THEMOVE Podcast Episode Summary Title: Tour de France 2025 Stage 4 | THEMOVE
Release Date: July 8, 2025
Host: Lance Armstrong
Guests: Sir Bradley Wiggins, George Baldoni

1. Introduction to Stage 4

In this episode of THEMOVE, Lance Armstrong, alongside cycling legends Sir Bradley Wiggins and George Baldoni, delves deep into the thrilling events of Stage 4 of the 2025 Tour de France. The discussion centers around exceptional performances, strategic maneuvers, and the evolving dynamics of modern-day cycling.

2. Standout Performances and Rider Analysis

Lance Armstrong opens the conversation by highlighting an extraordinary performance:

"But what a performance. I mean, this guy... it's Merckx-esque, what he's doing." [00:00]

The trio focuses on Tade Pogachar, celebrating his 100th career professional win, making him the second fastest to reach this milestone after the legendary Eddie Merckx. Sir Bradley Wiggins provides a comparative analysis of Pogachar's achievements against other top cyclists:

"Tade Pogajar is 26. Got some other stats for us... Pretty exceptional." [08:01]

George Baldoni emphasizes the high level of competition, noting how only the best climbers can sustain such intense paces:

"The level has gotten so high that only the best climbers in the world are able to follow that pace." [08:03]

3. Technical Breakdown of Stage 4

The hosts dissect the technical aspects of Stage 4, praising the strategic efforts of teams like UAE and Visma. George Baldoni remarks on the quality of the breakaways:

"This is not a panicookin breakaway. These guys are stage winners." [08:54]

They discuss the staggering power outputs recorded during the stage:

"10 watts per kilo for the last two minutes of that race... 650 watts for today. Unbelievable." [09:01]

George Baldoni continues to highlight how modern cyclists are surpassing previous generations in endurance and power:

"It's like five to six years ago. So not such a long time ago. They cannot even come close to these numbers." [09:50]

4. Upcoming Stage 5: The Time Trial Preview

Transitioning to the upcoming Stage 5, a significant time trial, the conversation intensifies. The hosts predict potential outcomes based on current standings and performances:

"Tomorrow's a time trial. I mean, there's still a race going on here. It's not the dominance that we've witnessed in all the classics this year." [14:11]

Sir Bradley Wiggins and George Baldoni debate the length and difficulty of the time trial, with Armstrong advocating for longer individual time trials to challenge specialists:

"I think that they should have listen to think that we're going to do a throwback and have 100km of individual time trialing." [29:19]

They analyze how recent performances in the Dauphine impact the upcoming time trial, discussing riders like Remco, Jonas, and Tade Pogachar:

"Remco put 48 seconds into today in a 17k TT tomorrow's 30k." [30:02]

5. Gear Choices and Technical Innovations

A fascinating segment delves into the evolution of cycling gear, specifically crank lengths. Sir Bradley Wiggins reminisces about traditional crank sizes and contrasts them with modern, shorter cranks used by top riders:

"You know, I basically always rode 175s... but Jonas is riding 160s." [22:16]

Lance Armstrong shares his personal experience transitioning to shorter cranks during his hour record attempt:

"It took a while because you've got to drop your saddle. You've got it. You can go lower at the front end." [23:29]

6. Personal Anecdotes and Host Banter

The episode is peppered with light-hearted banter and personal stories that add a relatable touch to the technical discussions. For instance, the trio shares humorous exchanges about daily routines and mishaps:

George Baldoni: "And Roka has completely reinvented eyewear..." [00:53 – Note: Advertisement section, should be skipped]

Moreover, Lance Armstrong recounts a past Tour de France incident, adding depth to the camaraderie among the hosts:

"2012, I rolled down the well, I went into the start house, yellow jersey... I nearly caught him." [40:25]

7. Ventum Trivia and Interactive Segment

Towards the end, the hosts engage listeners with Ventum Trivia, challenging them with questions related to Tour de France history. This interactive segment encourages audience participation and deepens engagement:

"Yesterday's question... What happened? Binyan Guermail became the first Eritrean to win a stage in the Tour de France." [44:05]

8. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Wrapping up the episode, Lance Armstrong and his guests reflect on the strategies and mental fortitude required for the upcoming time trial. They emphasize the importance of focus, visualization, and adaptability in facing the ever-evolving challenges of professional cycling:

"Time trial day is a lonely day... it's all about the process." [37:14]

The hosts express their excitement for Stage 5, anticipating it to be a pivotal moment in the 2025 Tour de France:

"We will see you tomorrow, see how this all plays out." [46:01]

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Lance Armstrong: "But what a performance. I mean, this guy... it's Merckx-esque, what he's doing." [00:00]

• Sir Bradley Wiggins: "Tade Pogajar is 26. Got some other stats for us... Pretty exceptional." [08:01]

• George Baldoni: "The level has gotten so high that only the best climbers in the world are able to follow that pace." [08:03]

• George Baldoni: "This is not a panicookin breakaway. These guys are stage winners." [08:54]

• George Baldoni: "10 watts per kilo for the last two minutes of that race... 650 watts for today. Unbelievable." [09:01]

• George Baldoni: "It's like five to six years ago. So not such a long time ago. They cannot even come close to these numbers." [09:50]

• Sir Bradley Wiggins: "I think that they should have listen to think that we're going to do a throwback and have 100km of individual time trialing." [29:19]

• Sir Bradley Wiggins: "You know, I basically always rode 175s... but Jonas is riding 160s." [22:16]

• Lance Armstrong: "It took a while because you've got to drop your saddle. You've got it. You can go lower at the front end." [23:29]

• George Baldoni: "Stage five... it's all about the process." [37:14]

Conclusion

This episode of THEMOVE offers an in-depth analysis of Stage 4 of the 2025 Tour de France, spotlighting exceptional athlete performances, strategic race dynamics, and the technological advancements shaping the sport. With insightful commentary from seasoned cyclists like Sir Bradley Wiggins and George Baldoni, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and thrills that define professional cycling. The anticipation for the upcoming time trial adds an exciting dimension, promising further drama and competition in the days to come.