Get rid of Carlton Kirby

Arrghhh! Not the Dauphine!

I really don't want to be too negative about him, but now that we are watching the Tour of Norway, all i hear is wheezing laughter every 5 minutes. Is he not being made aware of all those things?

As well as well, he says this almost every sentence

Words fail, surely he has some sort of medical problem, and while you are at it throw in Smith!

Commentating during the 2022 Ronde, Kirby says: Aranburu could have finished as high as 5th in Milan-Sanremo, but didn’t think it was worth his while so he eased off at the end and came in 13th. Twaddle. Nobody – but nobody – doesn’t sprint for 5th at the end of a Monument. Pure invention; based on nothing. I’ve now just watched the end of Milan-Sanremo again: Aranburu wasn’t in the first group behind Morhoric, so he literally couldn’t have come higher than 10th. And within the second group, he sprints hard, coming 13th overall. Drivel. Again.

Just get rid of him

I mean no offence, but I would guess that you are English, over 60, male and that you are not a cyclist. In other words, you probably have a lot in common culturally with Carlton Kirby. That may explain why you like his commentary and you are absolutely entitled to your opinion. Cyclists find Kirby's lack of insight and knowledge infuriating. Younger people find his 1980s music hall gags pathetic. People from non-English backgrounds find his bias annoying. There is no homework. He is given a list of the major landmarks on each route before the stage and he simply reads it out. Let him run bingo nights at retirement villages where he will be loved and appreciated.

Been driving me mad again in Tirreno-Adriatico; described a rider as looking 'rueful', which he tells us means 'accepting your fate' (??). Then follows up this pearl seamlessly, saying the rider in question is not going to be 'feted' today. Ugh! Next he switches from English to physics teacher: 'Sometimes cyclists on descents can actually descend faster than motorcycles, being a much heavier mass to get around'. For the avoidance of doubt, he wasn't referring to Groenewegen. He's also decided to pronounce 'style' as 'stylee', and taking every opportunity to do so, which is irritating beyond belief. So affected, so annoying, so unamusing, so utterly pleased with himself with so little justification; the complete antithesis of 'entertaining'. I truly cannot fathom how anyone could find his commentary enjoyable. Back to the therapy for me.

Believe me, it's no 'wrench' to turn away from any televised sport when this self-important, drivelling buffoon is commentating on it!

He talks absolute drivel

Totally agree with basis for his removal and comments. Furthermore, his snarkiness about riders is unprofessional and offensive, particularly if a rider is not a native English speaker.

Afraid I can't agree with this petition. I don't find his commentaries at all obnoxious. He is very entertaining at those times when there is not much going on in the race and has obviously done his homework in order to explain some of the more interesting places and buildings in passing. He is also very good on the indoor racing and also on the winter sports if you care to wrench yourselves away from just road racing.

Utterly inane twaddle, complete distraction from the cycling.

Get rid of Carlton Kirby

You can’t offset nonsensical drivel with enthusiasm and shouting unfortunately. Did you know Fuglsang means birdsong? Can only assume he thinks his listeners are goldfish incapable of memorising any of the useless trivia he repeatedly bleats about.

Completely agree with the analysis. I am a keen pro cycling fan and appreciate the insight of ex pros and proper cycling journalists who add to the experience of watching the races. Carlton Kirby is a total embarassment who adds nothing and in fact puts people off cycling by his totally inane ramblings . I'm sure there is a career for him in some 4th rate game show but please don't insult the intelligence of viewers by having him commentate on cycling. There are so many great commentators out there who would enhance viewers enjoyment. Please get rid of this idiot who is destroying the experience of cycling fans.

Here we go with another new season of race commentary full of wheezing, insults, mispronunciations, chuckling at one's own pitiful jokes, and hysterical screaming at the finish line. Thanks Eurosport.

He is simply awful / gratuitous insults / and during the finish is yelling and unintelligible.

He's verbose for no reason other than to hear himself speak. He gets tongue-tied during sprints. It pains me to watch GCN when he announces.

The bloke talks absolutely rubbish most of time. Cringeworthy jokes that provide nothing. I’d rather not watch a race he’s commentating on as it’s spoilt by his inane ramblings and terrible jokes.