NBC Sports Group Sets Expanded 2014 USA Pro Challenge Coverage

Fans around the world will have several ways to catch all the action of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge professional cycling race August 18-24, with nearly 30 hours of coverage from NBC Sports Group and Universal Sports Network, and daily livestreaming on the Tour Tracker. Featuring some of the highest climbs in professional cycling and jaw-dropping scenery, the USA Pro Challenge is more accessible than ever before, giving spectators a front row seat to the race from the comfort of their home or office.

The 550-mile international professional cycling race will start in Aspen and will take the riders and spectators through 10 official host cities, as well as many others, on the way to the exhilarating finish in downtown Denver. Featuring some of the best riders in the sport of cycling, the race comes on the heels of the 2014 Tour de France.

"Each year we have more than one million live spectators at the USA Pro Challenge, and while that is the best way to watch the race, we want to be sure all our fans have a chance to check out the action and excitement of professional racing in Colorado," said Shawn Hunter, CEO of the Pro Challenge. "In 2014 we have an unprecedented amount of TV coverage through NBC Sports Group and Universal Sports Network, and we know our fans are really going to appreciate the various viewing options."

Live Television Coverage and Nightly Post-Race Shows

NBC Sports Group presents 23 hours of heart-pounding coverage for the fourth annual USA Pro Challenge. Coverage will kick off with a preview show hosted by Steve Schlanger on Sunday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Live daily coverage of the race begins Monday, Aug. 18, at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN and will continue over the seven days of competition. The final stage of the race will air live on both NBC and NBCSN on Sunday, Aug. 24. NBC Sports Live Extra will live stream NBC Sports Group's coverage of the USA Pro Challenge to tablets and desktop computers.

The 2014 edition of the USA Pro Challenge also will feature a nightly post-race show on UNIVERSAL SPORTS NETWORK at 10 p.m. ET beginning Monday, Aug. 18, for an additional 7 hours of coverage. In addition, NBCSN will present an encore presentation of the nightly post-race show for the first three stages of the race.

Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, the voices of cycling, will call the race action on site in Colorado for NBC Sports Group's coverage, joined by analyst Christian Vande Velde and reporter Steve Schlanger. For the final two stages of the race, 'Inside-the-Race' correspondent Steve Porino will offer updates on race situations from aboard a motorcycle on the course. In addition, NBC Sports Group's coverage will include highlights from cameras positioned on bikes, offering viewers another unique perspective of the course.