US viewers get excited: Universal Sports Network to air La Course LIVE

Universal Sports Network today announced it will broadcast the inaugural La Course by Le Tour de France LIVE in the United States on Sunday, July 27. Exact TV times will be announced at a later date.

The one-day, elite women’s cycling race will feature 100 cyclists battling it out over 13 laps spanning 90 kilometers of the Tour de France’s final circuit and is likely to end in a sprint finish down the Champs-Élysées.

Olympic and world champion Marianne Vos (Rabo-liv) is among the favorites to win this historic race along with England’s Lizzie Armitstead (Boels Dolmans) and Sweden’s Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS).

The women’s peloton will be comprised of 20 teams with six riders each competing for a €22,500 individual prize, the same sum awarded to Tour stage winners.

In addition to the elite cyclists, policewomen from the Paris Police Prefecture will be responsible for watching over La Course, which will also have a 100% female jury, and riders who make it onto the podium will receive kisses from podium boys instead of the customary podium girls.

"La Course by Le Tour de France is a unique and historic event demonstrating the growth and interest in women’s professional cycling," said Robert James, Universal Sports’ senior vice president of content and communications. "Cycling plays an important role in Universal Sports’ mission to deliver world-class action to our viewers, and we are excited to broadcast this race in the U.S."