Life Inside the Tour de France with Cycling Journalist Andrew Hood

05/12/25 • 62 min

Longtime cycling journalist Andrew Hood talks to host Tim Sweeney about his journey from small town daily newspaper reporter in Colorado reporting on ski vacations of the royal family to becoming a prominent figure in cycling journalism for Velo. Plus, how to plan your trip to the Tour de France, what it’s like to be inside the circus of world’s great bike races, and the craziness of camping out with cycling fans on the side of a French mountain. They also discuss the current state of cycling and the evolution of the sport in America. Having forged a media career in an era that has seen disappearing print outlets and the birth of social media, Hood offers career advice on the importance of being adaptable to change in your professional life and how community journalism was an ideal training ground.
Hood has covered dozens of editions of cycling's spring classics as well as the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España, along with numerous world championships in road, track, and mountain biking. He’s also covered multiple Olympic Games and reported on bike races across six continents. His work appears in the Outside cycling network, and he has written for The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, the Washington Post, and many more.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction and Background

02:41 - Journey into Cycling Journalism

09:05 - The Evolution of Cycling in America

14:56 - Community Journalism and Its Impact

19:01 - Breaking into the Cycling World

22:48 - The Rise of American Cycling

34:55 - Covering the Tour de France: A Journalist's Perspective

43:24 - The Challenges of Reporting in a Fast-Paced Environment

46:36 - The Fan Experience at Cycling Events

50:24 - The Publicity Caravan: A Unique Cycling Tradition

52:33 - Exploring Alternative Cycling Events

57:20 - Riding Iconic Climbs: A Cyclist's Journey

01:01:28 - The Current State of Cycling: Trends and Predictions

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Long Distance Lounge podcast is produced by Twin Thieves Media
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Logo by Kyle Johnston Designs

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction and Background

02:41 - Journey into Cycling Journalism

09:05 - The Evolution of Cycling in America

14:56 - Community Journalism and Its Impact

19:01 - Breaking into the Cycling World

22:48 - The Rise of American Cycling

34:55 - Covering the Tour de France: A Journalist's Perspective

43:24 - The Challenges of Reporting in a Fast-Paced Environment

46:36 - The Fan Experience at Cycling Events

50:24 - The Publicity Caravan: A Unique Cycling Tradition

52:33 - Exploring Alternative Cycling Events

57:20 - Riding Iconic Climbs: A Cyclist's Journey

01:01:28 - The Current State of Cycling: Trends and Predictions

Logo by Kyle Johnston Designs

Previous Episode

Great Barrier Reef Scuba Dive Guide Michelle Barry

Michelle Barry, a scuba diving instructor based in Cairns, Australia joins host Tim Sweeney to discuss the beauty and diversity you can experience on a visit to the Great Barrier Reef, the immersive sensory experience of diving, and the importance of reef conservation. Hear what it's like to have a massive bull shark swim meters beneath you from a woman who has spent a great deal of her life underwater. A Master Reef Guide with Pure Snorkeling, Michelle also shares her journey from growing up in New Hampshire in the US to learning to dive in San Diego to moving to Queensland, Australia to do what she loves in one of the most premier places on earth to do it. The conversation also touches on the health of the reef, the impact of climate change, and the role of tourism in conservation efforts.

Chapters

01:10
Exploring the Great Barrier Reef

02:26
Meet Michelle Barry: Scuba Diving Expert

03:33
Journey to Becoming a Dive Instructor

06:13
Life Underwater: Diving Experience

08:57
Cairns: The Gateway to Adventure

09:42
The Job of a Dive Instructor

12:34
Understanding the Great Barrier Reef

18:10
The Immersive Experience of Diving

21:15
Health of the Great Barrier Reef

24:32
Personal Connection to the Reef

27:51
The Dynamics of Reef Predators

43:05
Shark Species of the Great Barrier Reef

50:10
Conservation Efforts and Eco-Tourism

Logo by Kyle Johnston Designs

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Logo by Kyle Johnston Designs

Long Distance Lounge - Life Inside the Tour de France with Cycling Journalist Andrew Hood

Transcript

Speaker 0000:00:00.609

Hi there and welcome into the Long Distance Lounge. My name is Tim Sweeney and this is a podcast where we travel kind of virtually to meet people doing cool things with their lives in cool places. And this one's no exception. We're catching up with an old friend of mine named Andrew Hood. He is a journalist who covers the world of professional cycling. So he spends his life pu