ITV has signed a deal with the Tour de France to broadcast live coverage and highlights until 2015.

ITV4’s coverage of the 2011 Tour attracted a 33 per cent rise in year-on-year audience figures, while the broadcaster also covered the Tour of Britain, Tour Series, Revolution and, for the first time, the Vuelta a Espana.

Coverage is fronted by Gary Imlach, alongside Chris Boardman and Ned Boulting, while Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen provide race commentary. ITV also promised to “extend its digital and online coverage”.

ITV controller of sport Niall Sloane said: “ITV’s coverage of the Tour de France has a terrific reputation with viewers and sports fans and I’m delighted that, in one of the most exciting periods for British cycling, we have secured coverage on ITV4 until 2015.”