The Tour de France to get max coverage by the NBC Sports Group

OK I know what you are thinking…. Why are we wasting time watching a sport that almost every year breaks our heart with scandal? Fine, that is a fair point but put aside the scandal and simply watch the event as if it were a reality show.

I have to tell that I have been hooked on the Tour de France for well over a decade in large part because of the awesomeness of the event. I love watching the tour as it plays out on the beautiful landscape of the course and frankly I don't really care who wins. 

I watch the event because it is entertaining and has both drama as well as a beautiful backdrop. 

I also love the amazing job of commentating and tour guide work done by my friend’s Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen. The duo’s knowledge of cycling and the course that the tour is being run on year in and year is truly amazing. In point of fact Liggett and Sherwood are two of the best broadcasters in the business and they can make anything entertaining.

This actually is a great event for the family to watch because everyone can ride a bike and you get a travelogue through Europe.

Here are some of this year’s Tour de France highlights:

The broadcast team is headed by Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, the voices of cycling. They will call the race action for the live shows with reporters Steve Schlanger and Carolyn Manno. Todd Harris will host nightly studio coverage with analysts Bob Roll and Scott Moninger.

For the first time, NBC Sports Group’s coverage will feature reporting from the road via ‘Inside-the-Race’ correspondent Steve Porino, who will report and offer updates on race situations from an unprecedented point of view aboard a motorcycle on the race course. ‘Inside-the-Race’ is an innovation from NBC Sports Group to bring fans closer to the action. This unique perspective debuted with NBC’s ‘Inside-the-Glass’ reporter on its NHL telecasts in 2006 and was followed by its ‘Between-the-Benches’ soccer coverage.

The Coverage:

NBC Sports Group, the exclusive rights holder of Tour de France coverage in the U.S., will present live and primetime coverage of each stage of the 100th Tour de France, the world’s most prestigious and grueling cycling race, on NBC, NBC Sports Network, NBC Sports Tour de France Live and NBC Sports Tour de France Live mobile apps. Live coverage of the Tour de France begins on NBC Sports Network Saturday, June 29, at 7:30 a.m. ET, and continues each night at 8 p.m. ET with the Tour Primetime show featuring a look at the day’s most compelling action with new analysis, interviews, enhanced perspectives and updates on ongoing stories.

New to the coverage is an unprecedented ‘Inside-the-Race’ commentator on motorcycle providing first-hand reports and insight from the course.

NBC Sports Group’s coverage features:

All 21 of the stages live on NBC or NBC Sports Network plus NBC Sports Tour de France Live online and NBC Sports Tour de France Live mobile apps;

NBC Sports Network as the primary home of the Tour de France, offering live coverage nearly every day of the race, and Tour Primetime, a nightly studio show from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. ET, through the race’s entirety;

The nightly studio show airing from 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network will take a look at the day’s stage with comprehensive analysis, insights and the most compelling storylines. Highlighting Tour Primetime will be a full replay of the day’s exciting race action complemented by fresh, post-race interviews with riders, telestrator analysis, and strategy segments.

NBC coverage of Stage 2 (Bastia to Ajaccio) on Sunday, June 30, and live coverage of Stage 8 (Castres to Ax 3 Domaines) on Saturday, July 6, plus a special show on Sunday, July 28 recapping the final stages of the epic race.