Sigma Sports Unplugged with Matt Stephens

Giro Rest Day Reflections 2025 - 1 Travel Days and Duvet Picnics

Sigma Sports Unplugged with Matt Stephens

Show Notes

For the 2025 edition of the Giro d’Italia Matt Stephens has a live in-studio role providing commentary and analysis for TNT Eurosport Discovery. But he’s taken his pod-mic along and will give us his daily reactions to each stage, right after it happens. In this episode, Matt looks back at the first three stages in Albania, which saw some pretty hectic racing right from the very start of his favourite Grand Tour. Matt being Matt, this podcast features tips on how to eat well with only a hotel kettle to cook with, and plenty of laughs along the way.

Disclaimer: This episode contains mild swearing. Two "S-words" to be precise! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More from Sigma Sports Unplugged with Matt Stephens

Oct 23, 2026

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.

Oct 9, 2026

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.

Sep 14, 2026

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!

Sep 7, 2026

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.

Aug 31, 2026

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.

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