Canadian bicycle manufacturer Argon 18 has agreed a three-year deal to become a title sponsor and bike provider to German ProContinental cycling outfit Team NetApp – Endura.
The agreement, which takes effect from January 1, will allow Argon 18 to join cooktops and cooktop extractor systems manufacturer Bora as the new main sponsors of the squad, which will be known as Bora – Argon 18 from the 2015 season.
Bora this month signed a five-year deal with the squad, which is targeting a place in the elite WorldTour in 2017. Team NetApp – Endura enjoyed success at the recent Tour de France as a wildcard entry, with Czech rider Leopold König finishing seventh in the overall classification.
Argon 18 founder Gervais Rioux said: “It’s a distinct boost for the Canadian company’s international visibility, since Argon 18 will be mentioned every time the team’s name will appear. For us, this was very important. It’s one of the many reasons why this team was the perfect fit for us. This partnership will also give our brand unprecedented international exposure, as well as provide our R&D division invaluable feedback and insight.”
Argon 18 president Martin Rioux added: “From a business standpoint, (Germany) is important for Argon 18, since it’s Europe’s biggest bike market. Germany is an economic force that has a strong influence on the dominant trends.”