VERSUS announces broadcast details of Amgen Tour of California

January 22, 3:12 PMCycling ExaminerJames Raia

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VERSUS has confirmed it will broadcast daily coverage of the fourth annual Amgen Tour of California, including for the first time live coverage of the middle stages of the race.

The 750-mile, nine-day event from Sacramento to Escondido (San Diego County) will feature: Lance Armstrong in the first North American race of his comeback season, two-time defending race champion Levi Leipheimer and top U.S.-based teams Garmin-Slipstream and Columbia-Highroad.

Although not officially announced, the field is also expected to include: Floyd Landis (OUCH), who’s returning to the sport after a two-year dethronment of his 2006 Tour de France title; reigning Tour de France titlist Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) of Spain and Mark Cavendish of Great Britain (Columbia-Highroad), winner of four Tour of Italy stages in 2008.

Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, who for several years have been the network’s Tour de France broadcasters, will have the same role for the Tour California.

The VERSUS network has broadcast the Tour of California twice, but the previous telecasts were shortened race highlight telecasts intertwined with chamber of commerce promotional travelogues of stage cities.

The VERSUS 2009 Tour of California broadcast schedule:

February 7, Preview Show, 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT)

February 14, Prologue - Sacramento (live/same-day delay), 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT)

February 15, Stage 1, Davis to Santa Rosa (live/same-day delay), 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT)

February 16, Stage 2, Sausalito to Santa Cruz (live), 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. PT)

February 17, Stage 3, San Jose to Modesto (live), 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT)

February 18, Stage 4, Merced to Clovis (live),  4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT)

February 19, Stage 5, Visalia to Paso Robles (live), 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT)

February 20, Stage 6, Solvang time trial (live), 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT)

February 21, Stage 7, Santa Clarita to Pasadena (live/same-day delay), 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT)

February 22, Stage 8, Rancho Bernardo to Escondido (live/same-day delay), 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT)

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