by Simon Crisp
Who are the sponsor? Giant are, as the name suggests, the worlds biggest bicycle making company. Shimano are the Japanese cycle componentry powerhouse who make Dura-Ace, Ultegra 105 and the like.Nationality: Dutch2013 Ranking: 16th Past Stars: Kenny Van Hummel, Jonathan Hivert. Selected Team Palmares: Stages, Vuelta a Espana (John Deglenkob x 5, 2012, Marcel Kittel... Continue Reading →
Who are the sponsor? Movistar are part of Telefonica, a mobile phone network that owns O2 and the like Nationality: Spanish. 2013 Ranking: 1st. Past Stars: Miguel Indurain, Rui Costa, Luis Leon Sanchez, Oscar Pereiro, Juan Antonio Flecha, Joaquim Rodriguez, Denis Menchov Selected Team Palmares: 4 Stages, Tour de France, 1st, 2008 Vuelta a Espana,... Continue Reading →
Who are the sponsor? Katusha is an conglomerate of Russian companies who sponsor the ‘national’ cycling team, mainly sponsored by Itera and Gazprom. It also supposedly means a type of rocket launcher. Nationality: Russian 2013 Ranking: 3rd Past Stars: Denis Menchov, Oscar Freire, Robbie McEwen, Gert Steegmans, Fillipo Pozzato, Ben Swift. Selected Team Palmares: 1st, 2007... Continue Reading →
Who are the sponsor? Tinkoff Bank is Russia’s only bank that specialises in Credit cards, owned by team owner Mr Tinkov. Saxo Bank are a Danish investment bank who’s website is full of words I don’t understand about liquidity and the like.Nationality: Danish.2013 Ranking: 6th Past Stars: Andy Schleck, Frank Schleck, Jens Voigt, Tyler Hamilton, Ivan Basso,... Continue Reading →
Who are the sponsor? Following the withdrawal of Rabobank, there isn’t one – Blanco means, as you might expect, ‘Blank’, as the team uses the money Rabobank was contractually obliged to pay to continue whilst searching for a new sponsor through the Blanco branding. Nationality: Dutch. 2013 Ranking: 11th. Past Stars: Michael Boogerd, Denis Menchov, Michael... Continue Reading →
Who are the sponsor? Trek are a bicycle making company. Nationality: United States. 2013 Ranking: 4th Past Stars: Daniele Bennati, Oliver Zaugg, Linus Gerdemann, Jakob Fuglsang, Andreas Kloden, Jan Bakelandts, Chris Horner Selected Team Palmares: 1st, Tour de France 2010, 1st, Liege-Bastonge-Liege 2009 (Andy Schleck), Stages, Tour de France, (Andy Schleck, 2010, 2011×2, Frank Schleck, 2006+2010,... Continue Reading →
Who are the sponsor? Lotto is the Belgian national lottery, Belisol make windows and doors in Belgium. Nationality: Belgian 2013 Ranking: 18th Past Stars: Cadel Evans, Philippe Gilbert, Robbie McEwen, Chris Horner Selected Team Palmares: Stages, Tour de France, (Andre Greipel x 5, 2011, 2012×3, 2013, Jelle Vanendert, 2011), Stages, Giro d’Italia (Andre Greipel x 2, 2008,... Continue Reading →
Who are the sponsor? Orica are an Australian mining company, whilst GreenEdge is a generic moniker, a la 'Leopard' that was meant to brand the team and advertise for a secondary sponsor.Nationality: Australian2013 Ranking: 13thPast Stars: Robbie McEwen, Stuart O'Grady, Baden Cooke.Selected Team Palmares: TTT, Tour de France 2013, 2x Stages Tour de France, 3x... Continue Reading →
Who are the sponsor? Astana is the umbrella name for the Kazakhstan Cycling project sponsored by an aglomoration of Kazakh companies. Nationality: Kazakh 2012 Ranking: 5th Past Stars: Alexandre Vinokourov, Alberto Contador, Lance Armstrong, Andreas Kloden, Levi Leipheimer, Oscar Pereiro. Selected Team Palmares: 1st, 2013 Giro d'Italia, 1st, 2011 Vuelta a Espana, 1st, 2012 & 2013... Continue Reading →
Who are the sponsor? Sky are a TV broadcaster and media services provider under the umbrella News Corporation company. Nationality: British. 2013 Ranking: 2nd. Past Stars: Mark Cavendish, Michael Rodgers, Lars Peter Nordhaug, Russell Downing, Rigoberto Uran, Simon Gerrans, Thomas Lokvist. Selected Team Palmares: 1st, 2012 Tour de France, 2012 Tour of Romandie, 2011+2012 Dauphine Libere,... Continue Reading →
Sicycle 