Long-time sports commentator Phil Liggett is synonymous with the Tour De France.

After 43 years calling the event, he is justifiably linked with the yearly gruelling cycling race.

But as he told 702 ABC Sydney's Robbie Buck, his long connection with the sport came about as a bit of an accident.

"I bought a bike to go fishing and all of a sudden it's become my whole income," he said.

But after riding alongside cycling legend Eddy Merckx, Liggett was convinced that he would be better to combine his love of riding with journalism rather than pursue the sport professionally.

These days, he said he could not imagine an existence not dominated by two wheels.

"It's like a world without birdsong. I couldn't have a world without cycling; it's been my life," he said.

Liggett is in Sydney for the special live event The Tour On Stage, an interactive experts panel which explores all things related to the pursuit of the yellow jersey.

The best and worst of times

The 72-year-old said he had seen the best and worst cycling had to offer from the inside.

Most conspicuously falling onto the worst side of things was the doping scandal that brought down seven-time Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong.

A vocal supporter of the disgraced American rider right until the bitter end, Liggett is pragmatic about defending Armstrong.

"All I wanted was the absolute proof," he said.

"I stood by him of course and it certainly was to my detriment.

"I must confess Lance has never rung up and thanked me for standing by him."

Liggett said Armstrong was a man prepared to succeed at all costs.

"Nobody is a friend of Lance Armstrong. I don't believe he's got any friends," he said.

"He's very much a brash guy who sees a target and shoots at it, that's how he won his tours."

'Paris is still a free spirit'

For The Tour On Stage, Liggett will be joined by recently retired rider Jens Voigt.

Together they will dissect the sport and offer insights into the race that keeps so many Australians awake for 21 days each July.

Away from the peloton or the topic of racing, as someone who spends a large portion of his time in France, Liggett said he was "gobsmacked" by the recent Paris terror attacks.

He said the violence inflicted upon the city would have an impact on the attitude towards safety precautions in the future.

"It's unthinkable," he said.

"I think the biggest thing with France is it has yet to get to grips with security.

"We have much tighter security in London. Paris is still a free spirit."