FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
NBC SPORTS GROUP TO AIR LIVE DAILY COVERAGE OF 2012 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA– MAY 13-20
NEW YORK (May 3, 2012)—NBC Sports Network will provide live daily coverage of the 2012 Amgen Tour of California, the premier U.S.-based cycling event featuring some of the world’s top professional cyclists, starting Sunday, May 13 at 5 p.m. ET. Additionally, for the first time ever, the final stage will air on NBC on May 20 at 1 p.m. ET and will re-air on NBC Sports Network at 6:30 p.m. ET later that night.
NBC Sports Network will provide live coverage of each stage of the Tour, from May 13-19, including grueling mountain stages up Mt. Baldy and Mt. Diablo. NBC Sports Network’s live HD coverage includes an exclusive preview show on Sunday, May 6 at 4 p.m. ET, and daily highlights that will air on the network each night during the eight-day competition.
NBC Sports Network will give viewers unprecedented access to the competition with in-depth profiles on the race’s top riders, including American cyclist and last year’s defending champion Chris Horner, who will discuss his 2011 victory and his major crash during the 2011 Tour de France.
COMMENTATORS: Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen will be on site in California to provide commentary and insight for each day of NBC Sports Group’s coverage with Bob Roll returning as the in-race reporter.
LIGGETT ON THE RACE: “This is an exciting course with a really tough final few days around Big Bear and Mt Baldy. A lot of the European riders now prefer this race to the Giro d’Italia, as they prepare for the Tour de France, so the field just gets stronger and stronger. In my opinion, this is the best route in the race’s seven years and will provide a real clash of the titans.”
NBCSports.com will be the premier destination for cycling fans throughout the entire competition with expert predictions from Liggett, Sherwen and Roll along with results, video recaps of each stage, and interviews from some of the best riders in the world.
NBC Sports Group’s live schedule for the 2012 Amgen Tour of California follows (all times ET, subject to change):
DATE COURSE TIME NETWORK
Sun., May 13 Stage 1– Santa Rosa to Santa Rosa 5-7 p.m. NBCSN
Mon., May 14 Stage 2– San Francisco to Santa Cruz County 5-7 p.m. NBCSN
Tues., May 15 Stage 3– San Jose to Livermore 5-7 p.m. NBCSN
Wed., May 16 Stage 4– Sonora to Clovis 5-7 p.m. NBCSN
Thurs., May 17 Stage 5– Bakersfield (Individual Time Trial) 5-7 p.m. NBCSN
Fri., May 18 Stage 6– Palmdale to Big Bear Lake 5-7 p.m. NBCSN
Sat., May 19 Stage 7– Ontario to Mt. Baldy 7-9 p.m. NBCSN
Sun., May 20 Stage 8– Beverly Hills to Los Angeles 1-3 p.m. NBC
Stage 8– Beverly Hills to Los Angeles (re-air) 6:30-9 p.m. NBCSN
