CHANNEL CANADA

Tour de France Airs Exclusively on OLN, July 5 - 27

Sports Programming / Outdoor Life Network
Posted by RAD on Jun 18, 2008 - 02:22 PM

Each year, hundreds of cyclists descend on France for the one of the world’s most prestigious cycling competitions – the Tour de France. With each turn of the pedal, these athletes are pushed to their physical and psychological limits as they surge closer to the finish. But who will emerge ahead of the pack and win the coveted yellow jersey? Find out when the 2008 Tour de France returns to OLN this July. For the eighth consecutive year, OLN is the exclusive Canadian broadcaster of the event, bringing viewers LIVE coverage of the competition each day from Saturday, July 5 to Sunday, July 27 (specific broadcast times are included below).

Live coverage of each race stage – as it happens – will be hosted by Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen in addition to competition analysis from Craig Hummer and Bob Roll. Throughout the Tour, special guests including Robbie Ventura and Frankie Andreu will provide colour commentary on the race, shedding light on the exciting trials and triumphs of the cyclists involved in the prestigious competition. For the duration of the Tour, OLN will bring viewers full coverage of the race each morning (check local listings). Then, OLN offers enhanced coverage during prime time that will include interviews, travel features, historical features and training tips.

Now in its 95th year, the 2008 Tour de France consists of 21 stages covering a total distance of 3,500 kilometres. With 10 flat stages, five mountain stages, four medium mountain stages and two individual time-trial stages, this year’s race will include four mountain finishes, 82 kilometres of individual time-trials and two rest days. The Tour route will run from Brest in the north western region of Bretagne through central France to the southern coast and then north again for the last stage ending on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Additionally, this year’s competition will include 10 new town stops, two of which are in Italy – Prato Nevoso and Cuneo. Don’t miss all the pedal-pushing action as this year’s cyclists ride to the finish in competition with each other and themselves.

OLN’s complete coverage of the 2008 Tour de France schedule is as follows:

DATE
STAGE
LIVE AIR TIME (ET)
(AS IT HAPPENS)

ENHANCED PRIME TIME COVERAGE (ET)*

NOTES
Sat., July 5 Stage 1

Brest to Plumelec 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Flat
Sun., July 6 Stage 2

Auray to Saint -Brieuc 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Flat
Mon., July 7 Stage 3

Saint-Malo to Nantes 8:30 am - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Flat
Tues., July 8 Stage 4

Cholet to Cholet 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Time Trial
Wed., July 9 Stage 5

Cholet to Châteauroux 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Flat
Thurs., July 10 Stage 6

Aigurande to Super - Besse Sancy 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Hilly
Fri., July 11 Stage 7

Brioude to Aurillac 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Hilly
Sat., July 12 Stage 8

Figeac to Toulouse 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Flat
Sun., July 13 Stage 9

Toulouse to Bagnères-de-Bigorre 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Mountain
Mon., July 14 Stage 10

Pau to Hautacam 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Mountain
Tues., July 15 Rest Day:

Pau 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

(encore presentation of Stage 10 prime time coverage) 8:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Re-cap Show 1
Wed., July 16 Stage 11

Lannemezan to Foix 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Hilly
Thurs., July 17 Stage 12

Lavelanet to Narbonne 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Flat
Fri., July 18 Stage 13

Narbonne to Nimes 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Flat
Sat., July 19 Stage 14

Nimes to Digne-les-Bains 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Flat
Sun., July 20 Stage 15

Digne-les-Bains to Prato Nevoso 7:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Mountain
Mon., July 21 Rest Day:

Digne-les-Bains to Prato Nevoso 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

(encore presentation of Stage 15 prime time coverage) 8:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Re-cap Show 2
Tues., July 22 Stage 16

Cuneo to Jausiers 6:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Mountain
Wed., July 23 Stage 17

Embrun to L'Alpe-d'Huez 6:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Mountain
Thurs., July 24 Stage 18

Bourg-d'Oisans to Saint – Étienne 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Hilly
Fri., July 25 Stage 19

Roanne to Montiucon 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Flat
Sat., July 26 Stage 20

Cérilly to St. - Amand-Montrond 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Time Trial
Sun., July 27 Stage 21

Étampes to Paris (Champs-Élysées) 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Flat

*Monday to Friday only - Prime PT is 9 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday - Prime PT is 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

**Saturdays and Sundays – live morning coverage repeats at 3 p.m. ET.

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