July 05, 2022
Find out who’s behind the mic and reporting on the ground for 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.
Read more
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– Tour de France standings: the latest results from the race
– Tour de France favourites: who will win this year’s yellow jersey?
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 and three-time Tour stage winner Chris Boardman and host Gary Imlach.
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 of Warner Bros. Discovery, the GCN and Eurosport coverage has converged and now 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…