Hype is building around Tasmanian Richie Porte, who is tipped as a serious contender for the yellow jersey overall winner. With BMC team captain Porte going into the Tour de France in stellar form with overall wins in the Tour Down Under, Tour de Romandie and a stage win at Paris-Nice and runner-up at the Dauphine, could this year be shaping up as Australia’s second ever Tour de France win?
For the first time, every stage of the 2017 Tour de France will be available in full on the SBS digital platforms - Cycling Central online, and the ŠKODA Tour Tracker App. From the first pedal stroke at start line to the finish line and podium presentations, audiences will have access to more race coverage than ever before. TV start times vary with most stages kicking off from the earlier time of 8.30pm, 1 – 23 July on SBS (check local guides).
This year, Matthew Keenan and Robbie McEwen are at the helm of SBS’s commentary and for the first time, Australian voices will call every stage from start to finish. Three-time green jersey winner Robbie McEwen and renowned cycling commentator Matthew Keenan also take up the new role as commentators for the Tour de France’s official world feed, broadcast in over 50 territories internationally.
SBS cycling host Michael Tomalaris leads the team in France. Giro d’Italia stage winner David McKenzie takes us inside the peloton and gets up close to the stars of the sport to deliver daily stage reports. Much-loved by the SBS cycling audience, Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen will feature as guests in SBS’s coverage during the Tour contributing analysis and insights.
The 104th edition of the Tour de France sets out on German soil from Düsseldorf on 1 July and moves through Belgium on its way to France. The three-week route takes in infamous climbs the Galibier, La Planche des Belles Filles and the Col d’Izoard, and two individual time trials on the first, and penultimate stages.
SBS has every angle of the Tour de France covered for cycling fans.
Viewers can catch up on the overnight action with hour-long highlights each morning at 7am and again at 5pm on SBS, as well as stage replays from 1pm on SBS, and 3pm on SBS VICELAND.
Online, the Tour de France will take over the Cycling Central website for the month of July, offering news, opinion, standings, highlights and video on demand.
The ŠKODA Tour Tracker app returns, streaming live pictures and allowing viewers to view real-time data, stage profiles and catch up video to complement the full race coverage and deliver a fully comprehensive offering.
Taking a bite out of the cultural side of this iconic race, Gabriel Gaté returns to discover the unique flavours, delights and specialities of each region as he follows the route of the Tour de France for the popular Taste Le Tour segment each night before racing begins on SBS.
The 2017 Tour de France begins Saturday 1 July, 10.30pm on SBS (stage times vary, check local guides).
