Team Europcar will be sponsored by the eponymous hire car company for a further two years, the team has announced on the Tour de France’s rest day. Europcar has supported the French team, run by Jean-René Bernadeau, since 2011, and the deal through 2015 will take the relationship up to five years.
“At the end of 2010, Europcar chose cycling, because it is a sport that reaches out to the public and is practiced around the world,” said Marcus Bernhardt, Europcar Group Sales Manager. “The attributes and values of the sport reflect those of our Group, an international company that is close to its customers, attentive to their travel needs and that innovates to create the service solutions of tomorrow.
“We are very proud to continue this great adventure and we have no doubts that the sponsorship will continue to give us complete satisfaction.”
Since 2011 Team Europcar has enjoyed some of its best results since its formation as Bonjour in 2000. Its first Tour de France saw Thomas Voeckler wear the Maillot Jaune of the Tour de France for ten days, and finish the race in fourth overall, while Pierre Rolland took the prestigious stage to Alpe d’Huez and took home the best young rider’s white jersey.
2012 saw more Tour success for Voeckler and Rolland, with the former taking two stages and the overall mountains competition, and the latter winning on the summit finish of La Toussuire.
The team has also picked up several more smaller victories and, although success at the Tour has as yet eluded the French team, Rolland has spent several days in the mountains jersey; although on some of those days he was second in the classification, behind Maillot Jaune Chris Froome (Team Sky), and is currently fourth after suffering on the stage to Mont Ventoux.
“Team Europcar is a leading team and a powerful source of visibility, especially during the Tour de France,” said Eric Dodin, General Manager of Europcar France. “To give you an example, total top of mind awareness of the brand jumped by 8 points in France following the first year of sponsorship in 2011. We are very proud of this team, which carries our brand’s colours with such style and is so hungry for victories!”
The securing of Europcar for a further two years should help Bernadeau’s team hold on to its stars, many of whom have already been linked to possible moves elsewhere had the team been forced to fold.