Skoda Rides On With UK Cycling Events
The UK division of Czech car manufacturer Skoda has agreed a three-year extension to its sponsorship deal with cycling’s Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour.
Skoda’s relationship with race organiser SweetSpot dates back to 2011, with it now set to continue as the official car partner and mountain jersey sponsor of both races.
As part of the Tours’ and Skoda’s commitment to sustainability, the fleet of cars supporting the races in 2022 and beyond will include the fully electric Enyaq iV and the Octavia iV plug-in hybrid.
The 2022 Tour of Britain will be the 11th consecutive edition to feature the Skoda King of the Mountains competition. The partnership with the Women’s Tour’s equivalent jersey dates back to 2018, although Skoda UK has supported the race as official car partner since its launch in 2014.
Skoda’s continued association with the Women’s Tour focuses on its drive to make the sport of cycling as inclusive as possible, regardless of gender. In June 2020, Skoda UK sponsored the first-ever V-Women’s Tour, a three-day virtual race that took place in the absence of the physical version owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overseen by British sporting legend Dame Sarah Storey, Skoda UK continues to run its Skoda DSI Cycling Academy. This is an annual mentorship scheme, offering young female riders between the age of 18-24 the opportunity to gain insight and experience in the sport of cycling.
Skoda UK Marketing Communications Manager, Jess Charles, said, “Once again, we are working alongside race organiser, SweetSpot, to celebrate the best of cycling across the UK. Skoda will supply a fleet of cars to support the races including our fully-electric Enyaq iV and the Octavia iV plug-in hybrid, which driver assistance and safety features make it one of the most cycle-friendly cars on the road.”
Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour Commercial Director, Miles Rose, added, “We are really excited to be continuing our long-term partnership with Skoda. They play an integral role at our events, ranging back over 10 years, with their vehicles playing a critical part in assisting with the logistical complexity of cycle races.”
The Women’s Tour, the UK’s longest-running UCI Women’s WorldTour event, returns to its traditional early summer date in 2022. The six-stage race will take place between 6th June and 11th June, beginning in Colchester.
This year’s Tour of Britain, running from 4th September to 11th September, will see over 100 of the world’s best riders race from Aberdeen to the Isle of Wight. Further details of both race routes, and the venues for May’s Tour Series events, will be announced in the coming weeks.
Image: SWpix
