Our new favourite channel ITV4 is to broadcast the 2012 Vuelta a Espana for the first time. Following successful coverage of Bradley Wiggins’ historic victory in this year’s Tour de France
ITV will broadcast daily highlights shows throughout the Vuelta as part of a new agreement with the ASO.
Beginning on Saturday August 18 and ending on Sunday September 9, the 67th Vuelta will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,300 kilometres. British interest in the race should include Chris Froome, fresh from winning the Bronze medal at the Olympics Time Trial and finishing second in the TdF, along with Ian Stannard, Adam Blythe, Ben Swift and Jeremy Hunt. Froome also finished second in last year’s Vuelta, with his Team Sky colleague Wiggins third.
Juan Jose Cobo won the 2011 race and will be back to defend his title in 2012. ITV4 will broadcast a 60-minute highlights programme from each race day, presented by Gary Imlach. ITV.com will also simulcast a highlights programme. ITV Director of Sport Niall Sloane said: ‘This has been an unprecedented year of success for British cycling, with Bradley Wiggins winning the Tour de France live on ITV. I’m delighted that we are able to offer free to air coverage of this year’s Vuelta a Espana.’
