Giro d'Italia 2026 spoilers

[wakemalcolm]

There was something somewhere as it was watching Millar win the 1984 TdF KoM jersey that first got me interested in watching pro cycling.

I'm thinking Dickie Davies in that slot between the racing and the wrestling on World of 'Sport'. Other recollections include the World (USA) firefighting championships and any other rubbish that was later eventually packaged up into Transworld Sports (which is surely more ripe for a rebrand with exactly the same name).

 

[TakeTheHighRoad]

I'm thinking Dickie Davies in that slot between the racing and the wrestling on World of 'Sport'. Other recollections include the World (USA) firefighting championships and any other rubbish that was later eventually packaged up into Transworld Sports (which is surely more ripe for a rebrand with exactly the same name).

TransWorld Sport stopped broadcasting, but only last year. It lasted right through until then, which is some effort given I never saw it being on TV after about 2016

 

[Animo]

The one I remember from TWS was the kabaddi!

 

[Dogtrousers]

In the 70s when I was at school cycling as a sport didn't really exist. We knew that the French did it, because it may have cropped up in French lessons - le tour is a tour but la tour is a tower - and there's a French bloke called Eddie Merricks who is really good at it.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

There was something somewhere as it was watching Millar win the 1984 TdF KoM jersey that first got me interested in watching pro cycling.

I feel like I remember that as well, but I reckon it's more likely I just remember the battle with Lucho Herrera in other Tours and it being mentioned a lot. Pretty sure there were some days in polkadots in some Tours where it didn't last to Paris

 

[Pblakeney]

I feel like I remember that as well, but I reckon it's more likely I just remember the battle with Lucho Herrera in other Tours and it being mentioned a lot. Pretty sure there were some days in polkadots in some Tours where it didn't last to Paris

Well, I remember it enough to have gone out and buy a Peugeot bike in 1984 because of it.
Just shows that sponsorship can work.

 

[mjr]

TransWorld Sport stopped broadcasting, but only last year. It lasted right through until then, which is some effort given I never saw it being on TV after about 2016

TransWorld Sport was a syndicated show and I forget who bought the UK rights after Channel 4, but it was definitely broadcast off and on. If you want a similar but longer mix of minor sports with clueless commentary, check out CNBC Europe on weekend afternoons.

 

[Aravis]

I think they called it gold ...but looked yellow

Yes, it was referred to as the 'golden fleece'.

I had checked - the jersey didn't become gold until 1999. It was straightforward yellow most years before that.

I'm not convinced red is the best choice, but I think this is an argument for later in the year!

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Well, I remember it enough to have gone out and buy a Peugeot bike in 1984 because of it.
Just shows that sponsorship can work.

This is doing my head in now. All the press around Channel 4 giving up coverage (announced in 2001) says it started being broadcast in '86 - including an early day motion in parliament.

The production company that did the highlights - and came up with the iconic tune - started producing it in '86.

The Wikipedia page for the "Timeline of sport on Channel Four" only mentions the Tour in 2001, with the sentence "Having shown the event since the station's launch, Channel 4 shows the Tour de France for the final time" (my emphasis). Channel 4 was launched in November 2002.

The "Broadcasting" section of the Tour De France Wikipedia page again references 1986 (the footnote directs to the early day motion referenced above)

And yet @Pblakeney remembers it and I thought I remembered it from earlier.

And then there's this: Tour de France 1984, the KoM win yrar, with English commentary from Phil & Paul, just like we remember it...

 

[Pblakeney]

This is doing my head in now. All the press around Channel 4 giving up coverage (announced in 2001) says it started being broadcast in '86 - including an early day motion in parliament.

The production company that did the highlights - and came up with the iconic tune - started producing it in '86.

The Wikipedia page for the "Timeline of sport on Channel Four" only mentions the Tour in 2001, with the sentence "Having shown the event since the station's launch, Channel 4 shows the Tour de France for the final time" (my emphasis). Channel 4 was launched in November 2002.

The "Broadcasting" section of the Tour De France Wikipedia page again references 1986 (the footnote directs to the early day motion referenced above)

And yet @Pblakeney remembers it and I thought I remembered it from earlier.

And then there's this: Tour de France 1984, the KoM win yrar, with English commentary from Phil & Paul, just like we remember it...

It may well have just been snippets within other programs as mentioned above.
Young 'uns these days. Don't know they're born.

 

[Aravis]

I think 1986 was the first year C4 put a highlights show in a fixed place within their schedule. In 1985 there were daily highlights, but they were fitted into whatever space could be found.

 

[rich p]

I'm sure (not sure...) that somewhen there wete Highland Games and log- rolling on World of Sport or Grandstand when they were getting desperate.
I may be confusing it with It's a Knockout

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Apologies for derailing this Giro spoilers thread.... 🤐

 

[TakeTheHighRoad]

Phil Liggett certainly did commentary before Channel 4. He mentioned it in the nostalgic interview he did for ITV4 in last year's Tour

Only I can't remember the specifics of how his commentary and footage were originally used

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Phil Liggett certainly did commentary before Channel 4. He mentioned it in the nostalgic interview he did for ITV4 in last year's Tour

Only I can't remember the specifics of how his commentary and footage were originally used

I'll have to look up the interview, cheers!