Rob Hatch

[normanzo]

Thank you OP, for starting this thread. Hatch turns up the affect on his voice so much, it's as if he thinks we are tuning into the race to listen to him as the main attraction. I've tolerated his obnoxious drama and volume for a long time, but after the first four stages of this year's Giro, I've tapped out... now switched over to Italian audio... even though I only have a smidge of traveler's Italian. Wow, what a relief! I'd rather watch a bike race while having a dentist drill on my teeth than listen to Hatch.

On positive reviews of commentators, I enjoy José Been and Matt Stephens to most.

 

[Potomac]

They have to talk about something for hours. Hatch does a decent job of it.

 

[Salvarani]

They have to talk about something for hours. Hatch does a decent job of it.

Must be the number one critera for the job.

"Can you talk for hours about random stuff, while nothing is happening in a race?"

That woman does a great job at that too. She is so good, she even forgets about the race.

 

[Squire]

As a non-continental European, I really appreciate Hatch's commentary.

He ticks all the boxes I need from a commentator: He can recognize riders, he generally understands what goes on in the race, he's not boring, insulting or repetitive and he doesn't needlessly talk about himself. I guess my tolerance for different commentators is a lot higher than most people here, as I really don't mind most of the GCN people. Even Blythe, who seems to get a lot of stick, is completely fine, I think. A bit of comic relief, and he makes some interesting observations of little things which only former riders can spot. There's only really one English commentator who doesn't tick any of my boxes, and who severely diminishes my enjoyment of the race.

As for Hatch's pronounciation of names, I don't mind him making an effort to get it somewhat correct. I find the extremely low effort in that area from a lot of English-speakers to be borderline disrespectful. But because that's the expectation when you hear native English speakers, it's sometimes not immediately obvious who Hatch is actually talking about when he tries to make for example a Danish name actually sound Danish with his slightly strange Danish pronounciation. You just have to re-wire your brain when he tries to make the name sound like it should instead of how a regular Englishman would say it. And while I don't mind his efforts, I do prefer the Premier League commentators' way, which is to get foreign names as correct as possible while using the 'tool box' of the English language.

 

[red_flanders]

I like Daniel Lloyd and José Been. I loved Hatch's enthusiasm at first, but it's starting to wear on me. It lacks dynamics, moving from soft to loud. If he did it when the race was exciting, great. But he'll make stuff like "Look at the big German moving up in the pack" sound like someone came back from death to win the Tour. Pick your spots, Rob and you'll be great.

Blythe is a complete moron. It's hard to believe he ever raced a bike. Not that anyone actually noticed.

 

[fmk_RoI]

I don't mind his efforts, I do prefer the Premier League commentators' way, which is to get foreign names as correct as possible while using the 'tool box' of the English language.

That is the way it should be done: respectful both to the person and the audience.

 

[tobydawq]

As a non-continental European, I really appreciate Hatch's commentary.

He ticks all the boxes I need from a commentator: He can recognize riders, he generally understands what goes on in the race, he's not boring, insulting or repetitive and he doesn't needlessly talk about himself. I guess my tolerance for different commentators is a lot higher than most people here, as I really don't mind most of the GCN people. Even Blythe, who seems to get a lot of stick, is completely fine, I think. A bit of comic relief, and he makes some interesting observations of little things which only former riders can spot. There's only really one English commentator who doesn't tick any of my boxes, and who severely diminishes my enjoyment of the race.

As for Hatch's pronounciation of names, I don't mind him making an effort to get it somewhat correct. I find the extremely low effort in that area from a lot of English-speakers to be borderline disrespectful. But because that's the expectation when you hear native English speakers, it's sometimes not immediately obvious who Hatch is actually talking about when he tries to make for example a Danish name actually sound Danish with his slightly strange Danish pronounciation. You just have to re-wire your brain when he tries to make the name sound like it should instead of how a regular Englishman would say it. And while I don't mind his efforts, I do prefer the Premier League commentators' way, which is to get foreign names as correct as possible while using the 'tool box' of the English language.

I like his pronunciation game. As a stark contrast you have Brian Nygaard on the Cycling Podcast who insists on pronouncing Mads Pedersen as if it was an English name - even though the guy is a Dane himself! And it's not like he tries to mangle Italian names into some English ridiculousness, so I don't really get what's going on there. Perhaps he is embarrassed of his own language?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Brian Nygaard is terrible IMO as an expert and a commentator on english or on danish. He ruined the Cycling Podcast for me, I always used to especially like their coverage of the Giro with primarily Daniel Friebe who obviously knows his stuff when it comes to Italy. Come to think about it, I actually almost exclusively listened to the Cycling Podcast recently during the Giro, but I can't bear Nygaard for whatever reasons, so Im not tuning in this year unfortunately. Its a step down from former glory IMO, they really had something unique, especially when it came to the Giro d' Italia.

A guy I'd absolutely love in the commentator booth would be Bastian Emil. He knows his cycling, of course he does, but when it comes to culture, history and simply just listening to his voice he's a league of his own at the moment in danish cycling. Hopefully he will get a bigger role relatively soon - the more of him the better, especially as I don't find the other commentators (Worre and Holm) too good. The comparison is almost too obvious to make, but he's a modern Jørgen Leth without flaws. I especially love him when he talks about the former and present greats of the sport or the extensive fascinating history lessons - would be terrific on especially the more mundane days.

 

[kingjr]

Thank you OP, for starting this thread. Hatch turns up the affect on his voice so much, it's as if he thinks we are tuning into the race to listen to him as the main attraction. I've tolerated his obnoxious drama and volume for a long time, but after the first four stages of this year's Giro, I've tapped out... now switched over to Italian audio... even though I only have a smidge of traveler's Italian. Wow, what a relief! I'd rather watch a bike race while having a dentist drill on my teeth than listen to Hatch.

On positive reviews of commentators, I enjoy José Been and Matt Stephens to most.

I can recommend the Dutch commentary, it's much less theatrical and declamatory than English (or German) commentary, in my experience. More relaxed, more silence, but at the same time paying more attention to the race. I learned to appreciate Dutch commentary back during the FIFA World Cup in 2006, when you could still watch NOS on German TV, and have had a weakness for them ever since. Though Mart Smeets was painfully arrogant, of course.
I think the French are quite good too, though I only understand about 50%, but they always seem to enjoy themselves a lot.

 

[tobydawq]

Brian Nygaard is terrible IMO as an expert and a commentator on english or on danish. He ruined the Cycling Podcast for me, I always used to especially like their coverage of the Giro with primarily Daniel Friebe who obviously knows his stuff when it comes to Italy. Come to think about it, I actually almost exclusively listened to the Cycling Podcast recently during the Giro, but I can't bear Nygaard for whatever reasons, so Im not tuning in this year unfortunately. Its a step down from former glory IMO, they really had something unique, especially when it came to the Giro d' Italia.

A guy I'd absolutely love in the commentator booth would be Bastian Emil. He knows his cycling, of course he does, but when it comes to culture, history and simply just listening to his voice he's a league of his own at the moment in danish cycling. Hopefully he will get a bigger role relatively soon - the more of him the better, especially as I don't find the other commentators (Worre and Holm) too good. The comparison is almost too obvious to make, but he's a modern Jørgen Leth without flaws. I especially love him when he talks about the former and present greats of the sport or the extensive fascinating history lessons - would be terrific on especially the more mundane days.

I agree on both parts. Nygaard thinks he is so clever but he is just so inferior to Friebe that it's almost humiliating. Also, for someone who is too snobbish to pronounce Danish names correctly, he has a terrible accent.

Friebe is probably my favourite voice in cycling, though, so I will stick to them but it was such a bummer that Lionel Birnie stayed at home during the Giro.

And yes, the original trio was something unique.

And Bastian Emil is just great, I especially like it when he shows glimpses of humour which shows that he is just much more capable and aware than Jørgen Leth. I recently finished reading his book from last year where he had written reportages (I don't know if this is the right English words) from all the biggest races. Amazing read, he really has a way with words, both written and spoken.

 

[Valv.Piti]

He thinks he's clever because he has some fancy philosopher's degree. Guess what, he's not, and on top of that he really comes with some completely boneheaded takes on cycling which exposes him completely.

Listening to Jesper Worre and Asbjørn Kragh in the studio compared to Bastian Emil is not even funny. The level is just so much different in every aspect honestly. He fits right in next to Bay, or at TV2 where Chris Anker left a big hole that nobody comes close to filling. Vinjebo is completely fine, Moberg is not, but Chris Anker was different. RIP!

He will get his time, but for now I guess this role is decent enough. I wonder if he has the drive to really go for it, because he could be the voice of cycling for the next 40 years in Denmark!

And just to make a relevant comment on Hatch since this is what the thread is for: I figure I too would dislike him in the long term due to his pronunciation and overexcitement, but I deal with it in very limited doses, and for that he's fine. I generally think though that the English speaking commentators are pretty thin on talent. The only one I really like is Magnus Backstedt.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Surprised it took until stage 6 for someone to complain about him. I actually think he's been great so far this giro.

 

[RedheadDane]

I generally think though that the English speaking commentators are pretty thin on talent. The only one I really like is Magnus Backstedt.

The only English speaking commentator you really like is... the Swede?

 

[memyselfandI]

I've found lately imho that Jez Cox is probably the best voice from the group behind Kirby, his intonation is very nice and lively. He needs lotsa knowledge groundwork from sport itself I think, but as said voice is tolerable and nice.

Fingers crossed for J. Harris-Bass returning one day to the studio, Hatch mentioned him not long ago.

 

[Valv.Piti]

The only English speaking commentator you really like is... the Swede?

Well... yeah, I guess, lol. But tbh, I rarely watch cycling with english commentary these days.

 

[Netserk]

He thinks he's clever because he has some fancy philosopher's degree. Guess what, he's not, and on top of that he really comes with some completely boneheaded takes on cycling which exposes him completely.

Listening to Jesper Worre and Asbjørn Kragh in the studio compared to Bastian Emil is not even funny. The level is just so much different in every aspect honestly. He fits right in next to Bay, or at TV2 where Chris Anker left a big hole that nobody comes close to filling. Vinjebo is completely fine, Moberg is not, but Chris Anker was different. RIP!

He will get his time, but for now I guess this role is decent enough. I wonder if he has the drive to really go for it, because he could be the voice of cycling for the next 40 years in Denmark!

And just to make a relevant comment on Hatch since this is what the thread is for: I figure I too would dislike him in the long term due to his pronunciation and overexcitement, but I deal with it in very limited doses, and for that he's fine. I generally think though that the English speaking commentators are pretty thin on talent. The only one I really like is Magnus Backstedt.

Mostly agreed, but it hurts to see Worre and Kragh next to each other. The latter is a complete idiot (he grates me more than Holm). Worre is better in the box than in the studio, I think he's quite good with Bay.

And yes, Backstedt is by far the best of the English speaking commentators.

 

[RedheadDane]

But tbh, I rarely watch cycling with english commentary these days.

Same. I generally just watch it in whatever language it "defaults" to. Though, on GCN there are several options for Giro coverage these days.

 

[tobydawq]

Mostly agreed, but it hurts to see Worre and Kragh next to each other. The latter is a complete idiot (he grates me more than Holm). Worre is better in the box than in the studio, I think he's quite good with Bay.

And yes, Backstedt is by far the best of the English speaking commentators.

Yes, they need to get rid of AKA ASAP.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I don't like Emil Vinjebo's voice, and while Bastian Emil has a better understanding of cycling than Jørgen Leth ever had, I still think he too is talking cycling up to something it really isn't and has never been.

A perfect example of that was seen in the docuseries with Holm, where BE describes Boonen winning the 2006 Ronde with great enthusiasm, but Holm then counters him by mentioning the fact that Boonen may or may not have bought Hoste's help by giving him his Ferrari.

That said, I think it's much better to have a guy like him in the studio than some random ex-riders, cause he definitely adds something they would never be able to.

 

[tobydawq]

I don't like Emil Vinjebo's voice, and while Bastian Emil has a better understanding of cycling than Jørgen Leth ever had, I still think he too is talking cycling up to something it really isn't and has never been.

A perfect example of that was seen in the docuseries with Holm, where BE describes Boonen winning the 2006 Ronde with great enthusiasm, but Holm then counters him by mentioning the fact that Boonen may or may not have bought Hoste's help by giving him his Ferrari.

That said, I think it's much better to have a guy like him in the studio than some random ex-riders, cause he definitely adds something they would never be able to.

Holm always tries to talk everything down. He always takes the non-occupied standpoint. He adds zero value.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Holm always tries to talk everything down. He always takes the non-occupied standpoint. He adds zero value.

Well he is able to recount the half he remembers of an article in a Belgian newspaper or a TV show and to gossip about current or former QS riders. If you can't have Lefevere himself, he isn't a bad substitute.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

They have to talk about something for hours. Hatch does a decent job of it.

And this is my problem with Hatch. The guy is such a Europhile yet he never seems to be able to add any cultural context. Kirby and Been are good at rambling off on tangents about cuisine, wars, religion, geology etc.
On a dull six hour stage I think you kind of need things like that.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

The only one I really like is Magnus Backstedt.

Absolutely spot on. I listened a lot magnus and he should be commentating all the major classics.

Anyway

Recently I noticed that Rob hatch is doing all the time 'if you are new to cycling', 'if you haven't been watching for long' , and constantly explaining to beginners what is happening in interesting moments of the race.

Its very strange to me, because the vast vast majority of the audience on a midweek Giro stage in any major cycling country is people who are fans of the sport and watch the races for years. They want insights, tactical analysis, cultural commentary, stories, excitement, tidbits of information from rumours at the start zone etc. On a boring day a lot of jokes as well. Instead we are explained why the breakaway goes for the 100000th time.

I've never seen another sport doing this, constantly pandering to beginners in the commentary. When you watch football matches, the commentators don't explain the offside rule or how free kicks work during the game 'if you are new to football' etc etc. But that's what I imagine Rob hutch doing in the champions league final

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

Absolutely spot on. I listened a lot magnus and he should be commentating all the major classics.

Anyway

Recently I noticed that Rob hatch is doing all the time 'if you are new to cycling', 'if you haven't been watching for long' , and constantly explaining to beginners what is happening in interesting moments of the race.

Its very strange to me, because the vast vast majority of the audience on a midweek Giro stage in any major cycling country is people who are fans of the sport and watch the races for years.

I've never seen another sport doing this, constantly pandering to beginners in the commentary. When you watch football matches, the commentators don't explain the offside rule or how free kicks work during the game 'if you are new to football' etc etc. But that's what I imagine Rob hutch doing

Agreed about Magnus but he's now a DS so is rarely available.
To be fair to Hatch - on this one occasion - I assume this is a directive from the Eurosport producer aimed at randoms who are watching the race on TV. I'm pretty sure this has been the case since the days of David Duffield (now there's a man who could ramble on about non-cycling things on a flat stage in an entertaining way) but it's just that when Hatch says it it's just more irritating.

 

[Potomac]

I was trying to remember Duffield's name. Now there was a guy I didn't like listening to. He gave it a good shot with things like how to tell a 9nth century chapel from a 14th century chapel from architectural details but he managed to make it boring.