2014 Tour of California May 11-18

[SKSemtex]

Anything of substance to say, or just getting personal?

Kirby knows less about cycling than Sarah Palin knows about paleontology. That is a fact. Whether or not I like Kirby or not is irrelevant.

Probably it is your problem Hitch. You know too much about the cycling. .

Who cares about commentary anyway. Watching the race with cyclingnews forum and http://www.procyclingstats.com is much more fun .

The commentary is not the biggest problems of TV covarage. I keep wondering when the organizers enter 21 century and start to use the present technology. What they need is one good software , 200 GPS chips, 200 on bike cameras, one remote controlled chopper camera and one smart "director" and we can get any information from the race we want. Names, current standing of anybody, gaps, speed, wats etc.

I am sure this way they can actually reduce the cost of production (less motobike cameres, less choppers ) and increase the income for commercials, last but not least get new people to watch the races who are tired by crappy production and lack of information needed.

 

[saneguy]

Wiggo has got the ToC in the bag with this ride. Dont think there was ever any doubt though to start with.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Probably it is your problem Hitch. You know too much about the cycling. .

Who cares about commentary anyway. Watching the race with cyclingnews forum and http://www.procyclingstats.com is much more fun .

The commentary is not the biggest problems of TV covarage. I keep wondering when the organizers enter 21 century and start to use the present technology. What they need is one good software , 200 GPS chips, 200 on bike cameras, one remote controlled chopper camera and one smart "director" and we can get any information from the race we want. Names, current standing of anybody, gaps, speed, wats etc.

I am sure this way they can actually reduce the cost of production (less motobike cameres, less choppers ) and increase the income for commercials, last but not least get new people to watch the races who are tired by crappy production and lack of information needed.

Please spare me for all the lipstick on the piggy. I don't want shi!tty choppy pictures from bike cameras or useless information cluttering the HD screen. Instead get the fundamentals of the TV production right. Made by professional people with an understanding of race action and "movie making".

The additional information (GPS, bike cams, watt stuff) can then be made available via web content so fans can chose to see it when they want.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Lets see if the "climbers" can drop Sir Wiggo in the mountains.

More pics here: http://www.steephill.tv/2014/tour-of-california/photos/stage-02/

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Ten Dam watch.

41 TEN DAM Laurens Belkin-Pro Cycling Team 2:20 47.048

Apparently he was involved in a crash after crossing the line.

It will be interesting to see what Belkin will do now. Bobridge did very well in the TT but that won't help GC wise.

 

[SKSemtex]

Please spare me for all the lipstick on the piggy. I don't want shi!tty choppy pictures from bike cameras or useless information cluttering the HD screen. Instead get the fundamentals of the TV production right. Made by professional people with an understanding of race action and "movie making".

The additional information (GPS, bike cams, watt stuff) can then be made available via web content so fans can chose to see it when they want.

I quitted watching TV long time ago. I do not want to take you your front motocameras completly. They are OK when we have one break and one peloton, but when it comes to mountain stage we are completly screwed up most of the time. I prefer to have all the information immeditely on one screen to beeing forsed to watch one rider in excellent HD quality and wait for infomation to the end of the race.

 

[webvan]

Yeah and he didn't look too happy, seemed to be complaining about something "external"...

Lets see if the "climbers" can drop Sir Wiggo in the mountains.

More pics here: http://www.steephill.tv/2014/tour-of-california/photos/stage-02/

Based on his climbing in Trentin and now the ITT, I wouldn't be surprised if he rode them off his wheel actually, Peyragudes style...yeah he doesn't need to for the TOC win but the bigger statement he can make here, the better his case for the TDF.

 

[argyllflyer]

It's been an interesting dynamic on Eurosport during this to have two ex pros (Matt Stephens leading and Brian Smith summarising) doing the commentary. Eurosport are shorthanded following the sudden (and by all accounts irreversible) departure of David Harmon a year ago - I assume the plan would be to have Stephens do more as the season goes on. Much more informed commentary than a few they use.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I quitted watching TV long time ago. I do not want to take you your front motocameras completly. They are OK when we have one break and one peloton, but when it comes to mountain stage we are completly screwed up most of the time. I prefer to have all the information immeditely on one screen to beeing forsed to watch one rider in excellent HD quality and wait for infomation to the end of the race.

But thats the point. You can get want you want from an interactive source since you operate from a computer. I wan't the base line picture production improved. I don't want to see choppy footage from a mountain climb, neither do I wan't to see all sorts of technical information on the main screen. It will destroy the experience for me.

See what I mean? You prefer one way, I another.

So make it interactive. Multiple cam sources you can choose on the net, but lets not have a clown deciding that everybody should see all information at the same time on the main "signal".

 

[SKSemtex]

But thats the point. You can get want you want from an interactive source since you operate from a computer. I wan't the base line picture production improved. I don't want to see choppy footage from a mountain climb, neither do I wan't to see all sorts of technical information on the main screen. It will destroy the experience for me.

See what I mean? You prefer one way, I another.

So make it interactive. Multiple cam sources you can choose on the net, but lets not have a clown deciding that everybody should see all information at the same time on the main "signal".

I have got your point. Fair enough.

 

[jens_attacks]

look at those arms_O_

even if it won't happen, i would like wiggo to win one of the mtf's just to put even more pression on sky. as things go right now, he definitely deserves co-leadership for le tour.

 

[webvan]

Again I wouldn't put it past him to ride everyone off his wheel at some point like at Trentin. It's not something you'd normally expect with his crushing ITT victory but with the current "context" at Sky and him being a bit "off the wall", who knows!

 

[RownhamHill]

But thats the point. You can get want you want from an interactive source since you operate from a computer. I wan't the base line picture production improved. I don't want to see choppy footage from a mountain climb, neither do I wan't to see all sorts of technical information on the main screen. It will destroy the experience for me.

See what I mean? You prefer one way, I another.

So make it interactive. Multiple cam sources you can choose on the net, but lets not have a clown deciding that everybody should see all information at the same time on the main "signal".

I (obviously) don't disagree that there should be more options to please more people, but out of interest, why is it that your preference (and not SKs) gets to be the main feed? Couldn't the super HD quality feed of the lead group just be one option on the interactive coverage?

 

[vedrafjord]

The commentary is not the biggest problems of TV covarage. I keep wondering when the organizers enter 21 century and start to use the present technology. What they need is one good software , 200 GPS chips, 200 on bike cameras, one remote controlled chopper camera and one smart "director" and we can get any information from the race we want. Names, current standing of anybody, gaps, speed, wats etc.

I think the two important things we're missing at the moment are:

a) a way of quickly and reliably knowing who's just attacked. This could be technology-based, or something as simple as a number or other ID on the head tube or helmet so you can see who's who from a moto camera pointing backwards at the riders.

b) lots, lots, lots more time checks in time trial stages - at the moment it's impossible to know how the race is actually going for 90% of a time trial stage. If you want to get really fancy, you could also have a rider racing the 'ghost' of the current fastest rider (as is done sometimes in skiing) - this will require a bunch of fixed cameras though.

 

[Netserk]

Quite unusal. True. "TheSceptic" may has a theory about it.

How many ITTs did he win before 2012?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I (obviously) don't disagree that there should be more options to please more people, but out of interest, why is it that your preference (and not SKs) gets to be the main feed? Couldn't the super HD quality feed of the lead group just be one option on the interactive coverage?

Interactive means users can define their own end product. Mix feeds from bike cams, race stats, in car cams and of course the main "TV production" signal.

My concern is the main "TV production" signal which requires top end equipment, transmission systems and above all professional people. All too often this part is not good enough today. I.e. fix the baseline, before adding lipstick.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I think the two important things we're missing at the moment are:

a) a way of quickly and reliably knowing who's just attacked. This could be technology-based, or something as simple as a number or other ID on the head tube or helmet so you can see who's who from a moto camera pointing backwards at the riders.

b) lots, lots, lots more time checks in time trial stages - at the moment it's impossible to know how the race is actually going for 90% of a time trial stage. If you want to get really fancy, you could also have a rider racing the 'ghost' of the current fastest rider (as is done sometimes in skiing) - this will require a bunch of fixed cameras though.

I think the tracker can be expanded to include some of the things you are looking for.

Very easy to add additional time checks on a TT and have them on the tracker. The thing I like about the tracker, is the option to select the information required. Don't like the commentary, deselect it. Want full screen TV production feed, go ahead a select that. It can all be done.

 

[SKSemtex]

Interactive means users can define their own end product. Mix feeds from bike cams, race stats, in car cams and of course the main "TV production" signal.

My concern is the main "TV production" signal which requires top end equipment, transmission systems and above all professional people. All too often this part is not good enough today. I.e. fix the baseline, before adding lipstick.

As somebody has already told here on this forum. Cycling is already very expensive in production and very very limited in terms of income.

Everybody would love to have a lot of motocameras able to cover all the action but there are huge limitation technical and financial as well.
Lets be realistic. This "baseline" will only get worse as it is extremly cost demanding.

 

[SKSemtex]

I think the tracker can be expanded to include some of the things you are looking for.

Very easy to add additional time checks on a TT and have them on the tracker. The thing I like about the tracker, is the option to select the information required. Don't like the commentary, deselect it. Want full screen TV production feed, go ahead a select that. It can all be done.

Yes. This what I want from the tracker. The possibility to choose what I want. You want full screen video OK. Do you want to have the (selected) gosts on the line with gaps in some part of the screen? OK. No problem. Do you want to see the the action from the bikecamera of some rider on some part of the screen. Again no problem.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

As somebody has already told here on this forum. Cycling is already very expensive in production and very very limited in terms of income.

Everybody would love to have a lot of motocameras able to cover all the action but there are huge limitation technical and financial as well.
Lets be realistic. This "baseline" will only get worse as it is extremly cost demanding.

Why will the baseline get worse over time?

 

[ILovecycling]

Im shocked how can anyone think Wiggins will be (at least tiny) a thread to Froome and Contador in Tour?Even Valverde this year is better climber and GT contender than Wiggins.

 

[greenedge]

I hope Garmin send Acevedo on the attack for the first big climb of the day- have a teammate in the break too to help
If that doesn't work they should still have Dennis for the podium and Acevedo can get a consolatory stage win.

 

[SKSemtex]

Why will the baseline get worse over time?

It is just opinion. Probably wrong. But fuel, waiges of drivers, cameramen and all the staff required will not get any cheaper in the future, so if there will be no new sponzors ...

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

How many ITTs did he win before 2012?

Why? ... It´s 11. No surprise for a ITT specialist.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

It is just opinion. Probably wrong. But fuel, waiges of drivers, cameramen and all the staff required will not get any cheaper in the future, so if there will be no new sponzors ...

ah ok, my view is a bit more positive on the outlook side but the sport has a lot of work to do.