The main sponsor still hasn’t been announced for the new Luxembourg team that will house Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck and his brother Frank, but more details are emerging nonetheless. Luxury car marque Mercedez Benz Luxembourg has announced that it will supply all vehicles needed by the squad.
“We look forward to be supporting the ambitious goal of winning the Tour de France for Luxembourg with this new team”, says Gerhard Roth, Administrateur Délégué of Mercedes-Benz Luxembourg S.A. “This partnership with the Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project fits well with our brand philosophy of 'The best or nothing'.”
The deal will see the company provide the team with all the vehicles it needs, namely cars, minibuses and trucks. All will be specially adapted, and it will also provide customized Pro Cycling tour buses.
General manager Brian Nygaard referred to the quality of the vehicles, saying that getting the company on board was important to the team. “The partnership with Mercedes-Benz Luxembourg is based on mutual respect and gives us the opportunity to work with a market leader and a brand at the highest level.”
He also emphasised the link to the country. “We are an international team with a deep commitment to Luxembourg. A big part of our fanbase is here, our riders Andy and Fränk Schleck live here with their families, and now, we will also have our partner Mercedes-Benz Luxembourg, which has been firmly connected to the country and its people for more than a hundred years.”
Aside from the brothers Schleck, the team will also include riders such as Jakob Fuglsang, Brice Feillu, Linus Gerdemann, Stuart O’Grady, Daniele Bennati, Robert Wagner and Fabian Wegman. Jens Voigt is also expected to move across.
It is thought that the main sponsor will be confirmed shortly. Apart from Mercedes, Trek has also been confirmed as an equipment supplier.
The team is applying for a ProTour licence for 2011 onwards, and wants to win the Tour next year.