Nah, Harmon is clued up. For god's sake grow up the man's just doing his job some of it good, some of it bad Is it my imagination or has there been more talk about commentators than cycling on here recently? 1/9/22 4.2km to go, Stage 12 Vuelta a Espana: the riders are going uphill.Kirby: as they get to this step, but it doesnt last long, its like your mums old step, give it a polish, give it a clean and then a clean pair of heels to everybody else. The commentators day doesnt juststart when the racing does, with research and planning underwayas soon as breakfast is taken. Eurosport's voice of cycling Carlton Kirby analyses the collision between Peter Sagan and Mark Cavendish that ended the Tour de France for both men. Carlton Kirby: What inspired Chris Froome's golden era Eurosport's voice of cycling Carlton Kirby analyses Chris Froome's performance in winning a fourth Tour de France. The Tour de Suisse is traditionally one of the last big races before the Tour de France. He has poor knowledge and really just annoys everyone. For me Kirby has the key ingredient I need from a commentator. The unrelenting, inane chatter (did any of us want to know that his wife had their third child by caesarean section? UPDATE: New online Zoomcast show, July 16, click through for tickets. For no reason. why must us cyclists have to tolerate a commentator who has no knowledge of professional cycling. We caught up with Kirby to learn what is gained for the telecast. He said from the rider's perspective, motorbikes get far too close to the race. In the early 1990's he became a freelance commentator. Eurosport's lead cycling commentator Carlton Kirby presents a weekly guide to everything that's NOT happening in the sport this year, with stories and reflections from his 25 years in the gantry. Especially on the downhill runs which is a crazy situation. Carlton Kirby and His Approach On Commenting for GCN and Eurosport This Year: While cycling commentator Carlton Kirby and his teammates would normally head across the channel for the Tour de France, the recent situation suggests he will be covering the 2020 edition from the Eurosport studios in London. As for Kirby - its the arrogance of the bloke - does he think his viewers are 10 year olds who know NOTHING about cycling. Before Kirby hits the airwaves, he touchesbase with Eurosport HQ in Paris,and then its time to take to the microphone. One of the worlds most iconic cycling brands appears set to launch an e-bike. We have Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche, Magnus Backstedt, Dean Downing, Rob Hayles and David Harmon (who although is not the best at least it seems he is really doing some research and background checks on the riders and teams - he is clearly learning from Kelly as they sit in the box)but Kirby doesnt even do any background research. Talk about what you know. Carlton Kirby is one of the successful names in the industry, recently had been a topic of gossip for good and bad reasons. We met a young boy and young girl who recently lost their mum, and its really sad when you see that side of it. Kittel is not a broken man, but his supremacy has tumbled because Mark Cavendish has only gone and won four stages here. Utterly self-absorbed: he had already decided who'd won. It is exciting being in a vast peloton, and the less experienced ones almost engage with it. That is the way it appears. Thats when it down to you and not the riders.. That is exactly what has happened now. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. And he has outthought Marcel Kittel here. Cavendish swept to his second win at the Tour of Turkey with another . Thats one of the vagrancies of Eurosport.. Unlike other sports, the practicalities of cycling dont change, and doing this remotely is not at all a good idea, but the situation makes all helpless. At the moment I turn up to a large building that has been stripped of staff, and there are just 16 people in the building. pic.twitter.com/fFcEf0AgHK, Volta a Catalunya (@VoltaCatalunya) March 25, 2019. A mile from home, looked behind me, moved to the centre of the lane, stuck my arm out to turn right, got Editorial, general: info [at] road.cc I think you need to be a specialist to be a cycling commentator, yet he covers several sports on Eurosport. Minutes later, Sean Kelly points out that Padun is 'not getting around the corners well not comfortable whatsoever on the descent'. Simon Yates drops back to the Peloton in the last 2km - Carlton Kirby: 'Yates has decided this isn't worth the candle' - i.e. He also never tells you who the riders on screen are - and if he does, he's usually wrong. Jason Kenny has recounted to the BBC the near miss he and his infant son Albie encountered while out cycling last month. I think this is what is powering Marks mind at the moment. Learn More, Blog: Abusing other cyclists highlights everything wrong with cycling in Britain, Chris Froome backed by strong Team Sky squad for Vuelta a Espana, Vuelta a Espana 2015 route: five stages which could decide the race, Vuelta a Espana 2015: five stages which could decide the race. As you say, he doesn't shout unnecessarily either. He's fine when it's all action but flounders when it's a longer stage. Eurosport's commentator Carlton Kirby has called hundreds of races throughout his career, both on-site and from the studio. This latest incident proves exactly that. To show no fear is the best skill of all. It was a dreadfully high price to pay in my opinion to high but the suffering couldnt go on. I realise that commentating on a race involving nearly 200 riders is challenging, but since 1986 I have always been able to follow what is going on thanks to the commentary. And thats where comes the utterly significant role of the commentator who not only has to fill the huge time span but needs to stay alert at all times. Carlton Kirby: No matter if youre in a mobile unit at the finish, or in a studio with air conditioning and a coffee machine, youre doing the same thing, the view out the window is just different. There used to be a 35 metre rule which seems to be flouted these days. Carlton Kirby brings his True Tales of the Tour de France to Reading on Weds June 21, a little over a week before #TDF2023 , as he launches his new @BloomsburySport book, Sticky Bottle . Story Time with Carlton Kirby: Mankini's and mechanicals | "The pictures were all over the news. Eurosport's lead cycling commentator's weekly guide to what's not going on in cycling during the lockdown. Hence, talking on something is difficult without matter. Theyre the best stages, and the most exciting ones, but often as a commentator the days you take the most pride in are actually the ones where absolutely sod all has happened! Thankfully, no tree roots to overcome. For all those who can't stand Kirby's 'commentary' (must be everyone on Bikeradar? A piece of the petition has gained over 542 signatures demanding the removal of Carlton Kirby from Eurosports, citing Unnecessary Screaming, Terrible Jokes as one of the biggest downsides. Thus, the commentary that you hear wont come from the finish line, but rather from some television studio thousands of miles away. He inspires such devotion that he has his own fan club, yet also is on the receiving end of a petition to get him sacked. I speak no language other than English. 4th in last year's Giro d'Italia. It is not just the press core looking for pictures for the following day. CK:I think not many people will notice. Among an awful lot of distractions, as Carlton Kirby explains, commentating on cycling is an arduous process. I had almost no idea what was going on or who was where. He believes. At least King Kelly is still there despite Harmon's departure. For mine, Carlton is the perfect commentator for the 'early shift' on long, flat grand tour stages. Eurosport cant get away with this !! Eurosport is transmitting the same amount of races as any standard european tv channel - go to Italy where it is their number 2 sport next to football - they dont struggle for professional sports commentators. But Kirby is only interested in his own narrative: McEwen told him twice that Herrada had won, but Kirby kept eulogising about Batistella's 'win', even as Herrada celebrated further coming past the camera. It just stays online forever. pic.twitter.com/MaRgbFKTet, The Ella Roberta Family Foundation (@rosamund_ElsFdn) March 25, 2019, @emmachamberlain at her soul cycling class. It is amusing that explaining this is futile, he remarks. Now it is live pictures going onto blogs, stream TV pictures. They basically work on the principle that people watching cycling in english are only interested in english speaking riders. #GPDenain pic.twitter.com/2DsagK73lS, Wanty-Gobert Cycling Team (@TeamWantyGobert) March 24, 2019. The rest is very monotonous and quite naturally the onus of filling that gap falls on the commentator. The moment you have spoken a word, it is out there on tape and on every news website, forum, and who knows what. What is his cycling background ? Wow, all this over a commentator, so Kirby sees a Quickstep rider and mistakes it for Voeckler - that's funny, it's engaging! What blasphemy is this? Get rid. Ive gotten drunk on the Galibier and been evacuated off the Galibier. My primary issue with Carlton Kirby is that he doesn't commentate on what is happening (he rambles whatever is inside his head). When all the commentators from different nationalities are inside the same studio room, it is no longer the same as before, remarks Kirby, in a monotonous tone. You can get every picture you need from in front of the peloton. You always get letters or emails from people who really enjoyed your commentary, but youll always get those who hate every fibre of your being.. The walls do move when they pile in too. As for the Sky Team Fans member - you wouldnt actually be Mr Kirby would you ???? The problem is that social media has allowed anyone and everyone to voice their opinion, regardless of their credibility. We saw that on the Tour of Catalunya - a useless piece of motorcycle protocol. Its a case of trying to keep everybody amused. So, were close to the press guys who have spoken to the riders, and they wander up during the day, and weve been in place for two hours already, and we meet with you guys. You have engineers popping in and out, you have guests from the different languages, and the only thing separating us from the Germans, on our left, and the French, on our right, are thin sound walls its completely open at the back, he says. I have been speaking to (former cyclist and Eurosport expert) Sean Kelly about it at various races, and we have both had hold your breath moments. Thats because the Tours largest broadcasters are staying at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rather than broadcasting the race on-site in France. There is absolutely no deficit of distractions for a commentator. When youre part of the race caravan, all you talk about is the race. Without any editing, moderation, or credibility, it is all out in the name of fate. It's garnering quite a few sarcastic responses on Twitter Yep, I regularly cycle to MacDonalds, get a load of food, then cycle to the off license, get some beer, and then cycle to a lay by or car park and spread it around the place. No ! I can get caught out, particularly if theres a crash in the last three kilometres, because that can animate the tempo even more and I have to keep something in reserve for the sprint finish. Kittel is still the fastest guy out there, but when he turns on the taps there is going to be a point when his maximum capacity starts to diminish. Eurosport will never get rid of Carlton Kirby, he receives so much fan-mail that it will far out way any negative feedback they get from him. And if you ever thought the job of the commentator was easy, think again, with the ability to multi-task a key skill for anyone working in live television. From dealing with the never-ending frenzy of action, and incessant radio announcements, to having to tackle the director. You might remember an 'interpretive spinning' vid doing the rounds on social media a few weeks ago. The word count for me at the end is almost blurred.. Your Tour de France telecastwill look the same this year, but it may feel somewhat different. Essentially, there needs to be some sort of schooling or protocol coming from the International Cycling Union that has a proficiency test for these guys. VN:So, what really is gained by being on-site? For over 20 years, be it the Tour de France, Olympic Games, Monte Carlo Rally or Le Mans 24 Hours, his easy-going manner coupled with incisive commentary and a dramatic edge has made him an audience favourite. At other broadcasters you still have cue points, but its usually after youve finished making a point [because youre the only commentary team]. Being on the site always gives you extra material which makes the commentating so natural and energetic. One thing Ive always been able to do is, I believe, see a very wide picture and a lot of different movement, and call those fast and accurately. The best thing you can do is relax, in my opinion, Kirby explains about going live on air. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. The Tour forces us to have dinner. We have to get him off eurosport. Kirby tells us that Batistella is punching his handlebars in celebration. Anyone but dreary Declan Quigley please! VN:What difference will people notice in this years Tour broadcast from a normal year, when you and your team are on-site? When asked about the criticism, Kirby opined Its not like the written press where you can write something out and finesse it and shave it, I dont have that gift. He kept on saying, Its gone, its irretrievable. The youngsters were congratulated by the force on Twitter, as they helped chase down a thief who had stolen over 300 worth of goods. Log in or register to join the conversation. It is a free-for-all. You have entered an incorrect email address! From wrestling with sound walls, coping with dropped audio, working with Sean Kelly and deciphering the Kirby CODEC, we caught up with Kirby midway through the raceto getan insight into life on Tour as a commentator. 2023 Eurosport, a Warner Bros. He suddenly realises how to beat Kittel, working out the formula to finish first. and clearly was totally clueless. This person has obviously just seen red, Ive got right of way, Im going to go, and you might have right of way technically whether you do or dont is often debatable but it doesnt give you the right to smash someone and potentially kill someone, which is what is going to happen if you run someone off their bike. ), peppered with the repeated clichs (just see how many times he says 'puppy paws', joining the party or a dozen or so others). The Vuelta a Espana used to be the worst of the Grand Tours because theyd have transitions day of 250km across a desert. You also have picture breakdowns, sometimes audio breakdowns so weve got all that going on and we havent even got on to the racing yet!. When Cavendish won again on stage 14, Kittel just fell to pieces emotionally. He clearly thinks he's the star of the show. Mark is already the greatest sprinter there has ever been. Would the football fans be subjected to him commentating on the football matches ? He is now only four short. American racers headed to Italy chime in. I often moan about Kirby myself, but I don't. Of all the criticisms that can be leveled at him (not recognising riders, not admitting he doesn't recognise a rider), being only interested in angolophone riders isn't one of them. Yep I always watch the ITV coverage if possible - even if that means missing the stage live and watching the highlights package (like the vuelta). (@StasaZlatanovic) March 24, 2019. I just wish we had Liggett and Kelly doing the Grand Tours. According to the Telegraph, cyclists and joggers could be targeted as part ofa new Government initiative to work out who is leaving waste behind in countryside. Among an awful lot of distractions, as Carlton Kirby explains, commentating on cycling is an arduous process. So, our information can be slightly second-hand. Info-wise, being on-site is amazing.. Youre at the finish line, essentially watching the TV albeit with extra screens.. All crescendo sports deserve to be treated as such. Creativelyreplacing it witha Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bikearound local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive hispreferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story. I like Carlton too, not as much as Harmon, granted, but I've given up on him coming back. Can you at least extend our premium subscriptions so we can play all races, until you fix the issue? And its only the past year that we even get to see more than the Tour de France. You can do that by clicking one of these links - TAKES 30 SECONDS: https://help.eurosport.com/hc/en-gb/requests/new, https://help.globalcyclingnetwork.com/hc/en-gb/requests. Carlton Kirby Kirby is the most marmite commentator there is. We have seen far too much of it - near collisions as much as actual collisions over the past few years. I like him. Harmon LOVES cycling, cycling history, and even riders who don't speak English. Baseless. You have got to be kidding! Uhhh, Ill say Bettiol. We usually have to drive to the finish line, which is where the commentary positions normally are theyre like double-decker coaches all lined up there, Kirby sayd. The major problem with this is that you cannot follow a race he is commentating on unless you are watching it - i.e. Whenever I watch an anglophone stream online because there is no other way for me to watch a race I have to think of the HIMYM episode where Barney goes to get Robin from Canada and, looking at the "funny" Canadian dollars, says: "It's like you want us to make fun of you". But it is also true that there isnt a dearth of genuine fans of Kirby who really appreciate his vast knowledge on the field. I talk about the same stuff, except Im making it up. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. (Clarke is a very good rider, but there is nothing to suggest he SHOULD have won the 2016 M-SR. Watch the race.). Most races have one unit but the Tour de France has four double-decker units.