Four days, four stages, an ungodly amount of wind, and a studio reeking of Neosporin and existential exhaustion. Welcome to Episode 528 of The Packfiller Podcast—the post-ride beer with several friends and one asshole.

The complete Packfiller Empire has finally returned to the studio after surviving the region’s largest stage race, Wenatchee’s own Tour de Bloom. Tonight, the full panel—including a doctor and a physical therapist who have a lot of medical concerns—dissects a weekend defined by breakthrough redemptions and absolute field carnage.

The Giro is in the mountains, the Tour de Bloom is days away, and the sport of cycling is officially bankrupting us all. Welcome to Episode 527.

This week on The Packfiller, Pat, Paul, and Sam stare down the barrel of the Wenatchee Tour de Bloom stage race. With the young guns and the doctor absent, the Gen-X cynicism is running at an all-time high. We dive into the pre-race anxiety of facing down a 4-stage omnium, the fear of the unknown, and the absolute reality of surviving the Masters peloton.

But the real question tonight: At what point does the cost of rubber make amateur racing a rich man's hobby? We are breaking down the staggering, offensive cost of modern cycling. From $220 tires and $2,000 upgrade kits to the $12 chickpea pasta required to keep the chassis light. Pat drops some inside intel from a recent text exchange with Van Rysel about their pricing philosophy and avoiding the industry "Boutique Tax," and we ask the ultimate question: What is the one piece of gear you bought that was so expensive you had to lie to your spouse about the price?

Finally, the Broom Wagon returns with a financially ruinous trivia segment: The Itemized Receipt. Lock in, check your bank account, and keep the rubber side down.

The Giro d'Italia is finally here, and The Packfiller crew is breaking down the chaotic Bulgarian Grande Partenza and Vingegaard's plan for the brutal final week! But first, we celebrate a massive local win from Jackson, get the gritty details of David's BWR San Diego sufferfest, and Pat reveals his final FTP numbers just one week out from the Tour de Bloom.

Plus, we recap Tadej Pogačar's absolute foreclosure on the Tour de Romandie, preview the looming Angliru at La Vuelta Femenina, and test the boys' knowledge in a special "Blind Spot" edition of Broom Wagon Trivia.

Grab a proper pint of Big Barn Brewing, (or an Athletic Brewing IPA if you're unable due to life requirements) and let's get into it!