Are merging oil companies the mystery backer?
Editor’s note: go here for the latest on this story
After several months of waiting, the new title sponsor of the 1t4i team will finally be unveiled this morning
The new identity of the team will be broadcast on the team’s website, www.1t4i.com, starting at 11.30 AM GMT, with the rebranded team kit being unveiled there.
“We are looking forward to this great day. It is a big day for cycling and of course also for the sponsor and the team,” said team co-manager Sissy van Alebeek.
Speculation has been rife as to who the new backer could be. Earlier this month it was suggested that merging oil companies North Sea Group and Argos Oil might be the sponsor; the latter is already one of the team’s sub-sponsors, while North Sea Group has been linked to it in the past.
Fueling such speculation is the fact that today is also the date of the announcement of the new merger company. The websites of both sites are currently pointing to a holding page saying that the new site will be online later today.
The team has had a successful start to the season, with Marcel Kittel (pictured) clocking up four wins thus far. He took stage two of this week’s Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde, two stages in the Tour of Oman and one in the Etoile de Besseges. Time trial specialist Patrick Gretsch was best in the prologue of the Vuelta a Andalucia. Other riders such as Tom Veelers, John Degenkolm, Roger Kluge and Simon Geschke have gone close to wins.
Project 1t4i was the working title of the team until the new title sponsor could be disclosed. It was announced last year and stands for team spirit, inspiration, integrity, improvement and innovation.
The new-look squad will compete in Sunday’s Ronde Van Vlaanderen, where Degenkolb will be one of the watched riders. He finished a fine fifth in Milan-Sanremo.
Watch the launch here
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