How to watch the 2012 Tour de France

TV coverage and online links to watch the Tour

The Tour de France begins tomorrow, get ready to watch 3 weeks of fast racing and beautiful scenery. Do you want to know where and when to watch the coverage? Some suggestions include:

European countries

TV Schedule for the 2012 Tour de France

21 Broadcasters around the world will provide coverage of the Tour de France, see the full list and links to video at Steephill.TV (scroll to the bottom of the page) www.steephill.tv/tour-de-france/. See the Eurosport TV Schedule. Also Tour de France on TV; TV broadcast schedule compiled for you by Paddy Sweeney at VeloPeloton.

United States 

Live (and taped) TV coverage schedule of the 2012 Tour de France - NBC Sports Network (cable) (EDT)

Saturday, June 30 Prologue: Liege to Liege, 8 a.m., NBC Sports Network
Sunday, July 1 Stage 1: Liege to Seraing, 8 a.m., NBC Sports Network; Recap show, 4 p.m., NBC
Monday, July 2 Stage 2: Vise to Tournai, 8 a.m., NBC Sports Network
Tuesday, July 3 Stage 3: Orchies to Boulogne-sur-mer, 8 a.m., NBC Sports Network
Wednesday, July 4 Stage 4: Abbeville to Rouen, 8 a.m., NBC Sports Network
Thursday, July 5 Stage 5: Rouen to Saint-Quentin, 8 a.m., NBC Sports Network
Friday, July 6 Stage 6: Epernay to Metz, 8 a.m., NBC Sports Network
Saturday, July 7 Stage 7: Tomblaine to La Planche des Belles Filles, 8 a.m., NBC
Sunday, July 8 Stage 8: Belfort to Porrentruy, 8 a.m., NBC
Monday, July 9 Stage 9: Arc-et-Senans to Bescancon, 8 a.m., NBC Sports Network
Tuesday - rest
Wednesday, July 11 Stage 10: Macon to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, 8 a.m., NBC Sports Network
Thursday, July 12 Stage 11: Albertville to La Toussuire-Les Sybelles, 7 a.m., NBC Sports Network
Friday, July 13 Stage 12: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Annonay Davezieux, 6:30 a.m., NBC Sports Network
Saturday, July 14 Stage 13: Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Le Cap d'Adge, 8 a.m., NBC Sports Network
Sunday, July 15 Stage 14: Limoux to Foix, 8 a.m., NBC Sports Network
Monday, July 16 Stage 15: Samatan to Pau, 8 a.m., NBC Sports Network
Tuesday - rest
Wednesday, July 18 Stage 16: Pau to Bagneres-de-Luchon, 6:30 a.m., NBC Sports Network
Thursday, July 19 Stage 17: Bagneres-de-Luchon to Peyragudes, 7:30 a.m., NBC Sports Network
Friday, July 20 Stage 18: Blagnac to Brive-la-Gaillarde, 8 a.m., NBC Sports Network
Saturday, July 21 Stage 19: Bonneval to Chartres, 8 a.m., NBC Sports Network
Sunday, July 22 Stage 20: Rambouillet to Paris Champs-Elysees, 8 a.m., NBC Sports Network; Recap show, 1 p.m., NBC

Live (and taped) TV Coverage schedule of the 2012 Tour de France - NBC (network channel) (EDT)

Sun, July 1 Stage 1 Liege-Seraing 4-6 p.m. ET Tape
Sat., July 7 Stage 7 Tomblaine-La Planche des Belles Filles* 8 a.m. - Noon LIVE
Sun., July 8 Stage 8 Belfort-Porrentruy* 8 a.m. - Noon LIVE
Sun., July 22 Stage 20 Rambouillet-Paris Champs-Élysées 1-3 p.m. ET Tape

Online 

Online Live coverage - on your computer

If you want to watch the race on your computer you have two choices based on your personal schedule. If you can watch the race during live hours - watch for free. If you cannot watch Live, then pay for on-demand, or watch the short recap video links provided by Steephill.TV for free (usually 3-10 minutes long).

For free online live (and recorded) coverage - both Steephill.TV and Cycling Fans compile the best online links for viewing. They will usually indicate where access is restricted, and in what language the audio commentators will speak. Steephill.TV also compiles the best list of articles and videos, before and after each stage, with good photos after.

For paid (Live, on-demand, tracking) web video you must purchase viewing rights through NBC Sports (with a MapMyRide account and a social network sign-up), join NBC Tour de France LIVE powered by MapMyRide for $29.99 for the entire race or $4.99 per stage.

Apps - watch on your device

In the USA, the NBC Tour de France LIVE app is sold separately from the web application. Search for it on your phone (app image below). The cost is a whopping $14.99.

Tour de France app is $14.99 for your phone

The tracker app for iphone, ipad, Android (restricted regions) is this one (app image below), called the SBS Tour de France Skoda Tour Tracker 2012, download at thetourtracker.com/. SBS is the Australian broadcaster.  

Also TOUR DE FRANCE 2012 presented by ŠKODA By Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O)

Google Play ☛ http://goo.gl/Xh9Ms App Store ☛ http://goo.gl/K9nJg

Live Text updates

For interesting written updates/commentary follow Live Update Guy (live text updates), Steephill twitter updates (steephill text updates), or CyclingNews.com text updates.

Twitter

Twitter: If there is any one person I would recommend following on Twitter it would be Aussie Edy Budicin @edbud68, he sorts through and offers the best he finds out on the web and on Twitter - he will point you straight to the good stuff without wasting your time. Also the @Orica_GreenEDGE team is producing Backstage Pass videos that should be fun and informative throughout the tour. Maxime Monfort  @maxmonfort is also worth a follow, so is Robbie McEwen ‏@mcewenrobbie, Manuel Quinziato @manuelquinziato, Jens Voigt @thejensie and Paul Sherwen @PaulSherwen. VeloPeloton will bring you great local photography of the Pyrenees @velopeloton. And of course, please follow me @karenrake. Or see a general list of riders and teams on Twitter at Who to follow at the Tour de France - Riders & DS.

Watching the TV coverage, and the race approaching, on l'Alpe d'Huez in 2003  Photo by PedalDancer.com/Karen

When to watch - Time Schedule: 

The first rider in the Day 1 Prologue will start at 14:00, the last rider will finish at 17:25. Most standard Tour de France days expect the Caravan to begin around 10:20am, the riders to start between 12:00 and 12:30 and finish shortly after 17:00. If you live in New York (EDT) NBC Sports Network will begin broadcasting between 6:30 to 8:00am, each stage should finish between 11:00-11:30am. For fans viewing in MST the stage finish should be between 9:00-9:30am, PST 8:00-8:30am will be the approximate finish time each day. 

Pedal Dancer tips for viewing the Tour de France: 

Record the race if you can to watch later in the evening after work with your family (but avoid all social media and twitter unless you want the finish spoiled). 

If watching live online, scan Steephill.TV for links and keep 2 different browsers open. When one channel goes to commercial you will not miss out on race coverage (or scenery), try listening to the race in another language. Also the timing, clarity or camera angle is often different depending on the broadcaster - I look for the best option.

If you really want to know what is going on in the race, also read live text coverage by CyclingNews.com. They often give better news on rider positions, time gaps, and breakaways.
I like viewing the daily stage information provided on FrenchTV http://www.francetv.fr/sport/tour-de-france/direct

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Tour de France information for fans

The Tour de France begins this weekend!

I need to get ready, I need to prepare, I need to understand who, what and where. If you too plan to watch coverage of the Tour de France, and who, I ask, would not, or even better, if you plan to attend, as I do - then we need to do our homework ahead of time to learn the basics of the race. What are the dates? What teams will be in the 2012 Tour de France? What riders will be in the Tour de France? What is the route of the Tour de France? What time will each stage begin and finish? Which stages should I make sure to see? Which riders should do well? What changes can we expect for 2012? Where can we watch Tour de France coverage on TV and online? And most importantly - where will I be!

First a few facts:

• 1 Prologue, 20 stages, 2 rest days, 22 teams, 9 riders each. 
• Total distance: 3,496.9 km (2,173 mi)
• 11 of the 25 climbs in the Tour are in the Pyrenees.
• Only 3 of the stages have uphill finishes. 
• There will be 101.1 km of individual time trial in 2012.
• The Tour will begin in Belgium this year. It will also visit Switzerland.
• The Tour will flow in a clockwise direction in 2012. It rotates every other year - clockwise then counter-clockwise).
• There will be 9 new first ever stage towns in 2012.
• Of the podium finishers from 2011 (Evans, A.Schleck, Contador) only Evans will return in 2012.
• George Hincapie (USA) will set a record this year by racing seventeen times at the Tour de France.
• Approximately 2 million euros will be awarded to the teams and the riders, including 450,000 euros for the winner of the general individual classification (yellow jersey).
• The caravan gives away over 16 million gifts with € 200,000 to € 500,000 investment from each advertiser from 33 brands represented.
• 47% of spectators come first and foremost to see the caravan (learn more).

Dates of 2012 Tour de France

30 June–22 July, 2012

Cycling teams in the 2012 Tour de France

22 professional UCI and Continental teams will compete in the 2012 Tour de France:

Ag2r-La Mondiale, Argos-Shimano†, Astana, BMC Racing Team, Cofidis†, Euskaltel-Euskadi, FDJ-BigMat, Garmin-Sharp, Lampre-ISD, Liquigas-Cannondale, Lotto-Belisol, Movistar Team, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, Orica-GreenEDGE, Rabobank, RadioShack-Nissan-Trek, Saur-Sojasun†, Team Europcar†, Team Katusha, Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, Team, Sky, Vacansoleil-DCM

Rosters of riders in the 2012 Tour de France

Each of the 22 teams will bring 9 riders (plus Directeur Sportif, coaches, mechanics, soigneurs, cooks, drivers, communication staff and other general staff members). The list of riders on each team may be seen at this link (this is the best list I have found): wikipedia's list of Tour de France riders

Route of the 2012 Tour de France (by LeTour.com)

The 2012 Tour de France begins with a Prologue in Belgium, followed by 20 stages. 

2012 Tour de France Map (link to official larger map)

Official 2012 Tour de France route (by LeTour.com)
(Hiding behind those fancy red arrows are profile maps of some of the stages)

Stage	Type	Date	Start and Finish	Distance	Details
P	Prologue	Saturday 30 June	Liège - Liège	6.1 km
1	Plain	Sunday 1 July	Liège - Seraing	198 km
2	Plain	Monday 2 July	Visé - Tournai	207 km
3	Medium mountains	Tuesday 3 July	Orchies - Boulogne-sur-Mer	197 km
4	Plain	Wednesday 4 July	Abbeville - Rouen	214 km
5	Plain	Thursday 5 July	Rouen - Saint-Quentin	197 km
6	Plain	Friday 6 July	Épernay - Metz	210 km
7	Medium mountains	Saturday 7 July	Tomblaine - La Planche des Belles Filles	199 km
8	Medium mountains	Sunday 8 July	Belfort - Porrentruy	154 km
9	Individual time-trial	Monday 9 July	Arc-et-Senans - Besançon	38 km
10	High Mountains	Wednesday 11 July	Mâcon - Bellegarde-sur-Valserine	194 km
11	High Mountains	Thursday 12 July	Albertville - La Toussuire - Les Sybelles	140 km
12	Medium mountains	Friday 13 July	Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne - Annonay Davézieux	220 km
13	Plain	Saturday 14 July	Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - Le Cap d’Agde	215 km
14	High Mountains	Sunday 15 July	Limoux - Foix	192 km
15	Plain	Monday 16 July	Samatan - Pau	160 km
16	High Mountains	Wednesday 18 July	Pau - Bagnères-de-Luchon	197 km
17	High Mountains	Thursday 19 July	Bagnères-de-Luchon - Peyragudes	144 km
18	Plain	Friday 20 July	Blagnac - Brive-la-Gaillarde	215 km
19	Individual time-trial	Saturday 21 July	Bonneval - Chartres	52 km
20	Plain	Sunday 22 July	Rambouillet - Paris Champs-Élysées	130 km

Stage start and finish times of the 2012 Tour de France  

The caravan, on the first day, will present at 12:00, the first rider in the Prologue will start at 14:00, the last rider will finish at 17:25. Most standard Tour de France days expect the Caravan to begin around 10:20am, the riders to start between 12:00 and 12:30 and finish shortly after 17:00.

For exact time schedules, please click on the Stage # link (and select the Time Schedule tab) for the complete stage schedule. Time are in France (CEST) time, (-6hrs EDT) (-8hr MDT) (-9hr PDT): Prologue ; Stage 1 ; Stage 2 ; Stage 3 ; Stage 4 ; Stage 5 ; Stage 6 ; Stage 7 ; Stage 8 ; Stage 9 ; Stage 10 ; Stage 11 ; Stage 12 ; Stage 13 ; Stage 14 ; Stage 15 ; Stage 16 ;  Stage 17 ; Stage 18 ; Stage 19 ; Stage 20 

A Caravan car in 1930

Key stages to watch of the 2012 Tour de France

Stages 7, 9, 11, 16, 17, 19. 

For a very complete excellent race preview please read: Tour de France 2012 Preview by road.cc with maps and profiles and route descriptions. 

Which riders to watch in 2012
Almost everyone has their eye on the top-5 candidates for overall victory: Cadel Evans (BMC), Bradley Wiggins (Sky), Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas), Frank Schleck (RSNT), and Robert Gesink (Rabobank). I expect to see a surprise on the podium, but the riders I am most interested in watching are the young ones - the twins Peter and Martin Velits, Tejay van Garderen, Marcel Kittel, and especially Peter Sagan.

The first week of the Tour, when the stages are in northern France, the fans will go crazy over Philippe Gilbert and Frank Schleck. When the Tour passes into Switzerland, the fans will turn out in support of Fabian Cancellara. The French have their favorite as well - Tommy Voeckler and his entire Europcar team. Expect to be entertained by the best riders to interview including Jens Voigt, Chris Horner, Pierre Rolland and Bernhard Eisel.

Changes in rules for the 2012 Tour de France

1. NO BONUSES For this 2012 edition, no bonuses will be awarded in intermediate sprints and stage finishes. Official time remains the absolute reference.

2. A SOLE INTERMEDIATE SPRINT As in 2011, the points for the green jersey classification will be awarded at stage arrivals and during the sole intermediate sprint in the straight stages.

3. POINTS SCALE INCREASED IN THE MOUNTAINS For this 2012 edition, points will be awarded to the first ten riders who go over the top of the highest level mountain passes. The points will be doubled for summit finishes.

TV coverage schedule of the 2012 Tour de France
For the schedule of TV coverage of the Tour de France, please read information by Pedal Dancer at How to watch the 2012 Tour de France.

Where to watch the 2012 Tour de France online, and apps
For online live coverage - both Steephill.TV and Cycling Fans compile the best online links for viewing. Steephill.TV also compiles the best list of articles and videos, and photos. The tracker app is this one in Australia - SBS Tour de France Skoda Tour Tracker 2012 at thetourtracker.com/.
And this one in the United States: TourdeTrance.nbcsports.com/

Twitter: If there is any one person I would recommend following on Twitter it would be Aussie Edy Budicin @edbud68, he sorts through and offers the best he finds out on the web and on Twitter - he will point you straight to the good stuff without wasting your time. Also the @Orica_GreenEDGE team is producing Backstage Pass videos that should be fun and informative throughout the tour. Maxime Monfort  @maxmonfort is also worth a follow, so is Robbie McEwen ‏@mcewenrobbie, and Manuel Quinziato @manuelquinziato. VeloPeloton will bring you great local photography of the Pyrenees @velopeloton. And of course, please follow me @karenrake.

Pedal Dancer will be at the 2012 Tour de France

I am thrilled to be returning to France and will be attending Stage 10, 11, 13, 16, 17. Follow me on my journey as I photograph and write about my adventures across France.

Classification Jersey Sponsors for the 2012 Tour de France

Read previous TDF educational posts by Pedal Dancer:

Pedal Dancer series: Five fact Friday (Tour de France Trivia)
Pedal Dancer series: Guess Where? (Guess that landmark) 
Word of the Day: Prologue 
Word of the Day: Repos 
Word of the Day at the TDF: voiture balai  
Word of the Day at the TDF: Boucle  
Word of the Day at the TDF: Le maillot verte  
Word of the Day at the TDF: contre la montre  
Word of the Day: Embrocation  
Word of the Day: Dossard  
Word of the Day: Penultimate 
Who is Škoda 
Who is the Devil?
Learn about the Tour de France caravan

Read more TDF related posts by Pedal Dancer:

2012 UCI Professional Cycling Teams (ProTeams) 
2012 ProTeam bikes 
2012 ProTeam wheels and tires 
2012 ProTeam jerseys 
2012 l'Étape du Tour Mondovelo 
An interview with Thomson Bike Tours 
Climbs of 2012 Tour de France - Alps  
Recommended Reading: Tour de France History 
Recommended Reading: 2012 Grand Tours  
Who to follow at the Tour de France - Riders & DS 
Tour de France Prize Money (2010), Updated Prize Money for the Tour de France (2011) 
The best climbs in Europe in the Grand Tours (from 2010, but interesting)
If you plan to travel to France yourself to see the Tour de France, please enjoy Pedal Dancer's FRANCE CYCLING page or the FRANCE TRAVEL page, for more ride information and travel tips. 
If you are interested in the famous climbs in France - please see FRANCE CYCLING

After all those days racing, and they win by seconds (larger view at link)

More great information from other talented folks:
Le Tour 2012 White Jersey Preview: A Light but Powerful Year, by Podium Cafe
Tour de France Wins by Nation by VeloPeloton 

Tour de France on TV by VeloPeloton 
Tour de France – Race Day Viewing Options by VeloPeloton 

Climb Profiles of the 2012 Tour de France by Climb by Bike 
Training Peaks data 2012 Tour de France (race data and analysis)

NOW FANS HAVE 2 OFFICIAL WEBSITES View the traditional old leTour website or view the fancy new leTour website. 

Trying to remember who wore the jerseys last year? This should help you with your fantasy league picks, although .... 2012 is a whole new year. 

Wearers of the 2011 classification jerseys (larger view at link)

 

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Little facts of the 2012 Tour de France

Did you know?

Via: USDish.com

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It's hot. And a lot has been going on

Sweltering in the heat of summer

It was 104 degrees (40C) today in Denver, I think it may have even been warmer, I don't know because I tried to find shade, or an air conditioner for most of the day. A lot has been going on in my life, as is typical with all of our lives. Yes I read about Armstrong and the non-submission of names for the USA Olympic cycling team, yes I heard Chris Horner is going to the Tour de France, but Tom Boonen is not (bummer), yes I heard with excitement about the new National Champions including Nacer Bouhanni who is the new French National Champion Road, and a rider I had never heard of before. I am falling behind. But again a lot has been going on.

First I got a new bike, a beautiful Cannondal Evo Supersix with SRAM Red and some major gearing. I wouldn't be a bike geek if I did not write out that sentence. New bikes beacon to be ridden and over the past two weekends I have ridden in soft falling rain in the mountains twice. Which I have to admit is one of my favorite things to do on a bike. It made me think of my other favorite things to do on a bike, which include: riding alongside a river, singing on long descents, slaloming in the middle of the road on the last blocks to my house, riding with my brothers Michael and Tom, and being on a big mountain climb.

Which reminds me, I am going to France in two weeks. It is sort of crunch time, but I am happy to report that the trip is almost planned and ready. Which means I only have 25 things left to do, because we all know that getting the job, house, bike, pets, plans and weather in alignment takes some work and plenty of good luck. Fortunately I lost one travel companion and gained another. My long-time friend and well-known traveling buddy Monica is joining me. We have been on ski trips, ranch trips, and Bicycle Tour of Colorado trips together. This time we're going to France.

France will be a fun vacation with Monica, she relaxes me - her idea of a vacation is ... "riding, hiking, drinking wine, exploring something cool, eating yummy food, watching lycra-clad spanish/italian/luxembourgian men ride by really fast, looking at art/antiquities, and the like. Napping/sleeping in can probably wait until I get home from France. The words Mont Ventoux caught my eye as I skimmed by the page..." Those were her words. I like her words.

I will try to write up our itinerary to share with you, plus a Tour de France preview, plus update the USA Pro Cycling Challenge Page (at the top of the blog) because a number of people are already looking for information about the pro race in Colorado in August. My curiosities about cycling continue to grow, and I will return to my regular blog posting. Job duties have taken a bit of my time lately, plus I am pleased to announce that this week I received approval for the trademark of the Pedal Dancer® mark for goods and services (now I get to use the fancy ®).

I fully intend to bring you more travel plans and tips, better and improved maps, more photography, more education, first person accounts, and maybe more goods for sale. For now I have been spending needed time with a few good friends, and thinking much of family. Please send good wishes to my oldest brother Brian who had to start chemo treatment again last week for Hodgkins Lymphoma, after an eight-year remission. An avid runner, Cancer shows no mercy even to an active Father of three. Go out and find a bicycle ride to benefit Cancer research or Cancer patient care. Give them your time, money and attention.

Something has to be done about Cancer. 

These are a few of the many rides available. Various dates and events for cycling events and fundraisers for Cancer research. If the event has passed for 2012 - plan for next year:

In the USA

Amgen Tour of California and their Breakaway from Cancer sponsor

Team Livestrong Events: Livestrong.org 

Breakaway from Cancer^® Represented at The Dempsey Challenge presented by Amgen, Lewiston, ME, October 13 - October 14, 2012 

Cycle for Survival at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center 

24 hours of Booty   

Ride 4 Yellow  

The MN MAJOR River to River Ride

Ovarian Cycle

Central Coast Cancer Challenge, San Luis Obisbo, CA 

Tour des Chutes, Bend, OR

Huntsman 140, Salt Lake City, UT 

Cycle for Cancer, Miami, FL

In Canada 

Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer, Clagary, AB

In the UK 

CancerResearch UK 

Cyclists Fighting Cancer 

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What tires and wheels do the pros use?

Wheels, tires and the importance of pressure

2013 Updates:

To see a list of the what bikes, components, wheels and tires the pros will use in 2013, please go to: ProTeam Equipment 2013 - Bikes, Components, Wheels, Tires

To see a list of the what pedals, saddles, clothing and helmets the pros will use in 2013, please go to: ProTeam Equipment 2013 - Pedals, Saddles, Clothing, Helmets

Recommended reading today comes from Jan Heine, Editor, Bicycle Quarterly.


Bicycle Quarterly: Performance of Tires

We've all had the casual conversation with our ride partners while out on a ride - how much air pressure do you fill your tires to? The onslaught of opinions easily follows typically beginning with "I always...," or "So-and-so said... ," I walk away more confused than ever. This blog post by Off The Beaten Path makes sense. Wider softer construction with lower PSI within the recommended tire pressure rolls faster.

The other day I was out riding in a nearby mountain town and a local began admiring my bike. "Wow that bike sure looks nice," he began, "What is it like to ride? Those tires sure look fragile, can you roll over this dirt if you want, or will they pop?" Pop? Pop is one word I had never thought of to describe my wheels. To me, my Reynolds wheels and Vittoria tires feel solid and reliable. The gentleman told me he hadn't been on a bike "like that" since his first Schwinn bike he had as a child. I explained that he would probably first notice how far forward his body would feel over the front wheel but that the wheels would be quite sturdy. He smiled and before departing said "maybe I'll get a bike again."

(I probably should have recommended this video)

Wheels - they are what makes cycling go round and round   Photo by PedalDancer.com/Karen

Here is a list of the wheel and tire sponsorships for the UCI ProTeams, please keep in mind that as Nick Legan of VeloNews writes, "Wheels are one area where a lot of rebranding occurs." Sometimes riders have a preference for riding certain wheels and will disregard the team sponsorship. Often wheel sponsorship is loose and teams will ride whatever is fastest or best suited for the parcours of the day. Some wheel changes can be blatant by simply putting on a different wheelset, or teams will go to the trouble of taping over the brand logo. Some will rebrand the wheels with the team name rather than showing the true manufacturer.

Still I was curious to see how wheel and tire sponsorships are spread out across the teams, so I put together this concise table. No one uses a Reynolds / Vittoria combo like I do, but I was surprised at the variety.

2012 list of professional ProTeam tires and wheels:

 PROTEAM                                             WHEELS  TIRES     |     other brands used for TT or spring classics

ASTANA PRO TEAM (KAZ)	Corima	Specialized      Ambrosio, Veloflex
AG2R LA MONDIALE (FRA)	Reynolds	Michelin
BMC RACING TEAM (USA)	Easton	Continental
EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI (ESP)	Shimano	Vittoria              Pro
FDJ-BIGMAT (FRA)	Shimano	Hutchinson       Pro
GARMIN-BARRACUDA (USA)	Mavic	Mavic               Veloflex
KATUSHA TEAM RUS)	Mavic	Mavic
LAMPRE – ISD (ITA)	Fulcrum	Vittoria              Ambrosio
LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE (ITA)	Mavic	Mavic
LOTTO-BELISOL (BEL)	Campagnolo	Continental
MOVISTAR TEAM (ESP)	Campagnolo	Continental
OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP (BEL)	Zipp	Specialized       Zipp, FMB
ORICA-GREENEDGE  (AUS)	Shiimano	Continental
RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM (NED)	Shimano	Vittoria              Pro
RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK (LUX)	Bontrager	Schwalbe
SAXO BANK (DEN)	Zipp	Specialized       FMB, Continental, Veloflex
SKY PROCYCLING GBR)	Shimano	Continental       Pro, HED
VACANSOLEIL-DCM  (NED)	FFWD	Vredestein

A Liquigas-Cannondale mechanic cleaning the team's Mavic wheels in California
Photo by PedalDancer.com/Karen

Related articles on wheels:

Hutchinson launch seven new tires by BikeRadar.com
Reynolds launch 2013 Aero road wheels by BikeRadar.com
Shimano tests prototype wheel with deep section rim at Paris-Nice by VeloNews
Wheels, tires and brake pads for big riders by Nick Legan
The joys of hand-built wheels, flat-fixing tips by Nick Legan
Stretching tubulars, lawyer tabs by Nick Legan
Tire choice for an epic, re-gluing tubulars by Nick Legan
Roadside tubular flats and hops in tubular tires by Nick Legan

Time Trial Wheels:

News: Mavic unveils Cosmic CXR 80 aero wheels
See the BikeRadar.com video - CXR 80 Development (courtesy: Mavic)
New Specialized clincher TT tire at the Tour de France 

Pro wheels: a choice of several ProTeams

A few teams use Pro disc wheels for time trials   Photo by PedalDancer.com/Karen

Video: Team Sky's time trial Prototype disc wheels

If you are wondering about the location of this video and where there exists a place on earth where bike wheels seemingly never touch dirt ... you have just had a tour of the Sky team's portable mechanics trailer (a temperature sealed environment where, I am guessing, shoes must be left at the sliding glass door). This trailer must be on every mechanic's wish list.

Team Sky's mobile mechanics trailer parked in Belgium   Photo by PedalDancer.com/Karen

Spring Classics Wheels:

Related Articles: The tires, wheels and pressures of Paris-Roubaix by VeloNews,
American Classic Hurricane wheels stand up to Belgian cobbles by Nick Legan
Clinchers for Paris Roubaix sportif by Nick Legan
Specialized Roubaix Armadillo Elite Tire by RKP  

A Saxo-Bank mechanic works on their Zipp wheels in Belgium  Photo by PedalDancer.com/Karen

What I saw the day before the 2012 Tour of Flanders - Ambrosio wheels being prepared and taped over.

Prepping wheels the day before Tour of Flanders  Photo by PedalDancer.com/Karen

Ambrosio wheels with some clever electrical tape added  Photo by PedalDancer.com/Karen

A Lampre-ISD team mechanic works to prep wheels in Kortrijk, Belgium  Photo by PedalDancer.com/Karen

Video - Pillars of French Cycling - Hutchinson; wheels for the Paris-Roubaix (for FDJ and Europcar)

Attention to detail

Pumping tires in Brugge minutes before the start of the 2012 Tour of Flanders
Photo by PedalDancer.com/Karen

Photo by PedalDancer.com/Karen

Flats happen, especially at the Paris-Roubaix, Arenberg Forest   Photo by PedalDancer.com/Karen

And then there was Ted King's story about his flat at the Paris-Roubaix: Done and Dusted
 - - - - - - - - - -  Related posts by Pedal Dancer:

What pedals do the pros use?
2012 ProTeam Bikes
2012 Time Trial Bikes

Professional cycling teams for 2012 - visit the team websites for other equipment sponsors and partners
Team                                                                               DS                                                                       team website

AG2R La Mondiale	ALM		Vincent LAVENU	www.cyclisme.ag2rlamondiale.fr
Astana Pro Team	AST		Giuseppe MARTINELLI	www.astana.lu
BMC Racing Team	BMC		John LELANGUE	www.bmc-racing.com
Euskaltel-Euskadi	EUS		Gorka GERRIKAGOITIA ARRIEN	fundacioneuskadi.com
FDJ-BigMat	FDJ		Marc MADIOT	www.equipecyclistefdj.fr
Garmin-Barracuda	GRM		Alan PEIPER	www.slipstreamsports.com/
Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team	GEC		Matthew WHITE	www.greenedgecycling.com
Katusha Team	KAT		Valerio PIVA	www.katushateam.com
Lampre - ISD	LAM		Roberto DAMIANI	www.teamlampreisd.com
Liquigas-Cannondale	LIQ		Dario MARIUZZO	www.teamliquigas.com
Lotto Belisol Team	LTB		Marc SERGEANT	www.lottobelisol.be
Movistar Team	MOV		José Luis LAGUIA MARTINEZ	www.movistarteam.com
Omega Pharma-Quick Step	OPQ		Davide BRAMATI	www.omegapharma-quickstep.com
Rabobank Cycling Team	RAB		Frans MAASSEN	www.rabosport.nl
RadioShack-Nissan	RNT		Luca GUERCILENA/td>	www.leopard.lu
Sky Pro Cycling	SKY		Sean YATES	www.teamsky.com
Team Saxo Bank	SAX		Bjarne RIIS	www.slipstreamsports.com
Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team	VCD		Hilaire VAN DER SCHUEREN	www.vacansoleildcm.com