TG4 has announced details of its exclusive live television coverage of Tour de France 2010, the most famous cycling race in the world. All three weeks of the Tour will be broadcast live on TG4 (see times below). There will be an average of three hours of live coverage each day as well as a 30 minute highlights package every night that will include previews, cyclist profiles, results and reports.
Running from Saturday July 3rd to Sunday July 25th 2010, the 97th Tour de France will be made up of 1 prologue and 20 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,600 kilometres. It is an epic undertaking as a total of 22 team’s cycle around France for three weeks.The race will begin with the Grand Start in Rotterdam on Saturday 3rd July with TG4’s live coverage beginning at 4:50pm and see’s the rider’s cycle around the streets of the famous Dutch town. After a start launched from Brittany in 2008 and an unusual time-trial start from Monaco in 2009, this year’s Tour Start from Rotterdam returns to a more traditional format. The itinerary through the city centre, crossing the Erasmus Bridge in both directions, is a flat straight, not too winding and is an ideal itinerary for time-trial specialists.
The channel’s viewers will be able to follow live action from Le Tour 2010 tracking the unfolding drama until the exciting conclusion in Champs Élysées in Paris on Sunday 25th July. Commentary will be provided by Páidí Ó Lionáird and Pádraic Ó Cuinn. The Tour will also be broadcast live on www.tg4.tv and the website will also offer updates, statistics and other Tour data. The coverage will also include various viewers competitions giving everybody the chance to win some fabulous prizes.
This unique sports event holds many fond memories for Irish people after Stephen Roche won the tour in 1987 while Seán Kelly made 14 tour appearances. Nicolas Roche, who is the son of former cycling champion Stephen Roche, cycles with the Ag2r-La Mondiale team and made his Tour de France debut last year. He had a fine debut Tour, finishing in 23rd place overall & twice narrowly missing out on a stage win when finishing 2nd on Stage 14 & 4th on Stage 16.
Welcoming the announcement TG4 Sports Editor Rónán Ó Coisdealbha said; “We are thrilled to be showing the Tour for the sixth successive year. Following on the success of our inaugural coverage of the Tour in 2005, we are confident that Irish viewers will continue to appreciate free to air access to the world’s most famous cycle race”.
TG4 has exclusive live television coverage in Ireland for the Tour de France up to Summer 2012.
