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. They seem to think that it is enough to just talk about english speaking riders, or to 'emote' any time there is a crash, or a difficult corner. 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. 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. 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? Now it is live pictures going onto blogs, stream TV pictures. 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. There is no editing process, except between the brain and the larynx. She got hit by a car and thats someones mum, not just a cyclist. 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? Discovery company. Set the scene for us. 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. At other broadcasters you still have cue points, but its usually after youve finished making a point [because youre the only commentary team]. 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. If youve watched Eurosport cycling, you'll know. Yates ended up going out the back of the peloton, losing 1.22. 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). 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.. Talk about what you know. You can also sometimes find your hotel is one or two hours away. 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. 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. 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. After my tweet he at least toned that down. There is no discussion or debate, just chatter, articles, and just that. It is guys sitting on a motorbike who pull up alongside a cyclist and say 'how are you doing?'. The commentators day doesnt juststart when the racing does, with research and planning underwayas soon as breakfast is taken. Would the football fans be subjected to him commentating on the football matches ? At dinner, you gather around the table and argue the hell out of it, and thats a big thing. 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. In the early 1990s he became a freelance commentator. 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. Kirby remarks, Its not like a written press where you can write something out and finesse it and shave it. 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. What is his cycling background ? One of the most adaptable voices on British Television, as can be seen from hisworking synopsis, Carltons range is wide. Advertising, commercial: sales [at] road.cc Also add in several alert mobile keyholders. And this sort of meaningless, demented jabber is not at all unusual I could have chosen many examples just from today. Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over ateBikeTips before being namedthe new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. The rest is very monotonous and quite naturally the onus of filling that gap falls on the commentator. 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. It is amusing that explaining this is futile, he remarks. But, Kirby has to do that, without fail. Hosted by Duncan Steer Carlton Kirby's Cycling Lock-In Radio Days Events Sports NOV 24, 2021 London live show preview! I'm constantly berating or pointing out the danger of the motorcycle. 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. Kirby has however found his own distinctive and unique style which has brilliantly worked for him all these years. We need to get to tomorrows finish line, and sometimes that is a four-hour drive. Harmon's attitude can best be described as 'wogs begin at Calais'. Riders have lost their ability to race, says LeMond, Nacer Bouhanni handed penalty, fined for shove. But he's British and that's all that matters to Kirby. Eurosports commentator Carlton Kirby has called hundreds of races throughout his career, both on-site and from the studio. I heard him doing weightlifting once. I can't understand why Eurosport need to use him when they gave at least four other knowledgeable commentators, even without Harmon. Doesn't look that pretty, cable tied, very practical. Helen Blackman (@HelenBlackman) March 24, 2019. He has been commentating on the Tour de France since 2009, and his deep knowledge of the race and the riders makes him one of the most respected commentators in the sport. The Kirby CODEC will also be called into action as his followers on Twitter will know. The youngsters were congratulated by the force on Twitter, as they helped chase down a thief who had stolen over 300 worth of goods. "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. You might remember an 'interpretive spinning' vid doing the rounds on social media a few weeks ago. Plus the the week's top tech news, in: Flying Tom Pidcock wins Strade Bianche, in: Cyclists call on council to reconsider unsafe diversion, in: Call for Scottish safety portal that would "deliver justice", in: Campaigners: Remove pedestrian vs cyclist conflict, in: Highway Code changes haven't helped cyclists, Near Miss of the Day 853: Driver of lorry urging cyclists to Please take extra care near this vehicle fined for close pass (includes swearing), Continental unveils the "strongest" and "fastest" ever Grand Prix 5000 tyre models, Brompton boss frustrated to be fighting "war of attrition" against rip-off rivals, Remove conflict between cyclists and pedestrians, urge campaigners in wake of manslaughter case, Have bike tech wars turned cycling into Formula 1? There are no gaps you might shut up for five seconds or so to listen to the crowd, but thats it.. At least King Kelly is still there despite Harmon's departure. Let us know what you think in the comments. 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. Went for a bike ride earlier today. Not that itsa straightforward drive to the finish at the Tour, as Kirby explains. And we have managed to cover his view on it. Kirby laughs. This afternoon, I yet again, tolerated his insulting drivel on the Dauphine. 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. Coverage includes enhanced production with access to helicopter, on-board and superslomo cameras. "Oh! CK: You need the details. Cavendish swept to his second win at the Tour of Turkey with another . I like Kelly just out of respect more than anything. Tel 01225 588855. So, what is Scottish Cycling / British Cycling doing about this? It is not just the motocycles remember. Pure invention; based on nothing. Fantasy Cycling: game [at] road.cc 2.4K views, 20 likes, 3 loves, 5 comments, 3 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Eurosport: "The pictures were all over the news. 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. When Cavendish won again on stage 14, Kittel just fell to pieces emotionally. Even my partner, who doesn't watch cycling, could tell who had won. 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. It is not general knowledge, and it should be. Thanks to all who have signed. Well ride that sympathy and see how far it takes us up the beach. 26/8/22: Stage 6 of the Vuelta, Kirby informs us (clearly based on nothing) that Mark Padun is 'a master' at descending in the wet (at that precise moment, Padun is descending very gingerly, taking pretty poor lines). Anyone but dreary Declan Quigley please! No ! The major problem with this is that you cannot follow a race he is commentating on unless you are watching it - i.e. 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. The prodigious British riderTao Geoghegan Hart laid into Kirby's"outrageous claims", and Owain Doull also chipped in to describe Kirby as a "proper muppet". Carlton Kirby Kirby is the most marmite commentator there is. 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. pic.twitter.com/TkvUUUeBXs. Baseless. Carlton Kirby As a Post Graduate Broadcast Journalist Carlton's Television career began with the BBC as a News and Sports Reporter. Bridport cycles. I could paint the Galibier and Ventoux and even some of the rarer mountains by memory. In the early 1990's he became a freelance commentator. Antoine Demoitie tragically died after being hit by a motorbike. 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. 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. But, being in the studio means there is a considerable loss of interaction. Rob Hatch is apparently also good but he doesnt do very much that I've seen.