This year’s Paris Roubaix Femmes winners, EF Education-TIBCO-SVB have confirmed to CyclingNews today that they are due to lose both their TIBCO and SVB funding at the end of this season. It will come as no surprise to fans following wider news stories, to see SVB pull out of their funding but TIBCO is a relative shock. The software company has been part of the team since 2006, an incredibly long time in women’s cycling.
“I can’t thank TIBCO and SVB enough for their amazing support over the years. Our partnerships survived everything from the 2008 recession through the COVID pandemic, TIBCO and SVB’s long-standing support for women’s sports is a testament to their commitment to women in the workplace. The jump to World Tour status required a significant increase in their financial sponsorship. The integrity and commitment of both TIBCO and SVB have been made clear by their continued funding of our team through the 2023 season, despite dramatic financial and economic turmoil.
I am incredibly proud of what we achieved with TIBCO and SVB over almost two decades. We grew from a local team sponsored by Palo Alto Bicycles to a World Tour team with EF Education that just won Paris Roubaix, the toughest race in the world. Over almost 20 years, we developed numerous national champions and helped dozens of women achieve their goals of competing at the top level of the sport.
Our riders were able to compete at the world championships, the Olympics, and the first women’s Tour de France in over 30 years. More importantly, the team building and leadership skills and confidence that these women developed through their success in cycling will remain with them for the rest of their lives.”
Linda Jackson, EF Education-TIBCO-SVB team manager
The Genesis of TIBCO
The team’s story begins in 2004 with the formation of the Palo Alto Bicycles Women’s Team, which soon attracted the attention of The Information Bus Company (TIBCO), who joined as sponsors. The team, going through a few names like Team TIBCO and TIBCO-To the Top, quickly established a foothold in the women’s cycling scene. From the outset, the vision for Team TIBCO-SVB was to create a robust development program for women cyclists and a competitive professional racing team. To this end, the team focused on recruiting emerging talents, fostering a supportive team environment, and building a rigorous training programme.
Stepping onto the Global Stage
In 2010, Team TIBCO-SVB took its first step onto the global stage by securing a UCI licence, allowing them to compete in international races. Over the years, the team has expanded its roster to include riders from around the world, further enhancing its competitiveness and reach. Competing at this level allowed the team to showcase their abilities in prestigious races like the Tour de France Femmes, the Giro Donne, the Tour of Flanders and naturally the Paris Roubaix Femmes (won by Alison Jackson in 2023), continually delivering impressive performances.
The most recent chapter in the team’s history began in 2022, with EF Education becoming the title sponsor. With this partnership, the team has become EF Education-TIBCO-SVB, a name that reflects the team’s commitment to education and empowerment through sport. Under this new banner, the team has continued to uphold its ethos of developing talent, promoting women’s cycling, and pursuing excellence. Riders like Lauren Stephens and Zoe Backstedt have shone in the EF Education-TIBCO-SVB colours, putting in standout performances in races worldwide.
The EF Education-TIBCO-SVB women’s cycling team has come a long way since its inception. Its rise from a local cycling team to a global contender is a testament to the determination, vision, and talent that has characterised the team throughout its history.
