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For over three decades, sports commentator and journalist Michael Tomalaris has captivated Australian audiences with his insightful coverage of Tour de France campaigns. With unparalleled knowledge and sharp observations, Tomalaris has established himself as a trusted and admired voice in the sport.
In his latest project, The Domestiques podcast – proudly presented by Honan - Tomalaris takes listeners behind the scenes of professional cycling with co-hosts Lee Turner and pro-cyclist Matilda Raynolds.
As we progress through the second half of the 2023 Tour, we sat down with Tomalaris to hear his latest insights, career highlights and to learn more about the role of risk in professional cycling.
To be honest, I fell into cycling. Few people realise I started my television broadcasting career covering world football (soccer). I worked on the major international tournaments as a reporter at the FIFA World Cup in USA ‘94 and France ‘98 and also worked on Euro ‘96, held in England.
One day the Head of Sport at SBS walked out of his office and asked his stable of reporters (most of whom were soccer heads) who would want to cover Australia’s premier cycle tour, the Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic, which ran down Australia’s east coast while SBS had held the broadcast rights. I looked around the room and noticed none of my colleagues showed any interest at all. I raised my hand and accepted the invitation.
Why did I take on the role when I knew very little about a multi-day cycle tour? I selfishly saw it as an opportunity to get out of the office, but more significantly, a sport where I could craft many behind-the-scenes stories. At the time few people really understood the intricacies of cycling and what goes on away from the television coverage.
It was a life-changing decision.
Although I’ve moved on from television broadcasting, I still have a passion for talking about major international cycling events such as the Tour de France.
I want to share my passion for what I believe is a magnificent sport. A sport many Australians have embraced through my involvement of decades anchoring the SBS coverage. The Domestiques podcast is a perfect vehicle to share my passion with my fellow ‘domestiques’ Matilda Raynolds and Lee Turner.
The domestique in a cycle tour plays a significantly important role. He/she is the person who protects their team leader by doing several chores while the race is rolling during each of the stages.
These chores include rolling back to the team car to collect water bottles, protein bars, and rain jackets when required and to simply ensure their leader is comfortable.
That’s easy to answer. It was the day Cadel Evans rolled into the Paris finish of the 2011 Tour de France. I was hosting the live coverage.
To this day, Cadel is the only Australian to have climbed onto the top step in the Tour’s 110 editions.
I remember breaking down on air when realising an Australian was in a position to conquer what basically is “the last frontier”. It was a proud moment for Cadel and for all Australians.
World cycling has been tainted with a dark past. The sport was dominated by drug cheats. Many of the riders were up to their eyeballs in performance-enhancing substances. That was then.
Fast-forward to 2023 and I firmly believe the sport has cleaned up. The drug testing methods are so advanced that riders would be silly to risk resorting to doping.
Some may describe my thoughts as naive, but dozens of tests are conducted every day at the big races, and I can’t remember the last time a rider tested positive.
Every time a rider races their bike they are consigned to taking a risk. The bicycle is a machine that can travel up to 110 km/h (on a steep descent), so crashes are common. Remember the riders are wearing a thin layer of Lycra so anytime a crash occurs, chances are an injury will too.
Professional cyclists are so talented, but crashing is inevitable more times than not. But if the rider escapes carnage and chaos, the rewards of crossing the finish line, either as a winner or survivor, are most satisfying.
Every stage fascinates me.
Whether the stage is held on flat roads where the winner is usually determined by a hectic fast finishing sprint from more than a dozen riders or tackling the gruelling climbs through the Pyrenees or French Alps, the Tour de France is a gorgeous spectacle.
I’m infatuated with Tadej Pogačar.
He’s just 24 years of age yet, the Slovenian is already a two-time winner. The Pog can do anything on a bike. He is so competitive. He’s a “beast” on the bike yet comes across as a fair-minded competitor who has much respect for his rivals.
12 Australians started this year’s Tour de France. It’s a record-equalling amount of talent from Down Under.
I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before another Aussie joins Cadel Evans as a conqueror of the toughest, yet most beautiful spectacle on the planet.
