Show Notes
Matt Stephens chats to Bas Tietema about his incredible journey from promising young pro cyclist with a podium at Paris-Roubaix Espoirs, to falling out of love with racing, only to fall back in love with cycling as a fan. While following the tour de france from his tent at the roadside, Bas made some amazing YouTube content with friends and got the motivation to start racing again This inspired him to start his own racing team which became Unibet Tietema Rockets, racing at Pro Tour level. Bas’ story is unique and inspirational, and it feels like this young entrepreneur is just starting his journey. But can the Rockets make it all the way to the Tour de France? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More from Sigma Sports Unplugged with Matt Stephens
Matt Stephens Eurostars it off to Paris to attend the route announcement of the 2027 Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift, before popping home for an in-depth review of the routes! The men’s race starts on a volcanic rock in Edinburgh, and the women’s race ends on a volcanic rock in Puy de Dôme. In this special wee podcast (see what we did there), Matt chats with friends of the podcast Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, Anders Mielke and Dani Rowe among others to get their views on what to look out for at the biggest race on earth next summer. It promises to be a special year for cycling fans in Britain, as the race returns to the island for the first time since 2014 with stages in Scotland, England and Wales to look forward to.
Matt Stephens is joined by Elis James for a conversation about comfort zones, mental toughness and the buzz of riding really long distances on very smooth tarmac. Elis is perhaps best known as a stand-up comedian and for his weekly radio show and podcast with John Robins for BBC Radio 5 Live, but his love for professional cycling and the magic of being on two wheels helps him to connect with Matt on a base level. This podcast blurs the lines between host and guest, as Elis’ natural curiosity and broadcasting skills draw some great stories about Matt’s early racing career in France.
As the dust settles on another blistering season of Grand Tour racing, Matt Stephens takes a look back at the final week of the 2026 Vuelta a España. Matt’s vignettes reflect on the impressive arrival of Matt Brennan, the GC heroics of Enric Mas, a head-turning time trial by Callum Thornley and some returns to glory for Eddie Dunbar and Mikel Landa. Off the bike, Matt’s been busy enjoying the Bug Hotel at Stockley Park, and the whole TNT Sport cycling department tackle the local pub quiz!
With the temperature rising at the 2026 Vuelta a España, Matt Stephens takes a look back at a blistering week of racing. The dynamic duo of Wout Van Aert and Matty Brennan are a formidable partnership, while Enric Mas continues to look very strong in the red jersey and Oscar Onley clings on to white. In this podcast, Matt takes us into the TNT Sport studio with Orla and Adam for some live race finishes, looks back at the last week and forward to the next, and briefly takes us to Geese (the band) before contemplating what a bag of Vismas might be.
A rising star, a stage with no winner, and a massive upset for the favourite - the first nine stages of the 2026 Vuelta Ciclista a España had it all. Join Matt Stephens as he looks back at the action from each stage, offering his thoughts on proceedings while also meandering into the territory of waterfowl information boards, a chance encounter with Beck, and a frightening moment for a duck as it escaped from a pike. There really is no other podcast like this.