My goal of world domination winning a CX race seeing the Tour of Flanders live on American broadcast TV is ever closer to reality. NBC Sports Network is planning to show the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix live via their cable and online sources. [Full schedule here.] This is a step up from the last round of Versus, since gobbled up by NBC, which showed the races on tape delay. I am all for tape-delay, but that doesn't mean you need to squander the far more exciting spectacle of live racing in favor of a pre-recorded fishing infomercial.
[Adding, sponsorship by Competitive Cyclist made it happen, apparently.]
Anyway, apart from the move to live, and the move to a network which could throw a single switch and send it to every TV in America for free, there's this:
The Tour of Flanders is a Flanders Classics road cycling race held in Belgium every spring, a week before the Paris-Roubaix road race. It is part of the UCI ProTour and one of the so-called monuments of the European professional calendar, and contributes to the UCI World Ranking points. It is the most important cycling race in Belgium and, along with Paris-Roubaix, the world's most important cycling race held on a single day.
Um, can I get a hell yeah!!? Finally, someone understands us. And they have a nationwide broadcasting license!
0 recs | 56 comments
just invited myself to a friend's place to watch that
“hey robert, i’m coming over around 8am to get drunk and watch dudes ride bikes 2 saturdays in a row, cool? don’t worry, i’ll be done with my post race sober up nap around 3 or 4pm”
ant1 - February 8, 2012
On the plus side
you’ll be bringing quality beer and frietes.
Chris Fontecchio - February 8, 2012
Maybe
you’ll even want to stay until Sunday.
jsallee00 - February 8, 2012
Drew Davis - February 8, 2012
+1
ant1 - February 8, 2012
Well,
doesn’t Flemish TV coverage of the Ronde usually start around 9am local time? That is still Saturday in some parts of the US.
tedvdw - February 8, 2012
Can I come?
No more NBC/Universal Sports for me on the free over-the-air network… I know I’m cheap…
FrenchKheldar - February 8, 2012
i'll ask.
hit me up on the email as it gets closer.
ant1 - February 8, 2012
Thanks !
FrenchKheldar - February 8, 2012
It's going to be on the former Versus channe (NBCSprts channel), not Universal
thank goodness that means I can see it. My cable system dropped Universal.
uninformed consent - February 9, 2012
Hell Yeah!!
Mr Van P - February 8, 2012
Not convinced they actually understand us.
But at least they asked the right kind of people to write their blurb for them!! I’m still doing a happy dance over this one!!
2thvet - February 8, 2012
Give credit where credit is due...Competitive Cyclist were the ones to make this happen
Don’t always agree with them but they did mighty fine here
Vlaanderen90 - February 8, 2012
Vlaanderen..
Can you do a post about the upcoming youngsters this year. I was scrolling through all the PT riders last couple of days, but I couldn’t find a Degenkolb, Kittel or even a Matthews.. Is it the generation or do I miss osmething?
Frinking - February 8, 2012
I'll write something up tonight...there are a few gems in the new class
Vlaanderen90 - February 8, 2012
but leave my guy out of it ok?
jsallee00 - February 8, 2012
For a small fee, I will talk him down...
Vlaanderen90 - February 8, 2012
Nice..
Frinking - February 8, 2012
what's the story?
Sponsorship deal??
Chris Fontecchio - February 8, 2012
Yeah, they are the title sponsors for Flanders and Roubaix...they are also going to be doing 2 mountain top stages in the Tour
without commercials
Vlaanderen90 - February 8, 2012
I hadn't heard of them before
but I’ll have to find something to buy on their website. And maybe drop a note of thanks, too.
This is so awesome!
Le Comte - February 8, 2012
de ronde, de ronde, de ronde
(enough with this tour of flanders crap)
umwolverine - February 8, 2012
u realize it's de ronde van frankrijk too?
CelticPride - February 8, 2012
But...but...on a big screen? In HD?
Is it really cycling spectatorship if you’re not squinting at a crappy 3-inch internet feed?
majope - February 8, 2012
Giggle, giggle, snort!!
2thvet - February 8, 2012
Now you can enjoy the views of majestic Brakel in all it's glory
Jens - February 8, 2012
Someday
American children will know the difference between Brakel and Nederbrakel.
Chris Fontecchio - February 8, 2012
"Hey - there's a 'New' Mexico"
Drew Davis - February 8, 2012
And Opbrakel
Mr Van P - February 8, 2012
Swedish kids know all about "brakare", Brakel not so much
Jens - February 8, 2012
Oln used to broadcast roubaix live
In 00 and 01.
R Mc - February 8, 2012 via mobile
I remember 01 fondly at Van Ps house, over waffles
Drew Davis - February 8, 2012
The only that could possibly be better would be to include the Kapelmuur.
flying dog - February 8, 2012
Would you like a hand
with that bucket of cold water?
Chris Fontecchio - February 8, 2012
heh
I’ll take what I can get. And Paterbergx3 ain’t a bad, eh?
Le Comte - February 8, 2012
Flanders is on April Fools Day.
If we have a surprise winner will we believe it is real or an elaborate joke?
JustJoshinYa - February 8, 2012
if its is not Cance, it is the latter
paisley - February 8, 2012
Maybe the "Muur not being a part of the race" is just a joke.
JustJoshinYa - February 8, 2012
Did not see this thread
till I posted in the other.I am so excited! Already planning the brunch,figuring the best way to break it to my daughter and the grands that Easter will be on Saturday this year for them! I will have to go in to work extra early to get home in time.
HD LIVE PR,it boggles the mind!
Dustbunny8 - February 8, 2012
NBC Sports Network - formerly known as Versus yes?
And yes – I will happily watch these on HD whilst tread-milling.
CelticPride - February 8, 2012
Bad move
Unless you plan to get your activity done before our annual Koppenberg toast.
Chris Fontecchio - February 8, 2012
Hell yeah!
Best news I’ve heard all day.
bobgade - February 8, 2012 via mobile
I sure wish VS/NBC would put time zones on their schedules.
It’s just so “little world” and unprofessional to assume we’re all in their time zone (whatever that is. ET? GMT-4?)
SpaceGuy - February 8, 2012
"This TV schedule is subject to change and all times are considered ET."
majope - February 8, 2012
and they DO change their schedule right up to the broadcast date!
Check back frequently!
uninformed consent - February 9, 2012
Sexy
Thank you.
fineco - February 8, 2012
Even though my Dish doesn't get the channel.
Still good overall.
fineco - February 8, 2012
Boner
Sorry
Jimbo... - February 8, 2012
I thought it was spelled Boonen in Flemish
FrenchKheldar - February 8, 2012
Bonerke! Bonerke! Bonerke!
Jimbo... - February 9, 2012 via iPhone app
This is amazing
will NBC Sportsnetwork show the Giro/Vuelta? Or will that still be on Universal Sports? Which I no longer have!
Phil H. - February 8, 2012
Universal
So live TV!
Chris Fontecchio - February 9, 2012
I thought Universal was rolled into Versus to create NBC Sports.
Damn, I am so confused.
JustJoshinYa - February 9, 2012
No
They’re still two separate entities under a single name.
Chris Fontecchio - February 9, 2012
No they still exist
but only about .05% of the country has it now it seems
Phil H. - February 9, 2012
hmphf...
I don’t think I approve of their tone.
JK – this is, at least 6 kinds of awesome!
swells - February 8, 2012
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