A MAJOR sporting event is set to come off free-to-air TV for the first time in its history.
The 121-year-old cycling competition will leave ITV after Warner Bros Discovery and Eurosport secured exclusive rights to broadcast it.
As a result, viewers will be forced to pay to see the most watched annual sporting event in the world, from the 2026 edition onwards.
The competition being stripped away is the Tour de France.
The new Eurosport deal, announced on Friday, will bring an end to ITV4’s coverage of the most famous cycling race on telly.
ITV is set to broadcast its 25th edition of the Tour de France for the final time next year.
Nearly 150 million people in Europe watched the race in 2024, with 700 million hours of live television tuned into in total, according to Statista.
It ends ITV‘s 25-year reign as chief broadcasters of the Tour de France, after the network took over the UK rights from Channel 4 in 2001.
The new Eurosport agreement runs until at least 2030 and also covers prestigious races like La Vuelta and the Classics.
There was no detail on whether highlights are included in the agreement.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
Cycling lovers can watch Eurosport from £6.99 per month at Discovery Plus.
But British cycling fans aired their dismay at news which signals the end of nearly 40 years of free-to-air coverage.
One wrote: “I like Eurosport coverage, but this is worrying…”
A second said: “The Tour de France needs to be free to air. And how will we cope without Gary Imlach?
A third replied: “Without ITV’s Tour De France coverage, I never would’ve become a cycling fan.”
Another added: “Losing free TV access it a real mistake. It will be massive and ruin UK cycling for years and decades to come.”
The current ITV coverage is fronted by fan favourite Imlach, Ned Boulting, and David Millar.
ITV has been contacted for comment.
