The new multiplatform agreement goes into effect next year and gives NBC Sports Group the U.S. television, digital and mobile rights to the famed bike race through 2023. The tour was the marquee event on Comcast‘s Versus channel, which was rebranded and relaunched at the start of this year as NBC Sports Network folllowing Comcast’s purchase of NBCUniversal. Today’s announcement of a deal with rightsholder the Amaury Sport Organisation comes as NBC is prepping to broadcast this year’s race. It includes 295 total hours of coverage — 19 of the 21 stages will air live, and two will air live on NBC. The full-court press features 13 hours of racing and analysis topped by a nightly studio show. Coverage of this year’s 99th edition begins Saturday at 8 AM ET/5 AM PT at the Grand Start in Belgium. The race’s stunning backdrop — its stages include stretches in the French countryside, and in both the Pyrenees and the Alps — make it one of the best-looking sporting events on TV. (A certain Deadline Editor in Chief doesn’t miss a pedal of it.)