Favourite Cycling Commentators

[bianchigirl]

The France TV team were exemplary as ever during the national championships today - I just hope Fignon makes it to the Tour as his insight is invaluable. Plus you get Jaja on his moto with the latest from inside the peloton as the race unfolds.

The great thing that they have is a passion for the race rather than acting as the cheerleading section for any particular rider. For Ebglish language commentary Harmon is about bearable and Kelly is Kelly and what he has to say has added value because of that.

Liggett and Sherwenn got me into the sport when the did the C4 commentary all those years ago but they really, really need to be put out to pasture.

Agreed on Cassani.

 

[fergnago]

I like phil and paul. i like the way that they pronounce foreign(to them) placenames, still cringe when i think of a few years back, our tour coverage(in new zealand) was dubbed over by adrian karsten and he sure knew how to butcher the french language!

 

[180mmCrank]

I will always have a soft spot for Sherwin and Liggett as they really brought the Tour to TV on Ch4 in the UK.

And Kelly is the best for explaining what is actually going on in a race - I always learn something when he is on.

I find most of the other English speaking colour commentators pretty awful - especially when they get over excited (but this is a personal preference thing)

 

[grimpeur]

The France TV team were exemplary as ever during the national championships today - I just hope Fignon makes it to the Tour as his insight is invaluable. Plus you get Jaja on his moto with the latest from inside the peloton as the race unfolds.

The great thing that they have is a passion for the race rather than acting as the cheerleading section for any particular rider. For Ebglish language commentary Harmon is about bearable and Kelly is Kelly and what he has to say has added value because of that.

Liggett and Sherwenn got me into the sport when the did the C4 commentary all those years ago but they really, really need to be put out to pasture.

Agreed on Cassani.

Bianchigirl, where are you seeing the French feed? You live in France? Where can I find that feed? Thanks

 

[paulroth]

For me, the best cycling commentators are on Eurosport France with Patrick Chasse providing the 'Play-by-Play' (as those horrible Amercan networks say of sports "announcers"), together with former riders Richard Virenque and Jacky Durand for the insights into the tactics and the peleton. Terrific insight and explanations of what's going on, together with very accurate predictions of what is likely to happen next. Great stuff and always adds an extra dimension to watching cycling. Beats France 2 hands down - despite a strong team with Fignon and Jalabert - with only Thierry Adam that lets the side down. (Prudhomme was better as a France 2 commentatot than Adam).

In complete contrast, just who is that guy on Eurosport UK who makes any race into a complete yawn with a total lack of inspirational insight or any enthusiasm? This commentator can turn anyone away from the sport and needs replacing urgently. Makes a stage a complete snooze. Absolutely in the wrong line of work and should stick to being a journalist with the written word. For the sake of attracting future fans to cycling as an exciting sport, Eurosport should replace him toute de suite. Even Sean Kelly comes across as dour. The sedate pace of his commentating partner on Eurosport UK seems to slow him down to languish back with the grupetto.

Just to show how Eurosport UK know how to shoot themselves in the foot (feet ?) - they discarded perhaps their best commentary assets on Eurosport when Toby Moody and Julian Ryder were dropped along with the MotoGP coverage.
As Roubaix posted above - these 2 commentators just bring alive the sport (with similar 'Trousers on Fire' technique from Murray Walker that lit up Formula One) and have converted many an armchair casual viewer into MotoGP enthusiasts with their scintillating commentary of the races. Proof that the commentators can be inspirational and attract more fans to the sport.

Any other examples anyone - or any suggestions on who to replace the current Eurosport UK cycling commentary team ?

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Liggett was awesome throughout the 90's. He's now getting a little old, and Paul isn't the best at keeping him on track anymore. Still, no one has ever been better at calling a sprint than Liggett. Pure magic, and he still almost always has it.

Same with the Duffers. He was great, really in the 80's, into the 90's. Though more of a historical encyclopedia than commentator, he too could call a sprint. Great voice, and candid anecdotes. Did best when he had someone in the booth with him. Mostly John Paul Van Poppel or Burt Russel. Though Steven Roche, and Paul Sherwen worked well with him too.

Once you get used to Kelly's accent, he's good, but unless Harmon keeps him talking, he'll often quietly make terse comments.

Roll and Hummer are much better in the studio than live anything.

For old nostalgic times, no one was better at bio packages than John Tesh.

 

[count jim moriarty]

Still, no one has ever been better at calling a sprint than Liggett. Pure magic, and he still almost always has it.

Like the infamous day last year when Liggett called the sprint for Gerald Ciolek when it was clearly won by Mark Cavendish?!
Oddly, by the time the highlights show was broadcast that evening on ITV4, Liggett's had redone his commentary with the correct result.

I used to enjoy Liggett and Paul 'unbelievable' Sherwin, but unfortunately they are well past their sell-by dates. I was undecided about where to watch this year, but as Eurosport has now gone widescreen, I shall stick with the excellent David Harmon and Sean Kelly. I will, however, avoid Eurosport's studio build-up/post stage analysis, as I find James Richardson's broadcasting style extremely irritating (and he very rarely bothers to do any basic research), and they insist on wheeling out poor old Duffers, who has completely lost it, and should be put out to grass as soon as possible.

 

[franciep10]

Sadly I'm stuck with phil and paul, Sean kelly's insight is pretty good but he seems a little bit dry, duffers he rambles too much, the worst are the universal commentators. The best because they can make nothing sound interesting even though I dont understand italian are the rai commentators

 

[samb01]

While my exposure has been limited, judging by who/what I have heard (Harmon/Kelly, Duffield, Liggett/Sherwen, whoever used to comment on cycling.tv a few years ago) the state of english language cycling commentary is pretty dire. Boring people with limited insight. I haven't heard anything but platitudes from Kelly.

 

[slowoldman]

Am I the only one who can't understand what Sean Kelly is saying? He mumbles and I have to listen to him for about 10 minutes before I start understanding him. I don't mind Phil and Paul. They are a little long in the tooth but they are light years ahead of Al Trautwig and Adrian Karsten.

With regard to P and P, I have heard a reason for alot of their mistakes is the fact that they are looking at a tiny screen in their broadcasting booth. And quite frankly alot of the peloton is hard to distinguish when hiding behind sunglasses and helmets.

I agree with the assessments of the Universal Sports commentators, they were terrible.