For three weeks, television commentators will praise sponsor after sponsor in one of the world’s most beautiful sports environments. Of course, I’m talking about the Tour de France.
The event is, by some, described as ”the world’s biggest annual sporting event”.
I won’t get in their, but rather state that depending on how you count, Tour de France really is the largest [insert the fact that makes ”Le Tour” the greatest] in the world. (Isn’t that a-m-a-z-i-n-g!)
But ok, which are the companies you will hear for countless hours the upcoming weeks?
Let’s take a look at the teams’ largest sponsors, also known as their title sponsors.
AG2R LA MONDIALE / France
The team name is an amalgamation of two different financial firms from France; AG2R Group and La Mondiale Group. AG2R Group is an interprofessional insurance and supplementary retirement fund group. La Mondiale Group is an international group for supplementary pension and estate planning insurance.
ASTANA PRO TEAM / Kazakhstan
Team Astana have gotten its name from the capital of Kazakhstan, as well as the colors of the cycling clothes. The actual sponsor is the National Welfare Fund ”Samruk-Kazyna”, a coalition of state-owned companies.
BAHRAIN – MERIDA / Bahrein
Team Bahrain-Merida is an easy one. The name refers to the country Bahrain, whose government funds the team, and Merida, who make bicycles.
BMC RACING TEAM / United States
BMC is an acronym for Bicycle Manufacturing Company. The company is based in Switzerland and manufactures bicycles.
BORA – HANSGROHE / Germany
Two German companies sponsor this team. Bora is a Bavarian manufacturer of extractor fans (pictures) and the second name, Hansgrohe, is one of the world’s leading producers of shower heads.
CANNONDALE DRAPAC PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM / United States
DIRECT ENERGIE / France
The team name Direct Energie comes from French gas and electricity company with the same name.
FDJ / France
FDJ is a short term for Française des Jeux, which operates the French national lottery. It’s a very classic Tour de France team that many spectators cheer some extra for. (Normally without particular success.)
LOTTO SOUDAL / Belgium
As FDJ, Lotto Soudal is named by a gambling (lottery) company. The team has ”Lotto” from Belgium’s lottery, while ”Soudal” works with sealants, foams and adhesives.
MOVISTAR TEAM / Spain
Movistar is a large telecommunications brand, owned by Telefónica. They are operating in Spain and Hispanic American countries.
ORICA – SCOTT / Australia
This one is interesting. Orica is “the world’s largest provider of commercial explosives and innovative blasting systems to the mining, quarrying, oil and gas and construction markets” (source). An odd bird, unlike bike manufacturer Scott.
QUICK – STEP FLOORS / Belgium
Quick-Step, a classic cycling sponsor, is a manufacturer of laminate flooring. They have been sponsoring the team for many, many years – but this is the first year they are solo (which explains the addition of ”Floors” in the name).
TEAM DIMENSION DATA / South Africa
Until last year this team was known as ”Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka”, with ”Qhubeka” being a bicycle-related African charity. However, the team had to cut Qhubeka of the official name because people thought the organization was so risch they no longer needed donations. Dimension Data are an IT company.
TEAM FORTUNEO – OSCARO / France
Fortuneo is an online bank, while Oscaro sells car parts online. There is some questions about if the team name will be Team Fortuneo-Vital, and if you hear that one you might want to know that Vital comes from Vital Concept, who sell agricultural and equestrian equipment.
TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO / Netherlands
How about another lottery brand? This one it’s time for the Dutchmen, explaining the addition ”NL” to the name. The second part, Jumbo, is a supermarket chain.
TEAM SKY / Great Britain
Maybe the most well-known team name these days comes from Great Britain and the television brand Sky.
TEAM SUNWEB / Germany
Sunweb offers summer package holidays, winter sports deals, hotels and all inclusive holidays. A travel brand, that is.
TREK – SEGAFREDO / United States
This combo-name is built from Trek, that makes bicycles, and Segafredo Zanetti, the leading Espresso producer in Italy.
UAE TEAM EMIRATES / United Arab Emirates
Yes, you guessed it, of course the United Arab Emirates has their own team. (Or at least their own team name.)
WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT / France
Wanty is an international company active in the sectors of construction, earthmoving and demolition. Their sponsor-mate, Gobert Group, sell construction materials.
Tour de France – Tour Sponsors
OFFICIAL BROADCASTERS
OFFICIAL PARTNERS
OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS
OFFICIALS SUPPORTERS
TECHNICAL PARTNERS
OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNERS
INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS
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It’s hard to see and feel when you look at the actual event, but Tour de France could be one of the most commercialized sports events in the world.
// Magnus Berglund
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