Public-service broadcaster France Télévisions will cover the 2017 Tour de France in its entirety, the first time it has elected to cover the cycling event in this manner.
The LaVoixduNord.fr website, citing France Télévisions journalist Thierry Adam, said the broadcaster has been considering such an approach for some time and will cover next year’s edition of the ‘Grand Tour’ race in full across its television channels.
The 2017 Tour de France will start in Germany for the first time in three decades after Düsseldorf was in December confirmed as the host of its Grand Départ. The German city will open the 2017 Tour on July 1, with the full route set to be confirmed in October this year.
In April 2013, France Télévisions retained rights for the Tour de France as part of a deal with event promoter Amaury Sport Organisation that will run for five years, from 2016 to 2020.