Eurosport confirms enhanced Tour de France coverage

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Eurosport has upgraded its existing deal for the next three editions of the Tour de France that ensures cycling fans can watch every single moment of the world’s most famous cycling race live for the very first time.

The enhanced agreement with European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), organisers of the event, will see a further 25 hours of live Tour de France coverage for each of the next three years.

Additional live action will come from 13 stages which have never previously been fully covered on television by the event’s host broadcaster France Télévisions.

The new agreement reinforces Eurosport’s long association with the Tour de France, with the event having first been shown on the pan-European channel in 1991.

Commenting on the enhanced deal, Peter Hutton, Eurosport CEO, said:

“This is fantastic news for cycling fans who for the very first time will be able to watch every minute of the Tour de France live on Eurosport. We actively supported the change in the deal because we know that our viewers want to follow every climb, breakaway and sprint of the world’s most famous cycling race.

“The new arrangement is also great for professional cycling with teams, riders and sponsors getting more exposure, which we hope will help grow the sport and its audience.”

“2017 was already a record year for Eurosport, with over 200 days of live cycling and 2,300 hours of coverage across our channels, and now we can offer every moment of the sport’s most iconic race. If you’re a cycling fan, Eurosport truly is the Home of Cycling and remains the best place to follow the sport.”

Eurosport’s cycling portfolio covers all three of the Grand Tours, plus 25 UCI World Tour events, including all five monuments.

Its on-air team for the Grand Tours is led by new recruit Jonathan Edwards, and also includes analysis and commentary from three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, plus Tour stage winner Juan Antonio Flecha and Sean Kelly, winner of nine monument classics.

Commenting on the announcement, Greg LeMond, said:

“I’m thrilled for the millions of cycling fans across Europe who can now watch every second of the sport’s greatest race on Eurosport.

“As cycling fans appreciate, a Grand Tour can turn at any moment, so to be able to follow every minute live is a real game-changer. Eurosport continues to push the boundaries of cycling broadcasting in Europe and I’m proud to once again be part of their team this year.”

UPDATE: Alongside Eurosport, ITV has also confirmed that it will also extended its live coverage of the event for free-to-air audiences, with every stage in its entirety on ITV4 and online via ITV.com – click here for the channel’s TV schedule for the 2017 race.

The 2017 Tour de France starts on Saturday, 1 July, with individual time trial in the German city of Düsseldorf.

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