May 3/08 4:07 am - Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. Concludes Pro Cycling Team Title Sponsorship

Posted by Editoress on 05/3/08
 

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. Concludes Pro Cycling Team Title Sponsorship
Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team press release

Team Owner, Sean Tucker, held a conference call yesterday with his riders, staff and management to announce to the team that Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. has decided not to renew its title sponsorship of the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team following the conclusion of the 2008 season. The decision coincides with the expiration of the three-year sponsorship agreement signed December 1, 2005.

“The Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team has performed at a level that truly symbolizes the Toyota way. We have the utmost respect for Sean Tucker, his management, the marketing and PR team, and the athlete riders all of whom have represented us valiantly,” said Keith Dahl, National Manager of Engagement Marketing. “We accomplished our goals in this three-year term and have since shifted strategies.”

“Certainly we have enjoyed our partnership with Toyota these past two and a half years which has been incredibly successful for both organizations with 118 wins in just over two seasons. We will always be grateful for the support Toyota, its dealer network and employees have shown our team and me personally” said Tucker.

Tucker continued, “We are looking forward to securing a new partner for the 2009 season in the next 100 days who can benefit from and build their brand by being associated with our world class organization. We are confident another sponsor will capitalize on the value United Pro Cycling Team generates with our 25,000 registered fans, eight-figure annual measurable media exposure, 3.3 million annual onsite spectators and the charitable work our team does in the communities we race in.”

Toyota-United has competed in America’s largest stage races such as the Amgen Tour of California, Tour de Georgia and Tour of Missouri the past two-plus seasons and won 89 stages (races), thereby solidifying the team’s status as the most successful team in the world on American soil in these premier events. The competition has included many of the teams that race in the Tour de France, the world’s biggest sporting event. Toyota-United has worked diligently to represent what is good and positive about the sport of cycling through fair play and hard work.

Toyota-United consists of 14 riders from seven different countries, with representation from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Cuba, Serbia and Mexico. The team includes current UCI B World Road Race Champion and 2008 Olympian Ivan Stevic, from Serbia. Also on the team are riders Dominique Rollin, the 2008 Amgen Tour of California stage 4 winner and overall sprint jersey winner from Quebec, Canada, and Jose Manuel (Chepe) Garcia, the 2008 National Time Trial champion from Mexico.

In addition to winning races, Toyota-United has emphasized giving back to the communities they race in. As showcased on Larry King Live last July, Toyota-United currently sponsors endurance cyclist and amputee Dan Sheret on his Ability Trek, a global bike ride around the world to raise money and awareness for victims of limb loss through land mine explosions. The team also supports the Wounded Warriors Project and most recently the Chrysalis organization in Los Angeles, who aids homeless through providing job training and placement with a 93% success ratio.