The Cycling World is Whispering, and It's Getting Loud: Welcome back to another edition of Spin Cycle, your go-to news digest for all things cycling, published every Monday and Friday. You can catch us on the Escape Collective website (https://escapecollective.com/) or have our newsletter delivered straight to your inbox by clicking here (https://escapecollective.com/#/portal/account/newsletters). Today, we've got a triple threat of stories that will leave you scratching your head and questioning the state of our beloved sport. But first, let's address the elephant in the room: AI has officially infiltrated cycling media, and it's not pretty. And this is the part most people miss: the implications of this could be far-reaching, potentially reducing the sport to a series of algorithms and data points. But here's where it gets controversial: is this the future of sports journalism, or a lazy shortcut that undermines the expertise of seasoned writers? We'll let you decide.
In a recent attempt to spice up the ongoing rivalry between Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel, Sporza turned to ChatGPT for insights on how Evenepoel could dethrone the dominant Pogačar. The AI's suggestions? 1) Catch Pogačar off guard, 2) Launch attacks before descents, 3) Wear Pogačar down, 4) Tap into emotional energy, and 5) Exploit Pogačar's weaknesses. While these strategies might seem obvious, they highlight a growing trend of relying on technology to solve complex problems. But let's be real: can AI truly understand the nuances of cycling, or are we just setting ourselves up for disappointment? As we wait for the AI bubble to burst (and potentially take our pensions with it), at least we can take solace in the fact that ChatGPT can probably help us make beans taste exciting again.
Speaking of unexpected glitches, ProCyclingStats' live page recently malfunctioned during Tre Valli Varesine, briefly showing two Tadej Pogačars dominating the race. While this was likely a technical error, it raises an intriguing question: what if we had to contend with not one, but two Pogačars? It's a terrifying thought, but one that underscores the Slovenian's unparalleled dominance in the sport.
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for: the Rozman whispers. This week, retiring cyclist Geraint Thomas attempted to promote his autobiography with a Guardian interview (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/oct/07/geraint-thomas-interview-tour-de-france-cycling-bradley-wiggins-mark-cavendish?ref=escapecollective.com), but things quickly took a turn when the conversation shifted to the unresolved David Rozman case (https://escapecollective.com/dave-brailsford-wont-talk-about-the-2012-tour-de-france/). For those unfamiliar, Rozman, the Ineos Grenadiers' head soigneur, is currently under investigation by anti-doping authorities. But here's the kicker: Thomas wasn't the only one bringing up Rozman this week. A prominent figure at an industry event also mentioned the embattled soigneur, sparking renewed interest in the case. Is this a sign that the truth is finally coming out, or just another red herring? We'll leave that for you to decide. As always, we want to hear your thoughts: do you think the Rozman case will ever be resolved, or is it destined to remain one of cycling's greatest mysteries? Let us know in the comments, and don't forget to check out more News & Racing (https://escapecollective.com/tag/news-and-racing/) and Spin Cycle (https://escapecollective.com/tag/spin-cycle/) stories on our website.
