So as the Tour Down Under hit the home straight yesterday, I’m settling into the fresh powder of Japans northern island, Hokkaido.
A snowboarding trip with some close friends and a much needed break from the bike.
To say the last couple of weeks has been hectic would be an understatement and I’m in much need of a nice long sleep.
Working seventeen hour days almost everyday during the tour alongside Jamie from CSN. Ended with an epic road trip to Melbourne on Thursday in 40C heat (no aircon) and the very next day I’m on the longest flight in the world to Japan. Not quite but it feels like it.
The whole experience has been self induced of course and a positive experience I won’t forget any time soon.
A Typical Day
A day in the media convoy started with the long process of packing the media car and preparing for the day. Camera and audio equipment, drinks, fuel, food – making sure the all batteries were charged and the van is spotlessly clean.
Then we’d swing by the ABC centre in Adelaide and scoop up Roger Wills, the well known Grandstand Radio presenter. Roger and Jamie were doing live race updates from inside the media van whilst Peter, our driver, was in hot pursuit of the peloton. My job was to listen to race radio and whiteboard updates for the guys in the back – highly organized and precision team we were.
We’d then shoot down to the race start, get as many quality interviews with riders as possible, plenty of pics and then take off to the first sprint point.
It’s all about positioning for photo’s and video footage. If you’re not in-front of the bunch you’re behind it – both being undesirable. A motorbike and a camera would’ve been ideal solution but then we’re obligated to abide by the stringent rules set by the tour director. Everyone has a position in the convoy, car two isn’t allowed in-front of car one etc.
As the race pushed into the final kilometers, the media entourage were falling over themselves to make the finish. Of course, that’s where the critical photo’s are taken – the pictures with arms in the air, usually published on the eighth last page of the big news papers.
Once the race ends and the riders are finishing up for the day, that’s where it all starts for the media people.
On more than one occasion I spotted senior sports writer, Rupert Guinness (Sydney Morning Herald) tapping away on his keyboard in the back of the media wagon post race.
It’s a furious battle to publish stories immediately. There’s deadlines to meet and expectations to fulfill – twitter, facebook, and blogs to compete with. Between 4pm and 9pm on any given night, the Hilton media room was packed with journalists tapping out their daily report. Call it poor time management but Jamie and I were usuall the last to leave, often after too many free Cab’ Merlots from the bar.
What I Learned
Wank factor is a couple of words I would use to describe the atmosphere in the media center. Everyone is sussing each other out, gainfully working out the pecking order. Often the very first question that was asked was “… so who are you working for?” even before they got your name.
There’s a lot of truth to Wades post – there were many times I felt like D Grade member of the media, scrounging around for the scraps and covering anything I could get. The riders certainly are accessible, unlike most other sports and they’re happy to talk but it’s most PR filler. Stuff thats not really informative but lips are moving and sound is coming out.
A master of this I found was Cameron Meyer from Garmin Transitions. That kid is slick and can talk to the media like a pro’. Garmin don’t need a PR team whilst he’s on board. Watch any interview with Cameron and you’ll get A Grade quality PR filler. I mean this in a positive context, he speaks exactly as he should saving the juicy stuff for friends and family.
So will I return next year?
Probably. Right now I would say no. Not as a member of the media anyway.
I’d much prefer to be on my bike with friends, riding to and from all the stages. Thats something I really missed out on this year. A squadra of people I knew from Perth made the trip and I simply didn’t have time to catch up with any of them. Daily I passed the small bunches of riders on their way out to the starts and looked on with envy whilst we drove past.
Highlights
I’d have to say, interviewing Johan Bruyneel and Cadel Evans would be two of my pinnacle moments. Followed very closely buy the nice tweet by the BMCProRacing team during the BMC press conference.
Riding with Lance was pretty cool, even though he couldn’t hold my wheel. Meeting some of the big media people is also up there – I just can’t remember their names.
I hope you enjoyed the interviews, live tweets and coverage and we’ll transition back into some tangible cycling tips and tricks over the coming weeks.
Moving forward this year, I’m in two minds about covering more races or just sticking purely to cycling related tips. Send me an email with feedback if you like or comment below.
I’ll be back in town on the third of Feb’ so excuse my silence until then. If I feel the need, I may post something but otherwise I’ll be shredding the slopes of Niseko on my radical, sick snowboard dudes.
Ride safe.
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