[Dr Winston]

Favourite race of the year.

No idea who to pick, such a strong field I could have picked two or three teams. Just have to see how it pans out and react accordingly. 

Topic

[Sniffer]

Costa’s relegation

Costa’s relegation transformed an OK day into a poor day for me.

These last three stages have not worked for me.

[Condor Andy]

Transferred Cort out

Transferred Cort out yesterday, Pog.

This race has been an absolute catalogue of rubbish decisions from me..

[Sniffer]

Maybe not then

Maybe not then

[Sniffer]

…………and it might just

…………and it might just be coming back together.

[Mac1937]

I’m sorry, but you missed the

I’m sorry, but you missed the point, too subtle for you perhaps, so I’ll spell it out just for you. Actually, it’s Ah-Zhee-Deux-Air, and it’s Hatch’s party piece, which goes over the head of anyone who does not understand French.  If that isn’t grand-standing, then I’m a Dutchman (think about it). Hmmm. But as you say, we’re all entitled to our view … and our pronunciation I suppose. I’ll still turn the sound down when Hatch is warbling. It’s a pity they’ve put Liggett out to grass, he and Sherwen were the best by a street. They’re missed.

[Mark B]

I agree, but isn’t G in

I agree, but isn’t G in French more like zhay, and in particular doesn’t have an ee sound (but J does, confusingly).

 

[Anonymous]

Certainly looking like his

Certainly looking like his last Vuelta, but has he got it in him?  The finishes look too easy.

Mind you for the first ‘guaranteed breakaway stage’ today I have… no-one in the break.

 

[Anonymous]

You’re entitled to your view

You’re entitled to your view that it’s pretentious.  I would agree he does slightly overdo it sometimes, e.g. Ganna only has two Ns in it although Italian and other similar languages often separate the pronunciation of double consonants (‘mil-lion’ instead of English ‘milion’).

However, count me in as another who thinks it’s right that commentators, even English ones talking to an English-speaking audience, should pronounce names as they are said in the language they come from unless there’s a common ‘English’ translation (e.g. saying Paris and Milan rather than Par-ee and Mil-ahno).  AG2R is Ah-jee-duhz-air in French.  Consider it a learning experience.

[Dr Winston]

Longish odds for Valverde

Longish odds for Valverde over the next three, I can’t for the life of me believe he won’t be looking for a stage win. This could well be his last Vuelta.

[Mac1937]

Thanks to all commenting on

Thanks to all commenting on my ‘Hatch Dig’, I didn’t think anyone would take any notice, as my comment was a knee-jerk due to Hatch’s constant over-pronunciation of foreign names/words; I cracked and I wrote. I also have to accept that Jumbo Vista is a Dutch company – thanks to the folks who informed me, I thought it was French. I do not withdraw the implication that Hatch enjoys grand-standing. I believe he wrote an article stating that the biggest trap commentators fall into is tripping over their ego – I’m paraphrasing but the words reflect his sentiments. He sounds pretentious, and I end with his pronunciation of AG2R; it’s meaningless to a lot of people listening/watching who don’t speak French. Thanks for ‘listening’. 

[Dr Winston]

To be fair he’s from

To be fair he’s from Accrington. Even folk like me from Blackburn next door think the Accrington dialect is a bit hard work. 

Anybody who comes from somewhere where they say “Go far what do down t’pit” isn’t gonna be great with their Dutch J’s…or any other J’s.

[Condor Andy]

Well so much for consistency,

Well so much for consistency, they binned what they did in the Tour and just did the finish line. I’ve done it now so I have to score it, but how hard would it have been to put a check at the base of the climb??

[Stebbo]

Hatch never pronounces German

Hatch never pronounces German, Polish, Russia or Irish names with his over the top accents. You are correct about his poor race result knowledge.

[Aragonite]

You are inorrect in this

You are inorrect in this instance, but I do have a problem with Rob Hatch’s ‘correct pronunciatrions’.  What is the point of giving foreign riders their corrct pronunciation if it gives your target UK audience a problem knowing who you are referring to? If the guy spent as much time keeping up to date with recent race resu,ts, as he does on riders ‘correct’ surnames, and place of birth he might just become a much more informative commentator.

[Rendel Harris]

You’ve had a shocker there

You’ve had a shocker there fella, if you’re going to be a smartarse on t’internet always best to use said internet to check your facts. J is invariably pronounced Y in Dutch and Flemish, and as noted above Jumbo is a supermarket chain in Holland and northern Belgium.

[Author]

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