UK s only cycling channel rides onto Virgin Media

Virgin Media is making BIKE the UK's only TV channel purely dedicated to cycling available to customers. BIKE is the first channel in the UK designed for the growing cycling market with a mix of live coverage, documentaries and original UK programming. It is available to Virgin Media TV customers on M+ service and above.

Shown on channel 552, with over 5 million Brits regularly cycling, BIKE has programmes created around seven main categories: Travel, Sport, Training, Endurance, Women's, Mtb and Legends. BIKE appeals to leisure riders, racers, mountain bikers, commuters and triathletes, with programming that has been tailored to give every fan a full night of programming.

The channel's line-up includes live coverage and highlights from professional road cycling including classics like Gent-Wevelgem to stage races including the Giro d Italia, the UCI Mountain Bike Cross Country and DH World Cup as well as cyclocross and BMX competitions.

Virgin Media's Chief Digital Entertainment Officer, David Bouchier said: You can't question the growth in cycling in recent years, and on our TV service it is all about people's interests and passions, be it more mainstream media or specialist channels. We know there is a strong interest in sport from football to cycling so we're delighted to bring BIKE to Virgin Media homes.

Richard Schofield, BIKE's UK Marketing Director, says, We're very proud to now be broadcast to even more UK homes with Virgin Media. We know that 2016 is going to be an exciting year for BIKE and for cycling as a whole with the prospect of more sporting success at the Rio Olympics. BIKE wants to be at the heart of British cycling. If you cycle, we know there will be something on the channel for you.

Other BIKE programming highlights include:

Highlights and live coverage of many of the season's top professional races will accompany a mix of documentaries, entertainment and original programming for the UK. These include:

The Greatest Climbs: 2002 and 2005 Giro d'Italia winner Paolo Savoldelli, takes viewers on some of the classic climbs that have become part of cycling's rich history.

A Racer's Dream: Over a year in the making, this access-all-areas documentary captures the sweat, sacrifices, planning and heartache that go into a pro team's assault on the Mountain Bike World Championships.

Dandyhorse Double: Join two friends' tandem ride across Canada's endless open spaces as they discover their lives quite literally depend on working together, day after day after day.

Sunchasers: A documentary exploring three female cyclists at different stages of their careers who happen to be disabled. Follow three stories of strength, dedication and unshakable conviction.

Professional road cycling events on BIKE in 2016 include:

Highlights and live coverage of many of the season's top professional races are an important part of the programming mix. Cycling has always been a sport that inspires fans to participate and by showcasing top athletes, great landscapes and fantastic competitive racing, it aims to inspire all watchers to participate. Cycling events include:

Snow Epic

Omloop het nieusblad

Dubai Tour

Tour of Oman

Cape Epic

Dwars door Vlaanderen

Gent- Wevelgem

Tirreno Adriatico

Milano Sanremo

Vuelta Calatunia

Tour of Turkey

Tour of Yorkshire

Scheldeprijs

De Brabantse Pijl - La Fl che Braban onne

Giro d Italia

Tour Romandia

Tour of California

Tour of Poland

Arctic Race

Vuelta a Burgos

Tour des Fjords

Brussel Cycling Classic

Tour of Utah

GPC Quebec

GPC Montreal

Roc D azur

Saitama Criterium

Il Lombardia

UCI BMX Supercross

UCI Cross Country

The Downhill World Cup

LINK:	http://about.virginmedia.com/press-release/9496/uks-only-cycling-chann...
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