Le Tour

**Macy** · 20/06/2005, 7:44 AM

Might have escaped people's attention, but TG4 have Le Tour De France this year. Live afternoons, and then highlights in the evening. No idea whether their own commentary or whether their buying it in. Can but hope for Phil Liggett and Paul Shewen.....

**Aberdonian Stu** · 20/06/2005, 8:04 AM

Have they advertised it at all? I didn't see any ads for it. It's yet another strange sporting choice by TG4 which makes some good business sense.

Kids programmes, which are their afternoon mainstay for most of the year will be less in demand with a lot of their target audience on holiday. The Tour, like Wimbledon which they're also showing, is relatively cheap to broadcast as they are buying in the feed and the rights for a territory of this size are usually quite cheap.

While the main programme mightn't make much of a ratings impact the highlights show will probably be a useful performer in the ratings.

**Macy** · 20/06/2005, 8:15 AM

Originally Posted by Aberdonian Stu

Have they advertised it at all? I didn't see any ads for it. It's yet another strange sporting choice by TG4 which makes some good business sense.

I thought I heard it on RTE Radio, and it was confirmed on aertel page 216. There's a press release on the TG4 website, but a bit pointless for me

**Aberdonian Stu** · 20/06/2005, 8:20 AM

Ah c'mon, surely you've wasted weekends (or in my case entire weeks) watching it on Eurosport? It's great to watch in the summer.

**Macy** · 20/06/2005, 8:33 AM

Originally Posted by Aberdonian Stu

Ah c'mon, surely you've wasted weekends (or in my case entire weeks) watching it on Eurosport? It's great to watch in the summer.

Yeah when I had Eurosport... College years especially - mountain stages when they had the whole stage were the best. Actually was trying to source an Analogue Sat Reciever for Eurosport International for the Le Tour (having missed the Giro). I could do with confirming whether the commentary will be in Irish or English before I make that leap...

I meant the press release being in Irish was a bit pointless for me...

**gustavo** · 20/06/2005, 9:03 AM

is mark scanlon in it this year?

**pete** · 20/06/2005, 9:12 AM

I'm unlikely to see much of the live action but will at least be good to get highlights at reasonable time in the evening.

**Aberdonian Stu** · 20/06/2005, 9:21 AM

Originally Posted by Macy

I meant the press release being in Irish was a bit pointless for me...

It's here in english.

**Macy** · 20/06/2005, 9:28 AM

Originally Posted by Aberdonian Stu

It's here in english.

Grand so... Still no mention of the commentary - still might try and get sorted for the David Duffield Wine Tour of France

**Dublin12** · 20/06/2005, 3:41 PM

Do you do a bit of cycling then Macy?,I go up the mountains,around Sally Gap almost every Saturday,might pop into your gaff next time I get a puncture

**Dodge** · 20/06/2005, 5:03 PM

Originally Posted by gustavo

is mark scanlon in it this year?

SStill 50/50. HIs team are but whether he's picked or not is a different story. Has had a bit of an injury hit year and has been lightly raced. A couple of decent results lately. His team mate Philip Deignan has a n outside shout too

**Macy** · 21/06/2005, 7:48 AM

Originally Posted by Dublin12

Do you do a bit of cycling then Macy?,I go up the mountains,around Sally Gap almost every Saturday,might pop into your gaff next time I get a puncture

ha ha, not anymore. Used to do a fair bit as hobby, but never competed...

Cyclists wouldn't be my favourites on those roads, as they seem incapable of riding single file. It may be a stand of principle to them, but imo it's just dangerous (and I would have sympathy to cyclists on the road).

**Macy** · 04/07/2005, 9:02 AM

Just for those without the language, and with the channel, ITV2 are covering the tour - Ligget, Sherwen, Imlach and Boardman. Hour highlights at 7pm each evening, and I think live coverage at the weekends. Think it's repeated on ITV1 late on 11.30ish as well.

**swinfordfc** · 04/07/2005, 10:39 AM

Mark Scalon in not in the tour this year

**the 12 th man** · 04/07/2005, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Macy

Think it's repeated on ITV1 late on 11.30ish as well.

tonight on itv 1 @ 11.30 combined hightlights of the first three days.
I'm lucky enough to have eurosport where i live so its live every day

**hamish** · 04/07/2005, 11:06 AM

Betting odds?

Hoffman - La Roche...........2/1

Bayer......................5/1

Pfizer...........10/1

Just messing, lads.

**Macy** · 04/07/2005, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by the 12 th man

I'm lucky enough to have eurosport where i live so its live every day

I wouldn't be lucky enough to be off everyday to watch it....

**deecay** · 05/07/2005, 10:39 AM

Pity about mark scanlon. would have been nice to have an irish representitive in the race but cest la vie

**hamish** · 05/07/2005, 2:05 PM

It's incredibly exciting when a race, eg Ras Tailteann, shoots through a town. Sometimes we get loads of cyclists passing by the house, here, in a race - the swoosh and sheer frenetic power has to be witnessed live to behold.
Shame, like Athletics, that those incredible efforts in the mountain sections etc are tainted with the possibility that those athletes are assisted by drugs.