Colombia: 24hrs In Medellin

Colombia: 24hrs In Medellin 2020

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GCN Presenter Simon Richardson & endurance cyclist Jenny Graham are spending a whirlwind 24 hours in the Colombian city of Medellin. Once the country's murder capitol, this cities dark past is long gone, now a safe a vibrant place, described as one of the most cycling friendly cities in Latin America. Si is heading to the hills to ride the world famous Alto de las Palmas & meet legendary figureheads of Colombian cycling including Santiago Botero, Rigoberto Uran & frame builder Tino Hincapie. Jenny is exploring the colourful Comuna 13 with Champion trials rider Xavier Zapata.

2020

1969 - Following Merckx

1969 - Following Merckx 2022

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1969. July the 15th. Stage 17 of the Tour de France. A brutal stage from Luchon to Mourenx covering four of the toughest mountains in the Pyrenees. On this fateful day, Eddy Merckx catapulted himself into the history books with one of the greatest solo breakaways the sport has ever seen. Fast forward over half a century, and GCN’s Simon Richardson is in the Pyrenees to pay tribute to The Cannibal by recreating his ride. To make the 220km epic even more challenging, Si will do it aboard his 1969 spec Faema team bike and wearing their iconic red and white jersey. Eddy Merckx made this ride look easy, but will Si even make it to the finish line?

2022

Rivals: Contador vs Schleck

Rivals: Contador vs Schleck 2023

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Andy Schleck & Alberto Contador. A pro cycling rivalry that ignited the Tour de France in 2009 and 2010. The fiery Spaniard and the level headed Luxembourger only went toe to toe at the Tour on a few occasions; but their rivalry has gone down in history as one of the most explosive, entertaining, and controversial the sport has ever seen. Dan Lloyd is joined in the studio by Nicolas Roche and William Fotheringham to dig into what made this rivalry so compelling. They’ll re-live epic battles, and debate who is the greatest.

2023

Superteams: La Vie Claire

Superteams: La Vie Claire 2023

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In the mid-1980s, one team dominated the cycling headlines: La Vie Claire. Despite a ferocious internal power struggle between two of the sport’s biggest stars, they racked up more than 100 wins. Wearing their iconic Mondrian jersey, Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond won two of the most infamous Tour de France victories of all time. Bankrolled by the controversial businessman, Bernard Tapie, La Vie Claire rewrote the rulebook on both bike racing and fashion. Dan Lloyd is joined by special guests Pippa York and William Fotheringham to discuss how the team turned a recipe for disaster into a period of complete dominance.

2023

Giro 88

Giro 88 2023

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It created one of the most memorable days in grand tour history. Riders such as Andy Hampsten and Franco Chioccioli share their extraordinary experience of a day they'll never forget.

2023

Tommy Godwin: The Hardest Year

Tommy Godwin: The Hardest Year 2023

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In 1939, driven by a desire for fame and fortune English amateur Tommy Godwin cycled a world record 75,065 miles in one year setting out from home each day through bitter winters and the blackouts of World War Two. He became the fastest person to cycle 100,000 miles in just 500 days. After this epic feat of endurance, Tommy had to learn to walk again and uncurl his hands! The madcap record has only been attempted by a handful of determined souls and Tommy’s record stood for 76 years making it one of the greatest, but also most overlooked sporting achievements. Ultra endurance athlete and round the world cycling record holder Mark Beaumont is on a mission to shine a light on Tommy’s ride. He delves deeper into Tommy’s story and finds out if he has the physical and mental stamina to take on Godwin’s record.

2023

1903: Relived: Stage 1 Of The First Tour

1903: Relived: Stage 1 Of The First Tour 2020

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On the 19th of July 1903 60 cyclists left Paris for the maiden stage of the very first Tour de France, racing 467km through the night to the line in Lyon. 116 years later, two modern-day riders attempted to recreate the feat of endurance using bikes and equipment from the early 20th century to fully experience the highs and lows of the early Tour pioneers. Endurance cyclist Mark Beaumont and GCN presenter James Lowsley-Williams are pushed to the limits of their physical and mental ability, struggling with the midsummer heat, bikes borrowed from museums and a lack of sleep. How did they compare to the Tour’s first heroes?

2020

Breaking Through: The Rise of African Cycling

Breaking Through: The Rise of African Cycling 2023

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Biniam Girmay’s recent successes have shown that African cycling is on the up, ready at last to follow athletics and football into the big time. But why has it taken so long, and what’s needed to take it all the way? Set against the beauty and battles of the Tour du Rwanda, we explore the past, present and future of riders from Eritrea, South Africa, Rwanda and more, meeting Girmay and the rising stars hot on his heels, as well as the people passionate about giving these riders the opportunities they deserve. This is the story of the next great continent in cycling - Africa.

2023

WW1 - War on Two Wheels

WW1 - War on Two Wheels 2021

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A fascinating insight into the role of the bicycle in the First World War - from reconnaissance to transporting ammunition, historian and cycling enthusiast Jeremy Banning explores stories from the battlefield. Ollie Bridgewood discovers the role cycle scouts played in the Army Cycling Corp and rides the original bikes used in the conflict. Mark Beaumont meets the grandson of a WW1 soldier who rode for the Highland Cyclist Battalion and survived brutal combat on the front line.

2021

Ultimate 1000

Ultimate 1000 2023

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Oliver Bridgewood is taking on the biggest cycling challenge of his life. The Ultimate 1000: a 1000 km bike ride through the stunning Swiss Alps. With almost 27,000 m of climbing over 26 classified climbs, the only way Ollie will find out if he can complete the ride…is to just go for it.

2023

The King and Beers - A Gravel Epic in Vermont

The King and Beers - A Gravel Epic in Vermont 2021

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Ex-pro cyclist, Ted King has a lot of love for his home state of Vermont. With its rolling landscapes, rugged gravel roads and its fantastic craft beer scene, he was never unhappy to return home after his time spent in pelotons around the world. As beer and bike enthusiasts, Ted and elite road and CX racer Regina Legge, are taking their gravel bikes down the road less travelled, touring brewery to brewery and learning what puts Vermont’s craft beer ahead of the bunch. As they head north to south, we'll take in some of Vermont's challenging climbs and learn a thing or two about beer along the way.

2021

24HRS - How Far Can You Ride A Bike In 24Hrs?

24HRS - How Far Can You Ride A Bike In 24Hrs? 2020

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Just how far can you ride a bike In 24 hours? Ultra-endurance cyclist Mark Beaumont is joined by GCN Presenter James Lowsley-Williams on an overnight expedition from Somerset to Scotland through gruelling winter conditions. Along the way they are tested by a team of top academics to monitor the effect of the demanding challenge is having on their cognitive function and long term physical ability. Battling fatigue and the ever-changing weather conditions, how far can they make it?

2020

Lost Origins of the Modern Bicycle

Lost Origins of the Modern Bicycle 2021

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Neil Laughton, cycling enthusiast, adventurer and record-breaker is joined by cycling experts Scotford Lawrence, Edwin Knight and Jon Cannings to explore the history of the bicycle. They explore every twist and turn of the bicycle’s journey of development through history, including some major successes, and the odd failure! The journey begins with the Laufmachine in 1817 right through to the safety bicycle that has developed into the high-performance machines we know today.

2021

BMX: Turning Dirt To Gold

BMX: Turning Dirt To Gold 2021

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GCN's James Lowsley-Williams and GMBN's Blake Samson are trading in their usual bikes for ones with much smaller wheels, as they try their hand at two variations of the incredibly varied sport of bicycle motocross. We'll explore the history of BMX to learn about the rise, fall and rebirth of one of cycling's most explosive forms. From racing on the track to landing tricks in skate bowls, what does it take to make it to the top level of BMX?

2021

Stelvio

Stelvio 2022

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Standing proudly amongst the pantheon of cycling’s most revered mountains, the Stelvio boasts some of the longest and most challenging climbs in bike racing. Relentless switchbacks over impossible gradients beneath extremes of weather. It is on the relentless, technical, and often treacherous slopes of the Stelvio where the most famous and revered battles have decided the fate of the Giro d’Italia’s coveted Maglia Rosa. Jon Shubert explores the history and legends of the Stelvio and the surrounding regions, meeting people whose lives have been shaped by the mountain, and ex-professional Adam Hansen joins him as he makes his own attempt to conquer the coveted mountain.

2022

The Athertons: Mountain Biking's Fastest Family

The Athertons: Mountain Biking's Fastest Family 2021

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The Atherton family name has been a staple in British mountain biking for 2 decades, with huge success in international racing and multiple world championship titles between them, mountain biking's most successful family are have had their ups and downs. With insight from MTB journalists and family friends, we'll be reminiscing on their past achievements, and looking at what the future has to hold. With a sawmill, a bike park and a bike brand recently added to their name, their life in mountain biking is beginning a new chapter. We went to visit them in the Dyfi valley to take a look at how the Atherton drive has turned passion projects into fully fledged businesses.

2021

Junk Bike Battle: Cargo Chaos

Junk Bike Battle: Cargo Chaos 2023

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Two teams go head to head in a challenge to transform a pile of scrap metal and old bike parts into awe-inspiring cargo bikes. Oliver Bridgewood & Paul Burford take on Mildred Locke & Ted James to construct new bikes from old, all under the watchful eye of judges; Manon Lloyd and Andrew Denham. After three days building in the workshop, their creations will be put to the ultimate test in a series of challenges. Will their designs be able to take the load? Who will be crowned the champion of GCN’s Junk Bike Battle?

2023

Himalayas

Himalayas 2023

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Simon Richardson and James Lowsley-Williams head to the Himalayas on a quest to discover Nepal’s mysterious ‘Forbidden Kingdom’, the remote mountaintop city of Lo Manthang. Breath-taking views, lung-busting climbs, and incredible encounters with locals; Si and James are in for an unmissable gravel bike adventure! Their once-in-a-lifetime expedition begins in the chaotic streets of Kathmandu before embarking on a gruelling five-day ride up the ancient trade route that forges a path between Nepal and Tibet. Their epic ride sees them dicing with kamikaze trucks, enduring freezing rainstorms, taking a 228m bungee jump, and even a heroic attempt to beat a Himalayan KOM.

2023

How To Survive a Grand Tour

How To Survive a Grand Tour 2023

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Riding a stage of a Grand Tour is tough, but riding 21 stages over Europe’s most brutal climbs is the absolute pinnacle of human endurance… Join Conor Dunne, survivor of two Grand Tours, as he heads to the 2023 Giro d’Italia to reveal how pro riders complete this monumental feat of physical endurance. Conor follows sprinters Pascal Ackermann and Davide Cimolai, plus rookies Derek Gee and Charlie Quarterman as they take on the epic Italian stage race. He also meets the sports directors, nutritionists, and medics that work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the riders remain fit and focused throughout the three weeks. Follow these riders as they embark on the 2023 Giro – Will they reach Rome? What state will they be in when they get there?

2023

Legend: Jens Voigt

Legend: Jens Voigt 2021

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Cycling powerhouse Jens Voigt was the boss of the breakaway when he was a professional. Bernie Eisel travels to Berlin to meet Jens, tour his beloved city, and visit the places that influenced his life and seventeen year cycling career. Born in East Germany, Jens gives us an insight into what it was like to grow up under a communist regime, how discipline and determination was instilled in him from a young age, and how this helped him as a bike racer. Bernie chats to close friend, and old team mate Bobby Julich, who helps to paint a picture of this extraordinarily tough and charismatic cycling Legend.

2021