New team strip to be unveiled at Tour de France

Mark CavendishThe HTC-Columbia team’s reputation as one which embraces technology received a further boost, as did its budget, when a new partnership was announced today with Skype.

According to the team, the deal has followed the long-time use of the global telecommunications service, and the Skype logo will make its debut on the team jerseys for the Tour de France.

The squad boasts riders of the calibre of Mark Cavendish, who has clocked up a staggering ten stage wins in just two years, and triple world time trial champion Michael Rogers. They will target the sprint stages and general classification respectively in the Tour, and should get the new partnership off to a successful start.

“Team HTC-Columbia has used Skype for more than three years to keep in contact with colleagues around the world and to stay close to friends and family back home,” said the US ProTour team in a statement.

Team owner Bob Stapleton explained why he felt the partnership was a logical one. “Skype offers innovative communication products and has ambitious marketing objectives,” said Stapleton, who had a successful history in the telecommunications industry prior to becoming involved in Pro cycling . “Our team hails from 20 different countries worldwide, so taking the decision for us to join the millions of people and businesses around the world that use Skype was simple.”

VeloNation understands that Skype is not becoming a title sponsor of the team, but that the new deal does represent a long-term arrangement.

Pro riders are away from home for many weeks of the year, with riders from the southern hemisphere in particular spending significant periods of time away from their families and friends. According to Neil Stevens, General Manager of Skype’s Consumer Business Unit, the technology enabled one of the team’s new riders to see an important moment in his child’s life. “Hayden Roulston has watched his baby crawl, stand and take his first steps over Skype video,” he said.

The HTC-Columbia team for the Tour de France comprises Cavendish, Rogers, recent Tour de Suisse stage winner Tony Martin, Mark Renshaw, Bernhard Eisel, Bert Grabsch, Adam Hansen, Maxime Monfort, and Kanstantsin Sivtsov.

The team also fields a hugely successful women’s squad, which regularly tops the standings in international events.

Today’s announcement marks the third consecutive year when the team has unveiled a new backer on the eve of the Tour de France. In a time when other outfits such as Saxo Bank are fighting for sponsorship, it reflects an achievement every bit as successful as each of the victories it has already picked up this season.

The new team kit will be launched at the HTC-Columbia’s team presentation in Rotterdam on Friday. Fans of the squad can watch a live webcast at www.highroadsports.com.