EUROSPORT AND GCN ADDS FURTHER FIREPOWER TO CYCLING COVERAGE WITH FLANDERS CLASSICS

Eurosport and GCN has secured the rights to show the Flanders Classics in Europe and Asia* on a long-term basis, further expanding its reputation as the Home of Cycling.

The agreement was brokered by Infront, the exclusive media rights partner of the Flanders Classics and Amstel Gold Race.

All seven of the men’s and women’s Flanders Classics will be available for viewers on an exclusive basis as part of a four-year agreement* that also includes the Amstel Gold Race. The deal completes Eurosport and GCN’s Flanders Package after it added the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, which took place last month.

Fans will be able to enjoy live and on-demand coverage via Eurosport’s channels and platforms as well as GCN’s new subscription streaming service GCN+, offering the most opportunities for fans to engage with the sport.

Guy Voisin, Director of Cycling at Eurosport and GCN, said: “We’re constantly looking for ways to further enhance our 360° cycling ecosystem for fans and by adding more live events to our portfolio, we’re providing the greatest choice for viewers everywhere. We’re particularly pleased to further extend our coverage of elite women’s races and remain committed to expanding the reach of the sport in all its forms to the widest possible audience. 

“The men’s and women’s cycling season has started with a bang with some truly exhilarating races already being shown across our channels and platforms that have delivered some incredible performances from the world’s best riders. We’re looking forward to continuing this on Sunday by showcasing Gent Wevelgem alongside expert commentary, storytelling and analysis.”

Eurosport and GCN’s burgeoning cycling portfolio now boasts more than 200 professional events across road, track, BMX, cyclocross, mountain bike and the Olympics, comprising over 2,500 live hours across 300 days in 2021.

Its unrivalled cycling offer was demonstrated this month as Eurosport and GCN made history by screening the longest ever continued live broadcast of a one-day race when producing Milan-San Remo, the season’s first Monument, for full live coverage for the first time ever.

Amikam Kranz, Vice President Media Sales & Operations Infront, said: “This series of races has a rich history and holds a special place in the cycling calendar. This new agreement, which includes exposure on linear broadcast, is another step towards our goal of bringing these top cycling events to fans all over the world ahead of the second race of the Flanders Classics series in Gent.”

Flanders Classics 2021 dates:

27 February - Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

28 March - Gent-Wevelgem

31 March - Dwars door Vlaanderen

4 April - Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders)

7 April - Scheldeprijs

14 April - Brabantse Pijl

28 August – Brussels Cycling Classic

Other races in the agreement include:

18 April – Amstel Gold Race

*Market by market rights:

Flanders Classics

Coverage across Europe and Asia including Japan and the Indian sub-continent but excluding Australia, China and New Zealand.

Exclusive except Belgium and France. Netherlands non-exclusive for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

Tour of Flanders and Amstel Gold Race

Coverage across Europe and Asia including Japan and the Indian sub-continent but excluding Australia, China and New Zealand.

Exclusive except Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Spain and Switzerland.

Gent Wevelgem

Coverage across Europe and Asia including Japan and the Indian sub-continent but excluding Australia, China and New Zealand.

Exclusive except for Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Slovakia, Switzerland.