Skil-Shimano gets a new title sponsor

[WillemS]

More information is coming in. Skil's manager, Iwan Spekenbrink, revealed that the new sponsor's main focuses are France, Germany, and the Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), but mainly in Germany. So it's almost definitely a German company.

Second, they are busy with a woman's team. Only, the deadline for UCI team registration is coming up and they have just started to make the initial business plan of the team. It is therefore not sure if they'll make it on time, but they are trying to.

Third, about not releasing the name of the company, Sprekenbrink said that the company is currently preparing a new communications strategy, which will launch next spring. That's why they're waiting with the release of the name.

Source: http://nos.nl/artikel/276943-vrouwenploeg-skil-niet-uitgesloten.html (Dutch)

Google Translate to English

 

[craig1985]

What big German companies are there that have a strong demographic in France and the Benelux?

 

[spalco]

What big German companies are there that have a strong demographic in France and the Benelux?

Siemens, VW, Mercedes, Metro, Bayer? The potential list is very long, and I think there might by a lot of PR synergy with cycling with companies trying to look more "green" and stuff.

 

[Nielsa]

...Mercedes and other car companies?

 

[just some guy]

As I said in the General News thread a couple of days a go - I hope it is Mercedes would make my year and a big F U to Becca.

 

[spalco]

Yeah, that would be funny. Although if what WillemS said is accurate, Mercedes sounds like a less likely candidate since they are truly global and not especially focused on Benelux+France.

 

[WillemS]

Yeah, that would be funny. Although if what WillemS said is accurate, Mercedes sounds like a less likely candidate since they are truly global and not especially focused on Benelux+France.

I don't know how accurate it is, the source is the dutch national broadcaster, the NOS, quoting Spekenbrink. The NOS is the Dutch version of the BBC and, in normal circumstances, pretty accurate, although they've been better in the past. I'll search for additional sources as well.

EDIT: all current additional sources quote the NOS. So no independent sources yet.

 

[theyoungest]

I don't know how accurate it is, the source is the dutch national broadcaster, the NOS, quoting Spekenbrink. The NOS is the Dutch version of the BBC and, in normal circumstances, pretty accurate, although they've been better in the past. I'll search for additional sources as well.

EDIT: all current additional sources quote the NOS. So no independent sources yet.

Spekenbrink says in that radio interview that the sponsor interests are in Germany first and foremost, this could mean that it's a German sponsor or that it's a sponsor who's looking for more business in Germany.

Skil is actually itself a company which is mostly focused on Germany, France, and the Benelux. Maybe Bosch (Skil's mother company) takes over as a title sponsor?

 

[WillemS]

Skil is actually itself a company which is mostly focused on Germany, France, and the Benelux. Maybe Bosch (Skil's mother company) takes over as a title sponsor?

I think that's probable. But I guess we'll have to wait and see. There are just too many German companies.

 

[L'arriviste]

What big German companies are there that have a strong demographic in France and the Benelux?

A nice one would be TUI, the travel company. Never understood why more travel companies haven't followed on from Vacansoleil, whose Dutch base (cf. Skil-Shimano as a NL team) could attract a firm like that.

 

[theyoungest]

A nice one would be TUI, the travel company. Never understood why more travel companies haven't followed on from Vacansoleil, whose Dutch base (cf. Skil-Shimano as a NL team) could attract a firm like that.

The sponsor being a travel company could explain the "strategic reasons" for only releasing the name in March/April: the spring is when most holidays are booked. I remember Vacansoleil saying the Giro was important to them for that very same reason (they didn't really live up to that though).

 

[The Sheep]

The Green thing with the CO2 neutral that was in the announcement by skil could probably mean it's an energy company or a car manufacturer.

 

[Nielsa]

Just speculation of course, but if the energy theme is an indicator: Opel Ampera is releasing all over Europe next year, I think in the spring.

 

[42x16ss]

What about Xstrata? I know they are Swiss, not German but they could definitely use the advertising....