Warner Bros. Discovery Sports to Co-Produce Both Men’s and Women’s Tour de France Coverage

variety.com:

K.J. Yossman Warner Bros. Discovery Sports (WBDS) will co-produce coverage of both the men’s and women’s Tour de France cycling competition for the first time.The Tour de France men’s competition runs from July 1-24 while the women’s competition will take place July 24-31.

WBDS will broadcast every stage of the men’s competition and the first edition of the women’s live.Former Tour de France winners Alberto Contador and Sir Bradley Wiggins will report for the broadcaster alongside former pro cyclist Iris Slappendel while WBDS will also offer local studio shows and post-stage shows in a host of European countries, including the U.K., France and Denmark.Experts include Robbie McEwen; Jacky Durand and Steve Chainel will also lend their voices to the production while Orla Chennaoui will anchor coverage in the U.K.

and Ireland. WBDS will utilize their Cube studio, a mixed-reality studio boasting “analytical capabilities and immersive real-time video enhancement locations.” This year the Cube will also include an “inclinometer” feature, to show the gradients the cyclists are facing, as well as the Time Trial set up and echelons via Unreal Engine 5 technology“Our Cube studio is one of the best storytelling innovations in broadcasting and harnessing tailormade tools and added analysis features to help unpick a particular stage, climb or sprint finish is truly unique for the sport of cycling,” said Scott Young, SVP Content and Production at Warner Bros.

Discovery Sports Europe.“Further elevating women’s sport and doing more to deliver gender balance across the events we showcase is hugely important.