Tech in brief: new gear from Shimano, Park Tool, Wahoo and more Tech in brief: new gear from Shimano, Park Tool, Wahoo, Tortec and more Vitus launch three bikes for cyclo-cross season. It is just crazy the amount of automotive stuff on the go, whether that is cars or motorcycles, that are getting too close to the riders, too often. Im a bit annoyed at myself because I lost my temper at the time. As a small example, he started talking to Magnus Backstedt about tyre widths the other day ("weren't you the 27 mm guy?") Among an awful lot of distractions, as Carlton Kirby explains, commentating on cycling is an arduous process. . He's ruining the sport I love - I avoid many races purely because he's the commentator. It's embarrassing now. They will tell you, Yes, so-and-so is looking really mentally fatigued, or, they are saying, Hes getting very aggressive in the peloton and weve had a word with the team, that is all great information. After moving to 30 Tour de France stage wins with four rousing victories that has shattered Marcel Kittel on this year's Tour, Eurosport's voice of cycling Carlton Kirby tells Desmond Kane why he . Live blog: "outrageous claims" - Tao Geoghegan Hart lays into Eurosport commentator Carlton Kirby, cyclists blamed for countryside litter - Twitter responds, Colnago e-bike, Jason Kenny, Jeremy Vine on close-passes, TdY teams, Peloton baby + more. You have to say who they are, where they are on the road, what colour theyre in and call the tactics and often all within 30-45 seconds of sheer hell and manic action. And somebody asked me, why dont you pronounce his name Foo-gel-sang instead ofFoolsong. I like him. he's saving his energy. Marcel Kittel gesticulates as Mark Cavendish wins stage 14 of the Tour de France ahead of Peter Sagan, Stage six finish: Cavendish edges Kittel again in thrilling finale, WATCH: Moment Cavendish finds out he has won. You also get a guy filming on the one side of a cyclist, who is then blocking the rider from turning at the right angle into a corner because a motorbike is blocking him. and apologises to those who don't. 00:04:00, 29/05/2020 at 08:52 Related Read our full Privacy Policy as well as Terms & Conditions. And alongside everything going on in his ear and on the screens in front of him, Kirby says the booths themselves can be a sourceof distraction from the job of commentating. To show no fear is the best skill of all. Where is the central body that has its own rules of discipline and rules of engagement that respect distance protocol and passing protocol under the race director? All of that is avoidable if you have the right distance and the right protocol in place. Whether they be dusty in the summer or wet in the winter, motorcycles are far too dangerous and get far too close to the bikes. Tech, reviews: tech [at] road.cc At least he can string a sentence together and he seems to bring good comments out of Backstedt. He is thinking of five wins, and is finally allowing himself to believe he is going to reach the all-time record of the Belgian all-rounder Eddy Merckx's record for stage wins of 34. It is a free-for-all. It is not just the press core looking for pictures for the following day. I often moan about Kirby myself, but I don't. We cant do that when hes at his house and Im at mine. It is not just the motocycles remember. The Tour forces us to have dinner. "In tennis you never talk through a point because the crowd don't. In certain sports, you have to respect the action, and then you comment on it. Thats when it down to you and not the riders.. Some of which have been admitted, some of which weren't. VeloNews: Whats the biggest difference for you when youre commentating on a race from back home, instead of attending the event? But, Kirby has to do that, without fail. Ive now just watched the end of Milan-Sanremo again: Aranburu wasnt in the first group behind Morhoric, so he literally couldnt have come higher than 10th. And hes trying to improve them. Ive just turned Catalunya on and hes already come out with I think he fell victim to his agent, so now hes at x team. He is rubbish Eurosport have many other far better options we need a decent commentator not Carltons partridge esque musings. Ive been up the Galibier. And anybody who has watched one unfold on TV will recognise the frantic speed of the commentary as the race reaches its climax. Log in or register to join the conversation. He's fine when it's all action but flounders when it's a longer stage. You can't work commentating on it for as long as he has next to informative ex-pros without some of it getting in through osmosis at the least. There are no points for each turn. 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. VN:What do you talk about differently when youre in the studio? AndKirby wouldnt have it any other way, even if there are those who dont always appreciate what goes into calling a Tour de France stage. So, our information can be slightly second-hand. Valverde gets it very, very wrong!" exclaimed . 14 Aug 2020. Nobody but nobody doesnt sprint for 5th at the end of a Monument. He spoils everyones enjoyment of the race with his silly so called jokes and rubbish talk. Please tell your friends: Ive read so many negative comments about Kirby that unlike most online petitions this one could work. Carlton Kirby: 'Joo Almeida, who won't worry anyone in the General Classification'. 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. 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. Yep, thats my pick. During a long interview, the legendary veteran commentator of Eurosports shares some of his knowledge about the job. Twaddle. Kittel did win stage four, but then Cavendish beat him again on stage six. Some people take offence for the strangest reasons. One of the most adaptable voices on British Television, as can be seen from hisworking synopsis, Carltons range is wide. All rights reserved. VN:What difference will people notice in this years Tour broadcast from a normal year, when you and your team are on-site? Kittel was completely shocked, and has been getting more and more upset as this Tour has gone on. Kirby continues to put his notes togetheronce hearrives at the commentary booth, reading the local press andKellys grasp of colloquial French coming into its own. It is guys sitting on a motorbike who pull up alongside a cyclist and say 'how are you doing?'. If you don't like something, how else can you change it - by saying nothing? Eurosport's lead cycling commentator Carlton Kirby has called for action to regulate the role of motor vehicles in the sport following the tragic death of Belgium's Antoine Demoitie, who was. 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. He has poor knowledge and really just annoys everyone. All the news from the site and beyond as we start a new week, Thomas De Gendt bosses Volta a Catalunya opener and solos into 3-minute overall lead. Hosted by Duncan Steer. Theyd often stop too Euskaltel-Euskadi were one of the most common for that, theyd roll to the front, let everyone know it wasnt an attack and then ride up the road to briefly chat to family! And, one can understand the enthusiasm that has kept him going despite the setbacks and even criticism from people. And suddenly some feel like a part of the race. Harmon's attitude can best be described as 'wogs begin at Calais'. I think its just taking a breath and think about the consequences, he concluded. During a long interview, the legendary veteran commentator of Eurosports shares some of his knowledge about the job. The most interesting people are the race commissars, and talking with them you get a lot of insight into who they are keeping an eye on. Whilst im not a great fan of Carlton Kirkby I very much doubt I could talk for between 1 and 5 hours without descending into complete nonsense from time to time. If she wins so does everyone else. You are calling the race as you see it on the screen. https://t.co/rFjZ7dTFUE. For all those who can't stand Kirby's 'commentary' (must be everyone on Bikeradar? Colnago is using social media to tease the arrival of its new E64 Performance, which well go out on a limb and guess is the companys attempt to tap into the rapidly growing e-bike market. That is the way it appears. Cookies help us deliver our services. You get the atmosphere and emotion of a place. From dealing with the never-ending frenzy of action, and incessant radio announcements, to having to tackle the director. Juan Antonio Flecha and Johnny Hoogerland were sent into barbed wire on the Tour de France because the France TV van was about to hit a tree having a run out of road, but took the softer option of the riders. Don't miss a moment from Paris-Roubaix and Unbound Gravel, to the Giro dItalia, Tour de France, Vuelta a Espaa, and everything in between when you The unrelenting, inane chatter (did any of us want to know that his wife had their third child by caesarean section? Eurosport have a lot of these, so theres a lot of conversation going on in your ear [between producers] and its quite a task trying to keep the flow of what you are saying, Kirby says. See the recording of the last Carlton Kirby Zoomcast hereEnjoy our vintage/summer Parisian Spotify playlist (plus Little Italy by Stephen Bishop, not French, don't write in) hereSee Carlton's Carlton Kirby: 'Joo Almeida, who won't worry anyone in the General Classification'. Tel 01225 588855. Cavendish swept to his second win at the Tour of Turkey with another . 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. Kirby has more than two decades as a commentatorbehind him and, alongside Irish legend Sean Kelly, has been back at the Tour de France this year calling the action from Utrecht through to Paris. 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. I talk about the same stuff, except Im making it up. because there wuld be an uprising in the country. Story Time with Carlton Kirby: Mankini's and mechanicals | "The pictures were all over the news. Win! He said from the rider's perspective, motorbikes get far too close to the race. But saves my life" German governments helmet advert sparks sexism row, - Sir Gary Verity steps down from Welcome to Yorkshire for health reasons after "errors of judgement" with his expenses, -Bristol taxi driver who cut up cyclist and braked in front of him has licence revoked (+ video), -Porn Pedallers to carry on riding despite being stripped of British Cycling affiliation. Its Kirbys cheat sheetfor every stage in the race, with details of the top finishers, jersey wearers, men in the breakaway and so on. Cue points, Kirby adds, are a bigger problem at Eurosport than with other networks, with producers calling for radio silence across the Eurosports various nationalbroadcasts to assist with the editing process. 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. You have entered an incorrect email address! You can also sometimes find your hotel is one or two hours away. Yates ended up going out the back of the peloton, losing 1.22. You don't need to be that close to the riders to get snaps. ), peppered with the repeated clichs (just see how many times he says 'puppy paws', joining the party or a dozen or so others). What is his cycling background ? Best known for his work on Eurosport, his voice has also appeared on BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Motors TV, Cycling TV, Speed Channel USA, ABC Australia, SABC South Africa, Canal Plus France, Canal France International and more. The headline does anyway, while the sources in the article cover a few different potential causes. There are no gaps you might shut up for five seconds or so to listen to the crowd, but thats it.. Eurosport's Carlton Kirby and cycling legend Sean Kelly reacted like the viewers at home - at first incredibly concerned, then mightily relieved. But try explaining that to Cycling Weekly and their letters column.. Baseless. When Cavendish won again on stage 14, Kittel just fell to pieces emotionally. CK:Its pretty bleak. A football match lasts for hardly ninety minutes, a rugby match is over in eighty minutes, whilst a basketball game takes only thirty-eight minutes to finish. pic.twitter.com/fFcEf0AgHK, Volta a Catalunya (@VoltaCatalunya) March 25, 2019. I quite like Kirby. Its the press guys we see more, because of the mechanics of the day. The current situation has made things difficult, where previously they would head over to the channel to cover Tour De France, now they sit in their studios and practice social distancing and looking at monitors. CK:As a commentator, you dont have a great deal of contact with the riders. Stig Broeckx avoids serious injury after being hit by motorbike. Kirbys Knowledge and Enthusiasm on the Mic is Unparalleled, When Kirby explains the difficult process of commentating on cycling, Michael Matthews powers to Bretagne Classic victory, Bora-hansgrohe riders false positive raises new doubts over accuracy of COVID-19 testing, Giro dItalia, Milan-San Remo under threat of cancellation due to coronavirus, Ewan storms to victory on stage 2 of UAE Tour. Controversial! And within the second group, he sprints hard, coming 13th overall. What you are talking about is a place in history. The actual bones of the job are quite similar. 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. It is all well having experience, but at some of the smaller races who are the guys riding these bikes? Its quite nice at the Tour de France that we have a roadbook and a history book of everything were going through. Mark thought it was congratulations, but it was Kittel hitting him on the back in frustration. There are several fan forums that constantly try to have him removed from Eurosport and even made a Carlton Kirby petition their demands on the grounds of inane chatter, terrible jokes, and unnecessary screaming. In their eyes, he is one of the worst cycling commentators. Kirby has the benefit of what he calls the ultimate pass the presence of his legendary co-commentator when it comes to cutting through the crowds and police lines. I could get 20 minutes of commentary out of dinner last night. Thanks to all who have signed. The major problem with this is that you cannot follow a race he is commentating on unless you are watching it - i.e. Commentating during the 2022 Ronde with 222km to go, Kirby says: Aranburu could have finished as high as 5th in Milan-Sanremo, but didnt think it was worth his while so he eased off at the end and came in 13th. He came off the corner leading, it was a right hand to the finish in Villars-les-Dombes. We had a heated debate about the incident and then the person drove away. Well, Kirby says, when its all out action on the road its very easy the problem comes on longtransition stages. Get rid. #cycling @carltonkirby whatsonreading.com Carlton Kirby True Tales of the Tour de France | What's On Reading They basically work on the principle that people watching cycling in english are only interested in english speaking riders. The sights and sounds of the race and the attention of aptitude in an ample pressroom can renounce some valuable chunks for a commentator. The concern of course is how much is this going to take out of him before he begins preparations for the Olympic Games next month? Let us know what you think in the comments. Its a whole other much more positive view of commentators as a whole. They kept the suspect in view and assisted us in the footchase before he was caught and arrested pic.twitter.com/QcQg7PBcsn, Wednesfield Police (@WednesfieldWMP) March 24, 2019. Kirby has more than two decades as a. Matt Stephens will be Eurosport's dedicated reporter on all Grand Tour coverage, bringing breaking news, updates, and interviews from inside the peloton. Tony Martin scared everybody with his breakaway, says Etixx chief. #GPDenain pic.twitter.com/2DsagK73lS, Wanty-Gobert Cycling Team (@TeamWantyGobert) March 24, 2019. When youre part of the race caravan, all you talk about is the race. But Mark Cavendish says no: what the track does is make you think fast, it makes you think within a very tight set of circumstances. He is thinking Champs Elysees. There are people who love what I do, and others who hate it, he admits. I heard him doing weightlifting once.