Emanuel Buchmann and BORA – ARGON 18 have announce an extension of the contract.

At the beginning of the new year, the German National Champion Emanuel Buchmann and team BORA – ARGON 18 agree to extend their existing agreement until the end of 2018. The team also aims to get a World Tour license in 2017 before the Grand Départ in Düsseldorf. One step on this road will be the new team philosophy – ride.natural.

It has been an exciting first pro season for the 23-year-old from Ravensburg, sending out a clear signal by surprisingly winning the German national titel in June. At his first Tour de France, he raised a flag with his 3rd place in one of the hardest stages, also proving his talent in high mountain stages. 

Now Buchmann and BORA – ARGON 18 announced the extension of the existing agreement until end of 2018. Both parties are sure that the direction they took together is the right one for both of them.

“For me, besides the professional structure and the race program, it is very important to feel the support of the people in the team. As a rider, being with BORA – ARGON 18 feels a little bit like being in a family. Everyone trusts each other and supports each other, that is very important when you struggle with your shape or results. So for me this attitude is key as a young rider to be able to develop your performance step by step”, says the German title holder.

Manager Ralph Denk agrees: “We always told everybody that we want to support young riders on their way to the top of the cycling world. Because of our long-term partnership with our main sponsor BORA we can also provide a solid economic environment. This is the basis to work with talents calmly, support them without to much pressure.”

As a World Tour Team to the Grand Départ in Düsseldorf

Also the teams direction itself leads consequent to the top of international cycling. Since the beginning the goal has always been to become a WorldTour Team. 2017 shall be the year to get a spot at cycling's “Olymp”.

“For five years we have worked very hard for our big goal. We rode all 3 Grand Tours and also had some successes. But now it is truly time to become a member in cycling’s “elite club”. It would be my personal biggest success to be at the Grand Départ 2017 in Düsseldorf with BORA – ARGON 18 as a World Tour Team. And I have to say that I am very confident that we can achieve that, and celebrate then together with German cycling”, says the team manager Ralph Denk.

This year BORA – ARGON 18 again hopes to get one of the wildcards for the Tour.

In addition to Emanuel Buchmann, new team riders Silvio Herklotz and Gregor Mühlberger are also part of this long-term team strategy. German Herklotz prpved his reputation as a climber with his 2nd place in the U23 edition of Liége-Bastogne-Liége last year. Mühlberger is Austria’s biggest future hope. He already scored 6 vicotries last year and showed that people will need to keep an eye on him in both future one day-and stage races.

ride.natural.

The team also proves its unique direction and shared values with its philosophy “ride.natural.” This new identity is based on the elements lifestyle, progress and home which now sharply define the brand BORA – ARGON 18.

“Lifestyle means more to us than well-balanced, healthy diet, it is more a kind of bethinking to the basics. The essence of physical performance, based on what nature provides purely, naturally. Besides diet, this mindset is also the basis for a special physical feeling. It means listenening to and understanding the body and its signals regarding training and workload and reacting individually. This is how we support young talents, help them to deliver their personal best performance, and guide them to the top of international cycling”, explains Ralph Denk.