La Vuelta

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

These last three stages have not worked for me.

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.

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

Maybe not then

Mac1937 wrote:

Hello.

I cringe every time I hear a commentator (Rob Hatch mainly) say 'Yoombo' when referring to Jumbo. 'J' in French is NOT pronounced like a Y otherwise, we'd have "yolie" and "Yoomeaux" (pretty and twins), The 'Y' I suspect is because they think that as French is a Latin based language - like Spanish and Italian - then it must be correct in French : it ain't. For example, 'Jure' in Latin is pronounced Yoor - but not in French. I suspect that people like Kelly think that Rob Hatch's pronunciation is right as he claims to be some sort of a linguist. A false claim I think.

What is French about Jumbo being a Dutch supermarket?? He is pronouncing it correctly. Listen in this video how it's said https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyif93zqkxo

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.

If Jumbo were French you would be correct.

But it's not, so you're not.

Mac1937 wrote:

I suspect that people like Kelly think that Rob Hatch's pronunciation is right as he claims to be some sort of a linguist. A false claim I think.

I was watching the opening stage of last year's Giro d'Italia on TV and my partner, who is from Milan, asked who the commentator was.

I told her it was Rob Hatch, and she said he pronounced Italian words better than any foreigner she had ever come across, she was absolutely amazed.

For UK commentators, he probably has the best pronunciation across a range of languages. 

Je hebt net het internet gewonnen.

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.

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

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'. 

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.

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

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.

Correct, it's not a normal summit finish and people will be targetting it and taking it easy for the rest of the TT.

It's only a cat 3 so it won't score highly.

Dr Winston wrote:

A cat 3 that definitely would need a 1st gear in the old 2CV.  That's a tough climb. 

I love that story, especially as it's so blatantly made up.

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??

Not many had Soler. Well done.

went unchanged today, wanted to bring in Vlasov but had to take out Carapaz G Martin or Roglic and in the end didn't think it was worth it. Have Vlasov as favourite to win today and a few will have hime so swings and roundabouts.

I bit the bullet & took out polka dot Martin for Vlasov. I will be watching the break form from behind my sofa! 

We all had a Vlasov dilemma today.  Either giving up all those GC points or the gamble on Martin and KOM points was the only way to get him in.

In the end I stuck with what I had from Saturday leaving out Vlasov.

Martin was top pick today.

I'm still behind the sofa after Martin's performance! What a brilliant stage though - absolute beast of a climb.