Phil and Paul

[Hawkwood]

I guess we all can't be football, cricket, tennis commentators etc - call things on the spot, use a little background history in their opinions.

Paul and Phil's knowledge on the sport and the area where the stages are run is second to none in my experience of following sport commentating.

As another poster has posted, ASO provides commentators with a book listing the history, architecture and other background information for everywhere the Tour goes through. Some days I watch the Tour on French TV and one of their commentators plays the `Sherwin' role, coming out with exactly the same info on castles, villages etc.

 

[Cult Classics]

It's the constant bias towards English-speaking riders that really annoys me with Phil and Paul. You would have thought Liggett in particular would have learned his lessons about getting too close to his favourite riders from how the whole Armstrong thing went down.

I had been watching a bit of ITV4 (Phil and Paul) but the comms and the longer ad breaks (is it just me?) meant I've gone back to Eurosport, where Kirby isn't great but I'm enjoying Sean being able to get more than 2 words in edgeways now Harmon is gone.

 

[Hawkwood]

It's the constant bias towards English-speaking riders that really annoys me with Phil and Paul. You would have thought Liggett in particular would have learned his lessons about getting too close to his favourite riders from how the whole Armstrong thing went down.

I had been watching a bit of ITV4 (Phil and Paul) but the comms and the longer ad breaks (is it just me?) meant I've gone back to Eurosport, where Kirby isn't great but I'm enjoying Sean being able to get more than 2 words in edgeways now Harmon is gone.

Get a disk and watch the French coverage. I bought a French freeview box in France for not very much. I don't understand all of the French commentary, but at least it's not P&P.

 

[Alphabet]

Phil and Paul were quite confused yesterday. First they said Quintana was born at 3000 feet, then 3000 metres, then when Impey was getting dropped they ignored that and went on talking about Nairo's tough childhood.

Unfortunately my regular source of Eurosport streams has deserted me, so I'm forced to listen to P & P .

 

[Cult Classics]

Get a disk and watch the French coverage. I bought a French freeview box in France for not very much. I don't understand all of the French commentary, but at least it's not P&P.

Simple proxy server's all you need for that. Quite often use those to get the races that aren't on UK TV, like Omloop. Will be in France on holiday for the final week anyway (planned on purpose? Course it was ) so France 2/3 will sort me out for the big Alps stages.

 

[Cult Classics]

Phil and Paul were quite confused yesterday. First they said Quintana was born at 3000 feet, then 3000 metres, then when Impey was getting dropped they ignored that and went on talking about Nairo's tough childhood.

Unfortunately my regular source of Eurosport streams has deserted me, so I'm forced to listen to P & P .

Not sure how it works in Aus but Eurosportplayer is available for just a few quid a month for decent quality streaming.

 

[darwin553]

As another poster has posted, ASO provides commentators with a book listing the history, architecture and other background information for everywhere the Tour goes through. Some days I watch the Tour on French TV and one of their commentators plays the `Sherwin' role, coming out with exactly the same info on castles, villages etc.

100% of the commentating could be on the racing itself but how riveting is that when there is a group 5 mins in front of the peloton

 

[Hawkwood]

Simple proxy server's all you need for that. Quite often use those to get the races that aren't on UK TV, like Omloop. Will be in France on holiday for the final week anyway (planned on purpose? Course it was ) so France 2/3 will sort me out for the big Alps stages.

Will look into proxy servers. I've messed up my dates this year so won't be in France for a holiday until August. I am thinking of taking the Tunnel and driving to Paris on the Sunday morning the last stage. I'm guessing parking might be a bit of an issue.

Back on topic, don't P&P part own the company that produces the Tour coverage for ITV4? If so it might be a job getting rid of them.

 

[Hawkwood]

100% of the commentating could be on the racing itself but how riveting is that when there is a group 5 mins in front of the peloton

I continue to be surprised by the number of British people who watch the TV coverage only for the scenery. Still I suppose the latter is never going to test positive!

 

[forkboy84]

It's the constant bias towards English-speaking riders that really annoys me with Phil and Paul. You would have thought Liggett in particular would have learned his lessons about getting too close to his favourite riders from how the whole Armstrong thing went down.

Their broadcasts go out to the English speaking nations. I don't really know why it's a surprise that they are biased towards riders from those countries to be honest. It's hardly unique to cycling, commentators always have national bias in my experience.

To me, there's far worse problems with Phil & Paul than their bias to English speakers.

 

[darwin553]

I continue to be surprised by the number of British people who watch the TV coverage only for the scenery. Still I suppose the latter is never going to test positive!

I personally think it is a good break up from all the cycling talk. I know that isn't what most people like, but it works for me.

 

[richard_91]

Kessiakoff sure looks like he has changed appearence, team, nationality today

 

[Alphabet]

Second time P & P have said that Hushovd still rides for Garmin. Lol.

 

[nickel999]

Neil Marin, Dan Martin...whatever Phil....

 

[Galic Ho]

Phil and Paul were quite confused yesterday. First they said Quintana was born at 3000 feet, then 3000 metres, then when Impey was getting dropped they ignored that and went on talking about Nairo's tough childhood.

Unfortunately my regular source of Eurosport streams has deserted me, so I'm forced to listen to P & P .

Phil got the elevation wrong. He had feet, Paul had metres. Then Paul launched into the greatest talk about how young Nairo was born very ill because of a bad omen or a curse placed on his mother. He was almost dead, bleeding from his ears and eyes and looking sickly.

Enter some shaman, ahem my bad, a naturopath or some ancient Aztec medical specialist who made a 'secret' concoction of 9 South American wonder plants. Instantly healed and he became the wonder climber we have today.

Today was almost as good. I got to hear about Richie Froome. Cool story. Apparently cloning methods now allow the extraction of cells from two males to be fused together. True story. Thus we get Richie Froome.

 

[MacRoadie]

First Richie Porte was a "new man, completely different than he was just two hours ago".

Then he was moving up and certainly encouraged to be passing riders being tailed off the back of the second (Froome) group. Once he gets into the cars, "he'll move up quickly" according to Phil. "He'll be seeing the tail end of that bunch soon".

Then it was "The Sky riders won't be rejoining Froome until the hotel this evening" and Porte is actually four minutes down and falling faster than the Scottrade ticker can follow..

And then Porte rolls in 18 minutes down...

 

[mewmewmew13]

Kessiakoff sure looks like he has changed appearence, team, nationality today

funny ...
he really said that???

 

[Boeing]

Paul said today, and I paraphrase; that Porte and Co off the back is proof there is no doping in cycling now.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

Paul said today, and I paraphrase; that Porte and Co off the back is proof there is no doping in cycling now.

Seriously? I missed that one...

That's like saying (and I'm purposely using this example due to your username) that all Boeing planes are unsafe because Asiana flight 214 crashed.

 

[Boeing]

Seriously? I missed that one...

That's like saying (and I'm purposely using this example due to your username) that all Boeing planes are unsafe because Asiana flight 214 crashed.

On my NBC Sports DVR recording it is about 54-55 minutes in from air time. I know right? I will go back and transcribe it later. but word for word will be a run on sentence paragraph. And he didnt use the Dope word. He saves that only for Contador.


Memo: In no way is this intended to be a discussion that one could take to the clinic. Simply relaying what P and P say in their broadcast.

 

[TheBean]

The story about Quintana being saved by a witch doctor was priceless!

I actually enjoy thair babbling nonsense immensely. I get several good laughs every stage. We've had little mountain steams, flamingos, horrible English to metric conversions, and now voo-doo! It's great comedy! Perfect dead-pan delivery every time.

I could do without the guy on the motorcycle. He seems like he's trying to sound like the X-Games announcers with frequent "Whoa" comments and trite cliche's.

During a descent, the moto-guy said something like "It's a good thing these guys know what they are doing because they are doing something they know how to do."

 

[Michele]

That was a tricky sentence!

 

[Boeing]

another thing that drove me nuts was their commentating on the descents on stage 8. Sky still up front but the lead guy would get out about 5 lengths. They act like he is dropping them but in reality its a tactic to help a team leader anticipate lines better to make for a safer descent.

youd think a "5 time finisher" or what ever Paul was would know that

And I agree. Motor bike guy is a tool and offers nothing. his commentating is pure fiction. there isnt a french person involved in the race who would give him the time of day on course during a stage and he acts like race officials answer his questions a 35 mph with his helmet on out of their car window. Really? let alone a team director

 

[Afrank]

another thing that drove me nuts was their commentating on the descents on stage 8. Sky still up front but the lead guy would get out about 5 lengths. They act like he is dropping them but in reality its a tactic to help a team leader anticipate lines better to make for a safer descent.

youd think a "5 time finisher" or what ever Paul was would know that

And I agree. Motor bike guy is a tool and offers nothing. his commentating is pure fiction. there isnt a french person involved in the race who would give him the time of day on course during a stage and he acts like race officials answer his questions a 35 mph with his helmet on out of their car window. Really? let alone a team director

Yep, most definitely. I would love to see footage of what happens when he tries to interview the team directors while driving. I imagine it's something like

Motor guys knocks on window, director rolls down.
Motor guy: "so how's today's stage going so far?"
Director: Who the F*** are you? look.
Rolls window back up.

 

[MacRoadie]

And I agree. Motor bike guy is a tool and offers nothing. his commentating is pure fiction. there isnt a french person involved in the race who would give him the time of day on course during a stage and he acts like race officials answer his questions a 35 mph with his helmet on out of their car window. Really? let alone a team director

I agree with regard to any team directors, but as it relates to race officials (ASO or UCI), I'm guessing that the word is out from the UCI and ASO to play nice with the major North American broadcast partner. This is the first post-Armstrong confessional Tour and I'd bet there is a VERY strong desire to make nice with US broadcasters at a time when their (and advertisers) interest and confidence in professional cycling may be lagging. Keep in mind, the current agreement between NBC and ASO was signed in June of last year, well into the speculation, but before the USADA report.

No, the US isn't the world's biggest cycling market, and it's not the critical element in cycling's future, but economically it's still pretty significant. Also, from the press release at the time:

Additionally, the NBC Sports Group will continue coverage of several other ASO properties, including the Dakar Rally and the Paris Marathon....

so ASO has a bit more riding on the NBC deal than just cycling.

P.S. While financial terms of the NBC deal aren't known, France TV pays about $30 million a year to broadcast approximately the same package of events.