Dutch Professional Continental team Vacansoleil has announced that the Dutch holiday company has committed to two more years of sponsorship, according to De Telegraaf. The new deal will extend the company’s commitment through 2013, where the current deal was due to expire at the end of 2011. The team and sponsor have yet to announce any further details as they are waiting to see what the International Cycling Union’s (UCI) plans will be for next season.
“Within two months from now it should be clear,” said manager Daan Luijkx Tuesday. “I’m very curious. Hopefully we get the chance to join the big races. It would be nice if we could get a ProTour license. We have recently demonstrated that we can compete in the big races. On this basis, the details are completed and we are also looking for possible reinforcements [to the squad]. All options are open.”
Vacansoleil – along with Dutch ProContnental rival Skil-Shimano – was one of the more aggressive teams in the early part of the season, in order to impress the organisers of the biggest races of the year: the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia. With both races starting in the Netherlands – the Giro having just spent three days in the Amsterdam area and the Tour’s Grand Depart set for Rotterdam – both teams were disappointed to miss out on invitations to both, which will not have pleased either sponsor.
In the current World economic situation a number of teams have either had problems holding on to sponsors, or had to cut budgets. Vacansoleil has been fortunate that it is not only managing to hold on to its sponsor, but there will potentially be an increase in budget.
“In these times it is very difficult to approach sponsors so for us it is a luxury that we now can extend the contract. We have also given the space to attract another sponsor. That would give us even more financial space,” Luijkx added.