It's Christmas Eve! Traditionally we've recorded a look back at the year and talked a bit about what's coming up. This year we're reviewing things a little differently, as we take a look back at some of the most popular stories and subjects we've addressed over the years and what they teach us about the sport, the audience and the business of Pro! Women's! Cycling!

This is a significant episode for us, as this week we are announcing the end of our regular podcast series. We talk through the reasons behind our decision to take a step back, what's changed over the nearly six years we've been doing this and also reminisce about some of our favourite things. This is a positive episode and we'll really love for you to share it with us. Thanks for listening, we hope you've had as much fun as we have.

British cyclocross rider Helen Wyman has always been a fan favourite, and it seems like her racing is getting better than ever. Winning her fourth Koppenbergcross this season, she was on the podiums of the last two Cyclocross World Cups, and with the weather turning wet, rainy and muddy, just as she likes it, this could be just the beginning of an exciting season. We talked about what's made a difference, and how the sport has changed over the last five years - including how Helen's work on the UCI Cyclocross Commission has contributed to that. It's not all 100% positive, and we also talked about the changes Helen would like to see in the future, as well as losing her sponsor at a tricky time.

Sean Robinson is one half of Vélofocus, whose photography makes women's road cycling look so good. Sean talked to me about how 2017 was for him - the highs and lows, and changes he saw from his unique viewpoint of the sport. We also talked about how the sport could improve, and who he thinks we should watch out for in 2017. Check out the Vélofocus pictures, and buy their 2017 annual at http://www.velofocus.com

This week we recap our highlights and best parts of the 2017 women's road season. It's been an amazing year of racing and there's so much to celebrate. From the spring classics through to worlds in Norway, we've got opinions on them all! Get your best of the year opinions now!

In this episode we take a look at the changes in races, race days and race types from the 2017 season into the 2018 season. There's been some interesting changes in different global regions and specific countries. We look at which country has the most races and several surprising countries should probably be doing much better. Then right at the end Sarah causes Dan's brain to melt and the episodes in a minor medical emergency... so, enjoy!

This episode we go through what we know about the 2018 UCI Calendar so far, and what's changed from this year. There's been a lot of changes, with fewer overall race days but still a wealth of races, from all over the world. We go through in detail and talk through the implications of this new season for the peloton as a whole. We also catch up on the latest transfer news and a couple of other exciting announcements as well.

This episode we go through what we know about the 2018 UCI Calendar so far, and what's changed from this year. There's been a lot of changes, with fewer overall race days but still a wealth of races, from all over the world. We go through in detail and talk through the implications of this new season for the peloton as a whole. We also catch up on the latest transfer news and a couple of other exciting announcements as well.

This week we dive right into all the latest news and updates on transfers. If you need to know which rider is going where, then this is the episode for you! (Unless they haven't been confirmed yet, in which case, you probably still want this episode but you'll have to learn to live with the fact that we can't predict the future). Lots of interesting moves being made, with notable riders going to interesting teams; young up and comers joining the elite peloton; and a few eyebrow raisers too.

This week we talk through the Junior and Elite Women's Road Races from Bergen in Norway. There was all sorts of excitement in both races, and we talk through the highlights, the lowlights and the interesting moments that made the races. We also have a bit of a chat about riders to keep an eye on from the Junior racing, and of course we get a bit sidetracked, distracted and diverted some of the time too. There's even a special comedy bonus in the post for you!

This week it's been a week of trials, time trials! World Championship Time Trials! We talk through what happened in Bergen with the Team Time Trial and then both the Junior and Elite Women's Individual Time Trials. There are some spectacular results and the racing has been absolutely top notch. We talk through the start of Cyclocross season, and how the American races have gone thus far. There's a bunch of other topics we get through quickly before taking a look ahead at the road race and the scenarios we're hoping to see play out on the road.

This week we catch up on the racing in Spain and France with the Madrid Challenge and the Tour de l'Ardeche. We discuss what happened at the mountain bike world championships in Cairns, and we also get into the latest intrigue from Cycling Australia leading into the Road World Championships in Bergen. Speaking of which, racing in Bergen starts on Saturday! So we talk worlds, along with transfers and new team rumours. Heaps to discuss so let's get to it!

This week we catch up after Sarah's been away at the Boels Rental Ladies Tour in the Netherlands. There's Plouay results to discuss, all the Dutch racing and of course what it means for worlds. Speaking of worlds, we're two weeks out from the festivities in Bergen and so of course it's time for the (sigh, eyeroll) polemica. This year it's Australia's turn to do something unforgivably stupid, and Dan's got shoutpinions about it.

This week Sarah and Dan talk through the polemica and outrage of Dan's whisky choices. Also discussed is each of the stages from this year's Ladies Tour of Norway, including a bit of race-related polemica. Then there's a look ahead to the Boels Rental Tour next week and the implications of current races for Worlds which is coming up quickly indeed now. We also wax rhapsodical about the GP Plouay which is on live tomorrow! And there's an interesting bit of news from around the place with retirements and some fascinating new projects from retired riders. Beware, the swearing abounds this week.

This week we cover the results from Sweden with the Vargarda Team Time Trial, and the Road Race. We also have an interesting diversion into how the calendar shift of this race has changed the way it's raced and the results. Ella CyclingTips this week had a really interesting interview with Leah Thorvilson, the Canyon-SRAM rider who was the winner of last year's Zwift Academy. We discuss that interview and the broader impact of Zwift Academy on the sport, especially interesting as the second year of the program is due to start in September. As always, lots more fun, laughter and Australian weather updates included!

This week we catch up on the Prudential Ride London GP, which was surprisingly held in London this year. We also cover the full results for Juniors, Under23s and the Elite Women at the European Championships in Denmark. We've got a great block of live races coming up with Vargarda and then the Ladies Tour of Norway, GP Plouay all coming up. There's heaps to get across along with all the usual hilarity, swearing and awesomeness!

This week we follow up on the second race from La Course by Le Tour de France; the chase held on the weekend with the top 19 riders from the Col d'Izoard stage raced it out on the streets of Marseille. We talk through the excitement and also the issues that this new format of race revealed. There's positives and negatives, we take our time with both and also explore ways that we think the format could be improved for the future.

Look, we do understand that not all weeks can be huge weeks of racing, but honestly this week was definitely a HUGE week of racing. We had stage racing at the BeNe Ladies Tour in the Netherlands and Belgium. We also had the Lotto Thuringen Ladies Tour in East Germany. With races suiting different types of riders and different types of racing there was no shortage of surprises and feats of phenomenal prowess to be impressed by. All of that before we get into the high mountains for the Col d'Izoard and La Course by Le Tour de France. We also quickly cover some Canadian racing and talk about a couple of other news items from the week.

Marianne Vos' life in cycling just keeps on as a roller coaster. After getting back on top, she broke her collarbone in June, and now is back racing the BeNe Ladies Tour. She told me how her recovery has gone, and what it was like, watching the team she owns, WM3 Procycling, win the OVO Energy Women's Tour, and struggle in the Giro. We also talked about some of her most memorable Giro Rosa moments, and what it's like to deal with some of the race's frustrations. Click through to my website for the links and videos of things we talked about: https://prowomenscycling.com/2017/07/12/sarah-interviews-marianne-vos-2017/

The Giro Rosa has finished for 2017 but we're far from done with it. With great racing every day, it's perhaps best summed up by Neal Rogers talking about Lucinda Brand when he said: "Only thing more badass than “no one in the photo”? No one in the photo with blood trickling down your arm". Sarah and Dan recap the biggest stage race on the calendar and all of the highs and lows the second week of racing brought us. After that they continue with the overview on the Tour de Feminin in Poland before wrapping up with some quick results in other disciplines and a glimpse of the calendar ahead, and in 2018.