Tour de France to be shown live on Welsh TV channel S4C

S4C has announced that it will be showing live coverage of each stage of the 2016 Tour de France (July 2-24). The Welsh-language television channel will also broadcast a highlights and review programme each evening.

S4C can be viewed via Freeview in Wales, and via satellite and cable television throughout the UK. There is also an app available from S4C for iOS and Android devices so that viewers can catch the action online.

Live coverage will start at 2pm, with the highlights programme aired at 10pm each day during the race. Rhodri Gomer, Llinos Lee, Rheinallt and Peredur ap Gwynedd, Wyn Gruffydd, John Hardy and Gareth Rhys Owen will present and provide commentary, with Madison Genesis rider Gruff Lewis providing insight.

>>> Tour de France 2016 live TV guide

Two Welsh riders are likely to take part in the race, providing plenty of home interest for S4C viewers: Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe.

Thomas has been nominated by Team Sky as 'plan B' behind defending Tour de France champion Chris Froome. The 30-year-old Cardiff man will ride alongside Froome to build on his solid performance in last year's race where he was fourth overall after stage 18.

A bad day on stage 19 saw him lose 22 minutes and slip out of the top 10, but his performance up to that point showed his potential as a Grand Tour contender in his own right.

Rowe will play the part of domestique to support the team. The 26-year-old from Cardiff placed fifth in the Tour of Flanders and fourth in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad during the spring.

Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford also has a connection to S4C, having appeared on the channel's long-running soap Pobol y Cwm in January.

S4C is on Freeview channel 4 in Wales, and on Virgin Media channel 166 (all of UK), Sky channel 104 (Wales) or 134 (rest of UK).