FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 28th, 2016
NBC SPORTS GROUP PRESENTS LIVE AND PRIMETIME COVERAGE OF THE 103RD TOUR DE FRANCE BEGINNING THIS SATURDAY, JULY 2 AT 6 A.M. ET ON NBCSN
NBC and NBCSN to Feature Live Coverage of All 21 Stages of Tour de France
Live Coverage and Exclusive Features Available on New NBC Sports Gold Premium Cycling App
Media Conference Call with Phil Liggett, Paul Sherwen, and Jens Voigt This Wednesday, June 29, at 10 a.m. ET
STAMFORD, Conn. – June 28, 2016 – NBC Sports Group will present more than 250 hours of live, primetime, and encore coverage of the 103rd Tour de France, the world’s most prestigious and grueling cycling race, across NBC, NBCSN, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports Gold and NBC Sports apps. Daily live coverage of the Tour de France, including all 21 stages, begins this Saturday, July 2, at 6 a.m. ET with the Tour de France Pre-Race Show, followed by Stage 1 at 6:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN. Coverage continues each week night with the Tour Primetime show featuring a look at the day’s most compelling action with new analysis, interviews, and updates. Coverage culminates with the final stage on Sunday, July 24, at 10 a.m. ET on NBCSN.
The 2016 Tour de France will cover a total distance of more than 2,000 miles, and will visit three neighboring countries – Spain, the Principality of Andorra and Switzerland. Great Britain’s Chris Froome (Team Sky) returns to defend his 2015 title and makes a run at a third career victory. Froome enters the race coming off a win in the Criterium du Dauphine earlier this month. His challengers include Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) of Spain, who is also looking for his third career Tour de France victory, and Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) of Colombia, who looks for his first Tour de France title after finishing second to Froome in 2013 and 2015. Richie Porte of Australia and American Tejay van Garderen lead BMC Racing Team, and are also contenders.
Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, the voices of cycling, will call the race action for NBC Sports Group’s coverage. The 103rd Tour de France marks Liggett and Sherwen’s 31st year calling the race together. Liggett and Sherwen will be joined in France by former professional cyclists and analysts Christian Vande Velde and Jens Voigt. Voigt won the Critérium International a record five times. He also has two Tour de France stage wins. Paul Burmeister and Todd Harris will combine to host daily pre-race and primetime studio coverage, along with analyst Bob Roll. Steve Schlanger, Jenna Corrado and Steve Porino (‘Inside-the-Race’) will serve as reporters.
TOUR DE FRANCE CONFERENCE CALL-WEDNESDAY AT 10 AM ET
Liggett, Sherwen and Voigt will preview NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the 103rd Tour de France, along with Tour de France coordinating producer David Michaels and Joel Felicio, coordinating producer of NBC Sports Group’s cycling coverage, on a media conference call this Wednesday, June 29, at 10 a.m. ET.
Dial-in:
- U.S./Canada toll free: 888-455-2260
- France toll free: 0 800 902 640
- International toll: 719-325-2491
Conference ID: 2745721.
PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS
NBC Sports Group will integrate several new features into its coverage of this year’s Tour de France, including:
- A live camera on-board a competitor’s bike for select stages;
- Real-time data of course gradients;
- Vande Velde will ride to the finish line of six stages throughout the race to give fans a preview of what to expect;
- Maps that track where the riders are in real-time on the route.
NBC Sports Group’s coverage will include real time speeds of both the leaders and the peloton, daily clips from cameras mounted on competitors’ bikes to take the viewer ‘inside the peloton,’ and additional maps that show more detailed versions of the finishes and each mountain climb.
NBC and NBCSN will also utilize several production enhancements, including a pointer feature which will easily identify and focus on one rider in the peloton; exclusive profiles and features on teams and riders; and an onscreen predicted time for the peloton riders who are trying to catch the leading cyclists. In addition, Porino will report from Inside-the-Race, and offer real-time updates on race situations, while traveling aboard a motorcycle on the course.
DIGITAL COVERAGE
In addition to live linear coverage of the Tour de France, NBC Sports Group will once again provide extensive digital coverage of all 21 stages of the race.
NBC SPORTS GOLD: NBC Sports Group’s new premium-subscription product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs, will offer viewers live, commercial-free, coverage of every stage of the 2016 Tour de France.
In addition to live video streaming, NBC Sports Group has partnered with Tour Tracker to provide an immersive data-rich experience. Viewers will have access to full stage video replays, a GPS tracking map to follow riders’ progress, official race commentary, and details of every stage, team and rider. Subscribers can also personalize their Tour de France experience by choosing their favorite riders to track throughout the Tour.
Elements available to cycling fans through NBC Sports Gold include:
Before the Tour:
- Stage-by-stage descriptions and previews, featuring historical stage and technical information and travelogue vignettes
- Breakdown of top contenders
- The best of the 2015 Tour de France
During the Tour:
- Live streaming video
- Full stage video replays including highlights, stage recaps, and rider interviews
- Route and stage previews, course and stage maps, elevation profiles, and stage descriptions
- GPS Race Tracking displayed on interactive maps and rider profiles
- Live stage results and detailed standings
- Rider profiles by country and team
- Real time commentary feeds from media covering the Tour
- Display of every rider group and time gap on the road
- Live time trial results for every split and finish line
- A Tour de France Twitter stream that will feature tweets from top race officials, riders, analysts, and fans
Featuring live coverage of all 21 stages of the Grand Tour races Tour de France and Vuelta a España, Monument Classics including Paris–Roubaix and Liége-Bastogne-Liége, and more than 10 additional races, NBC Sports Gold’s cycling package is available for purchase for $29.99 by visiting NBCSportsGold.com.
BROKEN SPOKES – BEHIND THE TOUR WITH STEVE SCHLANGER: Throughout the Tour, NBCSports.com will feature daily, online-only, video features entitled Broken Spokes: Behind the Tour with Steve Schlanger. NBC Sports Group veteran reporter Schlanger will take viewers behind-the-scenes to learn what it takes to cover the grueling, 21-stage race, while also highlighting the beauty of the French countryside, the passionate fans, and the knee-deep mountain mud.
EVER WONDER?: NBCSports.com will feature several Ever Wonder? digital-exclusive videos voiced by Voigt throughout the Tour. The Ever Wonder? series, part of the NBC Sports Digital Shorts portfolio, explores some of the most compelling and unique facts about different aspects of the sports world and breaks them down for fans in 1-2 minute videos. Click here for Ever Wonder? videos.
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs — will stream coverage on NBC and NBCSN via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value to for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. The NBC Sports app is available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire.
Both the NBC Sports app and NBC Sports Gold are powered by Playmaker Media, NBC Sports Digital’s new technology service which provides end-to-end support for companies in need of best-in-class live streaming and VOD solutions.
NBC SPORTS GROUP SOCIAL MEDIA: Fans can keep up with the Tour de France through NBC Sports Group’s social media platforms throughout the race, including exclusive behind-the-scenes photos, interviews, video clips, up-to-date news reports and stories from around the cycling world through the NBC Sports Cycling Facebook page and @NBCSNCycling on Twitter.
NBC SPORTS GROUP’S 2016 TOUR DE FRANCE TELECAST SCHEDULE (subject to change, all times ET):
| Date | Time (ET) | Program | Network |
| Sat., July 2 | 6 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Sat., July 2 | 6:30 a.m. | Stage 1: Mont-Saint-Michel to Utah Beach (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Sat., July 2 | 9 p.m. | Stage 1: Mont-Saint-Michel to Utah Beach | NBCSN |
| Sun, July 3 | 12:30 a.m. | Stage 1: Mont-Saint-Michel to Utah Beach | NBCSN |
| Sun., July 3 | 7:30 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Sun., July 3 | 8 a.m. | Stage 2: Saint-Lô – Cherbourg (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Sun., July 3 | 3:30 p.m. | Stage 2: Saint-Lô – Cherbourg | NBC |
| Sun., July 3 | 8 p.m. | Stage 2: Saint-Lô – Cherbourg | NBCSN |
| Sun., July 3 | Midnight | Stage 2: Saint-Lô – Cherbourg | NBCSN |
| Mon., July 4 | 7:30 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Mon., July 4 | 8 a.m. | Stage 3: Granville to Angers (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Mon., July 4 | Noon | Stage 3: Granville to Angers | NBCSN |
| Mon., July 4 | 9 p.m. | Stage 3: Granville to Angers | NBCSN |
| Tues., July 5 | 7:30 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Tues., July 5 | 8 a.m. | Stage 4: Saumur to Limoges (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Tues., July 5 | Noon | Stage 4: Saumur to Limoges | NBCSN |
| Tues., July 5 | 2 p.m. | Stage 4: Saumur to Limoges | NBCSN |
| Tues., July 5 | 8 p.m. | Stage 4: Saumur to Limoges | NBCSN |
| Tues., July 5 | Midnight | Stage 4: Saumur to Limoges | NBCSN |
| Wed., July 6 | 7:30 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Wed., July 6 | 8 a.m. | Stage 5: Limoges to Le Lioran (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Wed., July 6 | Noon | Stage 5: Limoges to Le Lioran | NBCSN |
| Wed., July 6 | 2:30 p.m. | Stage 5: Limoges to Le Lioran | NBCSN |
| Wed., July 6 | 8 p.m. | Stage 5: Limoges to Le Lioran | NBCSN |
| Wed., July 6 | Midnight | Stage 5: Limoges to Le Lioran | NBCSN |
| Thurs., July 7 | 7:30 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Thurs., July 7 | 8 a.m. | Stage 6: Arpajon-sur-Cère to Montauban (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Thurs., July 7 | 11 p.m. | Stage 6: Arpajon-sur-Cère to Montauban | NBCSN |
| Fri., July 8 | 7:30 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Fri., July 8 | 8 a.m. | Stage 7: L’Isle-Jourdain to Lac de Payolle (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Sat., July 9 | 8 a.m. | Stage 8: Pau to Bagnères-de-Luchon (LIVE) | NBC |
| Sun., July 10 | 6 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Sun., July 10 | 6:30 a.m. | Stage 9: Vielha Val d’Aran to Arcalis (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Sun., July 10 | 5 p.m. | Day 9 – Recap | NBC |
| Sun., July 10 | 8 p.m. | Stage 9: Vielha Val d’Aran to Arcalis | NBCSN |
| Sun., July 10 | Midnight | Stage 9: Vielha Val d’Aran to Arcalis | NBCSN |
| Mon., July 11 | 8 a.m. | Rest Day | NBCSN |
| Mon., July 11 | 11 a.m. | Rest Day | NBCSN |
| Mon., July 11 | 8 p.m. | Rest Day | NBCSN |
| Mon., July 11 | Midnight | Rest Day | NBCSN |
| Tues., July 12 | 7:30 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Tues., July 12 | 8 a.m. | Stage 10: Escaldes-Engordany to Revel (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Tues., July 12 | Noon | Stage 10: Escaldes-Engordany to Revel | NBCSN |
| Tues., July 12 | 2:30 p.m. | Stage 10: Escaldes-Engordany to Revel | NBCSN |
| Tues., July 12 | 8 p.m. | Stage 10: Escaldes-Engordany to Revel | NBCSN |
| Tues., July 12 | Midnight | Stage 10: Escaldes-Engordany to Revel | NBCSN |
| Wed., July 13 | 7:30 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Wed., July 13 | 8 a.m. | Stage 11: Carcassonne to Montpellier (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Wed., July 13 | Noon | Stage 11: Carcassonne to Montpellier | NBCSN |
| Wed., July 13 | 2 p.m. | Stage 11: Carcassonne to Montpellier | NBCSN |
| Wed., July 13 | 8 p.m. | Stage 11: Carcassonne to Montpellier | NBCSN |
| Wed., July 13 | Midnight | Stage 11: Carcassonne to Montpellier | NBCSN |
| Thurs., July 14 | 7 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Thurs., July 14 | 8 a.m. | Stage 12: Montpellier to Mont Ventoux (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Thurs., July 14 | Noon | Stage 12: Montpellier to Mont Ventoux | NBCSN |
| Thurs., July 14 | 2 p.m. | Stage 12: Montpellier to Mont Ventoux | NBCSN |
| Thurs., July 14 | 8 p.m. | Stage 12: Montpellier to Mont Ventoux | NBCSN |
| Thurs., July 14 | 12 a.m. | Stage 12: Montpellier to Mont Ventoux | NBCSN |
| Fri., July 15 | 7:30 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Fri., July 15 | 8 a.m. | Stage 13: Bourg-Saint-Andéol to La Caverne du Pont-d’Arc (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Fri., July 15 | 8 p.m. | Stage 13: Bourg-Saint-Andéol to La Caverne du Pont-d’Arc | NBCSN |
| Fri., July 15 | Midnight | Stage 13: Bourg-Saint-Andéol to La Caverne du Pont-d’Arc | NBCSN |
| Sat., July 16 | 7:30 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Sat., July 16 | 8 a.m. | Stage 14: Montélimar to Villars-les-Dombes (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Sat., July 16 | 2:30 p.m. | Day 14 – Recap | NBC |
| Sat., July 16 | 8 p.m. | Stage 14: Montélimar to Villars-les-Dombes | NBCSN |
| Sat., July 16 | 12a.m. | Stage 14: Montélimar to Villars-les-Dombes | NBCSN |
| Sun., July 17 | 6:30 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Sun., July 17 | 7 a.m. | Stage 15: Bourg-en-Bresse to Culoz (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Sun., July 17 | Midnight | Stage 15: Bourg-en-Bresse to Culoz | NBCSN |
| Mon., July 18 | 7:30 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Mon., July 18 | 8 a.m | Stage 16: Moirans-en-Montagne to Bern (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Mon., July 18 | 12:30 p.m. | Stage 16: Moirans-en-Montagne to Bern | NBCSN |
| Mon., July 18 | 8 p.m. | Stage 16: Moirans-en-Montagne to Bern | NBCSN |
| Tues., July 19 | 8 a.m. | Rest Day | NBCSN |
| Tues., July 19 | 11 a.m. | Rest Day | NBCSN |
| Tues., July 19 | 2 p.m. | Rest Day | NBCSN |
| Tues., July 19 | 8 p.m. | Rest Day | NBCSN |
| Wed., July 20 | 7 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Wed., July 20 | 8 a.m. | Stage 17: Bern to Finhaut-Emosson (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Wed., July 20 | Noon | Stage 17: Bern to Finhaut-Emosson | NBCSN |
| Wed., July 20 | 2:30 p.m. | Stage 17: Bern to Finhaut-Emosson | NBCSN |
| Wed., July 20 | 8 p.m. | Stage 17: Bern to Finhaut-Emosson | NBCSN |
| Thurs., July 21 | 7:30 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Thurs., July 21 | 8 a.m. | Stage 18: Sallanches to Megève (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Thurs., July 21 | 12:30 p.m. | Stage 18: Sallanches to Megève | NBCSN |
| Thurs., July 21 | 8 p.m. | Stage 18: Sallanches to Megève | NBCSN |
| Fri., July 22 | 6:30 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Fri., July 22 | 7 a.m. | Albertville – Saint-Gervais (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Fri., July 22 | 8 p.m. | Albertville – Saint-Gervais | NBCSN |
| Sat., July 23 | 6:30 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Sat., July 23 | 7 a.m. | Stage 20 – Megève to Morzine (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Sat., July 23 | 2 p.m. | Day 20 – Recap | NBC |
| Sat., July 23 | Midnight | Stage 20 – Megève to Morzine | NBCSN |
| Sun., July 24 | 10 a.m. | Tour de France Pre-Race Show | NBCSN |
| Sun., July 24 | 10:30 a.m. | Stage 21: Chantilly – Paris (LIVE) | NBCSN |
| Sun., July 24 | 2 p.m. | Day 21 – Recap | NBC |
| Sun., July 24 | 8 p.m. | Stage 21: Chantilly – Paris | NBCSN |
| Sun., July 24 | Midnight | Stage 21: Chantilly – Paris | NBCSN |
–NBC SPORTS GROUP–
