I think most viewers don't realise what actually happens during the commentary with Phil and Paul. First they are in a booth with a smallish monitor or two - not a large widescreen TV that most of have these days. They also have either written notes or laptops containing info about the riders and Paul has the handbook that explains the the areas the race is passing through; the castles and churches etc.
They are also commentating to several different TV channels at the same time; UK, USA and Australia are the ones I know about. These channels go to commercial breaks at different times so they need to match their commentary to the various breaks. This is why you may hear one of them give a round-up and the inflection in his voice would indicate that there is a commercial break coming up but after a short pause the commentary continues because it was another station that left, not the one you may have been watching. They then have to keep an ear open for when that station returns and you may hear them repeating something they have just said for the benefit of viewers to the TV station that has just returned. At the same time they are listening to race radio in French. I suspect that they also tailor their remarks to suit the countries they broadcast to, giving perhaps a little more prominence to the "home" riders.
Here in the UK we tend to hear more of Paul than Phil for long stretches because they maybe providing different commentaries to different channels at the same time. It's not surprising they get in a muddle sometimes and miss the odd incident. I've listened to the Eurosport commentators and find them all very irritating. Phil and Paul may not always get things right but I am often amazed by the way they can keep their commentary going - even when there is not much happening on the road.
They are also commentating to several different TV channels at the same time; UK, USA and Australia are the ones I know about. These channels go to commercial breaks at different times so they need to match their commentary to the various breaks. This is why you may hear one of them give a round-up and the inflection in his voice would indicate that there is a commercial break coming up but after a short pause the commentary continues because it was another station that left, not the one you may have been watching. They then have to keep an ear open for when that station returns and you may hear them repeating something they have just said for the benefit of viewers to the TV station that has just returned. At the same time they are listening to race radio in French. I suspect that they also tailor their remarks to suit the countries they broadcast to, giving perhaps a little more prominence to the "home" riders.
Here in the UK we tend to hear more of Paul than Phil for long stretches because they maybe providing different commentaries to different channels at the same time. It's not surprising they get in a muddle sometimes and miss the odd incident. I've listened to the Eurosport commentators and find them all very irritating. Phil and Paul may not always get things right but I am often amazed by the way they can keep their commentary going - even when there is not much happening on the road.
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