Gary Imlach.....don't think I like him!

[aea730]

He always seems a smug knob on the tour commentary. I've never seen him on T V doing anything else. His routine commentary is ok but his opening pieces always seem supercilious .

Oh well just my opinion

[henrycrun]

Well I rather like the humourous presenation by GI, Ned Boulting and Chris Boardman.

[ewenm]

henrycrun said:

Well I rather like the humourous presenation by GI, Ned Boulting and Chris Boardman.

So do I.

[aea730]

Hmm....I don't think humour is something I have picked up from anything Imlach has delivered. Certainly the comment about team boss giving Talansky a lecture on masculinity in the face of his injuries was a poor attempt at even irony?

[RemyMartin]

Imlach is as much as part of the tour as Phil Liggett.

He is ace. Oh and he used to do NFL on ch4. As was tour de France back in the day.

[ro55a]

I thought his "explanation" of how that Specialized snapped in two, sorry got hit by another team car whilst on a roof rack, was comedic genius!!

[Gruffy]

I'm quite a fan, I have to say. Witty and eloquent with it. A breath of fresh air from the dumbing down of typical commentators.

[Gizmoish]

It's the languid delivery that I find amusing. And the digs at people/teams.

[Mark-C]

Have been a fan of his since the NFL coverage back in the day. I like what he brings to the coverage alongside the ex-pros.

[upsidedownmark]

aea730 said:

Hmm....I don't think humour is something I have picked up from anything Imlach has delivered. Certainly the comment about team boss giving Talansky a lecture on masculinity in the face of his injuries was a poor attempt at even irony?

I don't think it was an attempt at irony (I'm not meaning to be grammar police, but irony might not mean what you think it does), but it made me laugh. Don't know if it's something that doesn't cross cultural boundaries, but I'd consider it a 'dry' sense of humor which is generally considered to be a typical 'british' trait (whatever british is - I'm certainly not wanting to cast any aspersions about race!)

Frankly I'm a fan. The little skit about rest day 'chris rides for me and that's that' (brad reference just in case you missed it), and 'ned has no friends so we've used the director and chris's wife to illustrate' - it's understated and sometimes subtle, but if you're clued in, pretty amusing. Perhaps less appealing if you're new to the tour, I don't know.

[Gizmoish]

Hat tip to Ned for the FHHV jersey in that piece too.

[Rouleur]

I like him a lot, I just wish he'd get some polo shirts without huge collars and a better haircut.

[yellowjack]

Having watched the highlights on Eurosport last night, I'll take Gary, Ned and Chris every day of the week, thanks very much. Oh, and Phil Liggett's commentary. I didn't 'get along' with the other lot one little bit.

[TwistingMyMelon]

ewenm said:

henrycrun said:

Well I rather like the humourous presenation by GI, Ned Boulting and Chris Boardman.

So do I.

So do I, I like Boardman actually riding the climbs and giving some insight

Imlach knows his stuff and gives a smooth overview, he is a touch robotic at times, but is good

[S10GTA]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I met Ned and Matt at an event a few years back. I asked Ned about the Boardman bits, and he said he didn't really enjoy them as Chris just makes him look like a bit of a dick. He goes along with it due too all the good stuff he gets to do (like a 3 week jolly around France)

I agree about Matt, I managed to get him as guest speaker at a club dinner and his knowledge and insight into the world of cycling is excellent. They should use him more.

[Steve vRS]

I think the ITV coverage is quite good.

The Paul Sherwen and Phil Liggett commentary is good and very knowledgeable and takes me back to watching Stephen Roche and Pedro Delgardo when I was a kid with my dad!

The support provided by the others, Gary etc. is entertaining too - especially the rest day program.

Steve

[JEA1K]

I think they all make a good team ... can't say that any of them are irritating ... the first and key element any commentator/presenter MUST not be.

At the weekend, when I get more time to watch the live stages I do venture onto Eurosport HD to listen to the inane ramblings of Mr Carlton Kirby.

[Highway Star]

I can't stand Phil and Paul. 'Ooo look a chateau' says Phil. 'Actually that's none other than the chateau de xxxxxx, built in 1253 by Henri de Suchandsuch and blah, blah blah' drones on Paul. Paul must have an encyclopaedic knowledge of French stately homes, castles, siege towers..... or he's just reading aloud from a book. That and the consistently terrible pronunciation.

That said, Kirby is no better, constantly shouting inanities like 'THIS IS GETTING CLASSY AND THERE'S CLASS RIGHT HERE' and Kelly endlessly droning on about 'playing deh way-ting gahme'. And the French Eurosport anchor and Lemond are comedically bad. Much prefer some of the second rank Eurosport guys like Dan Lloyd and Magnus Backstedt.

[scubadude]

I think the ITV coverage is superb, the highlights is all I have time for but its pretty amazing how much time they have given the Tour.

The commentators and on-screen "talent" are also IMO very good, knowledgeable and dry wit as a bonus, it comes across as an intelligent way to present a grown up sport, if it was all laser beams, dry ice and blonde bimbo presenters it would loose so much.

I wish Boardman would make a bit more of a effort sometimes- cycling in bear hands with your big expensive watch on is a bit "look at me" but them he is an ex-hour record holder and yellow jersey winner so who am I to complain :-)

[BadgerBenji]

Think the current team on ITV4 do a good job, and it's nice they are all ex-riders of a decent caliber, much better than the parachute in a front person, and thank god it's not claire balding.