Our Giro stage 2: The Hungarians

The second stage of Our Giro focuses on Hungary, which was to be the host of the Grande Partenza this year.

Join Richard Moore, Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe as they ask why Hungary has not produced as many international class riders as comparable nations. Only one Hungarian – László Bodrogi, a contemporary of Fabian Cancellara and Filippo Pozzato in the Mapei development squad at the start of this century – has taken part in the Tour de France. No Hungarian has won the Peace Race.

But that might change because two promising 21-year-olds turned professional for World Tour teams this season. We hear from both – Mitchelton-Scott’s Barnabás Peák and Team CCC’s Atilla Valter. Could they develop a rivalry similar to Pog and Rog in Slovenia in future?

The biggest name in Hungarian cycling in recent years is also one of the most controversial. Istvan Varjas occupies a space where e-bike technology meets motor ‘doping’. We hear from the subject of documentaries and articles as he expresses scepticism at the UCI’s battery detection methods. It’s also ironic that Varjas’s e-racing team won the e-Giro a couple of years ago.

We introduce a couple of semi-regular features for this Giro – Ciro Scognamiglio of La Gazzetta dello Sport picks the first rider for his Dream Team. Who is it? Who else could it be but his Soul Sister? And in il Ristorante, Lionel discusses Hungary’s national dish, goulash, with award-winning food writer Felicity Cloake. Is it a soup, or is it a stew? He then cooks it for Felicity to run her forensic eye over. 

The Cycling Podcast is supported by iwoca and Science In Sport.

The title music for Our Giro coverage is called Cozze by Amaraterra.

It’s film night on The Cycling Podcast so check out Stars and Watercarriers on YouTube before Monday’s stage three goes live. We speak to filmmaker Jørgen Leth about the documentary which followed the 1973 Giro from its start in Verviers, Belgium.

iwoca became The Cycling Podcast’s title sponsors in March 2020. Iwoca specialises in supporting small businesses and can lend between £1,000 and £250,000. Applications can take only a few minutes to complete and they promise a fast and fair decision. To find out more, go to iwoca.co.uk

Science In Sport is The Cycling Podcast’s longest-standing supporter. It’s a relationship that stretches back to the 2016 Giro d’Italia. Listeners can get 25% off Science In Sport’s range of energy drinks, bars, gels and cakes at scienceinsport.com with the code SISCP25

This episode is also supported by Beer52. You can get a case of eight craft beers delivered to your home for £5 by going to beer52.com/cycle

If you have a smart turbo trainer, you can ride Our Giro on the RGT digital platform. Each stage is around 30 kilometres long and will be online for three days. Go to RGTcycling.com/our-giro for details of how to download the app and sign up. Thanks to RGT and Veloviewer.com for helping us create Our Giro.

STACY SNYDER’S MUGS
Stacy's mugs sold out within 12 minutes of going on sale yesterday. Another batch will go on sale later on during Our Giro.

Our friends at Dvinecellars.com have put together a ‘Selezione Our Giro’ case of 12 wines from around Italy. There’s also a ‘Baby Giro’ case of six bottles. Use the code ‘Our Giro’ when ordering. Cases can be delivered in the UK, excluding the Highlands and Northern Ireland, and a donation from each case will be made to the Scuola Ciclismo in Cene.