Officials from High Road Sports and Columbia Sportswear Company today
officially unveiled the new, official Team Columbia uniform (also called
the “kit”) and
equipment and announced the final roster for the Tour de France.
The nine Tour de France riders, who include George Hincapie, Mark
Cavendish, Kim Kirchen, Gerald Ciolek, Marcus Burghardt, Kanstantsin
Sivtsov, Adam Hansen, Bernhard Eisel and Thomas Lövkvist,
were also introduced in the new team kits. George Hincapie will act as
team captain, having completed 12 editions of the Tour de France in his
career, young sprinters Cavendish and Ciolek will be aiming for stage
wins in the sprint stages and Kim Kirchen will be the protected rider
for the General Classification.
Columbia Sportswear Company’s sponsorship of
Team Columbia provides an ideal opportunity to elevate the positioning
of Columbia in multiple European markets by communicating the company’s
authentic, outdoor, active, American brand to target consumers. By
sponsoring one of the top men’s and women’s
cycling teams in the world, Columbia can leverage the international
popularity and broad media reach of the cycling sport among enthusiast
and recreational audiences and promote Columbia’s
outdoor brand leadership in Europe as well as globally. In addition to
the Columbia brand and logo, the team jersey will prominently feature
the words Omni-Shade, the company’s
sun-protective apparel initiative.
“This is a very exciting time for the Columbia
brand as we expand our reach and build product awareness to cycling and
outdoor enthusiasts around the world,” said
Tim Boyle, president and chief executive officer of Columbia Sportswear
Company. “The professional cyclists on Team
Columbia, as well as anyone who enjoys riding a bike, need outdoor
apparel that keeps them cool, comfortable and protects them all day in
the sun. Columbia is pleased to promote a sport that is beloved by
millions of people around the globe who also enjoy the outdoors and
deserve the best off-bike apparel for their own activities.”
“We are excited to line up as Team Columbia
with such a great group of riders,” says Bob
Stapleton. “Many of our riders are young and
already have what it takes to be a part of the Tour team. This is very
encouraging as we know they have a very bright future and can learn a
lot from the experienced guys on the team like George and Kim.”
About Columbia Sportswear Company:
Founded in 1938 in Portland, Oregon, Columbia Sportswear Company is a
global leader in the design, sourcing, marketing and distribution of
active outdoor apparel and footwear. As one of the largest outerwear
manufacturers in the world and a leading seller of skiwear in the United
States, the company has developed an international reputation for
quality, performance, functionality and value. The company manages a
portfolio of outdoor brands including Columbia Sportswear, Montrail,
Mountain Hardwear, Pacific Trail, and Sorel. To learn more about
Columbia, please visit the company's website at http://www.columbia.com/.
About High Road Sports:
High Road Sports, Inc., based in San Luis Obispo, California, operates
the only USA owned and registered ProTour Elite-level professional men’s
cycling team and the world’s number one
ranked women’s cycling team. High Road’s
athletes include 42 men and women from 17 different nations making it
the most international team in the sport. High Road was founded on the
principles of clean and fair sport, and is the winningest team in pro
cycling during the 2008 season. High Road focuses on developing young
talent in the sport under excellent veteran leadership and an
experienced management team deeply committed to the sport of
professional cycling. To learn more about Team Columbia please visit the
team’s web site at www.highroadsports.com.
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