The real voice of the sport for me. He called the classics in such a unique style. Some loved him some hated him, but no-one can fail to be moved by his loss.
Sad news indeed. I grew up watching the Tour either in France or on channel 4, so not as big a part of my cycling upbringing as for many. This is still classic viewing though:
Awful news. He was a great commentator and really nice bloke. I loved listening to his commentary when i first started watching cycling and still to this day i think he was one of the best. IMO he was the Murray Walker of cycling.
Used to enjoy listening to him reminiscing about his national service, when he spent some time in Italy. Another link to the past has gone, as we must be running out of people who saw Coppi racing in his pomp.
Used to enjoy listening to him reminiscing about his national service, when he spent some time in Italy. Another link to the past has gone, as we must be running out of people who saw Coppi racing in his pomp.
He used to remind us every time he was covering a race in Italy. Repeatedly.
Saddened to hear of his death, he was part of the fabric of cycling for many, many years. The line "it's curtains for Karpets" remains one of the finest cycling commentary moments of all time.
Very sad news, he was a real gent and such a character if you ever got to meet him in the flesh. We've got a load of stories about him up on the Bikesy site mentioned above, feel free to email your own stories in if you want them included on there.
We always felt the Tour lost a little bit of magic when he stopped broadcasting. He was one of the UK's most splendid most splendid colourful characters.
Although I grew up with Phil and Paul for the Tour, Duffers was the voice that introduced me to the Classics when I first got involved in cycling properly (which coincided with the growth in satellite TV). As someone else said, he reminded of Murray Walker - lots of errors and off topic waffling but always entertaining and passionate about the sport and its associated culture.
Awful news. He was a great commentator and really nice bloke. I loved listening to his commentary when i first started watching cycling and still to this day i think he was one of the best. IMO he was the Murray Walker of cycling.
RIP
I agree wholeheartedly with this. I also,loved his updates on his meals and wine choices when commentating on long uneventful tour stages. Poor Duffers, apparently died after a heavy fall..... The poor man, I did enjoy his work.
I'm turning my granny to the wall in sympathy. RIP
"In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
Very sad news. Only just seen this. He did what all great commentators did and that was put his passion for the sport across.
He mad a 4 hour or longer stage fly by. Loads of great stories and knew the sport inside out.
Would be nice if Eurosport put a programme out of his best clips
After years of Phil going on about "Right on the Line" on terrestrial TV that I finally got a dish hanging outside and the introduction of some entertaining commentary which started with the 1992 MSR. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL3jQmkj3uI
The Refreshing enthusiastic commentary and he would tell you about a boo boo with his size 14 boots needing to be used..
He should have retired earlier because his former style had changed to a less commanding commentary without his former confidence that the younger generation found irritating.
A Duffers in full form has never been equaled to date as he was the Best cycle race commentator and a very nice man to represent the sport.
Remember his story of riding in the bunch on the Coventry By-Pass and at a roundabout being pushed onto the cycle path with a mile on his own to the next roundabout.
David Duffield RIP is forever a Legend.
Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 1972
I tried to explain how much I enjoyed his commentary. He told me well it's probably something to watch whilst I was ironing. It made me laugh and appreciate him more - anyone else I would have been furious.
Thank you David for all those memories
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The real voice of the sport for me. He called the classics in such a unique style. Some loved him some hated him, but no-one can fail to be moved by his loss.
RIP Duffers
My blog and pod...
Beers of Belgium Cycling Club UK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnKhhfX ... e=youtu.be
http://bikesy.co.uk/features/david-duffield/
RIP
Sad news indeed
Shocked and saddened.
He used to remind us every time he was covering a race in Italy. Repeatedly.
Saddened to hear of his death, he was part of the fabric of cycling for many, many years. The line "it's curtains for Karpets" remains one of the finest cycling commentary moments of all time.
We always felt the Tour lost a little bit of magic when he stopped broadcasting. He was one of the UK's most splendid most splendid colourful characters.
I agree wholeheartedly with this. I also,loved his updates on his meals and wine choices when commentating on long uneventful tour stages. Poor Duffers, apparently died after a heavy fall..... The poor man, I did enjoy his work.
@gietvangent
He mad a 4 hour or longer stage fly by. Loads of great stories and knew the sport inside out.
Would be nice if Eurosport put a programme out of his best clips
Finest moment for me was when Guerini collided with a French nerd on Alpe D'Huez:
'You STUPID STUPID man!'
Also 1994 Paris-Roubaix when he lost his voice in the excitement!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL3jQmkj3uI
The Refreshing enthusiastic commentary and he would tell you about a boo boo with his size 14 boots needing to be used..
He should have retired earlier because his former style had changed to a less commanding commentary without his former confidence that the younger generation found irritating.
A Duffers in full form has never been equaled to date as he was the Best cycle race commentator and a very nice man to represent the sport.
Remember his story of riding in the bunch on the Coventry By-Pass and at a roundabout being pushed onto the cycle path with a mile on his own to the next roundabout.
David Duffield RIP is forever a Legend.
Will be missed. He was always the voice of cycling for me.
He clearly loved cycling, and it's what got me into the sport in the first place, watching Eurosport in the late 90s.
I was so saddened to hear of his death, but the memory of him will live long for me
I agree Eurosport should mark his passing with a feature piece.
Quite a nice interview with David here.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=0AjP5YTn2sU
Thank you David for all those memories