Magnus or Sean on the mic

cyclecraig

I have enjoyed Magnus Backstedt's commentary on the TOQ.
Gives some good insight and has good connections within the peloton to get the inside track!

What do you think about Eurosport giving him some TDF commentary this year..

I like Sean Kelly but he does say "he certainly is" far to many times for my liking!!!

calvjones

Half each. Variety is the spice of life.

scwxx77

Seems like a really nice guy but I've never been that impressed by his punditry. Brian Smith would be better.

afx237vi

Forced to choose, I would go with Kelly. But I agree with Calv, a bit more variety would be good, especially in the GTs. A few days of Kelly, a few days of Backstedt, a few days of Smith... just pleeeeeeeease no more Carlton Kirby.

Eurosport should also bring back Emma Davies.

SCR Pedro

Sean Kelly is a brilliant commentator. I noticed that, about halfway through last year he stopped saying 'certaintly' so much. How I missed it so. I'd gotten so used to it.

Pedro

jerry3571

I do now speak Majorly like Sean Kelly; a 100%.

-Jerry

PS- Sean doesn't say "certainly". It's his own word which is "certaintly"

Rodrego Hernandez

Kelly is the best, by miles. What he doesn't know about bike races isn't worth knowing.

Backstedt is a nice guy but not as good a commentator

Smith doesn't know enough or have the personality to commentate.

mroli

I've enjoyed Magnus' commentary too - he's got a nice tone about him.

gattocattivo

jerry3571 wrote:

PS- Sean doesn't say "certainly". It's his own word which is "certaintly"

More like 'certaindly', I reckon. There's another one he always says, which I can't quite remember, something like "over the last number of_____".

BrianS

Rodrego Hernandez wrote:

Kelly is the best, by miles. What he doesn't know about bike races isn't worth knowing.

Backstedt is a nice guy but not as good a commentator

Smith doesn't know enough or have the personality to commentate.

Thanks!

stfc1

BrianS wrote:

Rodrego Hernandez wrote:

Kelly is the best, by miles. What he doesn't know about bike races isn't worth knowing.

Backstedt is a nice guy but not as good a commentator

Smith doesn't know enough or have the personality to commentate.

Thanks!

Well I enjoy your co-commentary, Brian! Hope to hear more this year.

Sean is the best though

moray_gub

Rodrego Hernandez wrote:

Smith doesn't know enough or have the personality to commentate.

I think thats a bit harsh as whenever ive listned to him Brian Smith always comes across very well and is very good at reading races and i am not just saying that coz he posts in here sometimes.

Bhima

Magnus has been on during the Tour - not live, just in the "studio" afterwards and beforehand, giving predictions and post-race analysis. He seemed to do a very good job of it last year so I wouldn't change the setup because it works.

Tom Butcher

MIx it up a bit but for me Kelly is still the main man. I've said it before but I'd love to have 2 former pros commentating together just occasionally - nothing against Harmon again just for variety. The whole Eurosport team do a good job though and I wouldn't object to any of them - OK maybe Duffers is only in there for old times sake now but who cares.

For the TdF keep Carlton for occasional amusing anecdotes - that's his forte.

markwalker

kelly has developed a lot since the great early days with duffield errrrrrr no etc

i like his commentary, in fact the whole family likes him. Magnus has only just started and a differnet character, still good but not yet on the same level as kelly. another year from now who knows!

brucey72

I was watching the TdF DVD that came with the official magazine last year whilst on my turbo and have to say that the parts where Sean Kelly speaks to the camera are hilarious .....the eyes, the eyes!!

Great commentator though

curium

I freaking love Sean Kelly. His deadpan delivery is worth the price of admission. When I saw him on the TdF DVD I thought he added a mix of comedy along with the facts.

He had better be staying put for this year!

jerry3571

I have got a poster of Brian Smith on my wall but... I think it's Carlton Kirby who keeps coming out with his mad stories during the TDF. I laugh my pants off; top class.
-Jerry

Rodrego Hernandez

May have been a little harsh on Brian but even though he knows his stuff he still has some work to do to get his enthusiasm out. Having said that, he is so much better than Harmon that it isn't funny. All Harmon talks about is which pro he is friendly with now, which is his favourite and gets in endless plugs for whichever firm had just given him a freebie.

Cycling has a very poor talent pool from which to choose, I guess I just want to have someone who knows racing and can communicate what is happening wel.

pedro118118

Kelly is funny - no doubt about that! He is also very knowledgeable, but he just can't articulate his thoughts over the microphone in any kind of coherent way. Sometimes I would (genuinely) benefit from subtitles.

Magnus was OK, I thought, but nothing special. He comes across as a nice guy and has a very 'considered' manner, but what we want (and need) from the ex-pros is a real insight - what would they do, what should the riders be doing, the tactics/options etc and don't think he really delivers that.

Kirby/Harmon and Duffield are all pretty desperate.

sheffsimon

jerry3571 wrote:

I have got a poster of Brian Smith on my wall but... I think it's Carlton Kirby who keeps coming out with his mad stories during the TDF. I laugh my pants off; top class.
-Jerry

:shock:

sonny73

Took me a while to warm to Kelly in the first instnace, but he is great, insightful and very good imo (if a little wooden when on video; for those that have seen the Tour legends DVD I think it is, you'll know what I mean )
Also Magnus is very good, more upbeat I guess and equally as insightful... I agree a mix would be good but given the choice for the GT's I just love the Harmon and Kelly combo, it's a winner.

Moomaloid

we have to take into account that it is actually really difficult to commentate. Not just because you have to keep the audience occupied for hours on end but also you have to have a certain charisma that is transferable through the microphone.

For me Kelly is top draw, but you can even see how he has come on in leaps and bounds over the past few years. I really like Harmon, a proper bike nut who's enthusiasm comes across well.

I would like to make the suggestion that when Voight retires, can Eurosport please sign him up for co-commentary.

and thank god Yates got the Sky job!

afx237vi

Chris Horner! Him and Sean Kelly would make the greatest double-act ever.

thomasmc

I had forgotten how much I liked Kelly & Harmon till I watched the 09 Tour on DVD with commentary from Phil & Paul last week.
Eurosport commentary is generally v good, as long as they only let Duffers out now & again.

The Prodigy

I enjoyed Brian Smith's stints on Eurosport last year, not too sure I would replace Kelly though, why can't they do 20 minute stints each like cricket commentators.

Pross

Always used to enjoy Chrissy Anderson, she always had lots of background gossip from the peleton. I like Magnus' commentary but biased as he's an adopted Welshman

Jez mon

What happened to Chrissy Anderson??

Have to agree, with what others say about the good quality of the Eurosport commentary whenever I listen to Liggett and Sherwen I turn the sound down, despite both being full time commentators and knowing a lot about the sport, they somehow give the impression that they know b****r all!!

ozzzyosborn206

eye at thuty torty kilometers too go its too early to start attacking, he is pretty good but i do nod off quite alot when i watch the tour, maybe something to do with his voice? doesnt really make it sound all that exciting although i guess it would be near on impossible to do that

sonny73

Moomaloid wrote:

we have to take into account that it is actually really difficult to commentate. Not just because you have to keep the audience occupied for hours on end but also you have to have a certain charisma that is transferable through the microphone.

For me Kelly is top draw, but you can even see how he has come on in leaps and bounds over the past few years. I really like Harmon, a proper bike nut who's enthusiasm comes across well.

I would like to make the suggestion that when Voight retires, can Eurosport please sign him up for co-commentary.

and thank god Yates got the Sky job!

Good call...

stagehopper

If Eurosport keep to Kelly, Smith and Backstedt across the season as their expert co-commentators they won't be doing much wrong as far as I'm concerned.

Think Kelly is brilliant - understated, dry wit, knowledge galore.

Really enjoyed the races Brian Smith did as well last year - he has opinions and isn't afraid to air them about the teams and their tactics.

Maggy is clearly easing himself into the chair and is doing a pretty good job as far as I can see.