FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 15th, 2012
NBC SPORTS GROUP’S COVERAGE OF THE SECOND ANNUAL USA PRO CHALLENGE BEGINS SUNDAY, AUGUST 20 AT 4 P.M. ET ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK
NEW YORK (August 15, 2012)— The NBC Sports Group will provide 29 hours of race coverage of the second annual USA Pro Challenge, a seven-day cycling event that features the world’s top riders. Live daily coverage begins on Monday, August 20, at 4 p.m. ET, on NBC Sports Network and continues over seven days of competition. This year coverage has been extended to include two hours on NBC on Saturday, August 25 and Sunday, August 26, more network coverage than any other domestic cycling event. The final stage in downtown Denver will air live for two hours on NBC Sports Network and two hours on NBC on Sunday, August 26, beginning at 2 p.m. ET. Additionally, NBC Sports Network will air a one-hour preview show on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET, featuring in-depth profiles of the race’s top riders.
The 683-mile international pro-cycling race will originate from Durango, Colo., and will take the riders and spectators through 12 official host cities, as well as many others on the way to the exhilarating individual time trial finish in downtown Denver. Featuring some of the best riders in the sport of cycling, the race comes on the heels of the Olympics and the Tour de France. In addition to live daily HD coverage, NBC Sports Network will air highlights of all the stages each night at 11 p.m. ET.
Prior to the race each day, with the exception of Sunday, NBC Sports Network will give cycling fans an up-close look into the daily lives of their favorite riders with a 30-minute pre-show titled USA Pro: Race of Truth. The documentary-style shows, which air at 3:30 p.m., ET, will offer inside access to the riders and their preparations for the race. In addition, Universal Sports will re-air NBC’s coverage of Stages 6 & 7 on August 27 and August 28 at 6 p.m. ET, respectively.
The USA Pro Challenge will have some of the best riders in the sport of cycling participate in this event, including defending champion American rider Levi Leipheimer of Team Omega Pharma Quick-Step, America’s top finisher in this year’s Tour De France Tejay van Garderen; the 2011 Tour de France champion Cadel Evans of BMC Racing Team; 2010 Tour de France champion Andy Schleck of Team RadioShack and Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda rider Christian Vande Velde.
Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, the undisputed voices of cycling will be on site in Colorado to provide observations and insight for each day of NBC and NBC Sports Network’s coverage. Former cyclist Bob Roll will serve as the in-race reporter and new this year Steve Porino will provide in-race reports from the back of a motorcycle in the race being the eyes and ears on the course.
NBC Sports Group’s broadcasts of the USA Pro Challenge will give viewers the best cycling coverage possible with features including: cameras on many of the teams’ cars; a pointer feature which will easily identify and focus on one rider in the peloton; exclusive, in-depth profiles and features on teams and riders.
NBCSports.com will offer cycling fans up-to-the-minute news throughout the entire race with daily standings and results; video recaps of each stage, exclusive fan videos and interviews from some of the best riders in the world. The website also features videos from the Pro Challenge Spotlight series, which takes a look into the lives behind some of America’s top riders.
Broadcast schedule for live coverage of the 2012 USA Pro Challenge
(all times ET and subject to change)
- Stage 1: Monday, August 20 – Durango to Telluride – 4 p.m. (NBC Sports Network)
- Stage 2: Tuesday, August 21 –Montrose to Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte – 4 p.m. (NBC Sports Network)
- Stage 3: Wednesday, August 22 – Gunnison to Aspen – 4 p.m. (NBC Sports Network)
- Stage 4: Thursday, August 23 – Aspen to Beaver Creek/Vail Village – 4 p.m. (NBC Sports Network)
- Stage 5: Friday, August 24–Breckenridge to Colorado Springs – 4 p.m. (NBC Sports Network)
- Stage 6: Saturday, August 25 – Golden to Boulder – 2-4 p.m. (NBC); 4-6 p.m. (NBC Sports Network)
- Stage 7: Sunday, August 26 –Denver Individual Time Trial – 2-4 p.m. (NBC Sports Network); 4-6 p.m. (NBC)
- Stage 6 Re-air: Monday, August 27 – 6-8 p.m. ET (Universal Sports)
- Stage 7 Re-air: Tuesday, August 28 – 6-8 p.m. ET (Universal Sports)
About the USA Pro Challenge
For seven consecutive days, the world’s top athletes race through the majestic Colorado Rockies, reaching higher altitudes than they’ve ever had to endure as they ascend over three mountain passes, each exceeding 12,000 ft. in elevation. After attracting more than 1 million spectators in 2011, making it one of the largest cycling events in U.S. history, the USA Pro Challenge is back for 2012. Featuring a challenging, 683-mile course with more than 42,000 ft. of vertical climbing, the second annual race will spotlight the best of the best in professional cycling and some of America’s most beautiful scenery.
Referred to as “America’s Race,” the USA Pro Challenge will take place August 20-26, 2012, a week proclaimed by Governor John Hickenlooper as “Colorado Cycling Holiday,” and travel through 12 host cities from Durango to Denver.
More information can be found online at www.USAProCyclingChallenge.com and on Twitter at @USAProChallenge.
About NBC Sports Group
When the Comcast-NBCUniversal transaction was completed in January 2011, the broad reach and storied history of NBC Sports united with Comcast’s 24/7 ability to super-serve fans to create the NBC Sports Group. The sports media company consists of an array of broadcast television, cable television and digital sports assets, including NBC Sports & Olympics, NBC Sports Network, Golf Channel, 11 SportsNets (regional sports networks), and their respective digital properties. Together, the assets of the NBC Sports Group possess an unparalleled collection of television rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic Committee, the NFL, NHL, PGA TOUR, PGA of America, USGA, Churchill Downs, MLS, Tour de France, French Open, IndyCar, and many more.
