13 August 2014

TV Coverage and Tour Tracker for USA Pro Challenge 2014

How to watch the pro bike race in Colorado

The Television schedule has been released for live race coverage of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge. Links to online coverage and apps are also provided below.

LIVE In Person

If you can manage a day at the race - great. For race information, start and finish times, links to road closures, events and festivals in each host city and Pedal Dancer® travel and race tips, visit: USA PRO CHALLENGE 

TOUR TRACKER Live Anywhere

Download the FREE Tour Tracker app now (iPhone and iPad and google play): tourtracker.usaprocyclingchallenge.com

ONLINE Live and Recorded video highlights

Tour Tracker Online - USA Pro Challenge Pro Challenge Tour Tracker
Steephill.TV live online links: http://www.steephill.tv/usa-pro-cycling-challenge/
CyclingFans (links coming soon): http://www.cyclingfans.com/
NBC Sports Live Extra http://stream.nbcsports.com/liveextra/ (NBC Sports Live Extra App)

Infographic courtesy of USA Pro Challenge

TV LIVE Cable and Satellite television channel (http://www.nbcsports.com/tv-listings)

Monday August 18 - Stage 1 NBCSN, 3pm - 5:30pm
Tuesday August 19 - Stage 2 NBCSN, 1:30pm - 4pm
Wednesday August 20 - Stage 3 NBCSN, 1:30pm - 4pm
Thursday August 21 - Stage 4 NBCSN, 1:30pm - 4pm
Friday August 22 - Stage 5 NBCSN, 1:30pm-4pm
Saturday August 23 - Stage 6 NBCSN, 1:30pm-4pm
Sunday August 24 - Stage 7 NBCSN, 12pm-2pm

TV LIVE network television channel (http://www.nbc.com/schedule)

Sunday August 24 - Stage 7 NBC, 2pm-4pm

TV PRESHOW & RECAP SHOWS Cable and Satellite television channels

Sunday August 17 - Preview Show NBCSN, 5pm - 6pm
Monday August 18 Stage 1 - Universal Sports ReCap, 8pm - 9pm
Monday August 18 Stage 1 - NBCSN ReCap, 9pm -10pm
Tuesday August 19 Stage 2 - Universal Sports ReCap, 8pm -9pm
Tuesday August 19 Stage 2 - NBCSN ReCap, 9pm -10pm
Wednesday August 20 Stage 3 - Universal Sports ReCap, 8pm - 9pm
Wednesday August 20 Stage 3  - NBCSN ReCap, 2am-3am
Thursday August 21 Stage 4 - Universal Sports ReCap, 8pm - 9pm
Thursday August 21 Stage 4 - NBCSN ReCap, 12am -1am
Friday August 22 Stage 5 - Universal Sports, 8pm-9pm
Saturday August 23 Stage 6 - Universal Sports, 8pm-9pm
Sunday August 24 Stage 7 - Universal Sports, 8pm-9pm

(*All times are Colorado MDT, mountain daylight time)

Twitter

Velofacts has created a subscribe list of all the riders at the USA Pro Challenge - follow along on the stories and pictures they tweet at: Velofacts USA Pro Challenge Twitter List.

The USA Pro Challenge team list created by @USAProChallenge

Facebook

The USA Pro Challenge FB page will keep you informed. Also the Gunnison Pro Challenge FB page. And Colorado Springs USA Pro Challenge FB page. Oh and there is my page, which I just started last year finally: Pedal Dancer FB page.

Blogs!

Manual for Speed - wonderful blog about the true character of the riders and the race atmosphere.
Cameron Wurf blog - Team Cannondale pro rider in the race.

Looking at small cameras instead of the real race

If I have one tip to offer fans as to how to truly watch a bike race, it would be ... watch with your eyes.

It took me awhile to learn this.

I like to go early to experience the fun and atmosphere, find the team buses ahead of time, go to autograph alley or near where the riders sign-in at the stage start, or where they gather after the finish line, for the best photos or autographs. Stay over night in the host cities, attend team presentations, or special promotional events. These are the best opportunities to really get good photos.

Small instant cameras (like those seen in this image above) will honestly not capture the best high-speed race photos, so don't miss out on really seeing the race.

When the race happens in front of you live in person, or on a screen, watch the action. Try to pick out six to eight riders in every lap or stage, identify the classification jersey wearers, look into the rider's faces for pain or effort, or confidence. Soon enough you will be identifying twenty riders, then thirty. Spend some time really WATCHING a bike race and very soon you will be able to identify riders by their position on the bike or by their signature pedal stroke, and you will recognize who is still strong near the end of the stage, stronger enough to take the win. Then next year, or the year after, when those same riders transfer teams - that new team jersey won't throw you off for a minute.

You will know the pros like they are your own kids on the soccer field. It all starts with watching a bike race very closely.