All of the cycling teams we see in races have sponsors, they dictate the jersey colours and design, sometimes with…interesting results. For the 2018 season, I’ve hopefully explained what each team sponsor does. Some of the sponsors don’t appear in the team name, but do appear prominently on the jersey so are worthy of a mention. Some of the sponsors are fairly bland and corporate, but some are surprising!
Ag2r-La Mondiale
France
Ag2r – inter-professional insurance and supplementary retirement fund group
La Mondiale – international group for supplementary pension and estate planning insurance
Astana Pro Team
Kazhakstan
Sponsored by the National Welfare Fund “Samruk-Kazyna”, is a sovereign wealth fund and joint stock company in Kazakhstan which owns, either in whole or in part, many important companies in the country, including the national rail and postal service, the state oil and gas company, the state uranium company, Air Astana, some airports, KazakhTelecom and numerous financial groups.
Astana itself is the capital city of Kazakhstan.
Bahrain-Merida
Bahrain
Bahrain – The government of Bahrain funds the team
Merida – Taiwanese bike manufacturer
Bapco – Bapco is the Bahrain Petroleum Company, an integrated national oil company of Bahrain
BMC Racing Team
USA
BMC – Swiss bike manufacturer
Tag Heuer – Swiss luxury manufacturer, e.g. watches
Bora-Hansgrohe
Germany
Bora – German cooking surface and cooking extractor manufacturer
Hansgrohe – German sanitary fittings manufacturer
Dimension Data
South Africa
Dimension Data – is a company specialising in information technology services and provides cycling data during races
Deloitte – Deloitte provides audit, tax, consulting, enterprise risk and financial advisory services
EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale
USA
Education First – Education First is an international education company that specialises in language training, educational travel, academic degree programs, and cultural exchange.
Drapac – Australian-American real estate firm
Cannondale – USA bike manufacturer
Groupama-FDJ
France
Groupama – is a French insurance group focusing on agriculture
FDJ – is the operator of France’s national lottery games
Lotto-Soudal
Belgium
Lotto – The Belgian lottery
Soudal – The company has developed into one of the most important independent producers of silicone and caulks (silicone, polyurethane, Marine Sealants, acrylics), Polyurethane-Foams and adhesives in Europe
Mitchelton-Scott
Australia
Mitchelton – is the team owner’s Australian wine business
Scott – Swiss bike manufacturer
Movistar Team
Spain
Movistar – is a major telecommunications brand owned by Telefónica, operating in Spain and in many Hispanic American countries. Also owns O2 in UK, Germany and Ireland.
Quick-Step Floors
Belgium
Quickstep Floors – Belgian manufacturer of laminate flooring
Lidl – is a German global discount supermarket chain
Latexco – manufactures latex foam components for the bedding industry
Team Katusha-Alpecin
Switzerland
Katusha – sports clothing company, part of ARETI International Group (Oil and Gas) owned by Igor Makarov
Alpecin – German engineering for your hair (shampoo)
Team LottoNL-Jumbo
Netherlands
LottoNL – Dutch lottery
Jumbo – Dutch supermarket chain
BrandLoyalty – creates tailor-made loyalty programs to build consumer engagement for food retailers
Team Sky
Great Britain
Sky – BSkyB is a telecommunications company which serves the United Kingdom. BSkyB provides television and broadband internet services, fixed line and mobile telephone services to consumers and businesses in the United Kingdom.
21st Century Fox – is an American multinational mass media corporation
Team Sunweb
Germany
Sunweb – a Dutch-owned international tour operator
Renson – designs and manufactures a range of commercial and residential energy efficient, natural air ventilation products, structural cladding, solar shading and comfort solutions
Trek-Segafredo
USA
Trek – USA bike manufacturer
Segafredo – Italian coffee company
UAE – Team Emirates
United Arab Emirates
UAE – The government of the United Arab Emirates funds the team
Emirates – is an airline based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The airline is a subsidiary of The Emirates Group, which is wholly owned by the government of Dubai’s Investment Corporation of Dubai.
First Abu Dhabi Bank – is a bank operating in the United Arab Emirates
