Stepping up its backing of the sport, it has been confirmed that the Italian chemical company Mapei will sponsor the world road race championships for the next three years, as well as several other cycling-related projects.
The UCI has today announced the wide-reaching deal, which it said would also include ‘a partnership between the Mapei Sport Research Centre and the World Cycling Centre (the UCI’s training centre), the participation of Mapei in the UCI “reCycling” programme and the Italian company’s scientific contribution to the “UCI Forum”, which will be organised for the first time in 2012.’
Mapei is best known as the sponsor of a highly successful team between 1993 and 2002, which won multiple races including Classics, stage races plus the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España. It stepped back from that aspect of the sport due to disillusionment with some doping cases, but put its name behind the Mapei Sports Research Centre, which was headed by the well-regarded coach Aldo Sassi until his untimely death last winter. It also helped create the World Cycling Centre, and has sponsored numerous UCI road, mountain bike and cyclo-cross events, including the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Road World Championships.
According to the UCI, it will become the main sponsor of the latter for the next three years, and have an increased visibility as a result.
“Mapei is proud to participate this year and the following years as main sponsor of the Road World Championships,” said Mapei chief Giorgio Squinzi. “This strengthens our long relationship with cycling, which comes from the sharing of the same values: hard work, will and passion, as well as the knowledge that every victory is the result of conscientious planning and constant teamwork.
“This passion, handed down from my father, is also related to our activity: our products and technologies have contributed to the construction of the most important sport facilities in the world.”
The road worlds will be held in Copenhagen this year, with Limburg and Florence following in 2012 and 2013.
UCI President Pat McQuaid has hailed the company’s backing of those races plus the sport itself, saying that its contribution has been very considerable.
“I would like to thank Mapei. Its commitment to cycling over the last twenty years has contributed to the growth of our sport, of which it is one of the most faithful sponsors,” the Irishman stated. “Under its President and Director, Mr Giorgio Squinzi, who is a true cycling lover, Mapei has multiplied its initiatives for our sport, often demonstrating great inventiveness, not only in Italy but on an international scale.”