Ride and Thrive

The Tour may be over, but the thrills linger.

In this episode of Ride & Thrive, Dave counts down 10 unforgettable moments from this year’s Tour de France—from Quinn Simmons channeling Captain America to Lenny Martinez’s cheeky sticky bottle maneuver on Stage 18 🚴‍♂️💥.

Get ready for a fast-paced recap with behind-the-scenes drama, insider insights, and the kind of cycling storytelling that fuels your ride. Buckle up, it’s time to relive the magic—starting with #10 and climbing all the way to #1.

🎙️ Tour de France 2025: Highs, Heartbreaks & Heroics

Three weeks. Twenty-one stages. Endless storylines. From Pogačar’s clinical dominance to the cobbled chaos of Montmartre, this year’s Tour blended tradition with unpredictability.

In this special wrap-up episode, we break down the biggest winners, the unexpected losers, and the moments that made this Tour unforgettable.

Who cemented their legacy? Who cracked under pressure? And who deserves more love than the headlines gave?

We talk climbs, crashes, comebacks, and controversies—with fresh insights for fans and first-timers alike.

Whether you followed every stage or jus...

Originally planned as a 129.9 km Alpine queen stage from Albertville to La Plagne, including the Col des Saisies, Col du Pré, Cormet de Roselend, and final summit finish.Due to a last‑minute outbreak of nodular dermatitis in local cattle, organisers shortened the stage to approximately 93–95 km, cutting out two climbs. The start was delayed to about 14:30 BST.🚵 Early action: Breaks and AttacksShortly after the revised neutral start in Albertville, Primož Roglič attempted an early attack, bridging with Valentin Paret‑Peintre and Lenny Martínez—an aggressive move that ultimately fizzled as the GC group reeled them in.I🧗 Mid-stage: Climbs and ConditionsRid...

Stage 17 delivered chaos and courage in equal measure. In torrential rain and greasy conditions, sprinters battled for supremacy on the road to Valence.

A late crash inside the final kilometre shattered the sprint train, but Jonathan Milan stayed upright and surged to his second stage win, tightening his grip on the green jersey.

 Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard avoided the carnage, preserving their GC positions as the peloton edged closer to the Alps.

Stage 18 was the Queen Stage—and it lived up to the billing. With over 5,400 metres of climbing across three brutal asce...

Stage 16 of the Tour de France 2025 was all about the Giant of Provence—and it didn’t disappoint.

French climber Valentin Paret-Peintre stunned the favourites with a late surge to win atop Mont Ventoux, claiming his first Tour stage and sending the home crowd into raptures.

With 140 km of flat terrain before the final climb, the peloton stayed calm until chaos erupted on the slopes. 🚴‍♂️ Pogačar marked attacks but didn’t strike.
🔥 Vingegaard tried to shake things up.

🇫🇷 Paret-Peintre timed it perfectly. We break down the tactics, the pacing, and the pain of one of cycling’s most...

Stage 15 Muret-Carcassonne 169.3km (Hilly)

Stage 15 of the Tour de France 2025 delivered a masterclass in breakaway brilliance and tactical misfires. On a lumpy 169 km route through southern France, Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) launched a daring solo attack with 40 km to go, holding off all chasers to claim his first Tour stage win—and complete his set of victories across all three Grand Tours.

Behind him, the peloton fractured early due to a crash, GC teams scrambled to regroup, and Julian Alaphilippe mistakenly celebrated third place as a win. With the GC battle neutralized and th...

Stage 13: Loudenvielle to Peyragudes – Mountain Time Trial (10.9km)

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) delivered a masterclass in pacing and power, conquering the brutal uphill TT in 23 minutes flat to claim his fourth stage win of the Tour.

Racing without a team radio and opting for a lightweight road bike, Pogačar extended his GC lead to +4:07 over Jonas Vingegaard, who finished second on the day.

Primož Roglič surged back into podium contention with a third-place finish, while Remco Evenepoel faltered, dropping off the GC podium.

Florian Lipowitz and Oscar Onley...

Tadej Pogačar stormed to victory atop the legendary Hautacam, reclaiming the yellow jersey in dominant fashion.- He attacked 12 km from the summit, dropping all rivals and finishing 2'10" ahead of Jonas Vingegaard, with Florian Lipowitz rounding out the podium.- This marks Pogačar’s 20th career Tour stage win and his third of this Tour, just one day after crashing in Stage 11.
🔥 GC Shake-Up- Ben Healy, who wore yellow for two days, cracked in the heat and lost over 13 minutes, dropping to 11th overall.- Remco Evenepoel also struggled, conceding 3'35" and slipping further behind.- Oscar O...

From heartbreak to heroics—Stage 11 of the Tour de France delivered a masterclass in grit and glory. Jonas Abrahamsen, fresh off a broken collarbone, stormed to victory in Toulouse, giving Uno-X Mobility their first-ever Tour stage win.

Meanwhile, Tadej Pogačar hit the deck but bounced back like a true champion. We’ve got breakaway brilliance, GC drama, and even a protester on the course.

 Let’s dive into the chaos, courage, and cycling culture of Stage 11.”

Stage 10 of the 2025 Tour de France brought fireworks to the Massif Central on France’s national holiday.

Simon Yates launched a daring solo attack to claim victory atop the Puy de Sancy, while Ireland’s Ben Healy powered through the breakaway to snatch the yellow jersey from Tadej Pogačar.

With eight categorized climbs and nearly 4,450m of elevation gain, it was a brutal test of grit and strategy. We break down the GC shake-up, the tactical masterclass from EF Education-EasyPost, and what this means heading into the rest day.

Plus, reflections on the symbo...

Two days, two sprint showdowns, and a whole lot of heartbreak and horsepower.

Stage 8 saw Jonathan Milan power to his first Tour de France victory in Laval, reclaiming the green jersey with a dominant uphill sprint finish. But the weekend double wasn’t meant to be —

Tim Merlier snatched Stage 9 in Châteauroux, outpacing Milan in a chaotic final burst after Mathieu van der Poel’s heroic 173km breakaway was reeled in just 500m from the line.

From “Cavendish City” nostalgia to blistering 80kph sprints, this recap dives into the tactics, triumphs, and tension that define...

Relive the most thrilling moments from Stages 6 and 7 of the 2025 Tour de France!

In Stage 6, Ben Healy pulled off a stunning long-range solo attack, crossing the line nearly three minutes ahead of the chasers and shaking up the breakaway game. Mathieu van der Poel snatched back the yellow jersey from Tadej Pogacar by just one second—setting up a tense battle for Stage 7.

 Stage 7 delivered pure Tour drama: a punchy summit finish on the Mûr‑de‑Bretagne saw Pogacar surge past Jonas Vingegaard to reclaim the yellow jersey with authority, now leading Remco Evenepoel by 54 seconds...

Round up of all the action from Days 3, 4, and 5 of this year's edition of the Tour de France, covering the 7th, 8th, and 9th of July 2025

Big turnaround of fortunes for Alpecine-Deceurnick as their Green Jersey hopeful crashes out on Day 3.

Tadej Pogacar was the big winner at the first TT as he took 2nd place behind Remco Evenepoel and takes the Yellow Jersey into Stage 6.

A chaotic opening weekend provided plenty of drama and excitement with Alpencin-Deceunick coming out on top.

Jasper Philipsen took the first stage (his 10th overall) and Mathieu Van der Poel took stage 2.

Leading in to Stage 3, Van der Poel holds the Yellow with Philipsen retaining Green.

Ride Back in 2014, the Tour de France rolled through Yorkshire—and something clicked. In this beginner-friendly Ride & Thrive episode, David shares how watching the world’s greatest cycling race right on his doorstep ignited a passion that’s shaped his life ever since.

You’ll get a down-to-earth preview of this year’s race, learn why it’s more than just Lycra and mountains, and discover how the Tour might just inspire your own two-wheeled adventure.

If you’ve ever wondered what all the fuss is about, this one’s for you.

In this delightfully stretchy episode, we squeeze into the world of Lycra — that shiny, form-fitting fabric beloved by cyclists and feared by café-goers everywhere.

I chat about what it means to wrap yourself in something that leaves very little to the imagination, and why people do it anyway (hint: it's not always about speed). 

I share the awkward glory of public spandex moments, the psychology of dressing like a Tour de France hopeful, and how Lycra somehow turns a casual ride into a full-blown identity. It's part fashion, part function, part midlife crisis — and all fun.

I made lots of mistakes, some worse than others in my first 6 months of road bike ownership. Here I list 5 of the most common mistakes and how to avoid them. 

Stay tuned to the end for a bonus tip!

Contact me: david@rideandthrive.co.uk 

How to perform a pre-ride check HERE 

If you you are wanting to get fit and fancy using kettlebells but don't know where to start, try my 30 days to kettlebell mastery Email course...Its FREE! Click the link below;

30 Days to Kettlebell mastery Email course

If your just starting out on your cycling journey, buying a bike can be daunting...so many choices! I sift through the mud and try to offer a clear path for you to make an informed choice.

I've been riding bikes my whole life, well, as long as I can remember. In this episode I share my history of bike ownership from the very early days (1970'S) Raleigh Chopper through to present day.

Contact me: david@rideandthrive.co.uk

If you you are wanting to get fit and fancy using kettlebells but don't know where to start, try my 30 days to kettlebell mastery Email course...Its FREE! Click the link below;

30 Days to Kettlebell mastery Email course

How fit/strong should you be?

A general guide for some strength goals to aim for.

I wanted to share some things that I wish I had known about weight loss 20-30 years ago! It would have had a massive impact on my health and fitness journey.

You can't lose weight by simply joining a gymThe Importance of Strength TrainingImportance of sleepUnderstanding the part nutrition and food macros plays in weight lossAdherence and Consistency, the glue that holds everything together

It can be frustrating trying to find time to work out.

It seems like we all lead busy lives.

Jim Rohn Quote

Success is defined as a few simple disciplines repeated every day

Stephen Covey; Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Dave Shields Fitness on Facebook

Intro to Kettlebells

What size to get; 

As with a lot of things it does depend on your training age, your goals and your current state of physical fitness but a good starting point is; 

Men - 12 Kg
                                  (Amazon Affiliate Links)
Women - 6-8Kg

A YouTube link here to a more in-depth discussion on what size to get

Link to 

Demos of basic Kettlebell exercises

Swing

Deadlift

Goblet Squat 

Press

Often neglected in favour of more shall we say vanity metrics, heart health should be your number one priority.

In 1990 1 in 4 people suffered from Coronary vascular-related diseases, today that figure is 1 in 3. 

Globally, heart disease is hands down the biggest 

Affiliate links to products mentioned;

Blood Pressure monitor

Outlive - Peter Attia Great book on longevity with a large section on heart health

Blood Testing kit

Website

British Heart Foundation

Beginners guide to rucking; YouTube

All about getting stronger

Strength building principles discussed;

SAID Principle, Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands

Progressive Overload

References;

Milo and the bull story

The Simpsons; Homers arm wrestling escapades!

You could get a coach to write your workouts for you or you could have a go at doing it yourself!

Questions to ask;
How much time do you have available to train?What equipment do you have?What are your goals?Covered in this episode
What exercises should you do?How often should you train?Should you do cardio?How many sets and reps should you be doing?Links to other resources

Resistance bands on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3T0MpdC

(Affiliate link)

<...

The supplement industry is huge, reportedly growing to 170 Billion Dollars by 2030.

The advice is clear...Do your own research, and get professional medical advice.

Eat a varied healthy diet including lean meat, fish, fruit, and plenty of vegetables.

Studies alluded to in the episode;

British Medical Journal; Health effects of vitamins and supplements

Protein and Creatine Supplements and the misdiagnosis of kidney disease

NHS Advice on Vitamin D

Vitamin and supplement market analysis

Lloyds Pharmacy At home blood test kits

This week is all about getting unstuck.

Remember the obstacle is the way.

Tackle the obstacles and you will find the gold!

You don't have to be a perfect 10 every day, a satisfactory Seven every day will move the needle consistently in the right direction.

Part 2 of How to Lose Weight is all about the actions you need to take in order to move the needle in your weight loss journey. Including;

The law of Thermodynamics

Using a BMR Calculator Find one here

Upping your NEAT score

Using a food log

food swaps

Prioritising protein

Nutrient-dense foods as opposed to calorie dense foods

Its not all about the scale weight

In this episode, I talk about using the GROW model to help plan your post-Festive weight loss campaign.

GROW stands for;

Goals - Process and Outcome based, What and why?
Reality - Where you are right now
Obstacles/Opportunities - What barriers are in your way
Way forward - How are you going to move the needle

I suggest writing down a couple of sentences to answer the questions posed for each element.

In the coming weeks I will suggest some strategies/tactics that will help you to kickstart...

Exercise of the week; Burpee

Podcast; MindPump

Book; Man Up by Bedros Keuilian (Affiliate link)

Recipe of the Week; Savoury Breakfast Porridge

Thought; If a man knows not which port he sails, no wind is favourable - Seneca

Exercise of the Week: Side Plank

Reading: Tools of Titans - Tim Ferris

Listening: Trail Runner Nation Podcast

Nutrition tip: 3 Day Food log

Mindset/Thought to ponder: Amor Fati - Love of ones fate

Exercise of the week; The humble Press up

Podcast of the week; Zestology with Tony Wright

Book of the week; Blueprint by Ross Edgley

Recipe of the Week; Overnight oats - 40g Oats, milk, Scoop protein powder, raisins, cinnamon, mixed spice

Thought of the week; The obstacle is the way

This weeks recommendations;

Exercise; Banded bent over row

Podcast; Geraint Thomas Cycling Club

Book; Atomic Habits by James Clear (Affiliate link)

Nutrition tip; Try cycling your carbs, so only consume carbs when you are training or have heavier activity planned.

Thought; The Journey is the destination

Exercise of the week; Get Ups This is a link to a video by Dan John, demonstrating different ways in which you can practice getting back up off the floor

Podcast; The Tim Ferris Show

Book; Outlive by Peter Attia (Affiliate link)

Nutrition tip; Get comfortable with being hungry

Thought; A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

Its great to be back out running again albeit very slow!

Exercise of the week is the Single Arm Kettlebell Overhead Press, great for shoulders, core, back, in fact a great all rounder!

What I'm listening to; Peter Attia Podcast

What I've been reading; The seven habits of highly effective people by Stephen Covey

Nutrition tip of the week; Find out what 2,000 calories feels like to consume in 1 day. Remember to log all of your intake including snacks and drinks

Thought of the week...

This week as it's now November, I'm kicking off my Movember campaign.

I've got my 10k Fell race challenge and I'm also completing 100 kettlebell swings a day challenge.

Exercise of the week; Banded Clam Shells

What I'm listening to; The Running Channel

What I'm Reading; The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter

Nutrition Tip; Morning coffee timing

Thought of the week; Pick the low-hanging fruit first


Amazon links are affiliate links and if you go on and buy the product I will get a small commission.

Exercise of the week; Bird dog, great for core and glutes, use as a mobility or warm up exercise.

What I've been listening to; Modern Wisdom Podcast, hosted by Chris Williamson

What I've been Reading; Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger

Nutrition tip; Prioritise Protein in your diet.

Mindset tip; Get comfortable being uncomfortable.


Links to Amazon products are affiliate links. They cost no extra to you and if you buy I get a small commission.