Christophe Mallet
Welcome back to part two of the SBS cycling podcast. And as promised, I am with the wonderful Georgie. How are you,
Georgie
Christophe, it's always a pleasure, mate. Lovely to be here.
Christophe Mallet
It's fantastic. And. And we have a bit of a story, together. We met, literally, we spoke as, when you were a rider, but
you and I met on a mountain day at the Tour de France. It was slightly raining, it was, in the middle of the clouds. And
then who was next to me watching the race? It was you, commentating the race. And that was your first Tour de France
behind the mic, I believe. so that's how we met.
Georgie
Yeah, it was quite. It was like happenstance, you know, it was phenomenal. I mean, like, yeah, we were looking out over
the Alps and on the top of the Col de la Madeleine. And, yeah, who was standing next to me but, Christophe and Macka
from sbs and, yeah, Matt and I, because I work with Escape, collective and Matt and I doing a live podcast
recording from the Summit in the Queen stage.
Christophe Mallet
and we were just here, but guest bugging.
Georgie
Yeah, exactly. Heckling us as we were, as we were trying to commentate what was a really exciting stage of the Tour. But
it was a phenomenal day. Like, as you say, the rain was on and off, but we had French cows in the paddocks. Everything,
the atmosphere, especially when Pauline went up the road, it was just incredible.
Christophe Mallet
Yeah, absolutely. So we'll pedal back a little bit, so to speak. you're, of course an ex rider. you retired relatively
recently in, Talk to us about your career. Because you started cycling in the later part of your career. It was not
necessarily your first love as a. As a sport.
Georgie
Yeah, exactly right. I mean, it's quite interesting. So we're here in the SBS offices at Federation Square, and, I spent
a lot of my formative years as a kid just literally downstairs on the Yarra river in a rowing boat. So, I find it's
quite funny how life works out that way. So I grew up, yeah, born and bred in Melbourne and, got into rowing through
high school at Melbourne Girls Grammar. And, that was, yeah, phenomenal experience. And then I got the opportunity to go
overseas, on a rowing scholarship to Princeton University, and row crew over there. Also studied the niche topics of
classics and mediaeval studies.
Christophe Mallet
That's for your parents. That's what you say.
Christophe Mallet
You just validated the fact that you studied.
Georgie
Yeah, exactly. So, and then, Yeah, I was. Ah, yeah, Hell bent on making the Tokyo Olympic Games. So, I represented
Australia whilst I was over in the us, which was fantastic. Over in Europe, raced in Bulgaria, France, Italy.
Christophe Mallet
So a big career, on water.
Georgie
On the water, yeah, it was, and going backwards. I mean rowing is like, it's a great sport but metaphor for.
Christophe Mallet
Does it kill your back?
Georgie
Yeah, a little bit. Yeah, I think, I actually, yeah, the rib stress fracture is a big one. Yeah because your, your
intercostal muscles between your ribs just get so tight from use. Yeah, they crack the bone. So it's quite intense. But
yeah, it was, it really was like a full body workout. And yeah, you require a lot of like, you seem to be quite robust.
Christophe Mallet
How did you become a professional cycling cyclists after this? Because you rode for Jayco, you rode the Tour de France,
for Jayco, of course, many other races. So how do you jump, so to speak, from a boat to a bike? Because cycling, I guess
for training purposes has been part of your life all your life or most of it.
Georgie
Yeah, I actually used to watch the Tour with my dad at like 2am on SBS. Of course. On SBS, of course. That SBS theme I
have in my head from a very young age. he was a big fan of, you know, the Schleck brothers, Armstrong kid elevens, like
that era of cycling. So yeah, he introduced me to it. And then throughout rowing we used it because it was, you know,
not as load intensive on the body. quite, you know, didn't have to. You could get the same cardiovascular benefit from
it. So it did it quite a bit, but not very, I wouldn't say technically very well. Yeah, I never raced. And yeah, when I
was. I, when I retired from rowing in 2019, I just, yeah, actually started boxing, doing some other different things,
living in Melbourne at the time. And then Covid hit and we were just so locked down here and so I got a indoor, indoor
trainer, so wahoo kicker and got on Zwift and that started the descent into the cycling world.
Christophe Mallet
So you're one of the Zwifties.
Georgie
I am one of the Zwifties. yeah. I just absolutely loved it because it enabled me to ride with people that I knew from
overseas as well. Like so in the GB and the banter and everything was, yeah, crazy. so that was amazing. And yeah, when
things started to open up again, I bought my first ever new road bike and got outside on the road I bumped into a guy
who ended up being my coach. Still is Nick Owen. on Beach Road. And yeah, first race is Nationals in 2022. And I think
as a rower, you've obviously got a great engine, but I think the philosophy is in rowing training, if your heart rate's
not 160 beats a minute, you're not really. It's not really worth it.
Christophe Mallet
You don't even try.
Georgie
It's not worth it. So the thing I had to kind of unlearn was, you know, in cycling it's about like saving yourself.
Saving yourself, like sitting in and being. Having. Dealing with this fair amount of finesse in that sense.
Christophe Mallet
Was it hard to switch?
Georgie
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I approached it with a lot of humility and like, I. It was never the goal to go pro M. So Nick,
my coach, was like, well, we're not going to. There's no goal with this. We just want you to have fun. Like, let's just
try a whole heap of different disciplines. I even went to Adelaide and tried track for a bit. I'm a bit of a diesel lens
engine, like Christophs. Yeah. Ah, time trials are great, but like a 3k individual, pursuit, probably not. Although it's
Christophe Mallet
Yeah, yeah, they went for the women.
Georgie
Yeah. so, yeah, that was like. It was a big switch.
Christophe Mallet
Was there a moment where you actually sort of thought, I could dream to be an Olympian twice in two different sports?
Georgie
Yes, that was a dream last year for sure. I think when I got selected for. Because I represented Australia twice at
World Championships in two different sports. So, Because I did.
Christophe Mallet
That's massive.
Christophe Mallet
And I think there's probably not that many athletes around the world that can say this.
Georgie
No. And I think the. Something I'm reckoning with now in my retirement is that I don't think I sat with the enormity of
some of these things at the time. and I think retiring, transitioning athletes anyway do this and like. Because you're
kind of always taught to look to the next thing.
Georgie
So to speak. And it's very difficult to sit and just kind of absorb what has just been. And so, like, I. Yeah, I think
you're right. I don't think many people would have done that. But it was. It was never. It just kind fell into. It was a
Christophe Mallet
What's interesting with you as well is the fact that you did the Tour de France last year and, we spoke to you quite
heavily actually, at the Tour last year as well. But your story is very interesting because you don't come with the so
called baggage of seeing the sport evolve and having the whole fight to survive and exist as a sport, as a female sport
compared to a men's sport. at least not in cycling. So you came in with probably, a different set of mind when you did
the Tour de France. Some, some riders have seen this all their life and were hoping that there would be a woman's Tour
de France or Tour de France farm for you. It's sort of fed into, you fell into it.
Christophe Mallet
Am I right or.
Georgie
Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, you're completely right. I mean it was. I, I think when I started cycling I was always like, oh,
Paris, Roubaix. Yeah, that's good. That would be my race. That's a tough one. That's a tough one. That's like, for
someone who's like just got the power in the legs, it's, it's a bit more forgiving in the sense that you just have to
Christophe Mallet
Given you tried boxing. That's a, that's a long.
Christophe Mallet
It's the boxing of cycling.
Georgie
Yeah. or. My great grandfather was a light heavyweight champion of the European Theatre of War, apparently, according to
my father. I've got his shoulders.
Christophe Mallet
Yeah. Okay.
Georgie
but the Yeah, like I think with the Tour de France and I definitely appreciated it for what it was. It wasn't like for a
lack of respect and I was teammates, with like Alexandra Manly at the time and Ruby, Rosemangan, Ruby Rosengannon. And
Christophe Mallet
Which had a tough Tour de France last year.
Georgie
Yeah, yeah, very tough. Great one this year, but tough one, tough one last year and I think it's. And I also had a
teammate, Nina Kessler, who like, I mean my first opening weekend was her 13th.
Christophe Mallet
Yeah. Okay.
Georgie
So I was surrounded by all this experience and ah. And so I kind of got the sense that this is a huge thing. Yeah,
absolutely massive. And even now in my, in like the other phase of my career where I'm on the other side of the fence
with you guys talking to the likes of Kate Verono from Zwift and what they're doing at Zwift to support, support women's
sport and women's cycling.
Christophe Mallet
Yeah, it's extraordinary.
Georgie
It is extraordinary.
Christophe Mallet
And we shouldn't, you shouldn't stop saying it because it's, it's totally true. Even though the sport ah. Has gone leaps
and bounds for, for where it was just, just three years ago. Look at where the sport was Three years ago and where it is
now. But the work that people like Kate do as well is enormous. In the, in the background as well.
Georgie
Yeah, it's quite, it's quite incredible. And the, The. But I, I looked to the 20, 23 tour and, the amount of young girls
just watching the race is just insane. And the fans on the side of the road and it, it is the pinnacle of cycling. Like,
I mean, my game was always the Olympic Games.
Georgie
as an athlete, as a kid, you dream of it in Australia. It's the pinnacle of existence in sport. And so.
Christophe Mallet
But for that particular sport is changing. ASO has changed and we said it many times with my car and we just, ah, you
know, it's pushing an open door here. But the Tour de France and ASO have changed the game in women's cycling 100%. Tour
de France and Paris Roubaix have changed the game and they changed the way athletes train. They changed the training
plan. And this is the basis of your year. This is the basis of how is your year going to be.
Georgie
Isn't it strange, though? Because I agree, like the World Championships and Euros afterthought.
Christophe Mallet
Yes. You know, it's like some people, some riders, like Wong, Kopecki had a fair share of, fall, but she was unsure to
do it anyway. So you're right, it's an afterthought.
Georgie
Yeah, it was quite incredible because, I mean, the world champion is the world champion. They wear the rainbow stripes
Christophe Mallet
Well, look at Pauline. She decided not to go then. She then decided to go. And there must have been a bit of pressure
with the French Federation, a lot of people around her, to say, come on, that'd be nice for you to be there.
Georgie
And you look at the start list and they've got a fully fledged team going to racing this weekend. It's quite incredible.
Christophe Mallet
So how did you leave this, Tour de France, day by day, this year? Because you were on the other side of the fence. You
were, you know, doing part of what we do for us daily at the Tour. But, how was it for you? Was it very different? Was
it, Did you have a total respect, I guess, for the athlete? But what was the experience for you?
Georgie
Oh, I mean, I think the first day, Grace Brown and I, we were talking, it was like the media scrum day. Yeah. Ah, you
know, like when the riders get their photos taken and you get access to them before the racing.
Christophe Mallet
Absolutely. In this little. I remember the media centre where we. Everything was all in one.
Georgie
Exactly right. 100%. And, Grace and I were in the media scrum for the first time and she's like shaking with the
microphone and I'm m. Sweating bullets and we're just like, adrenaline is just pumping. And, and I sit down.
Christophe Mallet
If you see the footage of it, and Grace was before you in this podcast. She had to go, but, we joke about it, but she
literally was shaking on her first question. You can see the mic going.
Georgie
It's because. It is like, because we know these people.
Georgie
You know, like we were friends with these people, which gives us great access and comfort with the riders and they're
comfort with us and we can ask those questions. But it's the, I think it's just the adrenaline. It's like, it's a
different type of nerves. Like, I don't think I was ever nervous in that way for the bike race for the Tour than I was
actually doing, like, covering it as media. And I sat down to write my first article that day and I just, I was just
like shaking on the keyboard. I was just like, what am I going to do? and I think my first piece that I put out was
about Shari Bossett and her return to racing. So it was, ah, incredible experience. I've never been happier to work,
Christophe Mallet
Yes, exactly. it's some kind of virus you get hooked on. And I'm the same. I'm like, yeah, I shouldn't say this because
HR and SBS will fall onto me, but hours, don't matter.
Georgie
They really don't.
Christophe Mallet
That's what the job needs. But this is also such a pleasure to do.
Georgie
It was, as you say, like, I had a respect, for the riders and what they do, but I think I always respected what the
sport required. But I think particularly this year and seeing the level of the riders and the level of the sport where
it's at, both men and women, it's. You see these riders cross the line and it is just. You just your heart goes out to
them, like, no matter their placing, like, they're giving it their all. And it's, And that was like.
Christophe Mallet
Do you think the sport is changing? Yeah, like, the behaviour of the athletes. And Maka has got this thing where I
totally agree with him, but he, he mentions this relatively often and he's right in the sense that we should enjoy that
sweet spot we are now, because the women cycling will become a lot more like men's cycling. It's not that we dislike
men's cycling, but athletes are less accessible than the women's cyclists are. And as the sport grows, the interest
grows, the financial interest grows, et cetera, et cetera. There's a chance that it will grow that way. And maybe the
access that we have, maybe we'll be the old, you know, mupeture guys going, oh, in my days we were able to walk and do
Georgie
Yeah, yeah, yeah, 20 years time, we'll be the ones. Look, you make a good point. I mean we've spoken about this before
but like men's sport is not women's sport. They're two completely different, different brands. And I think cycling does,
is in danger of making women cycling just in parallel to the men's along the same in, on the same journey. I think a lot
of that is because, especially when you go, sorry.
Christophe Mallet
To interrupt, you've got team like Vis, for example, that employs the same tactics, mental tactics and media tactics on
the woman's side and the men's side. Their media management is relatively the same, which is making it hard to talk to
them. It's hard to approach them where they, for me, they were the first one this year that it was a little bit harder
to. Just a tiny bit harder. Not too hard, but just a tiny bit different.
Georgie
Yeah, I think you're right. And I think yes, the teams for sure, like, I mean Visma is like, that's a well oiled
machine. They've got like, they've got their processes. but I also think that give you like the, like you spoke about
the ASO before. They are the one organisation managing both men's and women's races. so it's like, okay, does that then
mean that they'll. That do they have a different approach to the women's races as they do the men's race. So like, how
do they, how do they brand it, how do they market it? How do they approach it?
Christophe Mallet
I think a French win this year will change the game. And not because she's French, just because she's the host country.
And I think all of a sudden I know the numbers that for our numbers were fantastic.
Georgie
Eurosport were fantastic. Yeah.
Christophe Mallet
And the French TV numbers were out of this world. They were like out of this world. I can't even tell you how out of
this world they were. So that will bring more money, more interest. And if you've got the host country that is going all
the way forwards like this, that will drag all of us, that will drag those sport.
Georgie
I Mean, what's the saying? Like a rising tide lifts all boats kind of thing.
Christophe Mallet
I like that.
Georgie
Yeah, it's a good one. Yeah. I think the back to the whole, like, will men's, women's cycling, men's cycling become the
same? I don't think so. I think there is a chance though, and I think we have to be careful not to make it so. I think
the beautiful thing about women's sport is the access to the athletes. And it's not just in cycling. Like you look at it
in the women's soccer, the WNBA, over in the U.S. even here.
Georgie
Yeah. AFL, for sure. 100%. It's like that's the beautiful thing. And it's not just the access that the press have that
you and I have to the athletes, it's the access the fans have. So it's like their presence on social media as well. It's
like it's all part of their package, a part of the stories.
Christophe Mallet
Like Kim Lacourt this year, for example, was incredible.
Georgie
Wasn't she just so like her vulnerability around everything about her being the first, like the, the, the tears around
being the first Mauritian to wear the yellow jersey and, talking about women's issues as well. Yeah. The menstrual cycle
and, and how that affects her. I wrote an article about that as well. but it's just, it really is just. So, yeah, the
women are just like more forthcoming and I, and I would really, it would really be a shame for a muzzle to be put on
that kind of story. I mean, a muzzle is probably the wrong word, but like to kind of stop that, be like, oh, no, you
can't say that because X, Y and Z, like, sponsors love it, the fans love it. That's where the money comes from.
Christophe Mallet
So let them Name of the game.
Georgie
Yeah. Let them roll with it.
Did you have FOMO this year when you. I know the pain you went through last year on the Tour de France and cyclists
cycling. Yeah. Did you have, did you miss?
Georgie
Yeah, yeah. I didn't race Tour France. I raced Tour de France in 2023. But it was just as painful. but the grace and I
actually, we rode the queen stage of of this year's Tour in la.
Christophe Mallet
Tape in Littop.
Georgie
Yeah. And we were climbing, the Col d' Amedlen with Eric Mint from Zwift. and it was, Oh my God. We were just looking at
Christophe Mallet
Being like, what are we missing?
Georgie
We are so glad that we had, stepped off the bike when we did it. Look it, I didn't have FOMO from, like a physical
perspective because my end in the sport came due to health issues where I had to. I spoke before about being a big,
robust rower where, like, I was a heavyweight rower, so a lot of muscle. I had to really try to fit a square peg into a
round hole, getting my body into cycling. And it just wasn't in a happy place.
Georgie
so I knew that that's not where my body would want to be. I did have.
Christophe Mallet
The question was raised a lot around Pollen this year.
Georgie
Yeah, around that.
Christophe Mallet
The weight issue and so on. How do you fit into this?
Georgie
Yeah, it's that the Pauline's. That's a really interesting topic and it's. And I think there's a lot of people being
like, oh, we can't talk about weight. don't talk about weight of riders.
Christophe Mallet
And it's also a question people almost don't raise for anybody else on the men's angle.
Georgie
No, I mean, like today. And Remco and Jonas, they weren't asked the same question. And so there is a bit of that. So
it's, It's really. I think the question has been asked and we can't take it back. Like, I was in the press conference
when the Dutch journalist asked that question, and you could see the visceral reaction in the crowd.
Christophe Mallet
So it's worth noting the journalist was Dutch as well. And Demi following is Dutch.
Christophe Mallet
Big competition on.
Georgie
Yeah, huge. Yeah. So, like. And, Demi's, press officer was, you know, viscerally, like, about to step in. Like it wasn't
an appropriate thing to say. And, And I think, because the concept of weight, I think, has a lot of them not. I think I
know because I've been there, you know, still haven't. You know, it's. I think as a woman raised in like the 90s, even a
woman. Anyway, like, it's, there. And men have this as well. Like, there's unrealistic body standards.
Georgie
so, like, yeah, weight is an emotive topic. And so like. But I think when it comes. If you just peel it back to the
objectivity of winning a bike race. Pauline is the lead writer for Visma.
Christophe Mallet
She did everything she had to.
Georgie
Her remit was to win the Tour de France. She. It was her within her right to be. Like, my best path to do that is to
climb the Cordela Madeleine as fast as I can.
Georgie
How am I going to do that. This is the method I'm going to do that. So I. What I don't agree with is the publication of
Georgie
so, like, kind, of. There was that Instagram story of the. The skin fold callipers, and when she was at Altitude Cam and
saying, I can finally eat breakfast now, and things like that, I think.
Christophe Mallet
Did that make you feel uncomfortable?
Georgie
Yeah, it did. It did. It made a lot of people feel uncomfortable. And it's, And she. She then followed up with a
statement saying, I don't do this unsupervised. It's very controlled. And I think that is something that needs to be
taken on board. Like, she has the best of the best. It's like how today has the best of the best, you know, like, these
guys are right riding that razor edge of what is health, what is. No, not even what is healthy, but like, what is like,
actually, like, sustainable and like. And actually, like, workable within the browns. Because I don't think a pro
Georgie
But it's. It's like, what is the limit that my body can sustain at this. At this level of intensity.
Georgie
And, like, Pauline's got all the science and all the nutrition and all the coaching. My worry is that, like, a young
cyclist will look at that and be like, that's my path to success.
Christophe Mallet
Take corners without having the whole. The full picture.
Georgie
Yeah, exactly. And it's. And, you know, cycling is a, the fantastic sport with all the data we have available to us, but
Christophe Mallet
Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. And it's probably getting worse in that sense.
Christophe Mallet
what is life for you now? Because, okay, you're well and truly retired now from the sport. You're still in it. You're
still in the sport, in the performance. What do you do on the. On a daily basis?
Georgie
so I work with Escape Collective and I'm a freelance, journalist with them. So I am.
Christophe Mallet
We love Escape Collective. We all members. I think we all read, we all like the depth of wear and shameless. You know,
we're not in any way affiliated with, you guys, but, it's a very essential, publication.
Georgie
Yeah, I think. So. we are not afraid to kind of stick our neck out and say the things that other people don't say. Yeah,
absolutely. So it's important. So, yeah, I was very fortunate to, have connection with Abby Mickey, who's the chief
editor of the women's cycling coverage over at Escape. And, she Brought me on board in the Will Talk podcast. and then
she went on maternity leave and asked if I would cover her while she was on maternity leave. And, that's kind of how
the. Fell into that role. I mean, you know, I fell into cycling, then I kind of fell into the role of a journalist. And,
it's. I love telling stories. I think that's the, that's kind of what. Being curious and telling stories. It's kind of
what gets me going. And yeah. this enables me to do that in a sport that I love. So, it really is something that I love.
And so, yeah, my days look varied because, you know, as a journey, you kind of. It's up and down the workload. some days
are like full noise and other days are pretty quiet. but yeah, we've got like, for instance, I'm working on a very meaty
story right now, which, like, will take a lot of research and due diligence to kind of get right. So that's a really
interesting piece. But then, you know, you've got the quick and dirty, pieces that you can like, whip out, like, at the
Tour de France, like, where was Pauline for 81 days? Kind of like hypothesising that. And, Yeah.
Christophe Mallet
Or the Croc Challenge, when he's come to us, you know, we do the Croc Challenge.
Georgie
Yeah, exactly. Right. 100%. So you could have some fun with it as well. And that's. And that's great. And the podcast
medium I really enjoy as well. I mean, if you. Yeah. If you haven't caught on, I really like to talk. It's been a great
thing. And, Yeah. And then, so welcome to my world. Thank you very much. Well, that's why we get along. So the, Yeah,
my. I love giving back to the sport in that way. And also I think it's important as, as like media to hold the likes of
the UCI to account because we've seen this year that they've done some pretty mad things the likes of regulations and
Christophe Mallet
And actually also, us, Makai, myself, Grace, we're not scared to.
Christophe Mallet
Put them down a few times.
Christophe Mallet
It's crazy. Some of the stuff are absolutely crazy.
Georgie
Yeah. Because if you don't. If the media isn't there to kind of often shine a light on what's happening, then, like, the
Christophe Mallet
I've asked Grace just early on in the first part of his podcast, but, I'm gonna have to ask you.
Pronostic for the elite race this weekend. I said mine earlier on. I go full tricolour and full outrageous. I'm gonna go
Pauline and Alaphilippe. I know Alaphilippe is just a choice of the heart, not the head. But being seriously, who do you
think could win this woman and then this man race? It's a tough one.
Georgie
It is a really tough one. And because I think we just don't know how they're going to react to the course in Kilgali.
Right. Like it's the women's. Right. I mean it's laps. Like laps is a different base to.
Georgie
Point to point. Because like in the laps everyone gets used to it. They know they can kind of strategize.
Christophe Mallet
Yeah. There's a rhythm, that sudden rhythm that.
Georgie
Installed itself exactly right. So it's a different race. And so then, Same similarly with the men's as well. So. So I
actually don't know. And I get the. The. And the time trials have kind of like shaken up my.
Georgie
Thinking. My thinking as well. And I mean, like, I also love to see the. The likes of like the. The U23 women time trial
having their own race as well. It's great to see like Zoe back. So get up.
Christophe Mallet
Can. Can Demi do it? Is she. Is she up there with the favourites?
Georgie
Is she. I was surprised to see how well Demi did in the time trial.
Christophe Mallet
Yeah. Okay.
Georgie
So, like, I think she's on good form. I think she can. Is if the Dutch play ball, she can do it. But the issue is that's
Christophe Mallet
You know, like, is this one for the Dutch to lose again?
Georgie
It is for the Dutch to lose again. 100. It is like you've got like van der Breg and who's back. and you got Demi and
it's. It's a really difficult duo. How do you manage that?
Christophe Mallet
Yeah. Yeah, well, he's struggling.
Georgie
Yeah, exactly. Right.
Christophe Mallet
We'll see. We'll see on Saturday.
Georgie
But yeah, I mean, I. And so like, I think, I actually think Pauline, because I think that the Dutch will shoot
Christophe Mallet
So Pauline, because, just if you know the, the mindset that she usually when she announces something, it's pretty close
to what's happening. We saw it this year. She pinpointed where she could have successes and she won Paris Roubaix. She
did super well. If she didn't crash at Strade Bianca, she won the Tour de France. All those were pinpointing elements
that she had in her career. She was not really pinpointing this World Championship. do you think she could do this? Do
you think she could win this? has she been able to carry the force that she. The effort that it needs to be made and
done to win Tour de France, especially this year? Would she be able to still be top of the crop on Saturday?
Georgie
If she does, she'll win Roubaix, the Tour de FA World Championships, in the same.
Christophe Mallet
I'm not sure that's ever been done for the men in one year.
Georgie
And that, to me, just an athlete is a performer. Right. And so you mould yourself into. As a tool in which to enact
whatever years you're trying to perform. Pauline, if she does this, will be the consummate performer.
Georgie
Like, she has just, like, there's a.
Christophe Mallet
Pedestal, but we put a pedestal on the pedestal for her.
Georgie
She has. She has chiselled her and shaped her body and her mindset into, like, the most terrifying weapon to win a bike
race. And it doesn't matter the type of bike race.
Georgie
It could be cobbles in Roubaix, or it could be, you know, the summits of Col de la Madeleine, or it could be, you know,
the. The heat of Kilgali. It's, It really is just. She.
If she does it, it will be an incredible feat and, And something I hope, like, it just shows the tenacity of her
Christophe Mallet
Yeah. You just want history to happen. So I think.
Georgie
I think. And I'm the same as you. Like, it's not. I don't have the French affiliation, but I mean, the enormity of.
Christophe Mallet
I'm totally biassed and I'm not even ashamed of it.
Georgie
No, but, like. But the. But the amount that that would mean for performance. Yeah, it would just be incredible. Like, it
would just. It would. It would put the. Push the sport forward in a way that, Yeah. It would kind of make others think,
like, how can we really push the ball? Which is also, a blessing and a curse. Right. Because, like, exactly. The level
of women's cycling is not as deep as the men's. So, like, you know, is the sport ready to. For that next step in
performance? Like, have we got the, like, the subsidiary support around the riders Right. Yet in order to lift everyone
Christophe Mallet
That's a very good point. Yeah. For the men's, we've got this written battle between Tadei and Remco, but there's
another heaps of numbers of rider that can do this. I'm outrageous. I'm saying A la Philippe. Just the heart is picking.
I would love this just for the storyline and it's probably to rub it in Maka's face. That's all. Just for that. But,
without a joke, remove the joke. What, what do you see happening?
Georgie
I mean, I've got a real soft spot for today. Yeah, I think he's a great.
Christophe Mallet
He got hurt last weekend.
Georgie
He did get hurt and it made me really sad.
Christophe Mallet
By one second he missed that podium.
Georgie
Yeah, one second. And like, he will be, he'll be sad, he'll be upset about that.
Christophe Mallet
And like, is he the character of bouncing back on that?
Georgie
Yes, yes, yes, yes. Yeah, I think. And I think if he does, it will cement my love for him even more because he really is
just that. That it is just another bike race for him. Not to belittle the monument that it is, but I think as an athlete
you just have to think it's just another race.
Christophe Mallet
And Grace was saying earlier on that for someone like Remco, winning two world championship in the same event, time
trial and the road race is an incredibly hard feat to do. doing it again because he's done this before, doing a couple
of events like this, it's probably, probably that one step too hard. I mean as much as people would love Remco to be
Georgie
Yeah, I think so. And like the course, the time trial course, was it. It's not the road race. Like it's not the
attritional nature of the road race. The road race course is hard and it's at altitude. Like the. It. That was a, not a
traditional time trialist course, but it was a more time trial esque course than like, I would, I would say like it's
more like ruler focus. Whereas the. Yeah. You think the road race course is going to be way harder.
Christophe Mallet
Yeah, it's bound to be. I think they touted as the third biggest or the third hardest world championship in the. In the
whole history of the World championship.
Georgie
I mean, why not? I mean I don't know how they.
Christophe Mallet
Come with third place, but I think.
Georgie
It'S just on ultimate be like VAM or something like that.
Christophe Mallet
There's like a Lisbon one which apparently was horrible and then the Innsbruck one apparently is up there. I mean up
Georgie
I've holidayed in Lisbon once and I just remember the hill.
Georgie
Was it how you dragged?
Christophe Mallet
Hard to walk.
Georgie
Dragging my suitcase up to the hostel, like. No, not dragging. I had the, you know, backpackers back at like 2am Ah.
Trying to get to my hostel.
Christophe Mallet
I hear you. I've been there as well. It was lovely talking to you. Thank you for popping in. And I'm sure we'll hear a
lot from you as well in, a, in the years to come. Because you're local, you know.
Christophe Mallet
Thank you, Tori.
Georgie
Thanks, Christoph. Sam.
