beaujolais, 140km. Nearly 3,000 meters of climbing across six categorized climbs, including a brutal 16 percent ramp on the Col de Gerbaix.August 6: Montbrison to Tournon-sur-Rhône, 153km. A relentless medium mountain stage through the Loire and Ardèche with five categorized climbs.August 7: The queen stage. 147km finishing atop Mont Ventoux with 3,500 meters of elevation gain. The defining GC day of the race. August 8: Sisteron to Nice, 172km, the longest stage of the race. Mostly flat, likely a recovery day for GC riders and a chance for breakaway specialists.August 9: Finale around Nice, 99km with four ascents of the Col d'Èze and a flat finish. The last chance for late GC movement and a potential sprint from a select group.How to watch the TdFFaZ 2026US: Peacock, NBC Sports Network and YouTube for highlights Canada: FloBikes UK and Europe: HBO Max via TNT Sports Eurosport Australia: SBS Network (free) Everywhere: Follow race highlights and social coverage on Zwift and Le Tour channelsJoin the Queen Stage communityQueen Stage is running daily coverage of all nine stages, plus a musette giveaway every day of the race. Join the conversation in the Queen Stage WhatsApp Community for live race chat, Q&A with the hosts, and giveaway details. Link in the show notes and on Instagram @queenstage.cc.Our SponsorsBike Tires Direct: Presenting sponsor of Queen Stage's Tour de France Femmes coverage. Use code queenstage for 10 percent off your order at Bike Tires Direct. SRAM: Presenting sponsor of Queen Stage's race coverage, supporting daily analysis throughout the Tour.
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  [RE-RELEASE] 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Recap: Hot Takes & Payout Debates 20.07.2026 56min

  🚨 SPECIAL VAULT RE-RELEASE 🚨With the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift right around the corner, we are taking a trip back in time! We are re-releasing our complete post-race recap of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift to help you get prepped, hyped, and caught up on all the storylines as we prepare for this year's edition.Episode OverviewTwo days after the champagne sprayed at the 2025 finale, Betsy Welch, Anne-Marije Rook, Rosael, and Molly Hurford sat down—squarely in the middle of a massive post-race hangover—to process nine thrilling days of racing.From podium semantics and prize money outrage to breaking tradition and celebrating veteran riders, the crew unpacks everything that left an impact from the fourth edition of the TdFFaZ.What We Cover in This Throwback Episode:Podium Celebrations vs. Playing It Safe: Is a second or third-place finish something to pop champagne over for established superstars like Demi Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma? We discuss whether riders played it too safe to secure GC podium spots rather than risking it all for yellow.The Prize Money Rant: Mainstream media finally picked up on the fact that the women's winner took home roughly 10% of the men's GC payout. We debate wage parity, dollar-per-hour metrics, cyclocross comparison models, and team budget caps.The Year of the Veteran Rider: Peak athletic performance isn't just for Gen Z. We highlight the incredible performances from veteran riders like Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (33), Marianne Vos (38), and Mavi Garcia (41), while examining the junior pipeline and physiological longevity in women’s sports.Flipping the Script on Tradition: Why should a four-year-old women's race follow men's cycling rules from 1903? We talk about DS drama, peloton etiquette, and normalized conversations around periods in commentary.Standout Rides & Unsung Heroes: Mavi Garcia’s emotional stage win, Sarah Gigante’s vulnerability, AG Insurance Soudal’s masterclass in team tactics, and Kim Le Court.The Calendar & Sponsorship Future: Is following the men's Tour immediately causing fan fatigue? Plus, the crew discusses Zwift’s title sponsorship, ROI, and where the race goes next.Show SponsorA huge thank you to Ruckus Composites for supporting this episode! Built on a mission to push the boundaries of carbon fiber performance, Ruckus Composites and Aerospace are leaders in engineering, research, repair, and inspection.Get Ready for 2026 Coverage!We are gearing up for daily coverage of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift from August 1st to August 9th!📱 Follow us on Instagram: @queenstage.cc📧 Send us your thoughts & questions: info@queenstage.cc🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen to podcasts!
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  Bonus Episode: Geerike Schreurs Interview 09.07.2026 19min

  Rosael Torres-Davis and Molly Hurford bring listeners a bonus conversation with Geerike “Gee” Schreurs, the Specialized Off-Road gravel racer who finished second at Unbound Gravel 2026, one second behind teammate Sofia Gomez Villafañe in the closest finish in the race’s twenty-year history.Molly met Schreurs the week after Unbound through a chance disc golf outing near her home outside Toronto, and the two dig into Schreurs’ path from soigneuse to podium contender, the tactical chaos of a five-up sprint in the mud, and what it means to race for a team stacked with privateers rather than a traditional road-style hierarchy.Highlights include:Schreurs on her mixed feelings after taking second at Unbound despite a nearly flawless ride, and why she second-guessed attacking solo late in the race.The story of how four-time Giro d’Italia Women champion Anna van der Breggen, for whom Schreurs worked as a soigneuse, encouraged her to try gravel racing after Specialized asked for recommendations.Reflections on watching van der Breggen return to racing this spring, including her commanding stage four time trial win at the Giro d’Italia Women. Van der Breggen held the pink jersey into the final stage before Demi Vollering overtook her on the road to win the overall title, with Antonia Niedermaier second and van der Breggen third.What it is like transitioning from staff to rider, and why Schreurs still catches herself doing the soigneur’s job out of habit.Her Unbound equipment setup, including her decision to stick with her existing drivetrain over switching to a wider-range cassette, and how a chain catcher and her SRAM blip shifters helped her manage the mud.Her Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift pick (Demi Vollering, with an eye on Antonia Niedermaier as a dark horse) and a look ahead to the rest of her season, including Gravel Worlds in Nebraska and the road to the World Championships in Australia.Follow Geerike Schreurs on Instagram at @gee_schreurs.Queen Stage is produced by Ruckus Composites.
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  UNBOUND Live + The Liv Devote Advanced SL: Extended Edition 08.07.2026 1h 5min

  This extended edition of our live UNBOUND Gravel recording includes an exclusive first look at the new Liv Devote Advanced SL, straight from Emporia, Kansas. Near the end of the recording, Ludi Scholz, Liv's global gravel category manager, walks us through what went into building a pure race machine from the ground up: new carbon construction, a full aero system, and 297 grams shed from the previous platform. For the first time ever, Queen Stage recorded live, and we did it in the only place that made sense: Emporia, Kansas, home of UNBOUND Gravel, presented by Liv Cycling.We brought together four women who represent every corner of the sport: Ludi Scholz, Liv's global gravel category manager, who has spent over a decade making the case that women deserve more than a shrunken, pinked-down version of a bike. Peta Mullens, Australian multi-discipline cyclist and Lifetime Grand Prix competitor, who made the jump from American crit racing to gravel and hasn't looked back. Melisa Rollins, chemist-turned-professional cyclist, Leadville Trail 100 champion, and one of the most compelling athletes in the gravel field today. And Paige Stuart, Liv's mechanic for the Lifetime Grand Prix series, who went from tinkering on vintage bikes in Moab to wrenching at UCI Mountain Bike World Cups.Together, they cover a lot of ground. Ludi on why Liv is a brand, not a line, and what twelve years of commitment to women's cycling actually looks like in practice. Peta on the professionalization of women's gravel, the amateur field gap, and why the atmosphere in Emporia is as much a draw as the race itself. Melisa on her road back from a broken elbow, the hundred-year-old sourdough starter that kept her sane, and what she thinks about Kate Courtney's Leadville record. Paige on holding the door open for other women in the sport, the little girl at a World Cup who stopped and stared, and what it takes to get your own hands on a wrench.This episode also gets into the bigger picture: how women's gravel went from mass starts with thousands of men to a legitimate, separate, competitive field in just a few years. Who made that happen. What still needs to change. And why storytelling, community, and yes, a hot pink gravel bike, might be exactly how we get there.Recorded live in front of an audience in Emporia, Kansas, the week of Unbound Gravel 2026. Presented by Liv Cycling.Guests: Ludi Scholz, Global Gravel Category Manager, Liv Cycling Peta Mullens, Liv Racing Collective Melisa Rollins, Liv Racing Collective Paige Stuart, Liv Cycling MechanicHosts: Betsy Welch, Anne-Marije Rook, Rosael Torres-Davis, Molly HurfordFind us at queenstage.cc and on Instagram @queenstage.cc.
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  Sofia Gomez Villafañe: UNBOUND, SBT GRVL, and Everything You Need to Know About Chain Wax 01.07.2026 1h 6min

  She won UNBOUND Gravel in the mud. Then she went to Steamboat Springs and won SBT GRVL on dry champagne gravel. Sofia Gomez Villafañe is having one of the most dominant seasons in women's gravel racing history, and she sat down with Queen Stage to talk all of it.In 2026 alone, Sofia has won Santa Vall, Castellón Gravel Race, Valley of Tears, Mid South Gravel, Sea Otter Classic, The Traka 200, Unbound Gravel, and SBT GRVL. In this conversation, Rosael, Betsy, and Molly get into the racing, the person behind the results, and the science and best practices behind chain wax.What we cover:Racing and strategy at Unbound Gravel 2026 and SBT GRVL, including how Sofia prepared for extreme mud, how she managed equipment through 207 miles of limestone paste, and what she was thinking in the final sprint on Commercial Street.The double standard applied to competitive women in sport, and why the same traits that get male athletes celebrated get women labeled difficult or worse. Sofia addresses the "villain" narrative head-on.The professionalization of gravel racing: feed zones, athlete support, race calendars, and the tensions that come with a grassroots discipline growing up fast.Sofia's big-picture goals for 2026, including stepping away from the Life Time Grand Prix overall to target the UCI Gravel World Championships in October.The Cooldown podcast, post-race debriefs, working with coach Carmen Small, and what actually motivates her to keep winning.SILCA Chain Wax Segment:Why hot-melt immersion wax outperformed wet lube at Unbound, even in the mud. Sofia explains the endurance chip and speed chip system she and her mechanic Brad use to customize their wax blend for ultra-long events. We also cover how to know when to re-wax, how to top off between immersions, common beginner mistakes (including routing the chain wrong through the rear derailleur), and why starting with a brand-new chain and SILCA's Strip Chip makes the whole process dramatically easier. Rosael shares her own first hot-melt wax experience at home, and Betsy commits to making the switch on air.SILCA products mentioned: Secret Chain Blend Hot Melt Wax, Strip Chip, Speed Chip, Endurance Chip, drip top-off wax, pre-waxed chains, and the SILCA wax pot. Learn more at silca.cc.Subscribe, follow, and send us your TdFFaZ questions and hot takes at info@queenstage.cc. Daily coverage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift drops August 1 through 9. Preview episode out end of July.Follow Queen Stage: @queenstage.cc | queenstage.cc
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  The Toughest Rival: Yourself, with Olympic Champion Grace Brown 25.06.2026 49min

  What's the toughest opponent a time trialist will ever face? The clock is just a scoreboard. The real rival is the voice in your head. This episode, Queen Stage talks with Grace Brown, the reigning Olympic champion and 2024 world champion in the individual time trial, about the mental architecture of elite cycling, the line between ambition and perfectionism, and what happens to your sense of self when you walk away from competition at the absolute peak.Grace won everything in 2024—the Olympic gold, the world title, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, her fourth national time trial championship—and then retired. In this conversation, she walks us through the Glasgow Worlds race where doubt cost her five seconds, the Zurich Worlds mantra that flipped a 25-second deficit in the final 12 kilometers, the wet Paris Olympics, and why she said no to one more year despite being on top.We also talk about her work as president of The Cyclists' Alliance, the structural gaps in women's cycling development, and how being good at pushing yourself to the limit translates—and doesn't translate—to life after racing.This episode is Part Three of Queen Stage's four-episode branded content series with Rapha and Zwift, themed around fierce friendships and rivalries in women's cycling. https://www.zwift.com/events/tag/queenstagepodIn This Episode:Time Trial as Self-Confrontation How internal dialogue separates winners from the restThe Zurich Worlds ComebackGrace's mantra on repeat: "You're strong, you can be world champion." She flips a 25-second gap to win the rainbow jersey weeks after Olympic goldOlympic Gold in the Rain How staying relaxed while others panicked at Paris became the competitive edge Working with a sports psychologist to build strategies for pressure Racing only against the course and herself, not against external chaosAmbition vs. Perfectionism Winning means delivering your best self under the circumstances given, not executing a flawless planRetiring at the Top Why stepping away after her best year made sense; the pull of home outweighed one more season at the topThe Cyclists' Alliance Grace's role as president: advocacy, legal support, mentorship for emerging riders The crisis: Continental-level races disappearing, gutting the development pathway Why World Tour revenue needs to trickle down to sustain the sport structurallySelf-Talk and Self-Compassion The distinction between self-compassion and letting yourself off the hookSponsors and PartnersRapha and Zwift This episode is part of a four-episode Queen Stage series presented by Rapha and Zwift, built around the theme of fierce friendships and rivalries in women's cycling. The series builds toward the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, August 1–9, and the Rapha Women's 100, September 5–6. Join the Zwift community ride on Wednesday, June 24, at one of six available time slots.Ruckus Composites The home of Queen Stage. Experts in carbon fiber repair, inspection, and engineering.Support the ShowThe best way to support Queen Stage is to subscribe and leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Have a question, a hot take, or just want to say hello? Email us at info@queenstage.cc or find us on Instagram at @queenstage.cc.
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  Tour de Suisse Women Recap, Lael Wilcox's Race Against the Heat, and a Surprise at US Road Nationals 21.06.2026 1h 17min

  Rosael Torres-Davis and Molly Hurford are joined by guest host Shawn Small of Ruckus Composites for a packed recap episode covering one of the busiest weekends on the women's calendar. The trio starts with a rant about FloBikes' patchy coverage of women's racing before diving into the new five-stage Tour de Suisse Women, which ran for the first time alongside the men's race under new organizer Cycling Unlimited Suisse. Marlen Reusser overcame a spring full of injuries to win her third home title, holding off Cédrine Kerbaol and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney on the brutal Col de la Croix queen stage after Elisa Longo Borghini's early race lead unraveled in the mountains. The crew also breaks down Urška Žigart's frightening road-bump crash, the fallout from extreme European heat (including Lael Wilcox's withdrawal from her around-the-world record attempt and the cancellation of Canadian Gravel Nationals), the UCI's jersey and computer rules, and a surprise mountain-bike-to-road crossover win for Kate Courtney at US Road Natio2nals in Charleston, West Virginia.Episode Breakdown00:34 — FloBikes coverage rant06:02 — Intro and SRAM sponsor message06:27 — Musette and cap banter07:19 — New five-stage Tour de Suisse Women format09:46 — Cycling Unlimited Suisse and CEO Gabriela Buchs13:52 — Single-commentator coverage gripe14:01 — Stage 1: De Vries wins, Dickson second, Kerbaol third16:15 — Stage 2: Longo Borghini solos to the win and yellow17:49 — Žigart's crash and fractured jaw24:23 — Stage 3: Bäckstedt wins the sprint, Williams second31:18 — Canyon-SRAM's GC future34:06 — Stage 4 ITT: Reusser wins, retakes yellow37:08 — Reusser's injury-plagued spring38:00 — Stage 5: Reusser wins the queen stage and GC44:50 — Reusser's post-race interview46:48 — Final GC recap48:11 — Lael Wilcox abandons around-the-world attempt52:39 — Canadian Gravel Nationals cancelled for heat59:13 — UCI equipment rule banter1:02:11 — Revisiting "how do women pee" story1:04:25 — US Road Nationals: Courtney beats Stephens1:09:03 — Kate Courtney's road racing future1:15:29 — Sign-off and what's coming upSponsorThis episode is presented by SRAM, a longtime supporter of women's cycling and the technology behind some of the fastest bikes in the peloton. SRAM powers Queen Stage's Tour de Suisse Women coverage and will also support the show's coverage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift this August.What's Coming UpNext week, Queen Stage sits down with Unbound Gravel champion Sofia Gomez Villafañe. There's also a Rapha Zwift community ride on Wednesday, June 24, featuring guest Olympian Grace Brown. The show then takes a short break in July before returning the last week of the month with a special episode made in partnership with Zwift and Rapha exploring rivalries in the women's peloton, alongside a preview of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (August 1 to 9).
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  Live at UNBOUND Gravel: Ludi Scholz, Peta Mullens, Melisa Rollins, and Paige Stuart 10.06.2026 57min

  For the first time ever, Queen Stage recorded live, and we did it in the only place that made sense: Emporia, Kansas, home of UNBOUND Gravel, presented by Liv Cycling.We brought together four women who represent every corner of the sport: Ludi Scholz, Liv's global gravel category manager, who has spent over a decade making the case that women deserve more than a shrunken, pinked-down version of a bike. Peta Mullens, Australian multi-discipline cyclist and Lifetime Grand Prix competitor, who made the jump from American crit racing to gravel and hasn't looked back. Melisa Rollins, chemist-turned-professional cyclist, Leadville Trail 100 champion, and one of the most compelling athletes in the gravel field today. And Paige Stuart, Liv's mechanic for the Lifetime Grand Prix series, who went from tinkering on vintage bikes in Moab to wrenching at UCI Mountain Bike World Cups.Together, they cover a lot of ground. Ludi on why Liv is a brand, not a line, and what twelve years of commitment to women's cycling actually looks like in practice. Peta on the professionalization of women's gravel, the amateur field gap, and why the atmosphere in Emporia is as much a draw as the race itself. Melisa on her road back from a broken elbow, the hundred-year-old sourdough starter that kept her sane, and what she thinks about Kate Courtney's Leadville record. Paige on holding the door open for other women in the sport, the little girl at a World Cup who stopped and stared, and what it takes to get your own hands on a wrench.This episode also gets into the bigger picture: how women's gravel went from mass starts with thousands of men to a legitimate, separate, competitive field in just a few years. Who made that happen. What still needs to change. And why storytelling, community, and yes, a hot pink gravel bike, might be exactly how we get there.Recorded live in front of an audience in Emporia, Kansas, the week of Unbound Gravel 2026. Presented by Liv Cycling.Guests: Ludi Scholz, Global Gravel Category Manager, Liv Cycling Peta Mullens, Liv Racing Collective Melisa Rollins, Liv Racing Collective Paige Stuart, Liv Cycling MechanicHosts: Betsy Welch, Anne-Marije Rook, Rosael Torres-Davis, Molly HurfordFind us at queenstage.cc and on Instagram @queenstage.cc.