ESPN is teaming up with Peloton to give viewers new content.
The sports network will air its first Peloton competition featuring 16 pro athletes Saturday at noon. The ride will be two 20-minute classes, one each for female and male athletes.
Competing in the women’s division are Victoria Azarenka, Allyson Felix, Morgan Pressel, Monica Puig, Colleen Quigley, Kyla Ross, Michele Smith, and Dawn Staley. The men’s division will include Mike Golic Jr., Matt Grevers, Gordon Hayward, Booger McFarland, Rory McIlroy, Kyle Rudolph, Justin Thomas, and Bubba Watson.
Peloton said it would donate 1 million meals to the Food Bank for New York City if the athletes collectively reached an output of 3,000 between both rides.
Tune in to watch pro athletes come together to compete for the top spot on the Leaderboard. The stakes? Ultimate bragging rights, plus a donation of one million meals to Food Bank For New York City if they reach a total of 3,000 output across both rides. pic.twitter.com/uzWvNFBGVI
— Peloton (@onepeloton) May 26, 2020
The hiatus of professional sporting events caused by the coronavirus pandemic has forced ESPN to get creative in how it fills its schedule. The network moved up the release of The Last Dance, a 20-hour documentary about Michael Jordan and has been re-airing historic games and 30 for 30 marathons.
Most professional sports were forced to pause their seasons in mid-March because of the health crisis, but some have since resumed without crowds, including UFC and NASCAR. The NBA is reportedly considering resuming games at Florida’s Disney World. Meanwhile, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that teams in his state could return to training camps and encouraged them to consider holding games without audiences present.
