Tour of Britain – including Devon stage – to be shown live on ITV4

THE TOUR OF Britain – with the seventh stage of the cycle race through Devon this Saturday (15 September) – is to be shown live on ITV4. It will be the first time that action from every day of the eight-stage Tour of Britain has been broadcast live, both via ITV4 and streamed online through the ITV website…

Cycle fans can look forward to two-hours of live coverage from every stage, in addition to the continuation of the hour-long daily highlights, broadcast every evening on ITV4.

Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, said: "Following our coverage of the Tour de France as well as the Vuelta, we're delighted to bring ITV4 viewers a third major cycling event this year with all the key action from The Tour of Britain."

Commenting on the announcement, Hugh Roberts, Chief Executive of SweetSpot Group, the organisers and promoters of The Tour of Britain, said:

"This is a great step forward for The Tour of Britain in what has been a fantastic year for cycling in this country, in a sport that continues to grow, year-on-year. We look forward to rounding off the year in spectacular style with the best-ever Tour of Britain.

"We are delighted that for the first time ever, cycling fans can watch each day of The Tour live, wherever they are in Britain."

Live action will get underway on Sunday 9 September for Stage One from Ipswich to Norfolk Showground, continuing throughout the eight-day race, giving fans the chance to see more of The Tour of Britain than ever before.

The Devon stage, from Barnstaple to Dartmouth passing through Tavistock and the Dartmoor National Park, is on Saturday 15 September.

ITV4 schedule:

Sunday 9 September, Stage One, Ipswich to Norfolk Showground

Live – 1.45pm; Highlights – 8.00pm

Monday 10 September, Stage Two, Nottingham to Knowsley

Live – 1.15pm; Highlights – 7.00pm

Tuesday 11 September, Stage Three, Jedburgh to Dumfries

Live – 1.30pm; Highlights – 7.00pm

Wednesday 12 September, Stage Four, Carlisle to Blackpool

Live – 1.30pm; Highlights – 7.00pm

Thursday 13 September, Stage Five, The Stoke-on-Trent Stage

Live – 12:45pm; Highlights – 7.00pm

Friday 14 September, Stage Six, Welshpool to Caerphilly

Live – 1.45pm; Highlights – 7.00pm

Saturday 15 September, Stage Seven, Barnstaple to Dartmouth

Live – 1.15pm; Highlights – 7.00pm

Sunday 16 September, Stage Eight, Reigate to Guildford

Live – 2.30pm Highlights – 7.00pm

The one-hour highlights programmes will also be repeated the following morning, and available online via the ITV Player for 30 days after transmission.

The race organizers say that spectators at stage finishes can make the most of the new coverage, with big screens at all eight stage finishes, "so none of the action is missed".