Commentary on TNT and other WB brands

[Axel Hangleck]

They have Sean Kelly on the coverage.

He's co-commentating; I meant as a studio analyst....

 

[lemon cheese cake]

So for the first weekend of the giro i was in the uk where it's obviously known that 'The Breakaway' is done live from somewhere in a cellar in Bath. I'm now in the Netherlands, and I noticed today the pre- and post show are geo restricted to the region for the grand tours so on the gcn player there is the dutch 'Kop over Kop'. Interesting that this is done live, albeit without any form of studio, from the finish.

Edit: I've actually just noticed The Breakaway is not geo restricted but I can only see the race coverage of today's stage with the english language live show.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

He's co-commentating; I meant as a studio analyst....

He has been in the studio but presumably his sartorial choice is not up to the producer's standard so they go with no socks and pink shirts.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I do think they could do with a GT analyst, someone who challenged/ won a GT.

In the pre-GCN days, Eurosport would bring Stephen Roche in for the in-studio segments during the GTs and obviously had Sean Kelly on the commentary. This seemed to work fine while it was a niche sport, as they had a very small core of commentators they could juggle, whereas now there are a lot more names and obviously you've got those who are linked to GCN and those who are contracted to Eurosport and those who have host broadcaster contracts for particular races and so you've got a lot to balance off. For a long time Eurosport got by with only Harmon and Kirby as PBP as they seldom needed more than 2 races simultaneously and any additional races they could just buy the hosts' highlights packages and broadcast on a delay with overdubbed commentary if no commentary in English was available.

On the PBP side, perhaps the smartest guy out there is Marty MacDonald - Marty has been a utility guy doing smaller races for host broadcasters and popping up occasionally for quite some time - you can see him on a bunch of obscure UCI Asia Tour races' highlights packages for example - but he's focused heavily on the women's races and become the de facto go-to guy for PBP on women's cycling, instead of being crowded out on minor men's races, and got himself a niche where he's the clear first choice on a large number of races.

On the analyst side, the big problem that they have when it comes to the stage racing/climbers side of things is that with GCN being based in the UK, the fact most of the UK's cycling interest has come from the track until very recently means that the number of genuine stage racers and GC riders they could choose for coverage are limited; most of the UK & Ireland stage racers are either still active (Yates, Yates, Carthy, Froome, TGH, Thomas) or are already involved in the coverage (Wiggins, York, Roche, Roche, Kelly) - with perhaps the sole obvious exception of Dan Martin. And of those, Wiggins doesn't really add much insight (but his being Bradley Wiggins is a good hook for the casual fan compared to any of the others), Stephen Roche is now a rarity, Sean Kelly usually doesn't appear in studio and Philippa York only appears sporadically. Nico Roche seems like he has potential from a race-reading point of view, but he needs a bit of coaxing out of his shell for the time being. And I dread to think how fawning and banter-tastic it will be when Geraint Thomas eventually inevitably joins the crew. On the other hand, Hugh Carthy I think would be really good.

Going to other Anglophone areas for stage racers has potential, but is still relatively limited. Most of the viable North Americans have chequered history (Hesjedal, Danielson, Leipheimer) or have alienated the GCN contingent (Horner). Australia gives us but two logical possibilities out of riders who are retired - but to be honest, Evans doesn't seem like the TV presenter type and Rogers is more boring than the 2013 Tour of Hainan with a soundtrack of Coldplay.

 

[Tim Cahill]

They should get Kimmage on for a laugh, invest in a decent lawyer beforehand like.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Australia gives us but two logical possibilities out of riders who are retired - but to be honest, Evans doesn't seem like the TV presenter type and Rogers is more boring than the 2013 Tour of Hainan with a soundtrack of Coldplay.

I heard Simon Gerrans on a couple of events last year and thought he was decent, albeit still new at the job.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

And I dread to think how fawning and banter-tastic it will be when Geraint Thomas eventually inevitably joins the crew.

Let's hope they can't afford him and ITV get him to talk cack in between the stairlift adverts.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I heard Simon Gerrans on a couple of events last year and thought he was decent, albeit still new at the job.

I'm meaning out of GC guys/stage racers which is why I mention Evans and Rogers only (unless you count Brad McGee). Otherwise people like Adam Hansen (complaining that everything is too hard, probably) and maybe Matty Lloyd come into the frame as well.

If they are going to have a sprinter-biased panel though, they already have the best Aussie sprinter, but they could also get Graeme Brown in, to start a few fights with more or less anybody at any time.

 

[Lequack]

Does anyone miss a bit of Kirby for these slow flat Giro stages?

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

They should get Kimmage on for a laugh, invest in a decent lawyer beforehand like.

Haha. maybe GCN could have a sports science show.

Sounds like Martin Earley is happy away from it all - https://sportspoetssociety.blogspot.com/2020/05/where-are-they-now-martin-earley.html

Connor Dunne seems to be getting trained up for a job. First time I heard him I thought he had the most anglicised D4 accent ever but then found it he's from St Albans.

 

[Avoriaz]

The Connor Dunne and Larry Warbasse trans-Canaries road trip on GCN was quite good fun

 

[claude cat]

I heard Simon Gerrans on a couple of events last year and thought he was decent,

Just no.
Very uninspiring on the SBS coverage.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

They should get Kimmage on for a laugh, invest in a decent lawyer beforehand like.

He's been digging around doping in horse racing.........I've read this book before....

 

[fmk_RoI]

Sideshow Rob: "Heart-rates have barely risen out of their resting rates."

Obviously not a man familiar with the rest heart rate of the average professional cyclist.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

What are people meaning by Sideshow Rob?

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

What are people meaning by Sideshow Rob?

Sideshow Bob is a character in The Simpsons. He's the fall guy for Krusty the Clown (aka Adam Blyth)

 

[dusty red roads]

Does anyone miss a bit of Kirby for these slow flat Giro stages?

No!!!

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

No!!!

I learnt a bit about sulphurous spas in the Tour of Hongrie. Basically check the wind direction so you don't get the whiff. Cheers, Carlton.

 

[fmk_RoI]

He's the fall guy for Krusty the Clown (aka Adam Blyth)

Kirby the Clown, I think you mean.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

I really bought that GCN racing pass to hear Kroon and Vanbelleghem ramble about some random pastry every day for 15 minutes...

 

[Izzyeviel]

Really enjoying Robbie McEwen working for Eurosport. Feels like a breathe of fresh air.

 

[argyllflyer]

Carlton on Stage 1 from Tour de Hongrie on Wednesday: "Welcome to the Tour of Turkey!"

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

Carlton on Stage 1 from Tour de Hongrie on Wednesday: "Welcome to the Tour of Turkey!"

I’ve a feeling that was a reference to the Ottoman-Hungarian wars. And possibly a sly jibe at Eurosport for giving him minor races instead of a GT.
He's always slipping in things for self-amusement or to baffle Brian Smith.

 

[postmanhat]

Connor Dunne seems to be getting trained up for a job. First time I heard him I thought he had the most anglicised D4 accent ever but then found it he's from St Albans.

First time hearing him today with the immaculate Jose Been on Morbihan. I like him and they're a good pairing. Hopefully they're doing Tro-Bro Leon tomorrow. But yes, about as Irish as Dan Martin

 

[Pinot's goat]

And possibly a sly jibe at Eurosport for giving him minor races instead of a GT.

Kirby does Tour/Vuelta, Hatch does Giro/Tour. Same as last year.