As a sportive cyclist, you've probably mastered the art of sucking it in and smiling heroically for a long-suffering photographer crouched in a ditch by the roadside. But how do you fancy being followed by a film crew on your next sportive? Your big break could be just around the corner, as Human Race Events today announced a partnership with cycling channel BIKE to broadcast their sportives in 2016.
Riders on each Human Race sportive will be invited to star as a featured cyclist, with the chosen riders being followed on social media through their preparation and training right up to the event itself, where BIKE's cameras will capture their sportive experience for a TV show.
As part of the deal Human Race's line-up, which includes events such as Dragon Ride L'Etape Wales by le Tour de France and Chiltern 100, will now officially become the "Human Race Sportive Series presented by BIKE". Footage of all six events will be shown exclusively on BIKE in the week following each sportive.
TV channel BIKE launched in the UK in December 2015 and is available subscription free on Sky channel 464 and Virgin Media channel 552. It follows the huge success of the channel in Italy, where it has grown an audience of over one million cycling fans a month since debuting in 2012. The 24-hour channel shows a range of programming including pro racing, cycling documentaries and entertainment including a number of original shows.
Over 20,000 cyclists take part in Human Race sportives each year, with six events to come in 2016:
- Lionheart - Sunday 17 April
- Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride - Sunday 1 May
- Chiltern 100 - Sunday 15 May
- Dragon Ride L'Etape Wales by le Tour de France - Sunday 5 June
- The Telegraph London Cycle Sportive powered by Maserati - Sunday 26 June
- L'Etape London by le Tour de France - Sunday 25 September
Nick Rusling, CEO of Human Race Events, said "We are always looking for new and innovative ways to broadcast our events, and after speaking to the team from BIKE we felt it was obvious that they were the right people to work with. Their fast growing audience of passionate cycling fans fit perfectly with the UK's best selection of sportives."
Filippo Ubaldini CEO of BIKE channel said "We are really excited to be working with Human Race and their sportive series. Covering these prestigious events will give us a chance to meet tens of thousands of UK cyclists. Through our coverage we will be following their efforts and endeavours, as well as sharing the atmosphere of these great events with our TV audience."
The new deal is also good news for Human Race's existing partners. Visibility on both event days and the subsequent BIKE broadcast will provide Human Race's partners such as Maserati, Nuffield Health and SIS a wonderful opportunity to gain exposure across the highly coveted "multiple platforms".
The first programme in the series will debut shortly after the Lionheart in mid-April. Riders who are interested in joining a Human Race sportive and applying to feature on BIKE can visit www.humanrace.co.uk/cycling for more info.
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