Trek Factory Racing has announced the Italian coffee brand Segafredo has committed to a three-year co-title sponsorship effective January 1, 2016, making Trek-Segafredo the newest name on the UCI WorldTour.
The partnership was officially presented in Treviso, Italy in the presence of Massimo Zanetti, President of the MZB group, Joe Vadeboncoeur, Vice President of Trek Bicycle and Luca Guercilena, General Manager of the team.
Classics specialist Fabian Cancellara, the team's Tour de France leader Bauke Mollema, and Italian sprinter Giacomo Nizzolo showcased the new Trek-Segafredo jersey, which remains true to the team’s identity since the inception of the team in 2014.
"When I was a child, my father took me to a Giro d’Italia stage," Zanetti said. "I saw Coppi and Bartali; Coppi with the pink jersey, Bartali with the tricolor jersey of the Italian champion. I was so impressed and fascinated that, from that time on, I always said to myself that sooner or later I would sponsor cycling.
"Today is that day, thanks to Trek, a great team composed of riders from Italy and from all over the world…It is a bit like we are at Segafredo! I really hope we are going to achieve important successes once again as often happened in the past in other sports such as Formula 1, where Segafredo became three times world champion with Rosberg, Lauda and Prost, not to mention the great friend Ayrton Senna who drove his F1 car for a long time with Segafredo on board."
"Everyone who rides knows that there is nothing in the world that goes better with cycling than coffee. We are thrilled to welcome Segrafredo to the team and are looking forward to racing together in 2016 and beyond, Vadeboncour added
The deal with Segafredo was already rumoured a few years ago and marks a stronger Italian identity for the American team. Manager Guercilena has confirmed that the team has its eyes on signing Vincenzo Nibali for 2017 and that the team is considering sending Fabian Cancellara to the Giro d'Italia in his final pro season. The Swiss has a big chance to take the maglia rosa, the only grand tour leader's jersey that he has never worn, in the opening prologue.
"The partnership with Segafredo is wonderful news," Guercilena said. "Since the start of the team two years ago our performance and recruitment plan has revolved around long term thinking. With Segafredo we have found a partner that shares the same values. The importance of this deal and the security it offers will allow us to invest even more in the roster that we have and develop young riders."
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