The USA Pro Cycling Challenge, formerly known as the Quiznos Pro Challenge, has entered into a television agreement with the NBC Sports Group to present 25 hours of cycling coverage over seven days.
NBC Sports will broadcast the final day of the inaugural seven-day professional cycling competition live on 28 August 2011. VERSUS, a member of the NBC Sports Group, will extensively cover the event with 3.5 hour broadcasts each day from 22-28 August.
The event organisers announced the change of name to USA Pro Cycling Challenge ‘in order to showcase the global scale of the event to a worldwide audience.’ Quiznos will continue as a founding sponsor with the same level of participation in the event.
“There is no stronger television partner than the NBC Sports Group to present the USA Pro Cycling Challenge,” said Shawn Hunter, co-Chairman of the event.
“With the NBC Sports Group’s extensive, 25 hours of live coverage, millions of fans will be able to follow their favourite cyclists as they compete in the most demanding professional bike race ever held in America.”
NBC will broadcast the USA Pro Cycling Challenge live for two hours on 28 August 2011, while VERSUS, the official home of Tour de France broadcasting in the US, will cover 30 minutes of pre-race coverage and one hour of post-race coverage in addition to live event coverage throughout the entire competition.
“Professional cycling is growing to be one of the largest and most compelling international sports to follow,” said Jon Miller, President of Programming of NBC and VERSUS.
“Our goal is to give viewers unique access to the pageantry, drama and extreme competition that will take place as many of the world’s top athletes compete to win the first USA Pro Cycling Challenge.”
Rick Schaden, owner and co-Chairman of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge added, “As the race continues to build momentum with teams and sponsors from across the globe, and as we significantly increase media coverage nationally and internationally, our new logo will brand the event in a way that better communicates the scale of the event and its audience.
“Our goal is to help raise the profile of professional cycling in the United States by hosting an epic race in Colorado that draws the top cyclists in the world and mirrors the excitement of the Tour de France.”
