The Tour of Britain goes live on ITV4
All eight stages of Britain's biggest professional cycle race to be live and exclusive on ITV4
ITV4 will broadcast over 24-hours of action from this September's Tour of Britain, as it was announced today that the channel will cover the race live and exclusively.
It will be the first time that action from every day of the eight-stage The Tour of Britain has been broadcast live, both via ITV4 and streamed online through the ITV website.
British fans can look forward to two-hours of live coverage from every stage, in addition to the continuation of the hour long daily highlights, broadcast every evening on ITV4.
Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, said: "Following our hugely popular coverage of the Tour de France as well as the Vuelta, we're delighted to be able to bring ITV4 viewers a third major cycling event this year with all the key action from The Tour of Britain."
Century TV will continue to produce all of The Tour of Britain coverage, as they have done for the past five editions of Britain’s biggest professional cycle race.
Commenting on the announcement, Hugh Roberts, Chief Executive of SweetSpot Group, the organisers and promoters of The Tour of Britain said;
“This is a great step forward for The Tour of Britain in what has been a fantastic year for cycling in this country, in a sport that continues to grow year-on-year. We look forward to rounding off the year in spectacular style with the best ever Tour of Britain.
“We have worked tirelessly with our stakeholders and partners around the country to make this happen, and are delighted that for the first time ever cycling fans can watch each day of The Tour live, wherever they are in Britain.”
Live action will get underway on Sunday 9th September for Stage One from Ipswich to Norfolk Showground, continuing throughout the eight day race, giving cycling fans the chance to see more of The Tour of Britain than ever before.
Sunday 9th September, Stage One, Ipswich to Norfolk Showground
Live – 13:45; Highlights – 20:00
Monday 10th September, Stage Two, Nottingham to Knowsley
Live – 13:15; Highlights – 19:00
Tuesday 11th September, Stage Three, Jedburgh to Dumfries
Live – 13:30; Highlights – 19:00
Wednesday 12th September, Stage Four, Carlisle to Blackpool
Live – 13:30; Highlights – 19:00
Thursday 13th September, Stage Five, The Stoke-on-Trent Stage
Live – 12:45; Highlights – 19:00
Friday 14th September, Stage Six, Welshpool to Caerphilly
Live – 13:45; Highlights – 19:00
Saturday 15th September, Stage Seven, Barnstaple to Dartmouth
Live – 13:15; Highlights – 19:00
Sunday 16th September, Stage Eight, Reigate to Guildford
Live – 14:30; Highlights – 19:00
The one-hour highlights programmes will also be repeated the following morning, and available online via the ITV Player for 30 days after transmission.
Spectators at stage finishes can also make the most of the new coverage, with big screens at all eight stage finishes so none of the action is missed.
Further details of The Tour's international broadcast distribution will be announced via www.tourofbritain.co.uk
Amateur cyclists can take on the same challenges as the professionals via five different Tour Ride sportives this September, in East Anglia, Scotland, Wales, Stoke-on-Trent and at the Birmingham NEC Cycle Show. To sign-up and to take on the challenge of a route inspired by The Tour of Britain, to enter, please visitwww.tourride.co.uk