Nat Bromhead
SBS have officially announced their Giro and Tour de France commentary lineup after the recent axing of popular and much-loved commentators Robbie McEwen and Mike Tomalaris.
The team will be led by Matthew Keenan who’s well-known for his encyclopaedic knowledge of the sport, along with former pro riders Bridie O’Donnell and Simon Gerrans.
Former Giro d’Italia stage winner David McKenzie and SBS French Radio’s Christophe Mallet will continue to provide highlights. Multiple national champion on the track and road, Kate Bates will also assist, as will former pro Gracie Elvin, and renowned sprinter and lead-out specialist Mark Renshaw.
All 21 stages of the Giro d’Italia will be live on SBS On Demand with television coverage on SBS starting later each night.
Australian stars Richie Porte and Caleb Ewan are set to feature with Porte looking to contest the battle for the overall win, while Ewan will be on the hunt for stages in a race where he has five stage victories already in his career.
In July, the Men’s and Women’s Tour will be on SBS with al 21 stages of the Tour de France and all eight stages of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift broadcast.
Your thoughts? Have your say below.
I’m watching GCN for the first time in my life.
It’s a breath of fresh air.
The panel is a perfect mix of former elite athletes and commentators/journalists who have a deep passion for cycling.
Not all ex-champions make a successful transition to broadcasting.
Not all journalists become elite athletes.
Please tell these commentators they don’t have to be saying something through every moment of the race, one person stops and the next one immediately starts, it’s exhausting. Three weeks of non-stop talk will do everyone’s head in. Some moments of peace would be appreciated.
So disappointed that Robbie McEwen is gone. Keenan and McEwen had a great combination of in-depth racing knowledge, incisive understanding of strategy and interesting local general information all delivered with humour and banter. I’m not sure I can sit through hours of McEwen’s replacements.
GCN all the way. If it’s a geo blocked race like the TDF I watch it via a VPN.
GCN has no ads, no bullsh*t, no cooking show, no mindless fillers, coverage from kilometre one, crosses into the bunch with the likes of Wiggins or Blyth on a motorbike and commentators who are passionate, energetic and excited. It’s an easy choice.
I was surprised with the sacking of Mike Tomalaris and Robbie McEwen thought they were great and taken over well from the voice of cycling for so many years Phil Ligget.. Their commentary of not only the race but the extra of surrounding areas was exemplary and really made the Tours exciting !! All the chit chat between the group and knowledge and insight into the lives of the riders is always interesting and fills in the time.. Having attended all the starts and finishes of the Tour Down Under in Adelaide has only increased my interest in such an exciting sport..