British Continental team looking to step up a level next year
British Continental team Sigma Sport-Specialized has secured Contracts for Difference (CFD) provider IG Markets as title sponsor for 2012. The company is perhaps best known as a co-sponsor of WorldTour team Sky Procycling, but also has interests in cycling through its Pro Cycling Index, which includes such factors as panache in ranking the top riders in the sport.
The team, which has long been supported by Hampton Wick bike shop Sigma Sport, will be known as Team IG Sigma Sport in 2012, and will look to step up a level in the coming season. In its mainly domestic programme in 2011, Sigma Sport-Specialized’s biggest race saw Russell Hampton wear the Tour of Britain mountains jersey in the early stages and finish the race in 24th place; IG Markets was the title sponsor of the race’s yellow jersey.
“We are delighted to become Title Partner of Team IG Sigma Sport, which is a significant further investment in British cycling,” said Olly Stevens, IG Markets’ Head of Sponsorship. “We have been impressed with their professionalism and their ability to challenge the more established teams. Their aggressive style of racing in 2011 especially at the Tour of Britain was fantastic to watch and we are looking forward to supporting the team throughout 2012 and beyond.“
For the team, the securing of a new sponsor will hopefully allow it to build on its promising 2011 results.
“Having IG Markets on board gives us a great opportunity to take the team to the next level,” said Ian Whittingham, Director at Sigma Sport. “We’ve got great equipment sponsors for 2012 and the riders have been carefully selected to take the previous success even further”
The team will continue to ride Specialized bikes for a further two years and, even though the US company loses its place in the name, it too is optimistic about the team’s immediate future.
“Having IG on board gives the team a great opportunity to continue to build on the success of the past few years in 2012,” reads a statement. “The squad has retained its core group of riders and added some riders who will keep the team racing aggressively in all the major national races. This style of racing is what attracted Specialized to be involved with the project and has been proud to be part of it as it’s developed, now with IG the team can start to plan for the future.”
Recently retired long-standing Sigma Sport rider, and former British champion, Matt Stephens will be team manager in 2012, and echoed those sentiments.
“We’re delighted to have a industry leaders supporting our team again in 2012, having the best equipment and kit is key to running a professional team, and with our sponsors and partners for 2012 we’ve definitely achieved this.”
The team will be officially launched at the London Bike Show in January 12th.
Team IG Sigma Sport 2012 line up
Steven Burke, Dan Craven, Tom Murray, Simon Richardson, Steve Lampier, Tom Last, Simon Gaywood, Wouter Sybrandy, Jake Hales, Peter Hawkins, Andrew Griffiths