Eurosport commentary

[BlueRoads]

I think the key to being a good cycling commentator is knowing when to fill air, and when to commentate the race. Sometimes that involves basically interrupting yourself!

"And here we see this castle, where - in 1258... there is an attack from Movistar!"

Absolutely. That is probably something that can only be learnt through years of experience. In Germany there is a female commentator for football who suddenly commented on big games and there was a huge debate whether she was good. Lots of people hated on her (voice not good, bla bla bla, though she has a good voice) and lots defended her (she knows much better than the male collegues, you just hate her because she's a woman). I hated to have her as a commentator, too, although everything she said was totally true, she obviously knew what she was talking about. But she just talked and talked... and when there was a goal scene she'd talk about Neymar's transfer... That became a lot better with time! But it made me realise how important it is to "lead the spectator through the events", instead to just give information.

 

[BlueRoads]

Movistar attacked a castle in 1258 and it's been broadcast live?!

Conspiracy theory.

 

[RedheadDane]

Absolutely. That is probably something that can only be learnt through years of experience. In Germany there is a female commentator for football who suddenly commented on big games and there was a huge debate whether she was good. Lots of people hated on her (voice not good, bla bla bla, though she has a good voice) and lots defended her (she knows much better than the male collegues, you just hate her because she's a woman). I hated to have her as a commentator, too, although everything she said was totally true, she obviously knew what she was talking about. But she just talked and talked... and when there was a goal scene she'd talk about Neymar's transfer... That became a lot better with time! But it made me realise how important it is to "lead the spectator through the events", instead to just give information.

And yet football commentators still have an advantage over cycling commentators when it comes to switching between nothing happening and stuff happening; it's a rare occurance in football that all the big stars decide to go to the toilet, and just let the lesser players play around for a while.

 

[Armchair cyclist]

Movistar attacked a castle in 1258 and it's been broadcast live?!

An attack before 1 o'clock is likely to be neutralised before 4 o'clock, by 1600 all will be peaceful.

 

[johnymax]

As I've been watching those classic stages from the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Giro on Eurosport in the last few weeks I've noticed how much better Carlton Kirby sounded back then. He was calling the race alone (no Kelly, Backstedt or Smith) he did a good job and was surprisingly pleasant to listen to. In some stages Rob Hatch was the commentator but Kirby did a better job in my opinion. Usually I have Hatch as the superior of the two, but not this time. I had to give credit where credit is due.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

As I've been watching those classic stages from the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Giro on Eurosport in the last few weeks I've noticed how much better Carlton Kirby sounded back then. He was calling the race alone (no Kelly, Backstedt or Smith) he did a good job and was surprisingly pleasant to listen to. In some stages Rob Hatch was the commentator but Kirby did a better job in my opinion. Usually I have Hatch as the superior of the two, but not this time. I had to give credit where credit is due.

I'm confused as to when the commentary is being done as for the earlier editions of the GCN/Eurosport classic stages (for example 2013) Kirby was doing the broadcasting for RCS on the international feed and Eurosport used Declan Quigley for that edition after David Harmon took a break after the Tour of Turkey and was never heard again (for one reason or another). But some of those 2013 stages last week were also covered by Hatch who I think was doing some other race like California that year.

It will be interesting (for me anyway) to see what happens over the final few stages covered as Kirby, Kelly, Hatch and Smith commentated the 2018 edition but Hatch and Kelly did the 2019 edition with an middle section of discussion back in the studio.

 

[argyllflyer]

With Mitchelton Scott rebranding as Manuela Fundacion, Rob Hatch will be in his element with the pronunciation of that, whereas old Sean will be better off sticking to Ulrika Greenedge.

A return of the Lampre colours as well.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

With Mitchelton Scott rebranding as Manuela Fundacion, Rob Hatch will be in his element with the pronunciation of that, whereas old Sean will be better off sticking to Ulrika Greenedge.

A return of the Lampre colours as well.

Hatch: Manuela
Kelly: Manielia (or something like that!)

 

[tobydawq]

Hatch: Manuela
Kelly: Manielia (or something like that!)

I was surprised watching the Ronde van Vlaanderen behind the scenes. Rob Hatch sounds like a seasoned commentator of 55 but looks like a 30-year-old.

 

[argyllflyer]

I was surprised watching the Ronde van Vlaanderen behind the scenes. Rob Hatch sounds like a seasoned commentator of 55 but looks like a 30-year-old.

yeah he is in his 30s and if you ever hear his natural accent, he sounds like a different person altogether. Very broad rural Lancastrian.

 

[argyllflyer]

Hatch: Manuela
Kelly: Manielia (or something like that!)

Manooellia's Found Action

 

[Armchair cyclist]

I always find it hard to reconcile Kelly's appalling pronunciation of Spanish names with the apparent influence that Spanish vocabulary has on his use of English words (eg using 'support' as equivalent to 'soportar': "he can support these steep climbs really well").

I wonder whether there is a mild case of dyslexia there (interchanging of letters and reversal of syllables, as in 'Castorvejio' for 'Castroviejo'), or maybe it is just a case of the whisper around the studio being "He is a legend, don't correct him".

 

[BlueRoads]

Dislexia is a symptom of being a demigod, says Rick Riardon.

 

[argyllflyer]

Sean breathes sigh of relief and Rob Hatch one of disappointment.

STATEMENT: Future of GreenEDGE Cycling

...

www.greenedgecycling.com

As anyone who saw the quotes yesterday might have suspected, deal's off.

 

[argyllflyer]

Interesting to see GCN step up their coverage - huge list of events (in theory!) for 2020.

What Can I Watch?

Please click on the relevant link to see the GCN Race Pass schedule for your territory: Please note that all schedules are subject to change – this will mean that races are added and may be removed…

www.playsportsnetwork.com

 

[Breezy1985]

Listening to Wiggins now talk about the Olympics. God he's so awkward and boring he comes across as creepy

 

[argyllflyer]

duplicate

 

[postmanhat]

Hi.

Am thinking of signing up to Eurosport Player, and was wondering how soon after being shown live, races are available to watch on demand? For example, would I be able to watch Strade Bianche this Saturday at 1900 BST, one hour after it finishes?

 

[Ferreira29]

ould I be able to watch Strade Bianche this Saturda

Not sure as I always watch them live. Sorry I can't be of any help

 

[Breezy1985]

Hi.

Am thinking of signing up to Eurosport Player, and was wondering how soon after being shown live, races are available to watch on demand? For example, would I be able to watch Strade Bianche this Saturday at 1900 BST, one hour after it finishes?

I think it was 24hr but it's been a while since I had streaming for Eurosport. Chach the Eurosport TV guide as they often reply races in the normal channels later in the day

 

[argyllflyer]

Hi.

Am thinking of signing up to Eurosport Player, and was wondering how soon after being shown live, races are available to watch on demand? For example, would I be able to watch Strade Bianche this Saturday at 1900 BST, one hour after it finishes?

Within an hour or so usually, normally pretty quickly. Not until race finishes though. If you want to watch at say 4pm and the race started an hour earlier, you can sometimes rewind live coverage but there's a risk it will stop once the programme finishes. Quite often I get in from work and cannot watch on ES Player On Demand until the race of the day has finished.

 

[postmanhat]

Within an hour or so usually, normally pretty quickly. Not until race finishes though. If you want to watch at say 4pm and the race started an hour earlier, you can sometimes rewind live coverage but there's a risk it will stop once the programme finishes. Quite often I get in from work and cannot watch on ES Player On Demand until the race of the day has finished.

Thanks a lot! Will sign up tonight

 

[Potomac]

I like Sean Kelly but he seemed to stutter alot yesteray do Strade Bianche

 

[argyllflyer]

I like Sean Kelly but he seemed to stutter alot yesteray do Strade Bianche

He wasn't on it was he? Kirby & Smith on my viewing!

 

[argyllflyer]

Interesting that Eurosport pulled coverage yesterday of the Italian race due to the helicopters being out of action in the poor weather but GCN continued as best they could. The additional racing and more reliable, ad free, coverage (perhaps) might make a 1 yr sub to GCN worthwhile. £19.99 just now. I just bit that bullet.

And wee point of note - Hatch was commentating from home in Spain (due to quarantine regs in UK) while Smith was in London.