NBC Sports Group will present 23 hours of coverage of the third annual USA Pro Challenge, a seven-day professional cycling race that features the world’s top riders. Live daily coverage begins Monday, Aug. 19, at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN and continues over seven days of competition. Coverage begins with a preview show hosted by NBC Sports Group’s cycling announcer Phil Liggett on Sunday, Aug. 18, at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. The final two stages of the race will air live on NBC and NBCSN through Saturday and Sunday.
LIGGETT ON THE FIELD: “The USA Pro Challenge is an iconic race on the U.S. cycling calendar and attracts the best riders, who are now in preparation for the upcoming World Championships in Italy. The arrival of the Sky ProCycling, led by Tour de France winner Chris Froome, and the green sprint jersey winner of the Tour Peter Sagan (Cannondale), shows just how much respect is paid this super race through the state of Colorado. This event just gets better and better.”
The USA Pro Challenge will travel through eight official host cities on a scenic tour through the Colorado Rockies. For the Americans, 2012 USA Pro Challenge Champion Christian Vande Velde of UCI ProTeam Garmin-Sharp looks to defend his title against last year’s second-place finisher and 2013 Tour of California champion Tejay van Garderen of BMC Racing. The competitive, international field will include six current national champions – Fred Rodriguez (USA), Hayden Roulsten (NZL), Luis Enrique Lemus (MEX),Michael Olsson (SWE), Michael Schär (SUI) and Peter Sagan (SVK).
NBC Sports Group’s 2013 USA Pro Challenge television coverage (all times ET):
| DATE | TIME | COVERAGE | NETWORK |
| Sun., Aug. 18 | 4:30 p.m. | USA Pro Challenge Preview Show | NBCSN |
| Mon., Aug. 19 | 5 p.m. | Stage 1: Aspen/Snowmass | NBCSN |
| Tues., Aug. 20 | 4 p.m. | Stage 2: Aspen to Breckenridge | NBCSN |
| Wed., Aug. 21 | 5 p.m. | Stage 3: Breckenridge to Steamboat Springs | NBCSN |
| Thurs., Aug. 22 | 4 p.m. | Stage 4: Steamboat Springs to Beaver Creek | NBCSN |
| Fri., Aug. 23 | 4 p.m. | Stage 5: Vail | NBCSN |
| Sat., Aug. 24 | 2:30 p.m. | Stage 6: Loveland to Fort Collins | NBC |
| Sat., Aug. 24 | 4:30 p.m. | Stage 6: Loveland to Fort Collins | NBCSN |
| Sun., Aug. 25 | 2 p.m. | Stage 7: Denver | NBCSN |
| Sun., Aug. 25 | 4 p.m. | Stage 7: Denver | NBC |
COMMENTATORS: Play-by-play announcer Phil Liggett will be on site in Colorado to provide analysis and insight for each day of NBC Sports Group’s coverage with analyst Paul Sherwen and reporter Steve Schlanger.
‘Inside-the-Race’ correspondent Steve Porino will report and offer updates on race situations from the point of view aboard a motorcycle on the race course.
NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA COVERAGE
NBC Sports Live Extra — the NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets — will live stream NBC and NBC Sports Network’s coverage of the 2013 USA Pro Challenge. NBC Sports Network’s coverage will be live streamed via “TV Everywhere,” the media industry’s effort to make quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.
For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play.
Coverage airing on:
- NBC will live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra.
- NBC Sports Network will live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra, and to the digital platforms of participating cable, satellite, and telco services, via “TV Everywhere.” “TV Everywhere” is available on an authenticated basis to subscribers of participating MVPDs.
Click here for the participating cable/satellite/telco companies offering NBC Sports Live Extra: http://
Ron Callahan is the chief cook and bottlewasher at Bike World News, doing everything from website design to bike reviews.