You get the mood of the crowd, and of the press. In the early 1990s he became a freelance commentator. Kirby says he opens the Tours road book (the bible for riders and media alike) first and foremost, having to change all of the notes to match his commentary notes and the on-screen graphics counting down the kilometres, rather than up as the book does. Simon Yates drops back to the Peloton in the last 2km - Carlton Kirby: 'Yates has decided this isn't worth the candle' - i.e. Hosted by Duncan Steer Carlton Kirby's Cycling Lock-In Radio Days Events Sports NOV 24, 2021 London live show preview! In the second episode of Story Time with Carlton Kirby, the Eurosport commentator reads an excerpt from his book (Magic Spanner) about how British cycling caused a seismic change in the. Owned by Warner Bros. I remember being impressed during the Giro at his ability to identify riders. join Outside+. 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 You might remember an 'interpretive spinning' vid doing the rounds on social media a few weeks ago. 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. That is exactly what has happened now. So, what is Scottish Cycling / British Cycling doing about this? On the descent, motorbikes often get too close to the cyclist in front of them. Yates ended up going out the back of the peloton, losing 1.22. Eurosport is a group of pay television networks in Europe and parts of Asia. Once its out there youre done, so youll just have to forgive me if I make the odd gaffe. Talk about what you know. Page 6 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community. Its a case of trying to keep everybody amused. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. There is absolutely no deficit of distractions for a commentator. 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. CK:As a commentator, you dont have a great deal of contact with the riders. It is not just the press core looking for pictures for the following day. Or at least diminished. 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? e-bikes are very much the SUVs of the car world with every manufacturer seemingly keen to add at least one to their range to not miss out. 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. Before Kirby hits the airwaves, he touchesbase with Eurosport HQ in Paris,and then its time to take to the microphone. When Kirby explains the difficult process of commentating on cycling, and the concerns he has, one might want to know how much of that impacts him. For every Nicolas Roche or Steve Cummings great characters, totally locked down there are some savage bastards out there, and we love them all. At Eurosport, because the producer maynot necessarily be listening to the Englishcommentary, theyll be occasions when I goto Sean and say, so what do you think of Sagan? and hell start mulling it over and responding and then all of a sudden well get a producing lining up a cue pointin his ear, and hell have to switch from his usual, slow voice to speaking very quickly and wrapping up his point in five seconds for no apparent reason to the viewer. Following a two year broadcasting secondment with the United Nations in the South Pacific he joined ITV as TVam's overnight Sports Producer and Reporter. 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. So, you have to ask yourself: What is different, and why is it worth it to actually go on-site? I often moan about Kirby myself, but I don't. Mrs John Murphy May 3, 2010 2,662 0 0 Aug 26, 2011. Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. Nah, Harmon is clued up. There are many great cycling commentators around at the moment, Im afraid Kirby isnt one of them. 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. Harmon's attitude can best be described as 'wogs begin at Calais'. The moment you have spoken a word, it is out there on tape and on every news website, forum, and who knows what. They basically work on the principle that people watching cycling in english are only interested in english speaking riders. When actually its just hand-written sheet of notes to recall from.. This latest incident proves exactly that. I changed to German commentary on eurosport international today I was so mad. Carlton Kirby: 'Joo Almeida, who won't worry anyone in the General Classification'. You could hear a pin drop. Without any editing, moderation, or credibility, it is all out in the name of fate. Helen Blackman (@HelenBlackman) March 24, 2019. Its the art of illusion. I could get 20 minutes of commentary out of dinner last night. You are as ill informed as Kirby. CK:I think not many people will notice. Painting a verbal picture of a five-hour race is stream of consciousness, and to be able to do that effectively, you just need to be there. 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. I just wish we had Liggett and Kelly doing the Grand Tours. Eurosport's Carlton Kirby and cycling legend Sean Kelly reacted like the viewers at home - at first incredibly concerned, then mightily relieved. Ive fallen off the Galibier. Copyright 2015-2022 ProCyclingUK - All rights Reserved, 2024 Womens WorldTour Promotion/Relegation Standings, Commentating on cycling is not like snooker or tennis, says Carlton Kirby, Demi Vollering wins Strade Bianche from teammate Kopecky. There is no discussion or debate, just chatter, articles, and just that. Its not something thats learned, or something you can prepare for. Ive done so much and been so many places that I mostly have all of them embedded in my head. (Clarke is a very good rider, but there is nothing to suggest he SHOULD have won the 2016 M-SR. Watch the race.). 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. 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. 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 Like this site? So poor . 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. While he admits Sagan's explusion for. pic.twitter.com/RRu5rosVP4, Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) March 24, 2019, This time it's a driver who doesn't get the concept of taking the lane (and is caught soon after he risks an overtake on the clogged up London street anyway), Yesterday officers were helped by youths on pedal cycles & many other members of public in catching a thief (300 theft) from Bentley Bridge who security were chasing for a while. Utterly self-absorbed: he had already decided who'd won. 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. Went for a bike ride earlier today. At other broadcasters you still have cue points, but its usually after youve finished making a point [because youre the only commentary team]. Thus, the commentary that you hear wont come from the finish line, but rather from some television studio thousands of miles away. The commentary line-up will include regular voices Rob Hatch and Carlton Kirby, who will also joined by cycling legend Sean Kelly at all three major races. I had almost no idea what was going on or who was where. 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. 2023 Eurosport, a Warner Bros. While folk littering with gel wrappers is no doubt annoying, is it really up there with fly-tipping? 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. Youre at the finish line, essentially watching the TV albeit with extra screens.. He is thinking Champs Elysees. ), peppered with the repeated clichs (just see how many times he says 'puppy paws', joining the party or a dozen or so others). The Tour forces us to have dinner. Carlton Kirby discusses the art of commentary, says thank you to those who enjoy listening to him. I speak no language other than English. carlton kirby leaves eurosport 2021; carlton kirby leaves eurosport 2021. 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? Thankfully, no tree roots to overcome. You don't need to be that close to the riders to get snaps. But he's British and that's all that matters to Kirby. All material FarrellyAtkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA11JB. 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. Every stage of the Tour de France LIVE on British Eurosport HD. And then, of course, there are the flat stages and the sprint finishes. Being on the site always gives you extra material which makes the commentating so natural and energetic. 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. Baseless. 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. This afternoon, I yet again, tolerated his insulting drivel on the Dauphine. Anyone but dreary Declan Quigley please! And he wasn't wrong. "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. These local mountain bikers tried Athletic Brewing Company's craft beer for the first time, and you'd be surprised by their reactions. UPDATE: New online Zoomcast show, July 16, click through for tickets. Thats when it down to you and not the riders.. Eurosport's lead cycling commentator's weekly guide to what's not going on in cycling during the lockdown. 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. For all those who can't stand Kirby's 'commentary' (must be everyone on Bikeradar? 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. Carlton learnt his trade as a commentator in Motorsport and Speedway while the holy trinity of Phil Ligget (ITV), David 'Duffers' Duffield (Eurosport) and Hugh Porter (BBC) had all the cycling tied up between them. Also add in several alert mobile keyholders. 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. However, a lot of his fans understand this and support him. This is why he often cracks jokes and laughs heartily. 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. Eurosport's commentator Carlton Kirby has called hundreds of races throughout his career, both on-site and from the studio. VN:So, what really is gained by being on-site? Brentford today angry guy in grey car can't see why he should wait till it's safe to overtake hoots horn, shouts abuse and 100 yards later I'm in front again anyway. Always the hardest and most challenging role in such types of games is of a cycling commentator. His knowledge of most non-english speaking riders can be written on the back of a postage stamp, with the exception of 'famous' foreigners like the Schlecks, Dertie Cont, Cancellera and after this spring Gilbert. "Oh! pic.twitter.com/MaRgbFKTet, The Ella Roberta Family Foundation (@rosamund_ElsFdn) March 25, 2019, @emmachamberlain at her soul cycling class. ), there is a thread in the. Astonishingly though, a single stage of the Tour de France lasts for about more than six hours. Get the latest race news, results, commentary, and tech, delivered to your inbox. 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. What blasphemy is this? But I do allow people to believe Im always on-site. Some people take offence for the strangest reasons. because there wuld be an uprising in the country. There's also his lack of knowledge. Well, Ill tell you: It makes your view of the race verifiable when youre there. 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. One example of his commentary, from 11/3/21 Tirreno-Adriatico: Carlton Kirby: 'Yates is the heart and mind of this breakaway group'. And then, you hang a look at anyone who is there to find out if theyre going to listen to you. Also, Kirby criticises riders in almost every race. Well ride that sympathy and see how far it takes us up the beach. 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. He also never tells you who the riders on screen are - and if he does, he's usually wrong. Hence, talking on something is difficult without matter. Carlton Kirby: 'Joo Almeida, who won't worry anyone in the General Classification'. But he's British and that's all that matters to Kirby. Carlton's voice is familiar to fans of Motorsports and Cycling both on British Television and throughout the world. We get to see our own output with our team interviewing the riders. I think you need to be a specialist to be a cycling commentator, yet he covers several sports on Eurosport. But it was here he developed the ability to call a sprint. 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. 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. All the news from the site and beyond as we start a new week. The unrelenting, inane chatter (did any of us want to know that his wife had their third child by caesarean section? Among an awful lot of distractions, as Carlton Kirby explains, commentating on cycling is an arduous process. Kittel did win stage four, but then Cavendish beat him again on stage six. There are no points for each turn. Twaddle. 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.. It is irretrievable. A new bike is coming very soon! I like him. There is a rumour that the plane ticket has already been bought for Mark to leave the Tour, but I think the temptation is there for him to go to the Champs-lyses because he believes in his mind that he has worked out how to unpick Marcel Kittel, who is his main threat. To my mind, the motorised vehicles are getting far too close, a point I continue to pick up on commentary. He said from the rider's perspective, motorbikes get far too close to the race. 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. I never say when Im on-site vs. at the race. Would like to cancel eurosport but it's the only way to watch the classics (legitimately at least). . Kirby remarks, Its not like a written press where you can write something out and finesse it and shave it. https://t.co/rFjZ7dTFUE. We dont want this man commentating. Well over a 1000 signatories on that petition now. 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 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. Eurosport's Carlton Kirby. All rights reserved. Discovery company. Even once the race itself is over, and the post-analysis is done, theres a second race to get away from the finish line. Its that melting pot of information that you get on-site. i like the stuff the two GCN guys do, is it dan Loyd and Matt Stephens? This is the video I showed Trinity School in Lewisham this morning. You must invest in an alarm upgrade to BT Redcare. He further says, "In tennis, you never talk through a point because the crowd doesn't. Its the constant attempts at humour, then the giggling at his own in-jokes that has me reaching for the mute button. 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). Carlton Kirby As a Post Graduate Broadcast Journalist Carlton's Television career began with the BBC as a News and Sports Reporter. 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. Yep, thats my pick. It means sometimes were not actually commentating from the finish line because the Tour de France is so huge theres about 8,000 people attached to the Tour. We need to get to tomorrows finish line, and sometimes that is a four-hour drive. Well then I propose a CN forum audio livestream for the tour de france. 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. Commentating on cycling is not like snooker or tennis, says Carlton Kirby, a principal commentator for Eurosports cycling coverage, who has worked in the sport since 1996. This is why he often cracks jokes and laughs heartily. Help us to make it better. Stig Broeckx avoids serious injury after being hit by motorbike. 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. To cycling fans, Carlton Kirbys voice has become synonymous with the sport, having become an integral part of British Eurosports racecoverage. 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. It is not general knowledge, and it should be.