Pro-cycling thread

I thought the more softly spoken of the two commentators for msr at the weekend was great, no idea who it was though

Matt Stephens I think

Yeah and Magnus Bagstedt

De Gendt's impressive break today made all the more fun by reading @taogeogheganhart tweeting his frustrations with Carlton Kirby.

How Carlton Kirby got a job as a cycling commentator, I'll never know. Still, there are signs that he is being relegated to the less important races this season. Hope that continues.

He basically does a lot of heavy lifting for Eurosport, popping up either as commentator or voice over for a number of their shows. I guess cycling is his main gig though, and I feel like he has been at Eurosport for a long time.

I get the hate and he is a prat but I do end up feeling a little sorry for him, the sheer amount of stick he gets. He was best when David Harmon was principle and he was the one back at the office coming up with amusing anecdotes for whatever region the Tour de France was passing through to break up the commentary.

He was best when David Harmon was principle and he was the one back at the office coming up with amusing anecdotes for whatever region the Tour de France was passing through to break up the commentary.

I agree with that, but he is not up to commentary. He doesn't have a basic understanding of the sport and hasn't improved at all over the years he's been at Eurosport. It's not as if they lack better alternatives (Rob Hatch, Matt Stephens etc.)

I agree, but given his length of service I am guessing he has seniority. He doesn't seem to be getting the blue ribbon races these days so perhaps that has shifted.

I made the mistake of reopening the debate about commentators. Now, helmets, there's a topic to get your teeth in to.

Having said that, in June you can all enjoy reading this.

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What was the name of the cycling commentator that got done for grooming underage girls online?

That was Harmon. At first it was told he has depression then the seedy truth came out

In Magic Spanner, TV's 'Mr Cycling', Carlton Kirby, gives us an expert, behind-the-scenes view - one that the average fan rarely gets to see or hear about - to reveal what it's really like on the world's greatest races including the Tour de France, Vuelta a Espana, Giro d'Italia and the classics.

I wonder which expert he's interviewing for this book then

The expert is probably the ghost-writer who's actually written the book.

Missed the Cosmo HTRWW for MSR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1VlK-D4w5c

Is there any way to block Nairo from both my TV and the internets? I want him gone.

Will, can you help us out with the above reference?

Ha. Quintana seemed to be doing a bit of wheel sucking yesterday, that's my best guess.

Isn’t Quintana known for a lot of wheel sucking?

Agree, I know Adam Yates can be economical when taking a turn but he must be the laziest. He always seems to have the look of " What you expect ME to work?"
A spent force, I would be amazed if he got another contract with Movistar. I don't even know what he offers them anymore. Potentially a podium in GC or odd mountain stage win.

a podium in GC or odd mountain stage win. Is that all? Not many teams would say no to that. Bardet and Pinot are employed with exactly those aims. If Movistar don't keep him he won't be short of offers. His best might be behind him but he's still one of the very best.

I said potentially, look at yesterday all that sucking for no return. Same in the Vuelta, when he needed to chase Lopez he just sat there and let Yates work. Ended up 8th on GC.
I can't see him delivering anything in the big races and is way down the list of potential Grand Tour winners now.
Yes another team might pick him up on reputation but he'd want a big cheque and with the amount of young talented climbers coming from South America why would the bother.

Bardet and Pinot are at least exciting to watch.

He did bring in a quarter of Movistar's points last year; take him away and they are at the level of EF. Soler, Landa and Carapaz have a way to go before they emulate him. He was the only Movistar rider to win a stage at the Tour last year. Probably he did reach his potential early, and there are a lot of very good GC riders around now, but I don't think he's incapable of getting results that are of value to the team.

Bardet and Pinot are at least exciting to watch.

Have you seen Bardet descend?

Bardet and Pinot are at least exciting to watch

Have you seen Bardet descend?

Have you not?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj-8Vwfjrxo