Best commentators on The Tour
1964johnr
Posts: 179
I know he's a clown, but Carlton Kirby with Sean Kelly do it for me. Missing David Harmon even after a couple of years.
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For all his faults, and they are many, Phil Liggett will be massively missed when he's not commentating anymore!0
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Phil and Paul do it for me and all their gaffs gives me an excuse to shout out all the right answers and show how knowledgeable I am about cycling.
Gary Imlach, Chris Boardman and Matt Rendell are all good too but Ned Boulting annoys the P155 out of me. I can't stand the whacky Chris and Ned FAQ on the highlights program either. I record the program and FF through that and the adverts.
I must admit I thought David Millar was good on ITV's Dauphine coverage though and a pity he is not on the Tour team.0 -
Phil and Paul do it for me and all their gaffs gives me an excuse to shout out all the right answers and show how knowledgeable I am about cycling.
Gary Imlach, Chris Boardman and Matt Rendell are all good too but Ned Boulting annoys the P155 out of me. I can't stand the whacky Chris and Ned FAQ on the highlights program either. I record the program and FF through that and the adverts.
I must admit I thought David Millar was good on ITV's Dauphine coverage though and a pity he is not on the Tour team.
I'm catching up on the highlights after a week and a half abroad and have reached the TTT stage now. Paul has very helpfully just translated a banner saying "Merci, France Television"...
I dunno who the commentators on Spanish live TV coverage are but they seem to be having a tremendous time. Not sure I've ever heard anyone laugh so much...Job: Job, n,. A frustratingly long period of time separating two shorter than usual training rides0 -
Phil and Paul are dreadful, particularly Paul. The gaffs, starting a sentence and not finishing it, contradiction, stating the obvious, the list goes on. But the worst part is the adverts. I timed it the other day and for 60mins of the TDF there was 24mins of adds. I know ITV4 have to make some money here, but this is rediculous. I have now started to record it, and watching it later then I can fast forward through the adds. I agree with a previous comment about David Miller he should be commentating then get shot of those 2 muppets.0
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I think ITV4 have the best team, although I do agree the adverts spoil the highlights show. I have warmed to Gary Imlach over the years. He's not a commentator, granted, but some of his withering comments are quite funny. Chris Boardman is excellent as well, I think. Not convinced about David Millar, I find him quite monotonous, albeit knowledgeable. There was an incident a couple of years ago when Contador was almost knocked off his bike by one of the spectators running alongside him on a mountain stage. Phil Ligget's commentary was something along the lines of "Alberto Contador was almost knocked off there, by a man dressed as a nun waving a giant banana...", it just wouldn't have sounded the same in any one else's voice.
Carlton Kirby and Sean Kelly can be hard work, especially Kirby laughing at his own "jokes". Sean Kelly's accent can be wearing after a while too. Much as I like the guy, Greg Lemond is not suited to being in front of a camera.Bianchi ImpulsoBMC Teammachine SLR02 01Trek Domane AL3“When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. “ ~H.G. Wells Edit - "Unless it's a BMX"0 -
I enjoyed the commentary of Ned and David Millar on the Dauphine recently. It needed a bit of polish but definitely hinted at a way forward for ITV when Phil is finally sent off to share a padded cell with Peter Alliss.0
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I know he's a clown, but Carlton Kirby with Sean Kelly do it for me.
Always good to have low expectations.I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles0 -
Sean Kelly, simply the best.Rourke 853 Team Pro Custom.0
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The guys on S4c are doing a pretty good job.0
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Sean Kelly, simply the best.
Very often comes in with a quote with tirty kilometers to go or when the gap is one minute tirty seconds.0 -
I'm a fan of the ITV team. Phil and Paul can make some obvious mistakes but it's not something which bothers me. As for them stating the obvious - a lot of people (even cyclists) will only watch the Tour de France and therefore are not as well versed in everything that goes on in a pro bike race. Big fan of Ned, I like his books so maybe that helps but he doesn't stick to the boring, cliché questions when doing interviews, and the FAQ with Chris are good fun.
Not really a fan of Eurosport, couldn't get ITV earlier in the week so had to watch one of the stages on Eurosport instead and it was just about bearable. I don't actually mind Carlton Kirby too much but every sound which comes out of Sean Kelly's mouth does my head in. He also points out the obvious, however, he points out the obvious in a horrible Irish accent and lots of 'erring' and mumbling.
I suppose the bright side of all this is that we actually have a choice in the UK 0 -
Carlton Kirby just never stops talking, which is quite wearing. He would be better if he took a breath from time to time. Sean Kelly sounds more interesting than he did a few years ago - he used to be painful to listen to but is now much better.0
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David Harmon without a doubt - I can't believe Eurosport didn't offer him a job again after his sick leave!VO2 Max - 79 ml/kg/min
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It just wouldn't be the same without Phil and Paul. Boardman is great (though I'm a big fan anyway), David Millar though not the most charismatic obviously has a (recent) rider's perspective... Wonder if we'll see Wiggins featuring when he finally calls it a day?0
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Kirby - not great but isn't having a bad tour
Kelly - the best pundit bar none
LeMond - I like him and for that reason forgive the fact he is unable to complete a sentence without going off on several tangents. How can anyone knock someone obviously so glad to be involved ?
Ashley House - having a great Tour, wasn't aware of him before but he should have a good career
Millar - find him very downbeat and for me isn't cut out to be behind a microphone
Boulting - not a fan of his man in the street style of broadcasting
Imlach - makes it all sound so f'ing serious
Sherwen - funnily enough I don't hate him as much as I should
Ligget - I hate him more than I should, partly he's well past his sell by date as a commentator and partly because he told outright porkies about Armstrong for years to cater to the USA audience
Boardman - like his dry sense of humour, probably the only one of the ITV lot I'd keep, Millar might get a second chance to see how he gets on with a decent commentator[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0 -
That puts it across better than I did. He is very likeable, knowledgable and enthusiastic, as a presenter though he just needs a bit of polishing.LeMond - I like him and for that reason forgive the fact he is unable to complete a sentence without going off on several tangents. How can anyone knock someone obviously so glad to be involved ?Bianchi ImpulsoBMC Teammachine SLR02 01Trek Domane AL3“When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. “ ~H.G. Wells Edit - "Unless it's a BMX"0 -
KLigget - I hate him more than I should, partly he's well past his sell by date as a commentator and partly because he told outright porkies about Armstrong for years to cater to the USA audience
Boardman - like his dry sense of humour, probably the only one of the ITV lot I'd keep, Millar might get a second chance to see how he gets on with a decent commentator
In fairness, very true, the stuff with both him and Sherwen, and Armstrong is ugly. He'll have to be put out to grass at some point though, and CB would be a natural replacement.0 -
Sean Kelly, as a homage i start every sentence with "yes, well" whilst the cycling is on, as a bonus this really annoys the rest of my family.Look 566
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I particularly like the way Kirby is unable to recognise any rider, and his 10 second brain delay when commentating on a sprint finish.I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles0
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Jens is showing promise.0
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This year I've heard plenty of jobs of work, but nobody has dug deep into their suitcase of courage yet. Someone was gigging deep, which had me on the edge of my seat, but the suitcase was missing.They use their cars as shopping baskets; they use their cars as overcoats.0
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Sean Kelly, as a homage i start every sentence with "yes, well" whilst the cycling is on, as a bonus this really annoys the rest of my family.
Like it
I also use "well, no.." to start responses to questions etc from my kids when the cycling is on.
Back on topic & FWIW, Kelly is the best for me. I like Le Mond despite the fractious nature of his sentences & David Millar is pretty insightful when he's on. As above Gary Imlach is pretty good - quite cutting in a very dry way at times, which I really like. Phil & Paul are the voices of the tour for me, but they're becoming a bit of a joke now with all the errors - get Jensie on some more. Outside the Tour, Magnus Backstedt and Matt Stevens are pretty good.CS7
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What's a Zwift?0 -
Greg Lemond is not suited to being in front of a camera.
Couldn't agree more. He also hasn't got one prediction of how a stage will unfold right and to me, seems very anti Team Sky.I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.0 -
Jens is showing promise.
Yep +1 I've been listening to him over here in Florida very knowledgeable and amusing.Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
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Jens is showing promise.
Yep +1 I've been listening to him over here in Florida very knowledgeable and amusing.
yup he's a hoot and seems to know his stuff.
I like Boardman and Ned, the rest i find irritating. I think miller is okay but needs to learn some more craft.
probably the most irritating thing I find is the exaggerated claims of Gradients (uphill) and speed (downhill), baring in mind a number of riders have strava and what not.
and the old chestnut "he used to race MTB so is a good descender!" , baring in mind XC racing at least high end, is on smooth fairly mild courses, that is far closer to road racing than anything else.0 -
Since I've not got the best hearing in the world, Kelly's completely unintelligible accent combined with Eurosport's lack of subtitles, means it's ITV all the way for me given the choice, and a reluctant suffering of Kelly for the rest of the time.0
