{"id":655723,"date":"2026-06-24T12:01:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T12:01:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/655723\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T12:01:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T12:01:18","slug":"phil-liggett-returns-as-nbc-confirms-2026-tour-de-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/655723\/","title":{"rendered":"Phil Liggett Returns as NBC Confirms 2026 Tour de France"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bob Roll, Lance Armstrong’s The Move, and the full NBC booth are back to call another Tour de France for US audiences. <\/p>\n

\"Phil<\/p>\n

NBC officials confirmed Phil Liggett will return to call the 2026 Tour de France. (Photo: Con Chronis\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Updated June 23, 2026 05:13AM<\/p>\n

Phil Liggett<\/a> is back for what will be his 54th edition calling the Tour de France<\/a>.<\/p>\n

NBC Sports<\/a> confirmed to Velo that Liggett, 82, will call the 2026 Tour and extend one of the longest broadcasting runs in sports.<\/p>\n

NBC also confirmed no changes for its full on-air lineup ahead of the July 4 Grand D\u00e9part in Barcelona<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Liggett will share the NBC live broadcast<\/a> with longtime partner Bob Roll<\/a>, whose Bobke-style flair is equally familiar for American viewers.<\/p>\n

Ex-pro Christian Vande Velde and longtime reporter Steve Porino report from the ground in France.<\/p>\n

Paul Burmeister returns to host daily studio coverage alongside former pros Brent Bookwalter and Tejay van Garderen, NBC officials said.<\/p>\n

The confirmation comes amid recurring speculation \u2014 on social media and within the industry \u2014 that each Tour could be Liggett\u2019s last.<\/p>\n

NBC officials refused to comment when asked by Velo in an email about Liggett\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

Liggett retired from Olympic broadcasting after the Paris 2024 Games. That decision fueled discussion about how much longer he\u2019d continue calling the Tour.<\/p>\n

Critics point to the occasional rider mix-up, but supporters love Liggett\u2019s deep knowledge and old-school delivery that\u2019s earned him the moniker of the \u201cVoice of Cycling.\u201d<\/p>\n

The British broadcaster has been announcing the race since 1973. Eddy Merckx was still winning Tours when Liggett first arrived at cycling\u2019s biggest show.<\/p>\n

How to Watch: NBC Sports and Peacock
\n\"PhilPhil Liggett, left, and Bob Roll will return to lead NBC\u2019s coverage of the 2026 Tour de France. (Photo: Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Away from cycling broadcasts, Liggett works closely with the Paul Sherwen Project, the East African charity created to honor his late friend and longtime broadcast partner.<\/p>\n

NBC\u2019s current rights agreement<\/a> with Tour organizer ASO runs through 2029, meaning the race will be broadcast on NBC Sports and Peacock for U.S. audiences through the end of the decade.<\/p>\n

Like in recent years, Peacock will provide live coverage of every stage, while NBC will broadcast<\/a> select marquee stages and highlights.<\/p>\n

NBC officials also confirmed the return of \u201cThe Move<\/a>\u201d on Peacock for its third year.<\/p>\n

The post-stage show is led by Lance Armstrong<\/a>, whose seven Tour titles were stripped after his doping confession. Other guest commentators have included Bradley Wiggins, Johan Bruyneel, and George Hincapie.<\/p>\n

The 2026 Tour de France runs July 4-26 and features a brutal route with more than 54,000 meters of climbing, five summit finishes, and back-to-back stages finishing atop Alpe d\u2019Huez.<\/p>\n