Life in the Peloton, presented by MAAP

Mitch Docker
  • 4.9 (264)
  • WILDERNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Life in the Peloton, presented by MAAP

Ever wondered what life is like as a professional cyclist? Australian ex-professional cyclist Mitch Docker takes you inside the world of Professional Cycling. Bringing you the stories behind the individuals in the sport - from the pros in the peloton to staff behind the teams, to commentators & legends, plus training insights & debriefs on major races throughout the year. It’s all here! Newly retired from the professional peloton, Mitch is exploring his new pelotons - all the pelotons that exist outside of the world tour - bringing you fresh new stories from within the cycling community. His spin off series, Talking Luft - a bit like the DVD Extras - is where cycling style & culture takes centre stage. Talking cycling caps, bikes, kit, coffee stops, training loops and all the best things about riding a bike. Listen to all episodes here weekly! Find all our episodes, merch and more at lifeinthepeloton.com

  1. Grace Brown - From World Champion to Bowing Out in Style

    23 OCT

    Grace Brown - From World Champion to Bowing Out in Style

    Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by MAAP Well, this is it, guys. It's the end of the road season, and if you're a long-time listener, you'll know it's the end of the season for us here at Life on the Peloton. For the pro peloton, it's time to take a break from cycling. Just thinking of it takes me back to my racing days, as the 'offy' was always a bit of a special time, especially when you first arrive back in Australia. You’ve got time to rest, have a bit of a party, and reconnect with home before it's time to get back into training for the new season. Before we shut down for a little break, we've got a really special guest to close out not only our season but her career too. None other than the current Olympic and World T.T. Champion, Grace Brown! I've been holding off on chatting with Grace online this year because I wanted to have this conversation in person. Little did I know Grace was going to have the epic season she's had, capping it all off with the ultimate mic drop: calling it a day on professional racing while winning at the highest level. After all that amazing success through a season that saw her become Australia’s first female monument winner, I managed to catch up with her, still a little jet-lagged from the flight—or her career (we weren’t sure which was catching up with her!). Grace was kind enough to meet me for an afternoon coffee in her adopted hometown of Melbourne to have a good old-fashioned yarn for this pod. We talked about her career, the Olympic Games, her experiences there, retirement, relationships, and of course, how to bow out in style. For the final time this season, it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy. Cheers! Mitch ----more---- The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

    1h 2m
  2. The Race Communiqué - Episode 10

    16 OCT

    The Race Communiqué - Episode 10

    Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by MAAP The Race Communique is exclusively brought to you by The Escape Collective. Check out the new and improved BikeGrid which now goes all the way back to riders from 2001! Go and check it out and let me know how you get on. Hey everyone, just like that, the 2024 World Tour season has nearly wrapped up. Even though there's still racing happening in China, here at Life in the Peloton, we're calling it and diving straight into the final Race Communiqué of the season. I'm joined by Luke and Tom, just days into their offseasons, to unpack what has been one of the best seasons of racing I’ve ever seen. Not every year you get to witness a Grand Slam or experience the kind of non-stop action and long-range attacks we had in 2024. In this Race Communiqué, we’ve got much more than just a seasonal wrap-up. Tom jumps in early with his Talking Tactics segment, and then we settle into Luke's Pelo Chat, where he shares insights on the future of the U23 category and how the UCI might look to enhance youth racing moving forward. We’ve also highlighted some of our favourite rides, riders, races, and memorable moments from the year. With our different opinions, you'll hear some fantastic stories that emerged during our conversation. To top it all off, we have the end-of-season Communi-quiz, which is crucial for determining who will be shouting the beers during the offy! I really enjoy putting these Communiqués together, and this one was a blast to make. It’s a shame we can’t do more for now, but for 2024, this is your final episode of The Communiqué. We hope you've enjoyed listening along. We'll be back after a well-deserved break (with a few cold ones) for an even better 2025. So stay tuned, and for now, sit back, relax, and enjoy. Cheers, Mitch

    52 min
  3. The story behind the Dirty Docker

    9 OCT

    The story behind the Dirty Docker

    It might only be Wednesday, but this week is absolutely massive for us at Life in the Peloton. It’s the week of the Dirty Docker—our inaugural cycling and running festival happening up in my hometown of Lancefield this weekend! With such an exciting event on the horizon, I thought, why not dedicate this entire podcast to the Dirty Docker? This event has been over a year in the making, and I can’t wait to share all the details with all of our listeners. Even if you can’t make it to Lancefield, whether you’re overseas or just tied up, I want you to feel like you’re part of the action. We’ll be diving deep into what the Dirty Docker is all about. From cross-country running to cyclocross, and of course, our premier event—the Cobawsome Gravel Ride—there’s something for everyone. But that’s not all. We’ll also be exploring each of these disciplines with the experts who helped bring them to life. You’ll get to understand the roots of cross-country running, the history of cyclocross, and the unique aspects of our Dirty Docker cyclocross course, including a nod to the iconic Cross Vegas course. Plus, my good mate and the voice of the Dirty Docker, Paul Van Der Ploeg, will join us for a deep dive into the gravel phenomenon—where it’s been, where it’s going, and what makes it so special. So, whether you’re gearing up to join us this weekend or just tuning in from afar, this episode is packed with insights and excitement to get you pumped. I’m really excited for this one, guys.  Give it a listen and get ready for an epic weekend! Cheers, Mitch

    57 min
  4. The Race Communiqué - Episode 9

    30 SEPT

    The Race Communiqué - Episode 9

    Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by MAAPWell, I don’t know about you, but here at Life in the Peloton, we are still absolutely buzzing from yesterday’s World Road Race Championships! I think we witnessed one of the greatest performances ever. I’m delighted to say that we’ve got a hot-off-the-press Communiqué pod for you. Joining me are Jayco Alula rider Luke Durbridge and EF Education EasyPost Sports Director Tom Southam. Together, we dissect the race faster than a group of Spanish commissaries heading to dinner… We couldn’t wait to dive in and analyze the race, and what a race it was. As always, the Communiqué brings you our unique triple-pronged take on the event. I offer my armchair pundit’s view of the action, which this time came from the commentary box in Australia, giving me a great vantage point. We’ve also got Durbo’s ‘Pelo Chat’ segment, where Luke explores interesting technical details and hot topics within the peloton, such as the impact of riders racing without radios and what that meant for the race. And of course, there’s Tom’s ‘Talking Tactics,’ where we hear the DS perspective on the race’s tactical intricacies, especially given the complexity of the national team format and how the peloton dealt with one of the greatest of all time. Just like a real communiqué wouldn’t be complete without a page of fines, our Life in the Peloton Communiqué wouldn’t be complete without a Communi-quiz. We have a special edition of that too. Don’t wait for this one—grab your brew, sit back, and give it a listen. Cheers! Mitch ----more---- This episode is supported by our friends at The Escape Collective. Check out Escape Collective's Classifieds section of their website where thousands of used bikes, parts and accessories are being sold every day. It's free for anyone to use, not just members. The Dirty Docker is almost here! Dirty Docker is my multi-day event for all things cycling and running in the Macedon Ranges. For the last few weeks of winter, you can get an exclusive discount code by signing up to the Life in the Peloton Newsletter here. The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

    53 min
  5. Lael Wilcox: The fastest woman to cycle the globe

    25 SEPT

    Lael Wilcox: The fastest woman to cycle the globe

    Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by MAAP This week on Life in the Peloton, we’ve got Lael Wilcox back on the pod. As many of you know, Lael has just become the Guinness World Record holder for cycling around the world. She rode an incredible 29,000 kilometers starting from Chicago, circumnavigating the globe in 108 days, 12 hours, and 12 minutes. I was so excited to get Lael back on the pod this week. I loved following her journey around the world through her podcasts and videos. Lael is full of energy, and what really drew me into this adventure was how she managed to make something so difficult and challenging sound like so much fun to manage to involve so many people. In our chat we spoke about what it was like to complete this adventure, to cross the globe, to ride in all these amazing places, and to do so with so many people joining in and following along. Her record attempt was followed by thousands of people, many of whom took the time to join her on the ride, offering gifts, places to stay, and help along the way, as well as the occasional diversion to improve her route! I was particularly keen to hear what it had been like riding across Australia, but I love to hear how people see my country and be able to see it through fresh perspectives. Lael actually reached out for a route, and I was really happy to be able to help out - at the last minute! And then to hear what this adventure had been like.   Lael is so inspiring to talk to, her story and approach to riding her bike is fantastic, and we loved having her back on the pod. Take a listen to this episode—it’s an amazing trip around the world, not to mention a new world record, and something that’s inspiring for so many cyclists. Sit back, relax and enjoy. Mitch ----more----   Listen to my previous chat with Lael - Lael Wilcox - The best of the best in Ultra Endurance Cycling This episode is also supported by our friends at Wahoo head over to wahoofitness.com to check out their awesome bike computers and trainers. The Dirty Docker is almost here! Dirty Docker is my multi-day event for all things cycling and running in the Macedon Ranges. For the last few weeks of winter, you can get an exclusive discount code by signing up to the Life in the Peloton Newsletter here. The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

    1h 2m
  6. Christian Meier - Road to Trail

    18 SEPT

    Christian Meier - Road to Trail

    Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by MAAP Regulars to the pod might be familiar with the story of Christian Meier the cyclist, the teammate, or the Girona resident and coffee shop owner. But, inspired by organising my first running event - the ‘Pub to Pub’ in Lancefield, this instalment Life in the Peloton is all aboutChristian Meier: the ultra-runner. After retiring in 2016 and setting up his Girona coffee shops, Christian hasn’t sat still, and instead has found a new athletic passion that has led him to some quite incredible heights! For most ex-pros finishing their career means they wind down and gradually do less sport (or none at all). Christian has broken that mould and found a new love for Ultra-running that in his mind eclipses even his feats as a professional cyclist riding the Tour de France, Giro of Vuelta. I’ve been loving getting involved with running since I stopped racing, even starting up the Lanny Run Club here in Lancefield. Interestingly in the past few years, we’ve seen more and more professional cyclists turn to running as part of their training and fitness regimen, even during the race season, something that was unthinkable for a pro rider just a few years ago. Christian was a fascinating guy to talk to on the subject (I ran out of time to get all the tips out of him that I wanted!) but I did get to ask him about what it was like making the transition, what he loves about ultra-running and the similarities and surprising differences between the two endurance sports. We also went over his incredible win in the TDS, an ultra-running race of 145km that takes in over 9000m of climbing in the Alps. I’ll leave you guys to have a listen to hear what the man himself has to say about that! Cheers! Mitch ----more---- The Dirty Docker is almost here! Dirty Docker is my multi-day event for all things cycling and running in the Macedon Ranges. For the last few weeks of winter, you can get an exclusive discount code by signing up to the Life in the Peloton Newsletter here.  The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

    59 min
  7. Talking Luft Top 6's! Worlds with Rob Hatch

    17 SEPT

    Talking Luft Top 6's! Worlds with Rob Hatch

    Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by MAAP Hey everyone, we’re back this week with another Talking Luft Top Six Most Influential! This week I’m joined by one of the most recognisable and talented cycling commentators, Rob Hatch to talk all about our most influential World Championships. The World Road Race Championships is not only one of the most prestigious races of the year, but it’s also unique in pro racing being the only race of the year where professionals race for their national teams, for that coveted rainbow jersey!  I was lucky enough to race a couple of worlds for Australia and I can tell you it is a pretty special experience to be able to represent your country in your sport. I loved racing for Australia and I pick out some of my experiences for this pod, including helping Micheal Matthews to the silver medal in 2015, and that rain in Yorkshire!  My guest Rob Hatch has been covering pro racing for well over a decade and has been following cycling for even longer. His voice has accompanied some of the most epic racing moments in recent years - and many of those non-epic hours that fill our TV screens too!  Rob has an incredible, and in-depth knowledge of cycling and he’s as passionate as any anyone I know on the subject. We talked about some fantastic Worlds from Chambery to Harrogate via Richmond. The Worlds really does cover so many different places and characters that it was always going to be hard work to get things down to just (over a) handful of editions!  If, like myself and Rob, you can’t wait for the worlds to roll round (now that the Vuelta is old news!) then have a listen to this one, and get in the mood for the big WC.  Cheers!  Mitch ----more---- The Dirty Docker is almost here! Dirty Docker is my multi-day event for all things cycling and running in the Macedon Ranges. For the last few weeks of winter, you can get an exclusive discount code by signing up to the Life in the Peloton Newsletter here.  The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

    1h 10m
  8. Hot Off The Press - Vuelta España Virtual Press Room

    2 SEPT

    Hot Off The Press - Vuelta España Virtual Press Room

    Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by MAAP Life in the Peloton has been cooking up something a bit different for you this week, I’ve thrown my press badge back on, and jumped in on the rest day press-conference action, to bring you the very first “Hot Off The Press”, Life in the Peloton’s Virtual Press Room from the Vuelta España.  With so much action and suspense at the Spanish Grand Tour, which - I keep reminding everyone, was a favourite race of mine, I figured why not get on the phone, dial in to the pelo, and get the freshest possible take on what is going on.  I was lucky enough to speak to some of the most important characters from this year’s race, including the current red jersey wearer, Ben O’Connor, stage winner Mike Woods, Richard Carapaz’s sports director at EF, Juanma Garate, as well as top domestiques Robert Gesink and Carlos Verona.  Make no mistake this is a brutal edition of the Vuelta, and our guests fill us in on everything from what it takes to try and win at the race, to what it feels like to try to survive, and everything in between.  This pod is a new one for us at Life in the Peloton and I’m delighted to be bringing you all these  hot-off-the-press takes as we head into the third week, where we can expect plenty of action from our guests and the rest of the Vuelta peloton.  Sit back, relax and tune in before it cools off!  Cheers!  Mitch ----more---- The Dirty Docker is almost here! Dirty Docker is my multi-day event for all things cycling and running in the Macedon Ranges. For the last few weeks of winter, you can get an exclusive discount code by signing up to the Life in the Peloton Newsletter here.  The Life in the Peloton book is OUT NOW! Get your copy now exclusively at maap.cc! Can’t wait for you to read it.

    1h 6m
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Hosts & Guests

4.9
out of 5
264 Ratings

About

Ever wondered what life is like as a professional cyclist? Australian ex-professional cyclist Mitch Docker takes you inside the world of Professional Cycling. Bringing you the stories behind the individuals in the sport - from the pros in the peloton to staff behind the teams, to commentators & legends, plus training insights & debriefs on major races throughout the year. It’s all here! Newly retired from the professional peloton, Mitch is exploring his new pelotons - all the pelotons that exist outside of the world tour - bringing you fresh new stories from within the cycling community. His spin off series, Talking Luft - a bit like the DVD Extras - is where cycling style & culture takes centre stage. Talking cycling caps, bikes, kit, coffee stops, training loops and all the best things about riding a bike. Listen to all episodes here weekly! Find all our episodes, merch and more at lifeinthepeloton.com

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