The Physical Performance Show: Phil Liggett MBE – The Voice of Cycling
Episode 84: Phil Liggett MBE – The Voice of Cycling
Brad Beer recently sat down with Phil Liggett and lived out a childhood dream for Episode 84 of The Physical Performance Show podcast. Domestically in Australia Phil is known best for his coverage of the Tour De France from 1991-2016. Internationally, Phil has reported on 15 Olympic games and 44 Tour de France races, authored 4 books and was once a professional cyclist who gave up a promising career to pursue his media career.
Listen in as Phil shares around all things cycling, his incredible media career and his love for South Africa including his conservation efforts with the rhinos.
To listen to Episode 84
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In this episode Phil shares:
Listen in as we delve into the following:
- Phil’s time in cycling as a professional athlete
- Phil’s decision to focus on his media career
- The highs and lows of the Tour de France
- Lance Armstrong’s fall from grace
- Phil’s most memorable moments in cycling
- Phil’s love for South Africa
- How Phil met his wife
- Phil’s best advice
To follow Phil:
Timeline
00:03:30 Start of interview
00:03:54 Mock commentary of Brad winning a cycling event in Grafton
00:05:30 Meeting Phil’s wife Trish, how they met, her amazing sporting career and the secrets to 47 years of marriage
00:08:20 Phil’s love for South Africa
00:10:20 Phil’s work in Africa
00:11:15 Helping Rhinos – Orica GreenEdge and working with the South Australian Zoo
00:13:10 Crossing paths with an elephant
00:14:55 Phil’s cycling career
00:19:05 Deciding to give up his pro career and start his media career
00:19:48 Why Phil decided not to turn pro
00:25:57 The Tour de France
00:28:35 Putting cycling on the TV screens
00:29:16 Naming Phil’s scarecrow
00:30:00 Back to Cycling and it’s growth in popularity
00:31:10 The preparation that goes into cycling commentary
00:35:11 One word for famous cyclists
00:36:38 Phil’s most memorable Tour stage
00:41:35 The gutsiest win in cycling
00:42:42 The unluckiest rider
00:43:55 The toughest cycling stage
00:45:45 The top three characteristics of a great cyclist
00:49:50 Lance Armstrong
01:01:20 Back to Phil Liggett – the commentator for the people
01:05:10 The Olympic Games
01:09:00 Fun questions for Phil
01:13:05 Being honored with his MBE
01:16:15 Phil’s connection to the Essedon AFL Football Club
01:17:21 Close
01:18:20 Helping Rhinos competition
01:20:25 End
Episode 84 Competition:
Share this episode on your social media and tag us in to be in the running to win a Helping Rhinos cycle top
For questions and comments about this Episode
Send to the show host @Brad_Beer (Twitter)
