LIKE many people The Standard's journalists are adapting to a period with minimal regional sport amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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Brian Allen, Justine McCullagh-Beasy and Sean Hardeman are eager to talk sport via The Commentary Box.
BRIAN: We're about halfway through the Tour de France. What a test of endurance. Twenty-one stages of variety. It must be up there as the one of the toughest endurance sporting events in the world. What do you think would be the toughest sporting event or sport to be part of?
JUSTINE: Where to start? I'm in awe of people who complete a long-distance triathlon, marathon or ultra-marathon. It's a test of mental strength and their ability to push through the pain barrier is impressive.
SEAN: I'm a bit biased towards the Tour de France because I'm such a big cycling fan but it also has reasons, and a reputation, for being one of the toughest professional sporting events. Three weeks of riding over mountains across wind-swept plains and with only two rest days to recover before going again. A crash could make it the worst time of a rider's life or a bit of luck may help them enter the history books. It's a test of both mental and physical strength. But if I had to choose something other than cycling it would have to be either Ironman or the same as you JMac.
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JUSTINE: It's incredible watching cyclists push through those conditions - just look at their legs after a long, arduous stage - and the crashes are brutal too. From a ball sport perspective, I think AFL would be one of the most challenging as it tests skill, speed, endurance, bravery and you're coming up against players of varying heights and weights.
BRIAN: I've tried many sports and rate boxing training as the hardest thing I've done straight up. I couldn't believe how much the first session took out of me as a teenager. I reckon going plenty of rounds in the ring in a brutal bout is about as tough a sport gets. Having had a go at pole vault, I think vaulting over six metres would take tremendous courage. Irish game hurling is another sport which is mind-blowing. They essentially play hockey in the air and wear helmets. We've covered some sports which take great endurance and courage, which ones do you think take the most skill?
JUSTINE: Pole vault is strange yet a compelling sport. It would take immense courage and strength. Every sport has its own skill-set - the way athletes can make a ball dance is incredible. The coordination required in soccer is immense, the way tennis players, such as Roger Federer, use deft touch or can shape a shot makes you stand up and take notice and AFL players, with the oddest shaped ball in sport, can do incredible things.
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