Rob Hatch

[fmk_RoI]

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 dunno Carrick. It seems to vary year to year and commentator to commentator.

 

[fmk_RoI]

Now there was a guy I didn't like listening to

He had a friend in cheeses, did Duffers.

That's actually all I remember of him. Cheese.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

He had a friend in cheeses, did Duffers.

That's actually all I remember of him. Cheese.

And tricycle racing!!

 

[fmk_RoI]

The only one I really like is Magnus Backstedt.

Sorely missed.

I do think Robbie McEwen does a good job, I tend to actually listen properly and not just half listen when he's talking.

And Kelly ... obvs I would praise him but even if I wasn't Irish I think I'd take pleasure in the quiet way he disagrees with Hatch, seeming to agree at first and then casually pointing out why what Hatch said is actually very, very wrong.

 

[memyselfandI]

but it's just that when Hatch says it it's just more irritating.

I think this is precisely a question of intonation difference between different humans. How we overall find someone's voice and intonation irritating or not.

 

[Valv.Piti]

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, and thats quite unfair to Worre. Asbjørn Kragh is obviously a lot worse and adds zero value. At least Worre and Holm adds stuff to the broadcast, but compared to Bastian, they are still a long way off for me personally.

I have zero idea why they are bringing him in though. I mentioned this earlier in the season. He seems unintelligent to me honestly, and his career was obviously very mediocre, so from that aspect he can't will add anything interesting. Holm can do that (both from T-Mobile and Quick Step), and Worre has his gig at Danmark Rundt and is quite passionate about race routes for example, so he can add pretty interesting stuff from time to time.

Holm and Bay has a good relationship though, you can tell they enjoy each other's company which is a big positive. Its just that Holm has some very weird takes from time to time on cycling, similar to Brian Nygaard, but the ladder is obviously a complete douche full of himself where as Holm is actually quite funny.

 

[Netserk]

Especially considering that they have assembled a quite good team over the years. The rest of them are the best I've seen on TV wrt to cycling, even if I quite like Rolf and Ritter as well.

I don't listen to forhjulslir, but from what I've heard on Eurosport, Mielke is top notch as well.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I think I still prefer TV2. Its pretty close honestly, as TV2 has some shitters as well like Staghøj and Moberg, but Ritter is the definition of a professional and Rolf is extremely passionate. Staghøj still thinks he's trying to educate first time 12 year old watchers on what cycling is, but peak TV2 is quite good.

A team of Ritter, Bastian, Michael Rasmussen and Rolf would be my dream scenario.

 

[fmk_RoI]

Is Jørgen Leth ever let near a microphone these days?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Is Jørgen Leth ever let near a microphone these days?

Nope, his last TdF was 2018 or 2019 as far as I can remember. He's unfortunately too old these days and he has some health issues on top of that as well. I don't really remember peak Jørgen Leth (before he got fired in 2005), but it was obvious what he could bring to the table the first year after he got hired again in 2009 despite all his flaws. A definite legend in danish cycling for sure.

 

[fmk_RoI]

A definite legend in danish cycling for sure.

A complicated man. His complications being part of the attraction.

 

[RedheadDane]

A team of Ritter, Bastian, Michael Rasmussen and Rolf would be my dream scenario.

What a horrible thought.
Yeah, I lost my last shred of respect for him when he - during the 2020 TdF - claimed that Mads P. and Valgren were "fat", and that if you want to be a good pro, you need basically starve yourself.

 

[Valv.Piti]

He might be controversial, but he's the kind of no BS kinda guy and I usually always enjoy and agree on his analysis. Bjarne Riis was like this as well though, a lot of oldschoolers were like that, so you should just take it for what it is.. a different era and different view of what it takes to reach peak performance. Also, you should consider the type of rider he was himself - he isn't trying to fatshame anyone or whatever, he's simply speaking about what he sees and how he would go about it himself which obviously was taking it to the absolute extremes at times. No harm done for me personally, but I realize some people think about stuff like that very differently than I do.

Generally though, Rasmussen is scapegoated a lot in Denmark, and you don't hear the stuff about Holm, Worre etc. even though they did the same and they played the same game as everyone else. Again, thats completely fine for me, and if I invested as much as he did, you better believe I'd do the same!

 

[tobydawq]

Especially considering that they have assembled a quite good team over the years. The rest of them are the best I've seen on TV wrt to cycling, even if I quite like Rolf and Ritter as well.

I don't listen to forhjulslir, but from what I've heard on Eurosport, Mielke is top notch as well.

Mielke is great. The problem is that on his podcast, his cohost is Per Bausager, and while Bausager does have a great grasp on cycling and understands it very well, his voice is just not good.


Regarding Holm and his weird takes: Yesterday, shortly before the finish: "If Vacek wins this, it will be the best stage of the whole Giro". Said without a shade of irony. While the rest of the world knew that the stage was the worst Grand Tour stage in years. The man is so weird.

 

[tobydawq]

You know you have a strong cycling coverage lineup when you can substitute Peter Piil in for Thomas Bay.

And no, I don't know why this thread has become a Danish Eurosport thread.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

He's exhausting me. I need the rest day.
I've been trying to think of a worse lead commentator in any sport ever, but can't. There's no emotion there, it's just shouting and whelping, the occasional whisper as he tries to build up tension where none will obviously occur, rolling out some stat he's just pulled off PCS, pronouncing stuff in an OTT way and going "oh no, no .no , NO!" when he mistakes a mechanical for a crash.
GCN keep ignoring my emails about him and Blythe so I'm going to take it to the top and email Eurosport suggesting they swap him with the people who do indoor rock climbing.

 

[fmk_RoI]

GCN keep ignoring my emails about him and Blythe so I'm going to take it to the top and email Eurosport suggesting they swap him with the people who do indoor rock climbing.

Take it straight to David Zaslav and threaten to meme-stock Discovery if they don't replace him with a proper commentator

 

[normanzo]

I complained about Hatch on this thread last week. Later, I realized I was too harsh. I've given a fresh listen to his Giro commentary over the past few days. He does do a fine job most of the time and the excessive volume and hyper-drama during attacks, crashes, finishes, etc. is surely because he loves the sport and gets possessed by his excitement in those moments.

 

[HelloDolly]

I complained about Hatch on this thread last week. Later, I realized I was too harsh. I've given a fresh listen to his Giro commentary over the past few days. He does do a fine job most of the time and the excessive volume and hyper-drama during attacks, crashes, finishes, etc. is surely because he loves the sport and gets possessed by his excitement in those moments.

I know what you mean ..he loves the sport and is knowledgeable about the sport
But so do I but that doesn't mean I am a good commentator

His comms wear you down...and its very difficult to listen to

 

[Savant12]

Rob Hatch > Adam Blythe

 

[HelloDolly]

Rob Hatch > Adam Blythe

Rob Hatch > Adam Blythe > > > > > > > Rob Hatch + Adam Blythe

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

"In the land of fine Italian dining, it is a big mac that wins it"

If ever there were a line that deserves the sack...

 

[bigcog]

Hatch really is a hysterical these days and even more annoying ...

 

[Bonimenier]

"In the land of fine Italian dining, it is a big mac that wins it"

If ever there were a line that deserves the sack...

Absolute brilliant line.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

It makes me fear for what he had planned in the case of Healy or Frigo winning: "In the land of the risotto, the best is Uncle Ben's", or "They eat their vegetables frito around here, but the break has been cooked by Frigo."