ITV secures Tour de France deal

After airing the world’s biggest cycling event for more than a decade, ITV has this week confirmed that it will show the Tour De France until 2019 after agreeing a new deal for coverage rights.

Continuing ITV4’s association with top class races in the cycling calendar, the deal also encompasses the rights to show four other events from 2016 until 2019, including Criterium Dauphine, Criterium International, Liege Bastogne Liege and Paris Roubaix.

In addition to the Tour De France, the channel’s cycling portfolio includes the Tour of Britain, Vuelta a Espana, and the Halfords Tour Series.

“We are clearly in the midst of a golden era in cycling in Britain and more than ever before, the Tour De France is a landmark event in the sporting calendar,” said Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport.

“ITV has a long-standing commitment to showing key cycling events and it has been wonderful to witness the growth of the sport’s popularity in recent years. With this new agreement, we aim to bring our viewers even more of the best action across a range of important races and continue giving the Tour de France the first rate coverage it deserves.”

ITV4’s Tour of Britain coverage begins on 15 September, encompassing extensive live coverage along with highlights programmes.