Oh no he isn't

[Machu Picchu]

Yup, another vote for Magnus Backstedt here, find him to be a lot more interesting and obviously has more 'current' views on the riders/races than Kelly et al.

I think I'm right in saying that Magnus is doing the commentary for the Quebec race tonight.

 

[Ney the Viking]

Well at least you guys have the english commentaries, unless its the grand tours and the monuments that is shown on local danish telivision I'm stuck with the danish eurosport commentators. While the ones that do cycling are the better of the danish eurosport commentators (only bettered by womens-biathlon and snooker) its quite far away from the yahoo stream of harmon and kelly i can sometimes catch at work.
So consider yourselves lucky isntead of being annoyed [/rant]

 

[L'arriviste]

Funny, the contrasting views of folks here about Kelly. I actually think both schools of thought are right: sometimes he's notably reticent - like his clockwork motion has stopped and needs winding - and then there are times when you can't shut him up and he never even pauses between sentences.

For me, it's just that he just doesn't have any gears. He doesn't get excited or enthusiastic or shocked. The tone never changes. Backstedt has the tonal colour and plays with his man-mountain stereotype just right, which I like a lot.

With almost all lead commentators we've mentioned here, I think accuracy and timeliness is a problem. I usually have to add my own layer when my other half's watching and things are getting exciting (in the race).

 

[Anonymous]

With almost all lead commentators we've mentioned here, I think accuracy and timeliness is a problem. I usually have to add my own layer when my other half's watching and things are getting exciting (in the race).

My wife who has, i guess a healthy interest in cycling, she has watched the last five tours, and tries to keep up with all the other races when work allows, basically anything with nightly highlights. But she is still able to correct harmon on a regular basis. Actually her ability for recognising unknown riders and remembering names astounds me sometimes. She can recognise them from about 100 metres. no idea how. I think shes been paying more attention to the cycling magazines than i realised.

 

[L'arriviste]

My wife who has, i guess a healthy interest in cycling, she has watched the last five tours, and tries to keep up with all the other races when work allows, basically anything with nightly highlights. But she is still able to correct harmon on a regular basis. Actually her ability for recognising unknown riders and remembering names astounds me sometimes. She can recognise them from about 100 metres. no idea how. I think shes been paying more attention to the cycling magazines than i realised.

That's brilliant. Good on her! And having the other half watch races with you totally legitimises the hours you spend in front of the telly.

 

[Anonymous]

That's brilliant. Good on her! And having the other half watch races with you totally legitimises the hours you spend in front of the telly.

we met one august, and she lived about 200 miles away at the time.. when she finished uni the next july she moved down with me about 3 days before the tour de france and was greated with the warning "oh by the way, its lovely to have you here but im watching tv every day for the next three weeks"

Its just sad that someone with only a passing knowledge of cycling can correct a commentator regularly.

edit: actually to be fair to her, she owns about 2000 books, but only reads fiction, nothing factual at all. In search of Robert Millar was the first and only biography she (has) ever read and loved it. In fact she read it before i could.

 

[sublimit]

Oh yeah, Backstedt was good at the Tour of Turkey & some other race I can't remember.

I remember some Scottish guy commentating at some point this season, all I remember was I didn't really like him.

I know a few people think otherwise, but I really like James Richardson (TdF bald studio guy). One of my favourite sports-TV (and podcast) guys. It'd be really great if other races had studio coverage before and after as well, though that isn't too likely.

The Scottish guy is Brian Smith, Ex British national champ from a few years ago.

I'd like to see Eurosport use the services of Backstedt more often, quite impressed with him as a co commentator. \

 

[The Hitch]

Oh yeah, Backstedt was good at the Tour of Turkey & some other race I can't remember.

I remember some Scottish guy commentating at some point this season, all I remember was I didn't really like him.

I know a few people think otherwise, but I really like James Richardson (TdF bald studio guy). One of my favourite sports-TV (and podcast) guys. It'd be really great if other races had studio coverage before and after as well, though that isn't too likely.

They should have studio coverage for the giro as well but thats it.

Richardson role is simply that he is a known face to sportsfans. Hes ok but i cant help but feel hes taking the mickey out of this thing of ours when he says "fantastic" or "great " or "brilliant" every time the most mundane point is made. This was done especially everytime he had to read out an advertisment for some minor event like the womens under 17 quater final or the 5th tier davis cup match. He would read it out and then in a paternal way say "dont miss it" and then "fantastic !!!".

 

[The Hitch]

The Scottish guy is Brian Smith, Ex British national champ from a few years ago.

I'd like to see Eurosport use the services of Backstedt more often, quite impressed with him as a co commentator. \

Backstedt is the heir apparent. He will be used more and more. Might take a year or 2 but he will be there.

I agree with El imbatido that Kirby and Backsted work. Kirby is no cycling buff and doesnt pretend to be but hes not affraid to talk and let Baksted carry him. I think the chemistry is that they both laugh all the time, are having fun, unlike Kelly who is always sad or miserable and Harmon who takes it too seriously to have a good time (though he does commentate more important races)

and with laravist that Kelly has no gears. Does anything excite him

 

[hatcher]

I actually enjoy all the Eurosport guys, with the exception of Carlton Kirby, who irritates me more than anyone on the planet (except Anne Heche). My problem with him is precisely that he won't admit when he doesn't know something. He'll guess, will be politely corrected, and then will repeat the same mistake again.

He should stop talking over people who actually know about cycling, stop talking about Gert Steegmans, just basically stop. I have never muted a commentator on any sport until Kirby came along.

On the other hand I really like the pairings of Harmon/Kelly, and McCrossan/Brian Smith. Backstedt has a really nice relaxed style, and he has the added bonus of still knowing the cyclists, and can also talk well about the cutting edge technology.

Sean Kelly isn't bored, or irritated, that's just his way of talking.

 

[sublimit]

I can cope with Kelly, the fact he doesnt ramble on for ages and keeps his mouth shut for most of the time is OK.

Backstedt is a step ahead though, he kind of has the ability of not getting on your nerves like so many other commentators can.
I was surprised to hear he lives in Wales!? But yeah they should get him more work on GT's.

 

[L'arriviste]

I can cope with Kelly, the fact he doesnt ramble on for ages and keeps his mouth shut for most of the time is OK.

Backstedt is a step ahead though, he kind of has the ability of not getting on your nerves like so many other commentators can.
I was surprised to hear he lives in Wales!? But yeah they should get him more work on GT's.

He married a female professional cyclist, didn't he? Hence the Wales thing.

EDIT: Wikipedia says it's Megan Hughes.

 

[Grand Tourist]

David Harmon is a self-appointed cycling expert and self plugger who knows <nothing> [edited by mod] about cycling and is carried by Sean Kelly. I expect regular mistakes from that fool.

Cyclingnews should know better.

Harmon is all of the above but he can prattle on mindlessly 'ad infinitum' for many dull hours whilst nothing very much is happening which is why he keeps his job.

I quite enjoy the Harmon / Kelly double act. Harmons chronic stupidity always being corrected by Kellys dour authority. It's better that Liggett & the Versus crew. Kelly knows his stuff but I think Eurosport should get Roche & Magnus Backstedt involved more.

 

[MarkAZ]

Back to the original topic. They left Juan Manuel Garate off of the list of active riders who have won a stage in all three grand tours.