Since I first began watching cycling from the 2011 Tour de France, there is one particular thing I have noticed about the coverage.
No, it isn’t the picture break-up, I think we can forgive the broadcasters that, seeing as they are streaming from a motorbike, into the truck at the finish, and back to their headquarters.
No, the real bugbear of cycling coverage for me is the bad state of the commentary.
Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen are particularly guilty of this.
Now I can’t imagine a Tour de France without Liggett’s voice in the background, but every year I have listened to them commentate I find myself wondering how they manage to keep their job.
The occasional misnomer I think we can all forgive, but with the commentators of cycling today it is a constant stream of mispronounced names, wrong names, wrong facts and wrong teams.
I have lost count of the number of times I have heard Edvald Boasson Hagen be referred to as ‘Edward’ Boasson Hagen, or Geraint Thomas’ first name being pronounced as if the commentator has a back-load of phlegm in their throat.
Mispronunciation is commonplace in cycling coverage, and with the technology available today, it would not be difficult for a team to put a video on each rider’s profile with them saying hello, and then their name.
This I feel would solve a lot of pronunciation dilemmas for commentators, and would end the debate on how to pronounce names such as Voeckler, Hesjedal and Fuglsang.
Today was a particularly embarrassing day for cycling commentators everywhere, as when Jan Bakelants crossed the line to win Stage 2 of the 2013 Tour de France, most of the men commentating announced it as Markel Irizar taking the win.
Admittedly, this is not completely the commentator’s fault, the Tour had already put a graphic up saying it was Irizar ahead, not Bakelants, but it has shown that a better way of identifying riders from the front is needed.
How that may be is not up to me to decide as regrettably, I am not one of the candidates for UCI Presidency this year.
But it is something that the UCI needs to look into.
The last point about the state of commentary in cycling is simple doing your homework.
Quite often I will hear rider’s achievements being listed, and will hear things that are just not right.
Today I heard that Tony Martin had finished second in last year’s time trial world championship, even the most casual cycling follower would know that he is in fact the current world champion in the discipline.
Commentators are being paid for their efforts, they also get to travel to places in the cycling world that most of us can only dream of going to, in my opinion it is time they started justifying their place in the cycling world.
Ria
Guest
I should not be surprised that someone is complaining about something.however, I am surprised. I like all the commentary at the races, Phil, Paul. Robbie, all add color to the long races. I'm pleased to get coverage glad to listen to some of the silliness and knowledgeable experience of Bob Roll. Just cut the sound if the commentary doesn't meet expectation. I often find storylines, by play and mistakes charming. Just enjoy.
Graham
Guest
Couldn't agree more. Listening to the SBS commentators this year is painful. Apart from the pictures I wouldn't even know they're in France. Aussie this Aussie that who cares? If there are Aussie riders in contention and riding well then by all means great but who cares about Aussie riders who've never even competed in Le Tour? Robbie is a great expert and plays his expert comments role well as he did with Phil and Paul but he can't carry the main role. He's just not interesting enough sitting next to someone who's not interesting at all.There's just no passion coming through the mike for me. Matt Keenan is just plain dull as dishwater. As said by other poster's here he just reels off stats. That's it. He has nothing else to offer. SBS's nonsense claim that they liken their decision to 'Richie Benaud taking a backseat in his twilight years' is just sanctimonious garbage. By the tone of the SBS press releases on the matter the decision was made by Mike Tomalaris.
Peter
Guest
Are you kidding? - listening to M Keenan is like eating white marshmallows and mashed potatoes with milk and tofu. I think his voice is so unbelievably bland and boring, and so is his commentary. Surely there are others out there who could do a better job at it, SBS???? Keenan just gives facts and statistics all night. I can read a records book too... and parrot off the facts. Too patronising for me. Phil and Paul do a fine job for SBS cycling. No need for total experts to satisfy the elite professional viewers, is there? They do a fine job for all levels of viewers, I reckon. They do a pretty good job of describing the race and some history and some interesting rider info. Top blokes!
Vernal
Guest
Just yesterday I heard Matthew Keenan say he had been "doing this" for 11 years. I took that to mean that he has been commentating on the TDF *in France* 11 times. I was surprised to hear that, considering that he has great difficulty pronouncing the French riders' names correctly. Seriously? Nary a French lesson in 11 years? Nobody recorded the names for him so that he can do them the respect of saying their names properly? It's totally crazy how badly he does with non-English names. Imanol Erviti becomes "Eevairtee". I though my countrymen were the worst (American)! Apparently not. I do enjoy hearing what Mr. McEwen has to say, though. And his pronunciation is a million times better.
maria szczerba
Guest
While you out there or some of you may or may not Like certain people of the commentary! I must admit in all the years i have been watching tour de france! I enjoy the commentaries of paul phil matthew david and scott sutherland david mckenzie and phil anderson. You see these people legends have all ridden not just tdf but giro and other cycling races and all of them have a wealth of knowledge and know the different places of france! The only thing i hate is when the picture freezes up when watching or at the end you do not see all jersey presentations. Vive le tour!! Love gabriel gate le tour and the places he visits with his recipes and different foods in rsgions.
Streever
Guest
I'm reviving a necro-thread obviously, but folks, TDF coverage is 6 hours, and commentators are providing coverage for as many as 6 streams! Mistakes happen: people are human. As the writer notes, many of the mistakes come direct from the organization. Furthermore, the video intro? for commentators? Please. You expect a commentator to keep straight 180 names from riders from all over the world? It seems a bit silly. I don't think Edvald Boasson Hagen is losing sleep over English commentators saying "Edward" in a moment of excitement.
martin bailey
Guest
I agree with Tom Fish for those of us unfortunate enough to have Liggitt and Sherwen as commentators. I can tolerate the mistakes by Phil Liggett, but Paul Sherwen's inane commentary makes me mute the TV. The last couple of years Sherwen has two or three favorite riders and all he does is go on and on about those riders repeating himself excessively within the space of a few minutes irrespective as to what is happening in the race, I wonder if he is being paid to promote them. The first hour of the 5th stage today was very pleasant with and Australian commentator who just gave the information it was very enjoyable, why can't he do the whole stage?
Cliver
Guest
You've got to be joking. Matt Keenan's a pain - constantly refers to the 'main peloton' (what's the other one?)and has a voice that's hard to listen to. On SBS's Giro commentary he is not as irritating as he has a former Giro rider David McKenzie as co-commentator who knows what he's talking about and also tells you interesting facts about the towns and countryside the route passes through. Phil and Paul are to my mind without peer as a Tour commentary team. And Sherwen did a good job covering some of the Spring Classics solo.
Keith Edwards
Guest
after passing through the Feeding Stations the riders throw most of the food away. What is in the bag ? what do they throw away. Surely by now the food suppliers would know what to pack !
The Reiver
Guest
Commentators should stick to racing and quit creating pseudo history. They constantly attributed closing monasteries to Henry VII ratherl than Henry VIII. They also included the Tudors in the Wars of The Roses. The two events were about 100 years apart. They are on much sounder ground when talking about the race
Paul
Guest
Mispronunciation of names is one of my constant compaints sports commentators, especially on the BBC which has a pronunciation unit
Mark_Thomas
Guest
If you're fed up with the TV boys, I recommend Simon Brotherton and Rob Hayles on Radio Five-Live - a combination of erudite quick-wit and subject savvy that paints a thousand pictures, or something...
Steve Arnold
Guest
My pals and I have been using a drinking game to add some interest to the TDF. Every time Phil utters a malaprop, misdirection (left when he means right, etc.), misnomer (wrong name for a team, rider or location) or simply misspeaks by mispronunciation or transposition we down a shot. If he says "I beg your pardon" admitting his own failing - 2 shots are required. If Paul chimes in to cover for Phil - 2 shots! So far, I have been drunk by the end of every stage. Thankfully, they have rest days! -- SA
Ria
Guest
I don't care about commentary mistakes or pronunciation errors. Phil and Paul are backdrops to the stage. They keep us company in the hours of boredom. They do better than I would. They are as much a part of the race as the weather, elevation or crowd. I watch the teams, individuals racing, Am smiling at mistakes,comments I learn from Bob Roll, used to laugh too, now he's more serious. This year I purchased the Tour Live App. I got weather, crowds, live coverage plus Phil, Paul and Bob--not bad for $15. Eh? Plus I get cycling for 3 weeks--It's grand!
Will
Guest
Mr. Liggett, I have enjoyed you for over 30 years, but you need to look at todays footage again during the last sprint to the line. And please not that I am not a supporter of Cavendish, but he was being blocked by the Argos rider to assist his rider, and when Cavendish "bumped" him, (very softly I might add) he throw his bike down in hopes of getting Cavendish too. Clearly, he was instructed to take out Cavendish in my opinion, as he was looking around too much for him, slowed his bike and traveled too much off his line to make contact with Cavendish. Fix is in.... But I still enjoy listening to you! All my best, Will
Ted Mulder
Guest
That wouldn't be hard to do.
Frank Stolp
Guest
There are always people whining about something. Get real and enjoy the cycling, the beautiful scenery and the nice food. Okay some times the commentators slip up, I like to see the whingers do better.
Ted Mulder
Guest
Apropos. I watched the Giro on Eurosport. And it was delightful to hear David Harmon instantly translate the interview of the day's stage winner as it happened, whether it was in French or Italian. And never mispronounce one name, be it French, Italian, Dutch, Belgian, Spanish or any other nationality. Now, THAT's professionalism.
Ted Mulder
Guest
Same riders, year after year after year. And they can't be bothered to put in that extra effort to be professional? Something they're being paid big bickies to do?
Ted Mulder
Guest
Agree with you that most at TWG (or Fox for that matter) show the same ignorance as Sherwen et al. With the exception of Les, probably because he is European born and educated, as well as Martin Tyler and probably because he has shown an intelligent integrity that's the hallmark of a top professional commentator. But they are few and far in between.