Professional Cycling - Kudos to France 2/3

While most of you don't get to see the TV feed on French TV, you are watching their feed. They do an unbelievable job. One instance came to light on Velo Club, their post-stage show, today.

Remember Pereiro leaving the course when descending with Botero the other day? He had just put a snack - still wrapped - in his mouth. That was what, four or five days ago? Today they showed a series of stills taken from a different 2/3 camera that was slightly ahead of the live shot. He was going very slow, fortunately, and did a small somersault off of his bike in basically a country meadow of grass and scruff. They had four shots - just off the road, the fall, his return to pick up the bike, and his reentry to the course. The wrapped snack never left his mouth! He restarted with it still in there. One assumes that after what he paid for it, he ended up eating it. :p

Incredible photography. But typical of what they do all day, every day, during the Tour.

The TV coverage is excellent.
Though I get somewhat annoyed that they zoom in way too much, and often miss major attacks. They missed major attacks multiple times this year and last when they could have easily captured them. And also you sometimes have no idea what is going on in the race because you can only see that one rider zoomed in... and have little clue over when the finish line is coming.

Are the pictures posted on the web anywhere? When my girlfriend and I saw that part, we both said "OH SH*T". :lol:

Though I get somewhat annoyed that they zoom in way too much, and often miss major attacks.
My impression is not that at all. In fact, they often interrupt the moto-based commentators to describe what is happening on the screen - usually a break - which the moto can't see, or is too busy talking to describe.

Are you watching France 2/3, or perhaps OLN or someone else who might be editing the feed/tape?

Are you watching France 2/3, or perhaps OLN or someone else who might be editing the feed/tape?

OLN, but during the live feed.
Also once they missed an attack by playing a short replay, but it gave the appearance that the replay was done by the French feed and not OLN.

remember when ullrich fell off the side of the road in the 2001 (i think) tour? the camera man was amazing...it happened so fast and yet he followed all the action. jan going off the bike, flipping over the rail, and even getting out of the bushes and getting back on the bike. they really do an outstanding job.

Are the pictures posted on the web anywhere? :

+1

I like the way they discreetly zoom or pan away when the helicopter cameras catch riders pulling off to answer the call of nature, although some of the moto cameras have been a little less attentive.