Team Giant-Alpecin was honoured to be named by the AIJC award (Association of International Cycling Journalists) as the team with the most media friendly team. The team was awarded the prize at the UCI Gala Dinner in Abu Dhabi on Sunday evening after the end of the Tour of Abu Dhabi.

In accepting the award, team manager Iwan Spekenbrink said that co-operation and openness with both the media and fans had been priorities for the team since its founding in 2008.

“Since this team started, our management has felt that in pro sports the fans and media are two stakeholders who should never be neglected. We respect them and have an open attitude. Remarkably enough, our sporting performances benefit from this attitude.”

Not everything that happens is good, of course, but failing to admit problems is not the solution.

“if at times we would try to neglect key stakeholders like fans and media by hiding from them rather than connecting with them, we believe that this would not help but build up pressure instead. An open approach and, more importantly, the deserved respect for fans and members of the media actually reduces the pressure, makes us free and allows us to fully focus on the race for the remainder of the time.”

“Credit goes first to our communications team, who is executing this vision and who has established this open approach in our team. Secondly, to our athletes, who are so cooperative and who support this vision. We thank the members of the media for their pleasant co-operation as well and look forward to continuing this for the years to come.”