After a long break due to flu, Saar is back and chats with Francesca Selva, who returns to the podcast after more than a year.

Francesca reflects on her heart issues, the long road back to racing, her summer in the US, and the tough decision to leave endurance behind. She shares why switching to sprint feels like the right move, how it’s reignited her motivation, and what she hopes this new chapter will bring — both for herself and for track cycling as a whole.

Saar and Kristof enter the new year with a bang as Elisa Longo Borghini, one of the best riders of the last decade, joins them on the podcast.

From her first races inspired by her brother to winning monuments, Grand Tours and Olympic medals, Elisa looks back on a remarkable career and speaks openly about setbacks, pressure and motivation. She reflects on her lingering frustration with the World Championships, shares her unfiltered views on racing tactics, and tells us about that time in when she asked Emma Johansson how far it still was to the finish — only to learn the race wasn’t even halfway done. Along the way, Elisa dives into the evolution of women’s cycling, data versus instinct, the importance of family, and why racing to win — and nothing less remains her guiding principle.

This week Saar and Kristof look back at the Christmas period in cyclocross, with Lucinda Brand’s dominance front and center and a closer look at the riders catching the eye.

They also talk about Dutch track nationals, beach racing, and other off-season action before turning their attention to 2026. From team changes to expectations, they go through the squads one by one and discuss who could really impress next season.

And to wrap it all up, one conclusion is clear: Saar is in desperate need of road racing. ;) 2026, we’re ready!