Sky Extends Pinarello Partnership

Team Sky Pro Cycling has extended its sponsorship and supply deal with Cicli Pinarello bikes for a further year, in a relationship spanning back to 2009. The deal will now run until the end of the 2013 road cycling season and will see the Italian company continue to supply the team with bikes.

The British team includes Tour favourite Bradley Wiggins and 2011 green jersey winner Mark Cavendish.

Team Sky’s head of operations Carsten Jeppesen said: ‘Team Sky are really happy to have Pinarello as a partner and look forward to building upon what is already a really strong working relationship.’

‘From a performance perspective we have come a long way in the three years we have been working with Pinarello to date. Their dedication to performance and servicing the team really sets them apart.’

President of Cicli Pinarello Fausto Pinarello added: ‘Working with Team Sky has been hugely rewarding for Pinarello in the last three years and we are delighted that the team will again use our bikes during the 2013 season.’

‘Pinarello and Team Sky have worked closely together to develop our bikes and we’re proud to have played a part in Team Sky becoming the best team in the world. 2012 has been a great season so far but there is so much more to come in the near and long-term future.’

Team Sky are using the Dogma 2 road race bike and the Graal time trial bike at this year’s Tour de France, which begun on 30th June.

Mark Cavendish spoke at last month’s Nolan Partners Sport Industry Breakfast Club, and explained that his preparations for the London 2012 Olympic Games may mean that he will win less stages at this year’s Tour. Watch full highlights of the Breakfast at Sport Industry TV.

However, Cavendish showed his sprinting prowess to beat Andre Greipel by half a bike wheel to win the second stage of the Tour de France.

It was Cavendish’s 21st stage victory in the Tour, to move sixth on his own overall, one behind Lance Armstrong.