Team Giant-Alpecin and Team Liv-Plantur have today been presented to the media, key sponsors and partners, as well as special guests from various important stakeholders within the sport of cycling. The presentation was held at the French Embassy in Berlin, the capital to the nationality of Team Giant-Alpecin WorldTour team's licence.
As well as announcing both teams, the new look and feel was presented, as both race kit designs were revealed. The full line-up of sponsors and partners was also confirmed, with title partners Giant and Alpecin being joined by the international tour operator, Sunweb as a key partner.
Team Giant-Alpecin general manager, Iwan Spekenbrink said ahead of the launch: "Today is an important day for cycling with the first WorldTour team registered in Germany in five years. This team continues to work with a young group of riders and can continue to grow within our elite sporting environment based on the Keep Challenging approach and principles. Alongside this we will also have a focus on helping the development of German talent in the sport, and with it aiding the regrowth of cycling in Germany.
"We must thank all of the persons present here today in Berlin for helping make this a special day in a perfect location, the French embassy in Berlin. It is a great way to kick off our 2015 campaign and we are once again hugely excited about the coming racing season."
Tony Lo, Giant CEO
"The first year of our partnership has exceeded our expectations and we are looking forward to the coming season. It not only allows us to keep developing and testing the most competitive products on the highest stage, but it also allows us to connect with our customers and for them to relate to the professionals at a material level. The team is also a great asset to spread the message to cyclists all over the world that cycling is a fun, social and eco-friendly activity."
Eduard R. Dörrenberg, Managing Director of Alpecin
“We have worked very hard towards this event – today is the official start of Team Giant-Alpecin, a German team that, with its international riders, will start its route to success in 2015 in the French embassy in Berlin. Within a sporting year without the Olympics or the World Cup more focus is expected to be on the international professional cycling scene. This is a great chance for all of us. The public perception of cycling in Germany is growing, and this helps the sport, the clubs and elite-teams, and the support for growing talents. As a result, more and more attention is given to pro races and the cycling scene in Germany.”
Joost Romeijn, Sunweb’s founder and Chief Executive Officer
"It is great to work alongside a team with a Keep Challenging elite sports approach, based on the continuous development of the athletes, the staff and the organization. This as a result develops and builds the team from its core, and this perfectly matches our vision to expand Sunweb’s business."
Rudi Kemna, Team Giant-Alpecin coach, part of the team’s performance team
"From a sporting perspective we look forward to confirming again in the sprints and Grand Tour stages, and to keep developing ourselves in the classics and general classifications.
"We will continue to have a major focus on developing our riders and providing them with the best environment to keep challenging themselves. We achieve this in many ways, including through innovative and close coaching and training relationships with the experts and coaches on the team, and of course the competitive equipment that we have at our disposal."