In this episode of The Domestiques, Tills, Marko and Hollywood fire the starter’s gun on the Summer of Cycling with a full-blooded preview of the Australian Road National Championships in Perth.

From time trial showdowns to crit chaos and road race tactics, the boys break down every key race across juniors, under 23s and elites. We cover Plapp vs Vine, Jayco’s numbers game, breakaway maths, dark horses, fashion critiques, heat fears, and the realities of racing Nationals versus watching it from the couch. If you are racing, watching, or yelling at the TV this week, this is your essential Nationals primer.

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Sometimes the best stories come wrapped in chaos. Fair warning. The internet and audio were very average on this one. The conversation still cuts through.

From the elusive AIS development program to the heart of the WorldTour, Simon Clarke has lived just about every version of professional cycling. Astana. Orica GreenEDGE. Cannondale–Drapac. EF Pro Cycling. Qhubeka–NextHash. Israel–Premier Tech. Few riders can say they have seen the sport change from the inside as many times as he has. Marko, Tils and Hollywood unpack a career defined by resilience, adaptability, and surviving at the highest level for over a decade.

Thank you for the support this year on The Domestiques. Ride safe. Check out the Trackhouse by Black Sheep Cycling and Focus Bikes at the TDU.

We recap Australia’s second-biggest Grand Tour, the Tour of Bright, with special guest Talia Appleton, breaking down the racing, the mix of young guns and seasoned pros on show, and what it all means heading into a massive summer of cycling.

Plus, we dig into what INEOS Grenadiers are really building and yes, we confirm the rumour mill is very much true.

Get involved in the first race of the 2026 WorldTour with Black Sheep at The Trackhouse. 16 - 25 January. Learn more at https://trackhouse.blacksheep.cc/