July 05, 2022
Find out who's behind the mic and reporting on the groundfor the respective Tour de France broadcasters
The Tour de France is cycling's biggest event and transcends the everyday fans of the sport to reach millions of people around the world.
Because of the level of interest, TV channels up their coverage and provide wall-to-wall live broadcast of the race as well as in-depth highlights programmes and analysis.
That enhancement of coverage includes recruiting the sport's top commentators and pundits to scrutinise the goings on in the race, but who are the people behind the voices we hear every day on television?
ITV Tour de France commentators
ITV has been a long-time broadcaster of the Tour de France on free-to-air television in the UK, and their line-up of commentators has been set for some time.
Commentary veteran Phil Liggett and the late Paul Sherwen provided commentary from a US feed up until 2016, when ITV brought in their own commentators. Journalist (and Rouleur columnist) Ned Boulting took over the mic along with former British pro and four-time Tour de France stage winner David Millar, and the pair have been working on the Tour for ITV ever since.
David Millar provides analysis commentary for ITV (Getty Images)
Two-time British champion Peter Kennaugh works as a pundit on ITV, analysing the racing alongside another former pro andthree-time Tour stage winner Chris Boardman and host Gary Imlach.
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ITV also send reporters to work on the ground at the Tour. Author and journalist Daniel Friebe provides colour segments for the highlights programme as well interviewing riders pre- and post-stage. Another author and journalist Matt Rendall provides interviews and on the ground from the Tour as well.
Eurosport/GCN Tour de France commentators
In the UK, Global Cycling Network have upped the ante after launching their online race streaming platform in 2020. Since being acquired by Discovery, subsequently part ofWarner Bros. Discovery, the GCN and Eurosport coverage has converged andnow holds pre-race and post-race shows every day, as well as start-to-finish coverage without adverts (on streaming).
In the commentary box is a mix of Eurosport veterans and newer recruits. Commentator and author Carlton Kirby has been on Eurosport's cycling coverage for a very long time, and shares the lead commentary duty with another long-time Eurosport commentator Rob Hatch, interchanging throughout the day. There's also the voice of Jonathan Harris-Bass from Eurosport HQ to talk about food and other stuff when the action lulls.
Retired Austrian pro Bernhard Eisel at last year's Tour de France (Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
They're joined by former pro and four-time Tour de France green jersey and five-time stage winner (amongst many other victories) Sean Kelly on analysis commentary. Another Tour great, Australian Robbie McEwen, who sprinted to 12 stage victories and three green jerseys, joined the channel this year also drops in on commentary as well as appearing in the studio programmes either side of the race.
Likewise, GCN presenter and former British pro Daniel Lloyd combines stints on commentary with appearing in the studio.
Read more: How long is the Tour de France?
Theanalysis show either side of the race is hosted by journalist and presenter (and Rouleur columnist) Orla Chennaoui. She is joined every day by McEwen, Lloyd and former British champion Adam Blythe in the studio to discuss the daily happenings.
On the ground, retired Austrian pro Bernhard Eisel, former British champion Matt Stephens, and former British pro Hannah Walkerinterviewriders.
NBC Sports Tour de France commentators
Phil Liggett and Bob Roll host the NBC cycling coverage for the Tour de France (Getty Images)
Over in the US, British commentator and journalist Phil Liggett iscoveringhis 50th edition of the Tour de Franceand his 45th as a commentator, having first travelled tothe Tour in 1973.
He's joined by former US pro Bob Roll on co-comms, with NBC journalist Steve Porino and former South African pro (and Tour de France stage winner) Robbie Hunter reporting from the ground.
As well as hosting wall-to-wall coverage, NBC also has analysis programmes for each stage, with retired US pro and Vuelta a España winner Chris Horner joined by another retired American pro, Christian Vande Velde, to provide expert insight. Presenter Paul Burmeister hosts the pre- and post-race shows.
