I speak no language other than English. You cant please everybody and as a commentator thats something you have to get to grips with. pic.twitter.com/bcRWeK1p3o, just merder. And he has outthought Marcel Kittel here. Fully agree Kirby is the most irritable commentator ever. Tech, reviews: tech [at] road.cc To cycling fans, Carlton Kirbys voice has become synonymous with the sport, having become an integral part of British Eurosports racecoverage. 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. Thomas De Gendt launched a solo attack from the break with 60 kilometres remaining of todays opening stage of the Volta a Catalunya, covering 163 kilometres and starting and finishing in Calella and the Lotto-Soudal rider now finds himself with a lead of almost three minutes on his rivals. It was almost featureless and the riders would not engage in it at all. 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. This year alone, we had a Sky rider getting his elbow clipped by a security vehicle when he went for a gap when none existed. Kittel is not a broken man, but his supremacy has tumbled because Mark Cavendish has only gone and won four stages here. The demands of media and multimedia these days make it more of a serious problem. The headline does anyway, while the sources in the article cover a few different potential causes. To cycling fans, Carlton Kirby's voice has become synonymous with the sport, having become an integral part of British Eurosport's race coverage. If you're after one, guess that does makethe two grand plus 40 quid a month price tag seem a little fairer A mother from London has launched a petition calling for a second coroner's inquest into the death of her daughter, who passed away at nine years of age in what was originally believed to be an asthma-related case. 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. 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. Thats one of the vagrancies of Eurosport.. Nah, Harmon is clued up. CK:Its pretty bleak. Here they are listed below, but we already know there will be one change - Team Sky will be racing as Team Ineos, with the Tour de Yorkshire being its first race following the management company's sale to the petrochemical business. London live show preview! It is a free-for-all. Discovery through its international sports unit, it operates two main channels Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2 across most of its territories, and streams on Discovery+, which superseded Eurosport Player. Help us to make it better. As is seen in most cases, the primary action of any game takes place during the outset and ending parts. And yet, love him or loathe him, Kirbys voice is as intrinsically linked to the Tour de France, for Eurosport viewers at least, as other famous voices across the sporting spectrum. Antoine Demoitie tragically died after being hit by a motorbike. "Oh! There are many great cycling commentators around at the moment, Im afraid Kirby isnt one of them. -"Looks like shit. Next time you watch, ask yourself how many of his critiques are aimed against non-Anglophone riders. The commentators day doesnt juststart when the racing does, with research and planning underwayas soon as breakfast is taken. And we have managed to cover his view on it. Ill be making notes when Sean Kellys driving, which can be a difficult thing! Some of which have been admitted, some of which weren't. You can get every picture you need from in front of the peloton. We saw that on the Tour of Catalunya - a useless piece of motorcycle protocol. 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. He is thinking Champs Elysees. Following a two year broadcasting secondment with the United Nations in the South Pacific he joined ITV as TVams overnight Sports Producer and Reporter. With very little data being sent to them, and some pretty bad camerawork they have made a good fist of the event in Spain. I usually increase the pace especially on a sprint day to match the peloton, Kirby admits. You get the mood of the crowd, and of the press. Those are definitely the days when you earn your corn. One example of his commentary, from 11/3/21 Tirreno-Adriatico: Carlton Kirby: 'Yates is the heart and mind of this breakaway group'. As you say, he doesn't shout unnecessarily either. Talk about what you know. 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. We caught up with Kirby to learn what is gained for the telecast and what is lost from these two very different broadcasting scenarios. I have - again - sent this to Eurosport (23/2/23, with 1,871 signatures - and 1,400 people taking the time to comment!). Id love to see this Eurosport commentator substantiate even 1% of the outrageous claims he makes. As for Kirby - its the arrogance of the bloke - does he think his viewers are 10 year olds who know NOTHING about cycling. and apologises to those who don't. 00:04:00, 29/05/2020 at 08:52 Related Carlton Kirby: 'Joo Almeida, who won't worry anyone in the General Classification'. Eurosport's Carlton Kirby. 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". Ive been up the Galibier. I'm constantly berating or pointing out the danger of the motorcycle. 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 He came off the corner leading, it was a right hand to the finish in Villars-les-Dombes. Carlton Kirby As a Post Graduate Broadcast Journalist Carlton's Television career began with the BBC as a News and Sports Reporter. Story Time with Carlton Kirby: Mankini's and mechanicals | "The pictures were all over the news. @DeGendtThomas, guanyador de la primera etapa de la #VoltaCatalunya 2019. Whilst im not Carltons biggest fan (prefer Backstead w Harmon) I very much doubt I could talk for between 1 and 5 hours without descending into complete nonsense from time to time. They support his knowledge and enthusiasm behind the mic, even after so many years. It's embarrassing now. Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. 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. But, Kirby has to do that, without fail. Various types of distractions are always ready for a commentator. 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. James and Joe catch up with the chosen son of cycling commentary, Carlton Kirby. Mark thought it was congratulations, but it was Kittel hitting him on the back in frustration. For every Nicolas Roche or Steve Cummings great characters, totally locked down there are some savage bastards out there, and we love them all. This is the video I showed Trinity School in Lewisham this morning. I am very sorry but he is just nowhere near the standards of messrs. Liggett, Boulting, Miller and Hatch. They only received compensation a couple of years later. Me too. And, one can understand the enthusiasm that has kept him going despite the setbacks and even criticism from people. How can someone who watches so much cycling know so little? 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. Let us know what you think in the comments. Twaddle. Mark is already the greatest sprinter there has ever been. The man, the myth, the chosen son. I don't think much does get through to him, I really wish it did. Not much love for Eurosport commentator Carlton Kirby amongst the Team Sky ranks it seems Air pollution: London mother launches petition for second inquest into daughter''s death, Jason Kenny recounts last months near miss on BBC TV, Yoann Offredo's condition described as not life-threatening after GP de Denain crash, Telegraph article suggests "Littering cyclists and joggers could be to blame for countryside rubbish problem", Jeremy Vine's latest unpleasant encounter, 'Youths on pedal cycles' help Wednesfield Police catch thief, Best Cycling Website, BikeBiz Awards 2018, Tao Geoghehan Hart (picture copyright Simon Wilkinson, SWPix.com via Britishcycling.org_.uk), "Looks like shit. Well, Ill tell you: It makes your view of the race verifiable when youre there. But try explaining that to Cycling Weekly and their letters column.. For example, I know that Jakob Fuglsangs last name means bird song, which is a nice little thing. Simon Clarke, who should have won the 2016 Milan-San Remo is just one in a long, long line of things he invents from nowhere and then portrays as facts, banging on about them throughout a season. Eurosport is a group of pay television networks in Europe and parts of Asia. 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. He is rubbish Eurosport have many other far better options we need a decent commentator not Carltons partridge esque musings. These local mountain bikers tried Athletic Brewing Company's craft beer for the first time, and you'd be surprised by their reactions. 14 Aug 2020. As for the Sky Team Fans member - you wouldnt actually be Mr Kirby would you ???? He believes. "Commentating on cycling is not like snooker or tennis," says Carlton Kirby, principal commentator for Eurosport's cycling coverage, who has worked in the sport since 1996. 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. JavaScript is disabled. But there are always other lines to cross, and he just loves collecting these plaudits and the deserved success coming his way is just brilliant. It is not just the press core looking for pictures for the following day. Yeah he does. Eurosport's lead cycling commentator's weekly guide to what's not going on in cycling during the lockdown. As a small example, he started talking to Magnus Backstedt about tyre widths the other day ("weren't you the 27 mm guy?") Shouldnt be that hard to organise with so many people here able to talk eloquently and intelligently for 4 hours. It is not general knowledge, and it should be. In the early 1990's he became a freelance commentator. I just wish we had Liggett and Kelly doing the Grand Tours. 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. (PS If there's anything here about donating, that's the website host - nothing to do with this petition - there is nothing to donate to. 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. you can't have it on while doing other things and then return to the screen when it gets interesting because by the time Kirby has noticed many minutes will have passed. 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. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. Theres an awful lot of distractions to keep on top of, so if you happen to be looking at your notes when somebody has a moment and you dont see it, its not your fault., Kirby laughs. Would like to cancel eurosport but it's the only way to watch the classics (legitimately at least). I can't understand why Eurosport need to use him when they gave at least four other knowledgeable commentators, even without Harmon. There is no editing process, except between the brain and the larynx. You sit there, its often quite quiet, and you get brought an exotic meal like a guacamole sandwich. This is why he often cracks jokes and laughs heartily. I would rather have the sound off than listen to his pathetic attempts to link words and phrases together rather than comment on the racing (as opposed to being able to identify riders) about which he knows precious little. 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. 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. Teams have been announced for May's Tour de Yorkshire and the Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women's Race. And within the second group, he sprints hard, coming 13th overall. We cant do that when hes at his house and Im at mine. You can sound like youre a genius, with an incredible memory, Kirby says. The sights and sounds of the race and the attention of aptitude in an ample pressroom can renounce some valuable chunks for a commentator. Doesn't look that pretty, cable tied, very practical. While he admits Sagan's explusion for. Were literally opening up Sean Kellys cranium to learn the nuances of the sport, and he comes out and says which guy is going to go on and win the next day. 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. He threw the toys out of the pram because his head is scrambled by these defeats. Antoine Demoitie was tragically killed by a motorcyle at the age of 25. Carlton Kirby is one of the successful names in the industry, recently had been a topic of gossip for good and bad reasons. You can use your lens. Proper all rounder. Discovery company. When youre part of the race caravan, all you talk about is the race. To my mind, the motorcycles are the most dangerous because they have the least ability to stop. Le point sur la situation de Yoann Offredo. Strade Bianche 2023, March 4, one-day classic (men's & women's), 78th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: February 25, 2023, UAE Tour 2023, February 20-26 (women's race February 9-12), O Gran Camio 2023, Spain, February 23-26, 49th Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta (2.Pro) // February 15th - 19th 2023, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne 2023 February 26, 196 km (1.Pro). Always the hardest and most challenging role in such types of games is of a cycling commentator. You have entered an incorrect email address! The rest is very monotonous and quite naturally the onus of filling that gap falls on the commentator. There must be so many ex-pro riders out there who would give valuable commentary and insight into the races. I'm not sure if it was security, medical or a photographer who hit him, but essentially there was braking with four riders on the ground and the bike flipped before landing on the riders. As we reported at the time, the six-time Olympic champion tweeted that he had been on a Sunday bike ride with his son when they were almost run over by a van driver who drove at us, then proceeded to angrily inform me it was my fault we nearly died.. For all those who can't stand Kirby's 'commentary' (must be everyone on Bikeradar? You might remember an 'interpretive spinning' vid doing the rounds on social media a few weeks ago. The Vuelta a Espana used to be the worst of the Grand Tours because theyd have transitions day of 250km across a desert. March 2, 2022 . From dealing with the never-ending frenzy of action, and incessant radio announcements, to having to tackle the director. Minutes later, Sean Kelly points out that Padun is 'not getting around the corners well not comfortable whatsoever on the descent'. It is all clearly not set in stone at the moment, and I hope that I'm not going to have some sharp intake of breath moments on commentary just because bikes are needlessly endangering the lives of cyclists. Brian Smith is very good and I feel for him having to listen to Kirby's dumbfounding comments. I comfort myself with the fact that there are people out there who actually hate Terry Wogan. Discovery company. 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. Advertising, commercial: sales [at] road.cc And I said: Because I asked him! I asked him at breakfast, because when youre on-site, you can talk to the riders. why must us cyclists have to tolerate a commentator who has no knowledge of professional cycling. I could get 20 minutes of commentary out of dinner last night. Like this site? On rest days we circulate to meet with everybody. (@StasaZlatanovic) March 24, 2019. Yates was obviously cooked - why else would anyone work for dozens of kilometres and then give up in the final 2km? That should have been alarm bells for everyone. We have seen far too much of it - near collisions as much as actual collisions over the past few years. The blokes an insult to all cyclists. And this sort of meaningless, demented jabber is not at all unusual I could have chosen many examples just from today. Driver escapes punishment for alleged hit-and-run on cyclist, as victim blasts police inaction and barriers to justice. She got hit by a car and thats someones mum, not just a cyclist. https://t.co/rFjZ7dTFUE. He further says, "In tennis, you never talk through a point because the crowd doesn't. Well then I propose a CN forum audio livestream for the tour de france. Fantasy Cycling: game [at] road.cc Apologies it's in super annoying meme form (we couldn't find the originalsource) but this is too good not too share! I don't know the guy but I wish in netherlands we would do it with mart smeets, danny nelissen and herbert dijkstra, who are complete idiots. Without wishing to be too disparaging to Mr. Kirby, I dont have Eurosport or the ability to watch cycling live, so I have to make do with highlights. 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. Most races have one unit but the Tour de France has four double-decker units. Can you imagine Paris-Roubaix with Kirby commentating? Hes done it four times, and I think he might want to do it again on the Champs-lyses. To show no fear is the best skill of all. Absolutely mad. 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.. They race ahead, dismount to get the tracking shots they need of the riders. I make notes of the corners, pinch points, danger points, acceleration points, attack points all of those things.. His voice tends to wake me up from my nap when something happens. He has to engage with the directors in the ear, guarantee that innumerable hours of gaps are filled in suitably, deal with incoming radio announcements, all the while tackling an uproar of a different kind with the action around him. Now it is live pictures going onto blogs, stream TV pictures. Coverage includes enhanced production with access to helicopter, on-board and superslomo cameras. Among the big names the Belgian put time into today were Alejandro Valverde, fourth overall and 2 minutes 56 second down in fourth place overall, and Team Skys Egan Bernal, a further 1 second back. Every time she fought back from a coma we were warned. Thanks to all who have signed.