{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","title":"Ignition: How One Race Sparked World Domination ","description":"The Men’s World Road Race Championship will take place in Montreal this weekend without its defending champion, a crash in the Vuelta a España having seemingly ended Tadej Pogačar’s 2026 season. Of course Pogačar had finally looked set to win the Vuelta…finally, because this is the last Grand Tour missing from his collection, and it had been a long time coming.\n\nThe SlovAlien had in fact made his Grand Tour debut in the Vuelta in 2019 and never returned until this year. That first appearance, though, has gone down in cycling history as the race, the moment that lit the spark, the beginning of a one-man firestorm that would tear through professional cycling. Pogačar finished it with three stage wins and a place on the podium in Madrid. We had quite simply never seen anything like it.\n\nIn this special KM0 episode, Daniel Friebe revisits and relives that 2019 Vuelta, speaking to key witnesses and delving into his own memories, those of Dani Arribas and Michele Pelacci.\n\nIgnition was written and produced by Daniel Friebe.\n\nEpisode sponsors:\n\nBikmo\n (https://bikmo.com/uk/?utm_source=thecyclingpodcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=thecyclingpodcast) The Cycling Podcast is supported by Bikmo (https://bikmo.com/uk/?utm_source=thecyclingpodcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=thecyclingpodcast) , cycle insurance built for cyclists who actually ride.\nWhether it's a crash, a stolen bike, or your pride and joy arriving at baggage reclaim in three separate pieces – it's covered. Flexible policies you can cancel anytime, 50 per cent off extra household bikes, plus protection for your kit, race entries and travel.\n\nFollow us on social media:\nTwitter @cycling_podcast (https://twitter.com/cycling_podcast)\nInstagram @thecyclingpodcast\n (https://www.instagram.com/thecyclingpodcast/)\nFriends of the Podcast\nSign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com (http://thecyclingpodcast.com/) to listen to new special episodes every month plus a back catalogue of more than 300 exclusive episodes.\n\nThe 11.01 Cappuccino\nOur regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here (https://thecyclingpodcast.substack.com/) for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it’s after 11am).\n\nThe Cannibal & Badger\nFriends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in (https://thecyclingpodcast.supportingcast.fm/) to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in.\n\nThe Cycling Podcast is on Strava\n (https://www.strava.com/clubs/thecyclingpodcast)\nThe Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.","author_name":"The Cycling Podcast","author_url":"https://audioboom.com/channels/1405050-the-cycling-podcast","provider_name":"Audioboom","provider_url":"https://audioboom.com","width":480,"height":95,"thumbnail_url":"https://audioboom.com/i/43854898/600x600/c","thumbnail_width":600,"thumbnail_height":600,"html":""}