Pedro - aggree, there's a exponential difference­ between 1st and just getting a podium place and he­ needs to be ABLE to attack in the mountains. Evans must­ know that to win the TDF he must improve his climbing­ and I am sure that this will have been his main focus­ during the past year. He's from a mountain biking­ background so it shouldn't be too difficult for­ him. His team are stronger now and more suited to stage­ races rather than one day classics as in the past so I­ wouldn't write him off just yet.

I suppose Evans is the kind of rider that will always­ divide opinion. My opinion is that he can't win the­ Tour as there are much better climbers out there, who­ will take more time out of him on the climbs than he­ will gain in the TTs. He's a decent allrounder, but­ it would be a disaster for the TdF as a race/spectacle­ if Evans were to ever win it. Evan Armstrong attacked­ to win races, even if the opposition were ground into­ dust by his drones well before the final climb of the­ day.

John. Like the 'bearings' reference by the­ way.
Cyclecrank co uk

John. You miss my point. They are both characters and­ do both come out with rubbish at times. You are right­ about having to fill hours of riding with sensible­ commentary being difficult. This is all part of the­ Tour for me. If you are old enough to remember John­ Allot's Radio 3 cricket commentary, you will know­ what I mean.
They should have duffers and Kelly­ together.
Cyclecrank co uk.

Cyclecrank, you seem to have lost your bearings. I­ think some of you people having a dig at the commentary­ on eurosport need to actually listen to what the­ commentators are saying and have some understanding of­ how it is done before making your derogatory comments.­ It's a highly skilled job and cycling is unique in­ sport as it has other dimensions to it. i)its live for­ up to 6 hrs, ii)you are listening in on race radio,­ your co-director and producers all at the same time,­ iii)you are reading scripts and using your own­ knowledge of the riders' form and tactics. These­ guys add their own personality (it's not going to­ be everyone's cup of tea) and they bring in a lot­ of background information to the viewer. As for Sean­ Kelly. He is arguably the most experienced and­ knowledgable English speaking ex pro there is, having­ had a brilliant career and running his own team and­ academy. His predictions during races are rarely wrong,­ and his tactical nouse is superlative. I personally­ believe that quality of content is far more important­ than a cute voice. Where Kelly lets himself down in­ elecution he overwhelmingly makes up for in knowledge­ and understanding of the sport. Anyone who says kelly­ talks drivel can't be taken seriously.

No way Pedro - Sory to split hairs on your comments­ about Cadel Evans But he has won a number of important­ races including TDF stages and world championships (MB)­ - have a closer look at his palmares. You will also see­ that he has come runner up a large number of times in­ important races. You should also realise that some­ riders are more suited to certain types of race. Over­ the past 4 years he has had highly respectable placings­ in the TDF and VE and DL. He won the TT of the DL on­ Sunday by a large margin for the distance against­ Contador. He has also won the Tour of Romandy. He will­ be again a realistic contender for the TDF. He is by no­ means arrogant and his palmares does show he has a lot­ of class. Get your facts right before you make such­ sweeping statements in future por favor. OK he has­ slipped up with comments to the media on occasion but­ there are other riders that have said far worse, anyway­ the media aren't desirable people to be around the­ best of times nevermind after cycle racing all day. Why­ do you think Lance Armstrong stopped talking to the­ medea during the Giro?

As for Evans, I feel he/his team have an inflated­ opinion of his class as a bike rider. His annual­ focus/obsession is the TdF, yet his palmares show­ he's never won a stage?! Nor has he ever one a­ stage in any other Grand Tour. Or a one day classic. Or­ even a one day semi-classic. Talk about misplaced­ arrogance!

On the Duffers debate, it's not a case of­ needlessly attacking an old man. Thing is, I pay for­ my Eurosport subscription (primarily to watch bike­ racing) and feel I deserve better. As for Sean Kelly,­ well 'certainly' he's no great shakes­ either, but he does bring a been-there-done-that­ credibility to the table and for the most part, he does­ have a good grasp of what's happening on the road. ­ Having to endure him articulate that, however, is­ extrememely tortuous!

Hey Marty B, surley you can pick up other­ "stations" on the net? (comment 7) good luck.

comment 20, thanks for reaffirming my point.­ "Duffield adds a­ little retro cool; BMX,­ Grifter­ or Chopper; the 70's". you also seem to have­ forgotten his exploits on a tricycle! so why dont you­ trundle off with your saviour of the 70's and go­ watch tricyle or maybe even recumbent racing. pro­ racing and stories of his holidays, wife and cheese may­ go together but not at crucial moments in a race. i­ wonder if he is even watching the race or just fumbling­ along laughing at his own lame "jokes".­ comment 21, agreed we all make mistakes, but this is­ beyond a few little errors like mixing up names etc.­ prob is doesn't even seem to realise/care! + he is­ paid to do it! thanks ffogil & pedro118118. p.s. my­ neck is still out, question is where's mr­ duffield's?

Duffield is great. He's a character. Sure he gets ­ things wrong, but I would rather listen to the­ ramblings of this particular mad man, than the­ completely incomprehensible, inane drivel that Kelly­ comes out with.
When asked who he thought could win a­ stage, I'm sure he once said ' the one that­ pedals fastest' !
Cyclecrank co uk

I'm sure Duffers is a great guy and has done a lot­ to promote all forms of cycling in the UK for many­ years. That doesn't entitle him to a job as a­ high-profile sports broadcaster when he's clearly­ not up to the task. For the most part, his style is­ akin to the ramblings of a mad man - random, incoherent­ and often factually incorrect. He is forever mistaking­ the identity of the riders, missing moves, mis-reading­ tactics etc. His one saving grace is the odd anecdote­ from the 60s/70s, but even these have around a 10% hit­ rate. Saying all this, I do appreciate that filling 5­ hrs, which invariably contain only 30 mins or­ 'racing' can't be easy!

David Duffield's commentary is abysmal.
Doesn't­ Murray Walker have a spare set of golf clubs ?

I'm really looking forward to the comments left on­ here during the TDF. With Evans bashers, Cavendish­ bashers and Armstrong bashers, it will be great to see­ who gets bashed the most!

You can't compare commentary on Eurosport with C4­ coverage with Phill Liggit and freinds as they­ don't do it live and their program is highly­ produced by and edited when they make mistakes.

Wind your neck in VINDETABLE - David Duffield adds a­ little retro cool to cycling commentary on Eurosport. I­ happen to be one of the many people who enjoy David­ Duffield's old school commentary (I hope I'm­ not alone). He has a long history with cycling and is­ thus very knowledgable about the sport.
How can you­ dis' a man who played a major role in introducing­ BMX to the UK in the 70's. He discovered it in the­ US and then built the first BMX track in the UK. Thus,­ revitalising the UK bike industry which was in the­ doldrums at the time. If you were alive back then you­ may remember that coolest bike to have was a BMX,­ Grifter or Chopper the latter were other bikes that he­ also had a role in marketing. David Duffield is the­ Rolf Harris of Cycling and remember, it wasn't­ until Rolf Played Stairway To Heaven at Glastonbury­ that he got his cool at the age of 70!

owen.philipson no one mentions dopers who lose.

jacreesy, you say Astana are the strongest team. How­ often have they raced with both Lance and Alberto in­ the same team? If they can't decide who their­ leader is for the TDF they will surely self destruct.

wot no mention of millar's valiant solo break?

Evans will not win the TDF simply because he does not­ have a strong team to back him.This was evident last­ year & will be no different this time around.Astana­ are by far the strongest team,don't write Lance­ off,if Alberto doesn't deliver Lance will be there.