Mike Tomalaris
Encyclopedia
Mike Tomalaris is a Australian sports reporter, presenter and host of SBS Television's cycling coverage.
He is one of the longest-serving members of the team behind SBS Sports and is the anchor fronting the Australian public television broadcaster's cycling programs. After working on such events as the 1992 & 1996 UEFA European Football Championship
and the 1994,1998, 2002, 2006 & 2010 FIFA World Cup
tournaments as reporter and host, he has since focused on developeing the network's Tour de France coverage.
before studying accounting at university for two years. After attending the Max Rowley
School of Radio, Television and Drama, he embarked on a career in radio.
His break into television was in 1987 when Les Murray
asked him to provide commentary for a National Soccer League
match and, after working initially in print journalism, Tomalaris returned to SBS
full-time in 1992 and became recognised as a commentator for NSL games, Socceroos and Olyroos international broadcasts.
in the Netherlands
. He has covered the race for SBS ever since, and is the network's main anchor of its growing cycling portfolio which includes international events such as the Tour Down Under
, the Giro d'Italia
, the Vuelta a España
the Tour of California and Paris-Roubaix
. SBS covered the Tour of Flanders live for the first time in 2011. On Sunday afternoons, he hosts the network's Cycling Central series - the only such program dedicated to the sport.
Tomalaris was a part of the World Sport team - before its demise in 2006 - as a reporter and presenter and combined football commentary with reporting and hosting cycling events. He also covered the 2006 FIFA World Cup
and was part of the presentation team for SBS complementary coverage of the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 and Beijing Olympics in 2008. He has been a member of the nightly World News Australia team for several years sharing the duties with Craig Foster. He was one of the hosts for the network's coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
and has covered every FIFA World Cup for the network either as a reporter or presenter, since 1994.
In July 2011, SBS enjoyed record viewing numbers as a result of Cadel Evans becoming the first Australian to win the Tour de France.
He instigated and has supported an annual charity bicycle ride, The Johnny Warren Jamberoo Classic, in honour of former colleague Socceroos captain (Johnny Warren 1943-2004) to raise funds for Chris O'Brien's Lifehouse at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
He is one of the longest-serving members of the team behind SBS Sports and is the anchor fronting the Australian public television broadcaster's cycling programs. After working on such events as the 1992 & 1996 UEFA European Football Championship
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
and the 1994,1998, 2002, 2006 & 2010 FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
tournaments as reporter and host, he has since focused on developeing the network's Tour de France coverage.
Early career
Tomalaris attended Sydney Technical High SchoolSydney Technical High School
Sydney Technical High School is an academically selective, state-funded high school for boys in Bexley, a southern suburb of Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1911 as part of Sydney Technical College, the school was one of the six original New South Wales selective schools...
before studying accounting at university for two years. After attending the Max Rowley
Max Rowley
Max Rowley is a successful Australian media personality and radio broadcaster. He is currently the principal of his own radio and media training academy, The Max Rowley Media and Drama Academy.-Early career:...
School of Radio, Television and Drama, he embarked on a career in radio.
His break into television was in 1987 when Les Murray
Les Murray (broadcaster)
Les James Murray AM is an Australian sports journalist, football broadcaster and analyst...
asked him to provide commentary for a National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
match and, after working initially in print journalism, Tomalaris returned to SBS
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
full-time in 1992 and became recognised as a commentator for NSL games, Socceroos and Olyroos international broadcasts.
Career (1992 - present)
Through SBS he has raised cycling's profile by initially covering the now defunct Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic from 1992 and, in 1996, the start of the Tour de FranceTour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. He has covered the race for SBS ever since, and is the network's main anchor of its growing cycling portfolio which includes international events such as the Tour Down Under
Tour Down Under
The Tour Down Under is a cycling race in Adelaide, South Australia and surrounding area. The race starts on the third Tuesday of January each year and attracts riders from across Australia and the world. In 2005, the Tour Down Under was promoted by the Union Cycliste Internationale to the...
, the Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
, the Vuelta a España
Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
the Tour of California and Paris-Roubaix
Paris-Roubaix
Paris–Roubaix is a one-day professional bicycle road race in northern France near the Belgian frontier. Since its beginning in 1896 until 1967 it started in Paris and ended in Roubaix ; since 1968 the start city is Compiègne , whilst the finish is still in Roubaix...
. SBS covered the Tour of Flanders live for the first time in 2011. On Sunday afternoons, he hosts the network's Cycling Central series - the only such program dedicated to the sport.
Tomalaris was a part of the World Sport team - before its demise in 2006 - as a reporter and presenter and combined football commentary with reporting and hosting cycling events. He also covered the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
and was part of the presentation team for SBS complementary coverage of the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 and Beijing Olympics in 2008. He has been a member of the nightly World News Australia team for several years sharing the duties with Craig Foster. He was one of the hosts for the network's coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
and has covered every FIFA World Cup for the network either as a reporter or presenter, since 1994.
In July 2011, SBS enjoyed record viewing numbers as a result of Cadel Evans becoming the first Australian to win the Tour de France.
He instigated and has supported an annual charity bicycle ride, The Johnny Warren Jamberoo Classic, in honour of former colleague Socceroos captain (Johnny Warren 1943-2004) to raise funds for Chris O'Brien's Lifehouse at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.