[michael21]

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/b...030894.article

ITV4 is to broadcast live coverage of Spanish road cycling event Vuelta a España as part of its growing commitment to the sport.

Under the agreement with organisers ASO and Unipublic, the digital channel will broadcast around two hours of live coverage from each race day, as well as 30 minute highlight packages in the evenings.

The action, presented by Ned Boulting and Matt Rendell, will also be simulcast on itv.com alongside shorter highlight clips.

The Vuelta a Espana spans 21 stages and 3,300 kilometres and British interest will be high with Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins expected to compete.

Niall Sloane, ITV’s controller of sport, said: “It’s been a terrific year for British cycling with more viewers than ever before watching ITV4’s coverage of the Tour de France earlier this summer.”

ITV4’s audience figures for Tour de France highlights were up 33% year-on-year, hitting a high of 749,300 (3.76%) viewers on 20 July.

Its coverage of Vuelta a Espana begins on Saturday 20 August from 4pm to 6pm.