Versus TV has released their 2010 schedule for cycling coverage. The list is all ASO events, which means we’ll have to look elsewhere (NBC Universal Sports?) to watch the Giro d’Italia. Despite that, there’s a solid year of coverage to keep us entertained and the DVR full.
Televised coverage includes the Tour Down Under, Tour of Qatar, Tour of Oman, Paris-Nice, Criterium International, Paris Roubaix, Fleche Wallone, Liege Bastogne Liege, Tour de Romandie, Tour of California, Dauphine Libere, Tour of Philadelphia, Tour de Suisse, Tour de France and Paris Tours.
Mozy on past the break for the times and dates along with Versus’ description of most events…
Tour Down Under
January 17, 6-6:30p ET Cancer Council Criterium
January 19-23, 6-6:30p ET
January 24, 6-7p ET
February 7, 6-6:30p ET Highlights Show
The first stop on the world cycling calendar, the Santos Tour Down Under kicks off the cycling year in exhilarating style. The week-long event brings the top ProTour professional cycling teams to race on the streets of Adelaide and regional South Australia each January. Up for grabs are important UCI ProTour points and the Santos Tour Down Unders Ochre Leaders Jersey.
Tour of Qatar: February 21, 3-4p ET
Qatar is big business in the cycling world, despite the not exactly bicycle friendly conditions and regularly attracts the biggest names from the sport, and the country is seriously being mooted for a Tour de France start.
Tour of Oman: February 28, 3-4p ET
The city of Muscat in the Sultana of Oman, Eddy Merckx and Dirk De Pau have found an agreement in order to organise a new road cycling event, from the 14th to the 19th of February 2010 for which the technical organisation will be entrusted to Amaury Sport Organisation, organisers of the Tour de France.
Paris-Nice: March 7 & 14, 5-7p ET
Paris-Nice, “the race to the sun”, is a professional cycling stage race starting March 7th. This year the start will take place in Montfort l’Amaury
Criterium International: March 28, 5-6p ET
Race organiser Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) has announced that the 2010 Criterium International – the two-day “mini Tour de France” – will take place on the island of Corsica in 2010. The race has been held in Charleville-Mézières, in the French Ardennes, since 2001. German Jens Voigt (Saxo Bank) has won the last three editions of the race.
Paris Roubaix: April 11, Time TBD
Paris-Roubaix is one of the oldest cycle races of the professional road cycling calendar. First run in 1896, there are 28 cobbles sections included in the race, three of them considered to be of maximum difficulty.
Fleche Wallone: April 25, 4:30-5p ET
The Flèche Wallonne is an international cycling race of one day, a classic, which takes place in Belgium during the spring. This race is part of the Pro-Tour program
Liege Bastogne Liege: April 25, 5-6p ET
Liege-Bastogne-Liege is the last major spring classic. First held in 1882, Liege Bastogne Liege is known as the ‘La Doyenne” because it is the oldest classic on the cycling calendar. It is one of the most prestigious and exacting events of the season. The out and back race through the Belgian Ardennes countryside is one of the most difficult races because it tests every rider’s endurance and ability to race over a series of high gradient hills. Legendary climbs such as the Cote de Wanne, Saint Roche, Stockeu and la Redoute force the riders to dig deep.
Tour de Romandie: May 2, 5-7p ET
The Tour de Romandie is a stage race which is part of the UCI ProTour. It runs in the old Romandie region, in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. It began in 1947, to coincide with the 50-year celebration of the Swiss Cycling.
Tour of California: May 16-23, Times TBD
The largest cycling event in America, the 2010 Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race, presented by AEG, that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course from May 16-23.
Dauphine Libere: June 6, 4-6p ET & June 13, 3-5p ET
The week-long competition will start in eastern France and finish in Sallanches. A stage finish in Grenoble is planned for Friday, June 11, with a mountaintop finish taking place on L’Alpe the next day
Tour of Philadelphia: June 6, 1:30-3p ET
Philadelphia International Championship is the annual bicycle race held in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is described as “America’s top international cycling classic, and one of the richest and most prestigious one day races outside of Europe.”
Tour de Suisse: June 6 & 13, Times TBD
Tour de France: July 3-25, LIVE AM Broadcasts. TimesTBD
Paris Tours: October 10, 5-6pm ET
