Sigma Sports Unplugged with Matt Stephens

Former Irish road race national champion Imogen Cotter joins Matt Stephens to discuss a cycling journey defined by grit, ambition and resilience. From funding her racing career while working as a postwoman in Belgium to winning the Irish National Championships in 2021 and signing her first professional contract, Cotter’s rise was hard-earned and rapid. But just weeks into life as a pro, a serious collision while training in Girona changed everything. In this episode, Imogen speaks candidly about recovery, early retirement, rediscovering her love for cycling, and pursuing a new path in sports journalism. A thoughtful and inspiring conversation released ahead of International Women’s Day.

Read the accompanying article on the Sigma Sports Hub:

https://www.sigmasports.com/hub/news/imogen-cotter-resilience-and-reinvention

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Swiss powerhouse Stefan Küng joins Matt Stephens from Tudor Pro Cycling’s training camp in Spain to reflect on a career built on consistency, curiosity, and quiet ambition. Küng opens up about leaving Groupama-FDJ for a new challenge, the vision behind Tudor’s project, and why the Classics success still drive him. The conversation dives into racing with instinct in an era of marginal gains, evolving nutrition and technology, and the balance between innovation and safety in modern cycling. Stefan also shares formative stories from his youth, the people who shaped his self belief, and a memorable European Championship win before taking on a somewhat unfinished hometown quiz to round it all off.

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Matthew Riccitello is one of the most exciting young climbers in the WorldTour. Fresh from a breakthrough fifth place at the Vuelta a España, the 23-year-old American joins Matt Stephens from altitude camp in Sierra Nevada to reflect on his journey so far and his move to Decathlon CMA CGM Team. In this episode, Matthew discusses GC ambition, training philosophies, racing without a power meter, and why consistency and confidence are his greatest strengths. Matt learns about life in his hometown Tucson and his adoptive European home of Nice. Wise beyond his years, Riccitello explains how he feels the final week of a Grand Tour is the best stage on which to shine.

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Double Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee joins Matt Stephens from his home in Yorkshire for a wide-ranging conversation about life after elite triathlon. Brownlee reflects on retiring from professional sport, the pressure of delivering at a home Olympics, and why daily movement still matters as much as ever. The pair dive into Alistair’s growing love of gravel racing, sibling rivalry with brother Jonathan, and that unforgettable moment at the 2016 World Triathlon Series. There’s also time for business ventures, community impact, and a proper Yorkshire Bramhope quiz covering pubs, tunnels, chippies and baked goods.
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Former world champion Julian Alaphilippe joins Matt Stephens from Tudor Pro Cycling’s training camp near Calpe to reflect on a career defined by courage, instinct and unforgettable moments. Julian opens up about leading the Tour de France, the pressure of wearing the rainbow jersey, and why that period was both a peak and a personal challenge. He discusses becoming a father, finding balance beyond results, and why joining Tudor has reignited his motivation. The conversation also explores modern cycling’s obsession with numbers versus feel, the responsibility of leadership, and the emotions behind his standout victory in Québec… before a lively Saint-Amand-Montrond hometown quiz rounds things off.

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