The cycling world is in for a major shake-up this week, as TNT Sports prepares to take over as the UK’s home of cycling following Eurosport’s imminent closure.
With just days remaining before Eurosport disappears from our screens on February 28, Warner Bros. Discovery has revealed its comprehensive plans for cycling coverage in 2025.
This move marks the final chapter in the transformation that began in July 2023, when BT Sport was rebranded as TNT Sports.
Now, all of Eurosport’s cycling content will shift to TNT Sports’ channels and streaming platforms – but there’s also some good news for Freeview viewers who aren’t keen on forking out for yet another subscription.
The End of Eurosport: What’s Happening This Week
As we reported last month, Eurosport’s two linear channels will cease broadcasting in the UK and Ireland on February 28.
The £6.99/month “Standard” tier on Discovery+, which used to include Eurosport, has also been discontinued.
This closure affects millions of Sky and Virgin Media customers who currently receive these channels at no extra cost in their basic TV packages – a benefit many cycling fans have enjoyed for years.
From that date, all sports content – including cycling – will be consolidated under the TNT Sports brand. This means viewers who want to continue watching cycling events like the Grand Tours, Classics, and UCI World Championships will need to subscribe to TNT Sports.
The options for accessing TNT Sports after February 28 include:
- Direct Discovery+ Premium subscription (£30.99/month)
- Amazon Prime Video Channels (via Discovery+ Premium)
- Sky (as an add-on package)
- Virgin Media TV (as an add-on package)
- EE TV (various subscription options)
For many viewers who’ve enjoyed Eurosport’s cycling coverage as part of their basic TV package, this represents a significant change – and potentially a substantial additional cost.
If you’re a casual cycling fan who’s been happy to catch the odd stage of the Tour de France or Paris-Roubaix on Eurosport without paying extra, this news might come as a bit of a blow.
It’s worth noting that neither Sky nor Virgin Media has announced any changes to their sports packages in response to this integration.
Some Virgin Media TV customers who were avid Eurosport watchers have reported getting an e-mail from Virgin Media, saying they will get TNT Sports at no extra cost until the end of their contract – but this seems to be on a case-by-case basis, and Virgin Media chose not to comment when we queried about this.
TNT Sports’ Cycling Coverage: What to Expect
Warner Bros. Discovery is promising what they’re calling “the ultimate home of cycling” for 2025, with more than 1,000 live cycling broadcasts and 2,500 hours of racing throughout the season. That’s a lot of pedalling.
The coverage will include 100% of the men’s and women’s UCI World Tour events, bringing together every major race in one place. This comprehensive package covers:
- The Grand Tours (Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, La Vuelta a España)
- All the Classics, starting with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on March 1
- The UCI World Championships across all disciplines
- The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series
- Both men’s and women’s events throughout the season
TNT Sports has assembled an impressive team of presenters and commentators to cover these events, including Adam Blythe, Carlton Kirby, Dani Christmas, Dani Rowe, Hannah Walker, Matt Stephens, Orla Chennaoui, Robbie McEwen, and Rob Hatch (recently named commentator of the year).
For mountain biking enthusiasts, the lineup includes Oli Beckingsale, Josh Carlson, Kate Mason, and Ric McLaughlin.
Scott Young, Group SVP Content at WBD Sports Europe, said: “Our unwavering commitment to cycling and its fanbase has seen us continuously invest in the sport for many years.”
He added that the sport “is further elevated as it now sits alongside other premium properties such as Premier League football, Premiership rugby and international cricket.”
That’s all well and good for WBD, but for viewers, the question remains: is it worth paying around £30 a month for this content if you’re primarily interested in cycling rather than those other premium sports?
Free Cycling Content on Quest
While premium cycling coverage moves behind TNT Sports’ paywall, there’s a silver lining for free-to-air viewers. A new weekly magazine programme called The Ultimate Cycling Show will premiere on Quest on February 27 at 10:00 pm – just one day before Eurosport goes dark.
Quest is widely available for free on:
- Freeview Channel 12
- Freesat Channel 167
And also on pay-TV platforms, at no extra cost:
- Sky channel 144
- Virgin Media channel 137
Presented by cycling experts Orla Chennaoui and Adam Blythe, the show will feature regular guests and provide coverage of all aspects of racing throughout the season.
Fifteen episodes are planned, showcasing everything from Grand Tour preparations to profiles of the world’s greatest riders and explorations of iconic routes.
According to WBD, “Every story will be chased down and showcased for viewers like never before with the show set to cover all aspects of racing.
“From the peloton’s painstaking Grand Tour preparations to portraits of the world’s greatest riders, and recons of iconic routes narrated by former world-beaters, from Flanders’ cobbles to alpine peaks, fans will be treated to a feast of features throughout the season.”
This free offering builds on Quest’s expanding sports coverage, which began in late 2024 when TNT Sports announced that Quest would broadcast every MotoGP Sprint race live from the 2025 season.
While this magazine show won’t replace the live coverage that Eurosport previously offered, it’s at least something for cycling fans who aren’t willing or able to shell out for TNT Sports.
Original Content and Grassroots Initiative
Warner Bros. Discovery has also announced some additional cycling programming, including a new docuseries titled Mads Pedersen – Fear Nothing.
The four-part series follows the 2019 UCI World Road Race Champion from Lidl-Trek and will premiere on March 15 on TNT Sports 3 and Discovery+.
The “fly-on-the-wall series provides unique access into Pedersen’s life on and off the bike with unique contributions from the Dane, his Lidl-Trek teammates and family to provide viewers with an inside look at the mind of a champion,” according to WBD.
Mountain bike fans haven’t been forgotten either, with an eight-part series called Race Bikes premiering this summer.
The show “combines the competitive edge of mountain bike with the camaraderie and passion for the sport to interview the creators, engineering pioneers and athletes who have created history by designing, and racing on, the world’s fastest off-road bikes.”
In an interesting development for the cycling community, TNT Sports is also launching a grassroots initiative called “Just Ride” aimed at inspiring young riders.
The scheme will include a nationwide competition with cash prizes for cycling clubs, with submissions opening this spring.
The initiative “aims to unite the vibrant domestic cycling community by inspiring young riders and their families to embrace cycling to get out on their bikes,” says WBD.
Cycling tribes can submit videos demonstrating their passion for the sport, with shortlisted entries set to be broadcast on TNT Sports and Quest. The winning entry will be announced on the final day of the UCI Road World Championships on September 28.
For cycling fans who previously enjoyed Eurosport’s coverage as part of their basic TV packages, the shift to TNT Sports represents a significant change, as many will now need to decide whether to invest in a premium sports package or find alternative ways to follow their favourite cycling events.
The timing is particularly tight, with the 2025 cycling season kicking off in earnest with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on March 1, just days after Eurosport’s closure.
While the addition of free content on Quest provides some consolation, it’s not quite the same as having access to live coverage of major events without having to pay extra.
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I am also a pensioner have been following the tours for years I also cannot afford a subscription. What a shame
I’m a pensioner and can’t afford that £30 .keencl cyclist and x racing cyclist.
A