Australian Taxpayers revolt: Time to go Tomo!

[auscyclefan94]

tomo is alright, who do you plan to replace him with?

he is an absolute top bloke in person when he is not 'working'

Kate Bates has shown herself to be really good host. I think she would do a great job. She is articulate, calm and understands the sport.

 

[Yingge]

Speaking of commercials tho - what's with all the erection medication ads during the tour. Are they implying cyclists are soft c**ks? lol

Maybe an Omega Pharma ad for their Silence product might have been more appropriate.

Back to the topic though, finding a true cycling commentator on any channel is hard. Most of those who work Full Time are Journalists, who lean to sport, and then to cycling. Tomalaris is one, as he first appeared on TV covering football (or Soccer as we refer to it in OZ), graduating to cycling later. Bates has promise, but maybe a bit early to put her as the main presenter yet. Most of the ex-cyclists are simply not available for a 3 week part-time job. I remember years back that they had Alan Peiper in the studio during one TDF and he seemed to have stage fright - not all cyclists make good TV presenters.

But given a choice between SBS with Tomalaris (who has his faults) vs one of the other Networks with some stooge who can barely spell bicycle, let alone know which end of a bike is the front, I will stick with what we have.

 

[msjett]

Although after all these years you would think that Tomo would have more objectivity when speaking about whats happening in the race. But I guess that is what the ex-pros are for. I personally think it is time to pension off Paul and Phil, but question is would whoever replaced them actually be any better?

 

[woodie]

Although after all these years you would think that Tomo would have more objectivity when speaking about whats happening in the race. But I guess that is what the ex-pros are for. I personally think it is time to pension off Paul and Phil, but question is would whoever replaced them actually be any better?

Maybe, at least they wouldn't make any old man mistakes like saying a rider was there right after your counterpart said he had been dropped

 

[Kwibus]

Maybe I was a little hasty but the calls that Cadel's career was over which was said multiple times by Tomo shows how naive and stupid he really is.

SBS is bringing on more and more cycling, but I find it hard to warm to Mike.

It's hard to get good commentators. Here in the Netherlands we got Herbert Dijkstra. Besides his knowledge of local culture and nature he really has nothing to add to the race besides silly comments. He rarely makes sense and makes me cringe atleast once every 5 minutes.
The other commentator is Maarten Ducrot who is okish, but really nothing compares to the knowledge and commentating of belgian commentators like Jose de Cauwer.
I got the choice of watching the belgian tele so no problem for me, except ofcourse that it's Belgian television so they are obviously biased towards the Belgian riders, but I can deal with that

It's easy for Tomo to say Evans his career is over, while it's obviously not. Maybe he won't win the TdF anymore, but he still finished 7th this TdF. Which mean there were still atleast 192 riders who did worse.
Evans will still be a contender for hilly 1-day races and weeklong stage races.
The chance he will win the TdF again isn't very big, but it wouldn't suprise me if he actually will perform better next year.

 

[Jana_B]

Mike Tomolaris doesn't usually bother me too much. Unfortunately, he doesn't really exude much passion for cycling, and always looks like he wishes he was elsewhere (out of the sun/rain/wind etc).

As much as I don't love his work, I did feel a little for him yesterday (early this morning). Straight after the Champs-Elysee sprint, Tomo and Scott Sunderland had an awful lot of dead air time to fill. Tomo lined up some interviews with the Aussies in the tour, who were still on their bikes. They were clearly exhausted and not really in a talkative mood.

Anyway, all was smooth sailing until Tomo offered Matt Goss commiserations for a tour "without success". Goss was completely miffed by this statement and looked extremely p*ssed off for a few seconds. Tomo, realizing his error (don't tell somehow who just sprinted their heart out in the most important race on the calendar they are not a success), tried to clarify that he meant, "without that elusive stage win". I was worried for a second that Goss was just going to ride away, but a credit to him he continued. I don't blame Goss for his reaction, and I also don't blame Tomo for the way he framed the question. However, a former-pro or passionate cycling fan would know better than to say something like this, especially when the inevitable disappointment of coming up just short was no doubt still painfully fresh in his mind.

Tomo also found himself in a bit of trouble with Rupert Guinness (who is not particularly charismatic on screen). Guinness contended that people might view Sky's win as "an ugly win". Tomo suggested Sky's win was sterile, methodical, etc. Guinness then hit back with a bit of, "that's what I meant, ugly" (you idiot, it seemed like he wanted to say).

It's true Tomo is no match for hardcore cycling analysts, but he does a commendable job of keeping the coverage rolling along. As easy as it seems to fill minutes of air with cohesive chatter, it's quite an art, and his sidekicks would be out of their depths without Tomo as anchor.

 

[Marcuccio]

I can never understand myself why they insist on interviewing a rider the exact minute he gets off his bike after a sprint.

It's like interviewing a swimmer or sprinter just after their heat.
Seems crazy to me.
Gossy is a top bloke tho - kudos to him for not going nuts.

 

[greenedge]

Speaking of commercials tho - what's with all the erection medication ads during the tour.

The Skoda and Swisse ( Olympic one- not the Cadel one ) ads are also bad.

@Jana-B: If Goss was not on live TV i think he would have been going away from him.

 

[slartiblartfast]

Notice they pulled the Swisse ad featuring Cadel as soon as he went off the boil in the tour?

 

[BillytheKid]

Could be worse. You could have Phil and Paul

He does not know what he's missing.

 

[Night Rider]

... Anyway, all was smooth sailing until Tomo offered Matt Goss commiserations for a tour "without success". Goss was completely miffed by this statement and looked extremely p*ssed off for a few seconds. Tomo, realizing his error (don't tell somehow who just sprinted their heart out in the most important race on the calendar they are not a success), tried to clarify that he meant, "without that elusive stage win". I was worried for a second that Goss was just going to ride away, but a credit to him he continued. I don't blame Goss for his reaction, and I also don't blame Tomo for the way he framed the question.

Not wanting to defend Tomo, but what was wrong with the first question? You turn up to a three week race stacked with sprinters including arguably one of the top 5 in the world and you should measure success on at least one stage win. Success isn't just getting 7 or 8 riders to the finish. Sometimes journalists need to ask the tough questions.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

So you had to endure a pundit writing off Evans totally after being happy about him a year ago when he was winning? First experience with that ACF?

You'll get used to it. Here I have to listen to Dutch pundits breaking down Gesink after 'failing' in the Tour for 2 years in a row. Last year he persevered with 0% chance of doing anything, and they were saying he didn't have the level clearly, even without fall, otherwise he would have abandonded, according to them. This year he abandoned and he is again burned for it (especially by Boogerd, an ex-pro), who turn to Valverde and Rolland of examples of guys who fell but achieved something anyway.
He can never do it right according to them. And yes, they are paid for by tax-payer money too (dutch NOS = state funded).
Should I start a topic? Nah, just let it slide man

 

[Kender]

Although after all these years you would think that Tomo would have more objectivity when speaking about whats happening in the race. But I guess that is what the ex-pros are for. I personally think it is time to pension off Paul and Phil, but question is would whoever replaced them actually be any better?

I'd like to hear how Matty K goes with a commentary partner. Solo he does ok but it lacks a conversational tone you can only get with more than 1 commentator. he has great knowledge but it would be nice to see him paired with an ex pro rider for those anecdotal stories and inside info one only gets as a pro rider.

Maybe they should give Robbie McEwan the seat beside him. That could be interesting (if they are game enough to pair 2 aussies together). They'd have to pry him away from Orica Greenedge though.

 

[msjett]

I'd like to hear how Matty K goes with a commentary partner. Solo he does ok but it lacks a conversational tone you can only get with more than 1 commentator. he has great knowledge but it would be nice to see him paired with an ex pro rider for those anecdotal stories and inside info one only gets as a pro rider.

Maybe they should give Robbie McEwan the seat beside him. That could be interesting (if they are game enough to pair 2 aussies together). They'd have to pry him away from Orica Greenedge though.

Matt Keenan and Scott McGrory did commentary for the track worlds and the Giro, I think....could be wrong...it was ok commentary...

 

[Marcuccio]

The Skoda and Swisse ( Olympic one- not the Cadel one ) ads are also bad.

@Jana-B: If Goss was not on live TV i think he would have been going away from him.

Yeah there's that big behemoth of a woman basketballer on there with the shaved sides - damn she's scary!

 

[Kender]

Matt Keenan and Scott McGrory did commentary for the track worlds and the Giro, I think....could be wrong...it was ok commentary...

Yeah i saw the track worlds. Completely different environment than a road race for the purposes of commentary though so hard to compare.

Unfortunately we don't get the Giro and the Vuelta here in NZ so i stream eurosport instead.

 

[42x16ss]

Kate Bates has shown herself to be really good host. I think she would do a great job. She is articulate, calm and understands the sport.

As a recently retired ex-pro you would hope so, would love to have Kate Bates and Matt Keenan get a run. Swap Tomo for Mackenzie and you could have a good team there.

 

[Barracuda]

As a recently retired ex-pro you would hope so, would love to have Kate Bates and Matt Keenan get a run. Swap Tomo for Mackenzie and you could have a good team there.

Agree .... Mackenzie's individual efforts at stage starts etc where excellent and informative ..... make the swap and the SBS's already great coverage, which is much appreciated, will go from strength to strength....

 

[Jono L.]

Tomo is alright.

He makes the effort to come out to small Aussie NRS races and works hard to help promote the NRS and the local sponsors.

He says some silly things. But he is a tireless worker and his heart is very much in the right place.

 

[UlleGigo]

I think you are being a bit harsh ACF. Yes Tom is a bit of a dolt but he's part of the furniture and it wouldn't feel the same without him.

Tomo suggesting that Cadel ride the Giro next year and skip the Tour was stupid. However, Sunderland suggesting that Van Garderen ride for Cadel one more time next year was equally stupid. Van Garderen has earnt the right to be at least equal leader on the team. You're only as good as your last result and sadly for Cadel that means he has slipped down the pecking order a bit.

Tan is an idiot. I don't think I'm wrong in saying that that point is universally accepted. He has the personality of a brick and generally just spews crap whenever he's on the air. Very definitely a car wreck in HD.