Sandbox by Promotheus and SegevSport

Tour de France — On-Air Breakdowns

How NBC Sports' analysts use the Sandbox AR system to break down the 2026 Tour de France — from the Grand Départ in Barcelona through the opening stages. 13 example clips, each cut to a single graphic and tagged by type, with what the AR shows and the tactical point.

Broadcast & studio footage from NBC Sports' 2026 Tour de France coverage.
Showreel · the 2026 Tour de France in Sandbox AR — 75 seconds, cut from the opening stages. Individual breakdowns below.
3D peloton

The peloton, rebuilt in 3D

AR showsEight UAE Team Emirates riders modelled on a virtual road, each labelled — Pogačar, Yates, Del Toro, McNulty, Wellens, Politt, Vermeersch, Grossschartner.
The pointAnalysts can point to exactly who is riding where, and move riders by hand to show how a team sets up.
Grand Départ · Barcelona · 11s
3D peloton

On air, live from the studio

AR showsThe 3D peloton on the studio table with the analysts behind — Bernal, Baudin, Cort, Pedersen and more.
The pointThe signature Sandbox look that opens the daily tactical breakdown.
Stage 3 · 9s
Team line-up

The team, rider by rider

AR showsThe full UAE Team Emirates-XRG line-up — eight rider portraits with names, on the AR table.
The pointWho is the leader, and who are the domestiques riding for him — laid out before the stage.
Stages 1–2 · 9s
Team line-up

Contenders and their teams

AR showsThe Team Visma–Lease a Bike line-up — Vingegaard with Kuss, Jorgenson, Campenaerts and the crew.
The pointThe men who'll try to take yellow off Pogačar — and the riders protecting them.
Grand Départ · Barcelona · 9s
Elevation

The climb, to scale

AR showsThe virtual road tilts into a 3D gradient profile with the riders positioned on the incline.
The pointYou can see where the gradient bites and how the group strings out as the climb steepens.
Grand Départ · Barcelona · 11s
Elevation

The road becomes the mountain

AR showsThe flat virtual road morphs into the Stage 2 elevation profile, riders climbing the Montjuïc ascents.
The pointOne surface, two views — the bunch on the road, then the same bunch on the gradient.
Stages 1–2 · 10s
Elevation

Where the race is won

AR showsThe Stage 3 elevation profile over an aerial flyover — leaders vs peloton at +2:35, climbs toward Les Angles.
The pointThe categorised climbs and the finish, mapped onto the real Catalan terrain.
Stage 3 · 9s
Elevation

Fly the course

AR showsA 3D aerial flyover of the route through the Catalan mountains and landmarks.
The pointScouts the road ahead — the terrain that will shape the day's tactics.
Stage 3 · 8s
Wind & echelon

Read the crosswind

AR showsA windsock marks the wind direction while the 3D bunch fans out into an echelon across the road.
The pointCrosswinds can split the peloton in minutes — Sandbox shows how the fan forms and who gets caught out.
Stages 1–2 · 10s
Interaction

Move the race by hand

AR showsAn analyst reaches into the AR and repositions individual riders to run a tactic.
The pointA live whiteboard for cycling — what-if scenarios played out on air.
Stages 1–2 · 9s
Interaction

Break down the breakaway

AR showsThe Stage 4 peloton with the sprinters' groups named — Philipsen, Girmay, Pedersen, Matthews.
The pointWho has the legs and the lead-out for a bunch-sprint finish.
Stage 4 · 9s
Rider card

Every rider, in profile

AR showsA rider stat card — photo, team, age, hometown and GC position — over the 3D peloton.
The pointInstant context on the breakaway names most viewers won't yet know.
Stage 3 · 8s
Live sync

Synced to the live race

AR showsSplit-screen: the AR peloton beside the live feed, with the gap (+2:39), km-to-go and speeds.
The pointThe 3D model tracks the real race as the stage unfolds — not a pre-render.
Stages 1–2 · 9s