ORICA-GreenEDGE has announced the renewal of naming rights sponsor Orica for a further 12 months to include the 2017 season.

The sponsorship extension will mark the sixth and final year of the partnership between the two parties and will allow GreenEDGE to finalise details of ongoing discussions around new title sponsors for Australia’s top men’s and women’s professional cycling teams.

The welcome news of the renewal comes off the back of a successful start to 2016 for ORICA-GreenEDGE and ORICA-AIS. The two teams have recorded 23 UCI victories so far this season, including a stunning Paris-Roubaix win and Santos Tour Down Under overall victory for the men and two national titles for the women.

Team owner and businessman Gerry Ryan OAM welcomed Orica’s renewed commitment.

"We are really happy to continue another year with Orica and we are looking forward to keep on delivering results above expectations,” Ryan said.

“They have been a great partner for us and we will of course continue our efforts to build this team even stronger going onwards."

Orica Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Samantha Stevens, said the global nature of the cycling calendar has enabled positive opportunities across multiple geographies for the company.

“While the Orica brand has benefited from the goodwill associated with Australia’s most successful professional road cycling teams, many of our customers, communities and employees have also been able to participate in first hand experiences with the teams,” Stevens said. 

“Exiting the partnership after 2017 was not a decision made easily.  However, given the more challenging environment facing the resources and mining services sectors, it is the appropriate decision for Orica at this time.  We wish the teams all the best for the future, and we are confident that they will build on their significant successes on the UCI event calendar, providing many more positive branding benefits for current and future sponsors.”

ORICA-GreenEDGE continue racing at the Criterium du Dauphine and Tour de Suisse this weekend with ORICA-AIS also lining up at the Auensteiner-Radsporttage.