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I have to say that I love ITV's coverage. Their mix of excellent visual coverage with decent commentary is really second-to-none.
I really like Matt Stephens, but ITV has it over Eurosport, hands down.
I haven't researched who will be covering the TdF, but I really, really hope it's ITV.
Millar on ITV is very good. If they can offer live coverage that'd be my number 1 choice
Agree about Matt Stevens though
They need to get Kenny Van Vlaminck doing more commentary.
I prefer Stephens
As long as the highlights are on before 10pm I prefer ITV. Been to late for me to watch the Dauphine each night...
I quite like them both. The problem with the Eurosport one is that the "highlights" show is the last 40odd km, whereas the IYV show is proper highlights.
Really enjoyed the race this year and some fabulous scenic shots. I need to go to France soon.
ITV are doing the TDF as usual. Normally as per the Dauphiné it's Friebe onsite doing interviews, Millar and Boulting commentating and the Imlach and Millar / guest doing a summary.
Agree with both points above, the Eurosport "highlights" of the Giro (via Quest TV on freeview) were slightly disappointing as they ONLY showed the end, nothing from earlier in the race, and the commentary / analysis didn't seem to be as good. The 10pm slot for the Dauphiné was a bit late, I was often catching up 2 days late having been out one night...
Not watched ITV for a while. Didn't even realise they had the Dauphine on. I quite like listening to Carlton Kirby's random musings on Eurosport, alongside Sean Kelly inventing new names for riders. David miller is quite good though and offers valuable insight.
I haven’t researched who will be covering the TdF, but I really, really hope it’s ITV
Me too, because I'm addicted to the theme music.
Worth watching ITV Highlights just for Imlach and it is a better highlights package
However 10pm is too late so have watched Eurosports instead, just wish they were on for 1 hour not 1hr 30
ITV have broadcast live TDF stages for years. It was live at the weekend in the armstrong winning era. Been live every stage for many years. Hopefully it will be Boardman and Imlach doing the live intro and end analysis at the finish. Juan Antonio Flecha is amusing but for all the wrong reasons.
But the one weakness of the itv coverage is ITV4; if watching on freeview it is standard definition and a v low bit rate at that. The itv player feed is slightly better quality than the freeview. i'm wondering if its 576p compared with 576i. Its definitely better. but a massive pain to use.
I quite like listening to Carlton Kirby’s random musings on Eurosport
And in another case of people being different, I can't stand Kirby.
He offers no insight into what's happening either in the tactics or anything behind the scenes. He also misidentifies the riders more often than Phil Liggett which is a pretty impressive accomplishment
I really like Boulting and Millar as a combo, they really do their homework and it felt like i was getting more info than i could see on the screen, even though they were sat in a cupboard in west london doing the commentary on the Dauphine this week
With the above really, i really like Ned Boulting, not coming from a cycling background, he has really grown to love the sport, and i really like his books and saw him on his bikeology tour, i think he contrasts well with Millar, who has that technical knowledge and gives a real insight, i find him better than Sean Kelly droning on and refusing to use any foreign words... the "Tour of Italy"...
He also misidentifies the riders more often than Phil Liggett...
I quite liked Phil Ligget too 🙂
Possibly just because that voice was synonymous with cycling.
However 10pm is too late so have watched Eurosports instead, just wish they were on for 1 hour not 1hr 30
Eurosport are quite good with the On Demand stuff now. Since they got rid of the 3 hour rewind feature, the live shows are usually available to watch right after they've finished. And since the highlights usually just show the last 1 hour of the race, you can go watch it there, and choose how much you want to watch.
Meanwhile, I don't think the BBC (either TV or Radio) even realised the event was on or that there were UK riders taking part ....
BBC interviewed G this morning on radio 4...
I love listening to millar, because he has first hand knowledge of many of the riders and an great understanding of tactics as well as being articulate he adds so much to the usual cycling commentators who usually just tell you what you can see on the screen!
ITV showed the Dauphine?
It was on Quest where I live.
I really enjoyed Dauphine on ITV, but you need to record it, as the frequency and length of adverts is terrible.
ITV showed the Dauphine?
It was on Quest where I live.
Quest show the Eurosport highlights. ITV4 show cycling - it was on at 10pm most of the week (11pm one night)
ITV tour coverage theme music was available as a ringtone download one year. You might still be able to find it.
Millar's reading of Yates' attack yesterday was brilliant in a 'will he, wont he' kind of way. Millar called it right, then backed down but did say that Yates would go once and go hard....It made for good telly.