In this episode of the Škoda We Love Cycling podcast, Matt welcomed retired English cyclist Joanna Rowsel, who used to be on the Great Britain Cycling Team, competing on track and road. Rowsel is a double Olympic medallist (women’s team pursuit at the London and Rio Olympics) and a five-time World Champion (four medals in the team pursuit, one in the individual pursuit). Besides other career successes and victories, she also currently holds the World Record in the 3 km team pursuit.
Rowsel now works as a Eurosport commentator, so she has had many first-hand encounters with the famed Tour atmosphere. When she first commentated on the Tour, she was fascinated by how close fans can get to the athletes, and often free of charge. From her racing days, she, of course, remembers the electrifying magic in the air and the moral boost only a crowd of cheering fans could give you.
With Matt, they talked over how her life’s journey turned towards cycling, her first encounter with the Tour and the “wildness” of the thousands of cheering fans lining the mountain stages, how a commentator should also acknowledge the sport’s fandom at a race, how the TdF Femmes avec Zwift invigorated the women’s side of the sport, and much more.
Tune in and enjoy!
