The future of UCI WorldTour cycling team BMC Racing has been secured after Polish shoe and bag retail group CCC stepped in as the new title sponsor.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it will run for at least the 2019 WorldTour season. Swiss bike manufacturer BMC is stepping away completely from the US-registered team, which has been openly seeking a new main sponsor for some time.
CCC will become the title sponsor of the team while Continuum Sports will continue as the paying agent. The exact title of the team will be determined shortly, but CCC is expected to serve as the sole title sponsor. CCC has been a sponsor at the UCI Professional Continental level since 2006 through its backing of the CCC Sprandi Polkowice outfit. Both Continuum and CC have denied that the new deal will result in a merger of the two teams, but some staff and riders are expected to move up to the WorldTour outfit.
The deal was announced yesterday (Monday) during the first rest day of the 2018 Tour de France, and it was also confirmed that current race leader and 2016 Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet (pictured) would continue as the team’s marquee rider under a new three-year contract.
CCC owner and president Dariusz Milek said: “I am excited to see CCC partner with Continuum Sports and reach the highest level of cycling. We have been looking for an opportunity to join the WorldTour and this was the perfect chance to partner with a well established and respected team, with Greg Van Avermaet as team leader.”
BMC Racing general manager Jim Ochowicz added: “It is no secret that we have been looking for a new title sponsor for 2019 and we are excited to be here today at the biggest cycling race in the world to announce CCC as the title sponsor of Continuum Sports from 2019 onwards.
“CCC president Dariusz Milek shares the same passion for cycling as our organisation and together we can continue to build on the team’s existing success.”