Ten Sports channel has acquired the broadcast rights for Tour de France till 2016 for the Indian subcontinent, including the 100th edition of the gruelling cycle race to be held this year.
The Zee Group-owned network would be exclusive rights holder in Indian subcontinent with the exception of rights being shared with the pan-regional broadcaster Eurosport in Sri Lanka, a media release said here today.
"We are proud to be associated with an event as esteemed as Tour De France, especially at a time when it is having its 100th edition in 2013. This long-term relationship with Tour de France will bring in much delight to our viewers who crave high adrenaline bicycle racing," said Atul Pande, CEO of Ten Sports.
The 100th edition of the world famous cycle race is scheduled to start on June 29 in Corsica, in the French city of Porto-Vecchio. The island will host the first three stages.
Corsica is the only Metropolitan department which the Tour has never passed through and the organisers wanted to combine the 100th edition of the event with the Tour's first ever visit to the French island.
The 2013 Tour De France includes total of 21 stages in the race, covering a total of 3,360 kms. The tour will be the first to be completed only on French soil for decades. It will feature a final set of stages which have been described as "spectacular", including three Alpine stages in the last week along with a time trial, the release said.
There will be seven flat stages, five hilly stages, six mountain stages (with four summit finishes), two individual time trial stages and one team time trial stage and the Tour will finish at dusk in Paris, it added.
