This August, cycling fans across the US will have the opportunity to witness the action and excitement of elite professional cycling through live daily coverage of the USA Pro Challenge, one of the largest professional cycling races in the world, on NBC Sports Network and NBC.
Featuring unprecedented network coverage for the event, the broadcast partnership between USA Pro Challenge and NBC Sports Group has been extended through to 2014 and will include 29 hours of race coverage over seven days beginning on Monday 20 August.
New for 2012, coverage on NBC has been extended to include two hours on Saturday 25 August and Sunday 26 August, more than any other US domestic cycling event.
“The NBC Sports Group’s extended partnership with USA Pro Challenge demonstrates how much we believe in the sport,” said Jon Miller, President of Programming for NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. “The USA Pro Challenge is a major event in the US and we are excited to once again air daily live coverage on NBC Sports Network in addition to the four hours on NBC.”
Coverage of the seven-day race begins on NBC Sports Network on Monday 20 August, at 16:00 ET, with the final stage in downtown Denver set to air live for two hours on NBC Sports Network and two hours on NBC on Sunday 26 August, beginning at 14:00 ET.
In addition, Universal Sports will re-air NBC’s coverage of Stages 6 & 7 on 27 August and 28 August at 18:00 ET on both days.
Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, the ‘undisputed voices of cycling’ will be on site in Colorado to provide observations and insights for each day of NBC and NBC Sports Network’s coverage. Former cyclist Bob Roll will serve as the in-race reporter.
The 683-mile route starts in Durango 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 London 2012 Olympics and the Tour de France.
“We want to make the USA Pro Challenge accessible to as many people around the world as possible,” said Shawn Hunter, CEO of the USA Pro Challenge. “With the added live coverage on both Saturday and Sunday – two hours each day on NBC Sports Network and two on NBC – and the repeat coverage on Universal Sports, we are able to reach fans around the country that aren’t able to make it to Colorado, as well as new audiences.”
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 that will easily identify and focus on one rider in the peloton; exclusive in-depth profiles and features on teams and riders; and advanced on-screen statistics/biometrics to illustrate the intensity at which the riders are competing.
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.
Referred to as ‘America’s Race’, the USA Pro Challenge will take place on 20-26 August 2012, a week proclaimed by Governor John Hickenlooper as ‘Colorado Cycling Holiday’, and travels through 12 host cities from Durango to Denver.
