MPT to serve as Maryland Cycling Classic's regional broadcaster

Maryland Public Television (MPT) will serve as the exclusive regional broadcaster of the Maryland Cycling Classic presented by UnitedHealthcare, taking place on Sunday, September 3. The statewide public TV network will offer viewers up to six hours of live coverage of the prestigious pro cycling race on MPT-HD and the MPT live stream.

The Maryland Cycling Classic presented by UnitedHealthcare will feature competitive cyclists from around the world including Tour de France participants, world champions, national champions, Olympians, and cycling heroes from more than 25 countries. Five WorldTour teams – the top teams in the world that race in the Tour de France – and world-class cyclists including Neilson Powless (EF Education EasyPost), the top American and third place finisher in the 2022 Maryland Cycling Classic and the top American finisher at the 2022 Tour de France; as well as Fallston, Maryland native Scott McGill (Human Powered Health). The event is considered America’s premier one-day pro cycling race. It is also a UCI ProSeries one-day international cycling race sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and USA Cycling.

Maryland Cycling Classic coverage on MPT begins at 11:30 a.m. with a 30-minute pre-race show featuring sports broadcaster Jim Hunter anchoring the MPT Sports Desk. Joining Hunter will be Bobby Julich, former professional international race champion, a third-place finisher at the Tour de France, and Olympic silver medalist.

MPT will broadcast the race live starting at noon and continuing through to the winner crossing the finish line and the podium ceremony. The network’s coverage will wrap up with a post-race Sports Desk segment.

The 2023 road race covers a route of more than 120 miles. The route starts in Sparks in Baltimore County and heads north close to the Pennsylvania line before it weaves south through the county and into Baltimore City, where it ends at the finish line located on East Pratt Street at the Inner Harbor.

“For cycling enthusiasts in our region who aren’t able to attend, MPT’s live race coverage is a great way to experience the excitement, color, and pageantry of the top international pro cycling competition in the United States,” said MPT Station Manager Steven J. Schupak. “We are constantly searching for the best and highest quality events around our region to bring to our viewers. The Maryland Cycling Classic is a prime example, helping MPT expand its range of offerings to include broadcasting a world-class sporting event – taking place right here in Maryland – to viewers in our state, Washington, D.C., as well as parts of Delaware, southern Pennsylvania, and northern Virginia.”

“The new strategic partnership with Maryland Public Television is another step in our commitment of building a bridge between the Sport & Entertainment Corp. of Maryland and statewide,” said Terry Hasseltine, the president of the Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, the event owners and producers. “In this case, regional association can build the brand of the world-class events we’re bringing to the state. In MPT, we have a unique partner dedicated to fostering both community goodwill and great storytelling.”

Visit MarylandCyclingClassic.us for up-to-date information about the full schedule of race weekend events.