Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team English-language PR efforts

[joe_papp]

Something that's become very apparent to me, someone who is interested in the back-office workings of pro cycling, is how much more effectively the Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team is communicating with its fans in the English-speaking regions, both directly and via the media. Not that Patrick Lefevere ran a Mickey Mouse-operation before or anything, but it's really pleasing to see the outreach efforts and level of engagement w/ fans and media outside of Belgium.

(feel free to agree/disagree, discuss, or simply ignore. i just wanted to share this as it's been of interest to me for awhile.)

 

[El Pistolero]

Yeah, they definitely want to become more international and they're also increasing their interaction with the fans. What's not to like?

 

[canyonball]

Noticed it as well. Together with Movistar. Really like the way both this teams put out information to the fans. Always looking for updates on their respective site and twitter account.

We need more of this

 

[joe_papp]

...We need more of this

Agreed. I'd like to have a boutique consultancy advising all these teams on how best to develop their fan bases, promote their sponsors and help said sponsors reach their own marketing goals, etc. using both traditional and new/evolving techniques and means of engagement.

 

[luckyboy]

Yeah I've noticed this too. They're the only team I really look for updates from though.

 

[Andy99]

Yeah agree. A lot of teams are doing great things in this respect.

Twitter is coming into its own too.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I agree, they have the best pr.imo

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Movistar have proved an invaluable source of up-to-the-minute information on races without coverage, and OPQS look like following that up by taking it to the next level, if they continue to post on the road season about what's happening in-race the same way they've been keeping us up to speed on Zdeňek Štybar's cross season.

 

[El Pistolero]

Plus their site looks great, unlike GreenEdge

 

[joe_papp]

Plus their site looks great, unlike GreenEdge

Yeah Greenedge's site is quite poorly-designed and disappointing even not in comparison to OPQSPCT! A lot of this has to do with the fact that the Belgians hired a graphic design firm to lead the work on their site, and the technical development work took second stage to perfecting the visual look and feel of the site. Kudos to them.

 

[gustienordic]

Yeah Greenedge's site is quite poorly-designed and disappointing even not in comparison to OPQSPCT! A lot of this has to do with the fact that the Belgians hired a graphic design firm to lead the work on their site, and the technical development work took second stage to perfecting the visual look and feel of the site. Kudos to them.

I'm very impressed as well. I think one thing the teams could work on though is getting cheap merchandise out there for fans. Mainly I'm talking about T-shirts and hats, cuz those generally can be bought for under $25 and are great for people to show their support.

EDIT: I was looking at the Movistar site, and I really wanted to buy the fan pack with a shirt & podium hat... it was 40ish Euros but then shipping was 30 Euros... so there is no way I could do that.

 

[Thomsena]

Brian Holm effect.