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. By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies. Always the hardest and most challenging role in such types of games is of a cycling commentator. Personally I think Harmon and Brian Smith are the best team. The major problem with this is that you cannot follow a race he is commentating on unless you are watching it - i.e. VN:When youre at the race, who are you talking to regularly to get your intel for the broadcast? 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. Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. At least he can string a sentence together and he seems to bring good comments out of Backstedt. 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. It is not so bad if they are in front because the rider can tell the motorbike to go away, but if it is trailing the rider and the rider comes off, there is always the possibility of impact. Tel 01225 588855. Tech, reviews: tech [at] road.cc I tweeted quite a few comments which clearly annoyed him. It is irretrievable. And, one can understand the enthusiasm that has kept him going despite the setbacks and even criticism from people. He said from the rider's perspective, motorbikes get far too close to the race. And then on day one on Utah beach..boom..Cavendish stuns the previously unbeatable German racer. The races are only on GCN/Eurosport. I do love the sport because its a crescendo sport. Carlton Kirby is one of the successful names in the industry, recently had been a topic of gossip for good and bad reasons. but the bike was nowhere to be found!" Stay tuned! 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. My primary issue with Carlton Kirby is that he doesn't commentate on what is happening (he rambles whatever is inside his head). Carlton Kirby: 'Joo Almeida, who won't worry anyone in the General Classification'. (@StasaZlatanovic) March 24, 2019. If youve watched Eurosport cycling, you'll know. Antoine Demoitie was tragically killed by a motorcyle at the age of 25. Even once the race itself is over, and the post-analysis is done, theres a second race to get away from the finish line. Fully agree Kirby is the most irritable commentator ever. Ive fallen off the Galibier. As well as sports commentary his voiceover work includes corporate videos and feature films as well as radio and television advertising. 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. Info-wise, being on-site is amazing.. pic.twitter.com/TkvUUUeBXs. 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 sit there, its often quite quiet, and you get brought an exotic meal like a guacamole sandwich. Some of which have been admitted, some of which weren't. https://t.co/rFjZ7dTFUE. Theyre the best stages, and the most exciting ones, but often as a commentator the days you take the most pride in are actually the ones where absolutely sod all has happened! If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. I don't think much does get through to him, I really wish it did. Also, Kirby criticises riders in almost every race. 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. 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. ), peppered with the repeated clichs (just see how many times he says 'puppy paws', joining the party or a dozen or so others). That is exactly what has happened now. You must invest in an alarm upgrade to BT Redcare. I can get caught out, particularly if theres a crash in the last three kilometres, because that can animate the tempo even more and I have to keep something in reserve for the sprint finish. This is the video I showed Trinity School in Lewisham this morning. Yeah he does. Thankfully, no tree roots to overcome. He threw the toys out of the pram because his head is scrambled by these defeats. When youre on-site, even though youre there, youre still watching a monitor, Kirby says. It is not just the motocycles remember. 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. Mark is already the greatest sprinter there has ever been. For me Kirby has the key ingredient I need from a commentator. The rest is very monotonous and quite naturally the onus of filling that gap falls on the commentator. This is why he often cracks jokes and laughs heartily. Once its out there youre done, so youll just have to forgive me if I make the odd gaffe. I've also been known to drag washing machines behind the bike and throw them down embankments, along with piles of grass clippings, black bags of household rubbish and several hubcaps. For me, Carlton is the perfect commentator for the 'early shift' on long, flat grand tour stages. OK. And then, we wait. You have got to be kidding! To know that, you simply have to do a Google Search and you will know why. I think its just taking a breath and think about the consequences, he concluded. 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. Brian Smith is very good and I feel for him having to listen to Kirby's dumbfounding comments. Those are definitely the days when you earn your corn. 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. In my ear I have a producer telling me when we have interviews, drop-in features, ad breaks and cue points.. Carlton's voice is familiar to fans of Motorsports and Cycling both on British Television and throughout the world. You get the atmosphere and emotion of a place. "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. Kirby is not uncomfortable with the spurt of social media and the exponential increase of criticism that has gone alongside with it. 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. 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. Maybe it's because he doesn't ride a bike himself? 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. 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. And then, of course, there are the flat stages and the sprint finishes. 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. Riders who perhaps finished tenth on a day will be livid that we didnt eulogise about them, but Im sorry, I was talking about the person who finished first. During a sprint stage, every turn is important, and sometimes Ill walk the final approach with [commentator] Sean Kelly, and there will be no need to even take notes, because hell just say, Oh, this will be shit. You can read an off-camber turn when youre standing on it, and see the attack points when youre going up and down a mountain. Mark Cavendish crossed the line first, and said Kittel came up to slap him in the back. Advertising, commercial: sales [at] road.cc pic.twitter.com/fFcEf0AgHK, Volta a Catalunya (@VoltaCatalunya) March 25, 2019. They only received compensation a couple of years later. Mrs John Murphy May 3, 2010 2,662 0 0 Aug 26, 2011. if many people would do this via twitter it could at least give a sign. The Wanty-GroupeGobert rider was air lifted to hospital after the crash yesterday, but thankfully it seems like he's in a stable condition. Riders having to get close to a motorbike just to take a corner. Being on the site always gives you extra material which makes the commentating so natural and energetic. The blokes an insult to all cyclists. I've decided and bought a '21 Revolt which is nigh on identical in stack and reach to the Defy, only differences being a slacker front end and Well if you ever go to Chesterfield you will be called "youth" however old you are. But he's British and that's all that matters to Kirby. All rights reserved. Yates was obviously cooked - why else would anyone work for dozens of kilometres and then give up in the final 2km? Id love to see this Eurosport commentator substantiate even 1% of the outrageous claims he makes. Anyone but dreary Declan Quigley please! Went for a bike ride earlier today. ADDITIONAL: 13/4/21 - Some have said that this petition is 'cruel', but if you're in the public eye then you are open to criticism of your professional abilities - or are we now not allowed to criticise the abilities of authors, actors, sports people, musicians, etc.? It is a free-for-all. 27/8/22: Stage 7 of the Vuelta, Herrada wins the sprint and has his arm in the air in celebration. It's their commentators or silence. i like the stuff the two GCN guys do, is it dan Loyd and Matt Stephens? For no reason. VN:What difference will people notice in this years Tour broadcast from a normal year, when you and your team are on-site? On the descent, motorbikes often get too close to the cyclist in front of them. 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 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. Thats when it down to you and not the riders.. Plus security bikes, plus rolling paramedics. UPDATE: New online Zoomcast show, July 16, click through for tickets. It is exciting being in a vast peloton, and the less experienced ones almost engage with it. 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. He's fine when it's all action but flounders when it's a longer stage. This afternoon, I yet again, tolerated his insulting drivel on the Dauphine. Teams have been announced for May's Tour de Yorkshire and the Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women's Race. 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. Please tell your friends: Ive read so many negative comments about Kirby that unlike most online petitions this one could work. So many other cycling commentators on Eurosport. Quite often you are talking while being handed a note, being spoken to by the director, and listening to race radio at the same time as well, says Kirby. What you are talking about is a place in history. Help us to make it better. 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. The Tour de Suisse is traditionally one of the last big races before the Tour de France. Exactly - and if you had any insight into professional riding and experience actually being a pro like Sean Kelly or Rob Hayles - you wouldnt struggle to find commentary. Uhhh, Ill say Bettiol. 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. Well, Kirby says, when its all out action on the road its very easy the problem comes on longtransition stages. Cavendish swept to his second win at the Tour of Turkey with another . Eurosport's voice of cycling Carlton Kirby analyses the collision between Peter Sagan and Mark Cavendish that ended the Tour de France for both men. ), there is a thread in the. Riders have lost their ability to race, says LeMond, Nacer Bouhanni handed penalty, fined for shove. Various types of distractions are always ready for a commentator. For over 20 years, be it the Tour de France, Olympic Games, Monte Carlo Rally or Le Mans 24 Hours, his easy-going manner coupled with incisive commentary and a dramatic edge has made him an audience favourite. Ive done so much and been so many places that I mostly have all of them embedded in my head. Im a bit annoyed at myself because I lost my temper at the time. There are no gaps you might shut up for five seconds or so to listen to the crowd, but thats it.. Also, I would say many of his criticisms are unfair and/or cruel. How do you call one of the biggest sporting events on the planet? But try explaining that to Cycling Weekly and their letters column.. There have always been deaths since the early 1900s from vehicle-related incidents. Its the press guys we see more, because of the mechanics of the day.