Eurosport - Lemond of Cycling

[MattTuck]

Anyone else watching the Tour of the Basque Country and catch their teaser for this new show?

https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/video/lemond-cycling-sneak-peek-133511038.html

[MattTuck]

More info if anyone wants it. I don't think this has been covered before. Sad that a British broadcaster is hiring the only American TDF winner*.

Eurosport signs Tour de France legend Greg LeMond as new global cycling ambassador
Cycling

Three-time Tour de France winner and double World Champion will be on-site for season’s top races and support channel’s 25th anniversary.

Eurosport has further reinforced its position as the “Home of Cycling” with the signing of a new global ambassador.

Cycling legend Greg LeMond will be joining Eurosport’s on-air 2014 line-up to provide live on-site analysis at Paris-Roubaix, Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France across the channel’s 54 European markets in an exclusive preview and review show entitled “LeMond on Tour”.

He will also feature in a new monthly show “LeMond of Cycling” which broadcasts its first episode on Wednesday 9 April previewing and reviewing the Grand Tour races of 2014.

LeMond won his most famous Tour de France victory exactly 25 years ago in 1989, the same year Eurosport was launched bringing added resonance to the company’s 25th year anniversary activities, in which he will play a part as a channel ambassador.

The American joins Eurosport’s other global ambassadors already working with its lead sports, such as seven-time Grand Slam winner Mats Wilander in tennis, 100m Olympic Champion Maurice Greene in athletics and triple Olympic swimming champion Pieter van den Hoogenband and Didier Cuche, Alpine Skiing World Champion.

An outspoken and passionate supporter of the sport he loves, LeMond has not shared his racing knowledge widely on live television in the past, making his analysis a fascinating prospect for Eurosport viewers and cycling fans.

He will also be in a unique position to represent the change in cycling broadcasting since his racing career and how the sport has widened its popularity through improved TV production and analysis in the past 25 years.

Greg LeMond said: “It feels like the right time to get back into the heart of cycling again and for me there was only one place I could really do that and it was with Eurosport. I have always spoken my mind and feel now the sport is in a better place so the timing is perfect.

I love the connection I have with the fans in Europe and can’t wait to join them for the season’s biggest races with the Eurosport team. I can’t believe it was 25 years ago I won Le Tour by such a tiny margin. 1989 was a great year for cycling and it’s very special for me to know that it was the same year Eurosport first broadcast the race.”

Arnaud Simon, Eurosport Group’s TV Content Director said: “It is a great story that Greg was the very first Tour de France winner to be broadcast live on Eurosport back in 1989 and now we welcome him to the Eurosport family as we celebrate our own 25th anniversary year. He is an iconic figure in cycling and joins a very illustrious list of former champions in our dream-team of experts. It demonstrates Eurosport is always looking for innovative ways to enhance our programming and give our subscribers even deeper understanding of the sports they love.”

Stefano Bernabino, Eurosport’s Head of Cycling said: “We are very proud to welcome Greg to Eurosport, the Home of Cycling. He is a cycling legend who has left one of the most significant and long-standing impressions on the development of his sport. The best all-rounder in recent decades, mixing climbing ability with time trialing and an innate vision for race strategy Greg LeMond has been a true champion on and off his bike.

He has been a pioneer in technological research and equipment development and has an inspiring insight and clear values on cycling and sporting culture. His incomparable racing experience, charisma and vision of his sport will enrich our already comprehensive cycling coverage.”

Having won the junior road race World Championships in 1979 LeMond found success with his accomplished racing style when he secured the senior World Championships in 1983. This was followed one year later by winning the White Jersey for best young rider in his debut Tour de France in 1984 demonstrating his all-round ability in sprinting, climbing and time-trialling.

Two years later he fought the entire peloton in the Tour de France, and arguably his own teammate in Bernard Hinault, for his first Grand Tour win in 1986.

After suffering a near-fatal shooting accident in 1987 he returned to take his second Tour de France title in 1989 famously by the smallest ever winning margin of 8 seconds from French favourite Laurent Fignon in the final time-trial stage.

He then became one of only five riders to complete the Tour de France - World Road Race Championship double in the same year winning the WCH’s in Chambery, France. In 1990 he won his final Tour de France and eventually retired in 1994.

The channel’s cycling offer for its anniversary year will feature over 40 different events, including 24 UCI World Tour Races, the best of the Spring Classics, stage races and the three Grand Tours, of Italy, France and Spain representing over 1500 hours of coverage.

*Yeah, we're not going there.

[bobswire]

I'm surprised he lives in Minneapolis when I imagine he could live most anywhere. Not knocking it and I even hear it's a hot bed for cycling but their winters would leave me wanting.

[thirdgenbird]

I'm surprised he lives in Minneapolis when I imagine he could live most anywhere. Not knocking it and I even hear it's a hot bed for cycling but their winters would leave me wanting.

Isn't he big into hunting and ice fishing as well? Not many better places to participate in all three activities.

[Black Dog]

I'm surprised he lives in Minneapolis when I imagine he could live most anywhere. Not knocking it and I even hear it's a hot bed for cycling but their winters would leave me wanting.

He lived there when he was racing and winning tours. He would x-country ski in the winter. That is some good training.

[mcteague]

I'm surprised he lives in Minneapolis when I imagine he could live most anywhere. Not knocking it and I even hear it's a hot bed for cycling but their winters would leave me wanting.

Bet his money goes farther there. Check out that house and property! Put it in CA and it would cost 4x more.

Tim

[tiretrax]

I think he as a place near Reno/Tahoe, too.

[Lanterne Rouge]

More info if anyone wants it. I don't think this has been covered before. Sad that a British broadcaster is hiring the only American TDF winner*.



*Yeah, we're not going there.

Eurosport is not British. It's Swiss I believe or perhaps French?

[MattTuck]

Eurosport is not British. It's Swiss I believe or perhaps French?

Ahh, I didn't know that. But it doesn't change my underlying sentiment. It is sad that European broadcaster is the one to offer him a gig. I guess when it was the Only Lance Network, he was persona non grata..., and maybe he wasn't in need of money or not interested in broadcasting. Just a shame that the US market will miss out on hearing him.

[1centaur]

Remember that Discovery Channel recently bought Eurosport. Hiring Lemond might reflect American ownership.

[cash05458]

Sad that a British broadcaster is hiring the only American TDF winner*

why would that be sad? I seriously would like to hear Greg talk about a race unfolding...they aint gonna do it in america via Nbc...rather, we will do the old bs of telling everyone what the word peloton is, what drafting is and listening to bob roll think he is the world's steve martin...please...good on eurosport!!!!!!

personally, I look forward to hearing Greg comment...he will add alot...eurosport to me is the best...brian smith, Sean Kelly, and a great few others...and now Lemond....hell yeah! best news I have heard in months...

[cash05458]

what would be better via america and tv? hiring armstrong for the bs image and selling it and controversy? or maybe landis...?

Lemond was the ONLY american to win the tour...and he did it three times...god bless the mofo...and he did it without friggin excuses...:banana:

[pbarry]

^^ Bob Roll < Steve Martin. Well done.

[MattTuck]

Sad that a British broadcaster is hiring the only American TDF winner*

why would that be sad? I seriously would like to hear Greg talk about a race unfolding...they aint gonna do it in america via Nbc...rather, we will do the old bs of telling everyone what the word peloton is, what drafting is and listening to bob roll think he is the world's steve martin...please...good on eurosport!!!!!!

personally, I look forward to hearing Greg comment...he will add alot...eurosport to me is the best...brian smith, Sean Kelly, and a great few others...and now Lemond....hell yeah! best news I have heard in months...

Do you have a way to watch Eurosport? Because I don't, atleast not without pirating a stream. The sad part of it is that a US broadcaster didn't do this already, if he was indeed interested in broadcast work. I think he'll be a positive for Eurosport, just wish that there was enough critical mass in the US to have a channel like Eurosport here that could hire Greg Lemond.

[Lanterne Rouge]

Eurosport is one of those obscure channels - even in the UK. But there is always something to watch on there. It's very European (rather predictably) and eclectic. I like it. And I think Lemond is a pretty good addition.

[cash05458]

Do you have a way to watch Eurosport? Because I don't, atleast not without pirating a stream. The sad part of it is that a US broadcaster didn't do this already, if he was indeed interested in broadcast work. I think he'll be a positive for Eurosport, just wish that there was enough critical mass in the US to have a channel like Eurosport here that could hire Greg Lemond.

Matt...join CyclingTorrents.nl! the place is great!!!It's free and I have been a member there since early days...great group of folks there as well...seriously, check it out...I am always at work anyhow during alot of races so just use the torrents mostly...that place has been a godsend...

[r_mutt]

Eurosport is one of those obscure channels - even in the UK. But there is always something to watch on there. It's very European (rather predictably) and eclectic. I like it. And I think Lemond is a pretty good addition.

it's not obscure at all. it's everywhere in europe, and readily available with basic cable. it's the euro equivalent of america's ESPN.

[jpw]

Isn't he big into hunting and ice fishing as well? Not many better places to participate in all three activities.

he got shot hunting.

[jpw]

Eurosport is not British. It's Swiss I believe or perhaps French?

It's French - TF1.

[jpw]

Remember that Discovery Channel recently bought Eurosport. Hiring Lemond might reflect American ownership.

only 20%. minority stake.

[r_mutt]

only 20%. minority stake.

fwiw, they own a 51 % share as of january.

[oldpotatoe]

Anyone else watching the Tour of the Basque Country and catch their teaser for this new show?

https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/video/lemond-cycling-sneak-peek-133511038.html

On US TV???

Nice house, BTW-Lemond's

[jpw]

fwiw, they own a 51 % share as of january.

then they now own 51% of something that's worth something to those living in Europe, the heartland of cycling. it seems odd that Discovery isn't doing alive transmission in the US.

[Elefantino]

Eurosport is an indispensable source for live cycling. Via cyclingfans or Steephill, you can find most if not all UCI races broadcast.

And you don't have to listen to P&P.

[1centaur]

then they now own 51% of something that's worth something to those living in Europe, the heartland of cycling. it seems odd that Discovery isn't doing alive transmission in the US.

And have said they're buying the rest of it.

And said on a conference call they were not looking to pay big rights fees to bring sports to the US.

[cegerer]

I've used this to watch EuroSport (weight-lifting on now :eek: ), ESPN-UK, Sky, and WRC rallies on BT Sports for quite some time. No viruses, etc. Sometimes a channel is down for a while, but generally it's good. Your mileage may vary ...

CricFreeTV (http://cricfree.tv/euro-sports-2.php)

[acorn_user]

As long as Lemond doesn't displace Sean Kelly! It wouldn't be the same without Sean Kelly's commentary....

[oldpotatoe]

Matt...join CyclingTorrents.nl! the place is great!!!It's free and I have been a member there since early days...great group of folks there as well...seriously, check it out...I am always at work anyhow during alot of races so just use the torrents mostly...that place has been a godsend...

I just signed up but can it be used to see Euro racing? Looks more like a forum...

[Black Dog]

I just signed up but can it be used to see Euro racing? Looks more like a forum...

Not live as far as I know. But you can down load races and films about cycling from just about any era. It is great.