SUBWAY® Pro Cycling to Finish in December

SUBWAY® Pro Cycling to Finish in December

4 September 2012

After eight successful years as naming rights sponsor of SUBWAY® Pro Cycling, SUBWAY® Restaurants will be concluding its sponsorship of New Zealand’s only professional cycling team at the end of 2012.

General Manager of SUBWAY® Pro Cycling Hayden Godfrey says that he could not have wished for a better sponsorship partner in SUBWAY® restaurants, but like everything there comes a time when changes have to be made.

“We have had a very good relationship with the SUBWAY® brand in New Zealand and their support for the past eight years has enabled the team to run a very successful programme both in New Zealand and overseas.

We have been fortunate to have had the SUBWAY® brand as our major naming rights sponsor for so long. Their support helped grow the team’s profile as we established New Zealand’s most successful and longest running professional cycling team. While we’re disappointed to see the sponsorship come to an end, it does open up new opportunities.

SUBWAY® New Zealand Head of Marketing David Herrick said that the decision not to continue sponsoring the team was a hard one and that the team’s track record of delivering results is a testament to their great ability.

“We’re proud of the incredible achievements the team have had over the past few years. Going forward we are committed to investing in, and raising the profiles of, our sponsorships of multisport legends Richard and Elina Ussher and the up-and-coming triathlete Danielle Mackenzie.”

Godfrey said the team’s focus to be a home for New Zealand’s top domestic riders while providing a development programme for promising new cyclists looking to establish themselves internationally has worked well. Many of New Zealand’s top riders have ridden for the team, including Gordon McCauley, Hayden Roulston, Jesse Sergeant, Sam Bewley and Greg Henderson.

Godfrey, a former World Champion track cyclist, said he was currently seeking a new naming rights sponsor for the team and was in contact with a number of potential companies interested in the sponsorship opportunity.

“The concept of a professional cycling team has proven a very good vehicle for lifting brand profiles and we are excited by the prospect of working with a new major sponsor. We have a fantastic group of existing sub sponsors which are committed to the continuation of the team.”

The SUBWAY® Pro Cycling Team was established in 2004 and became New Zealand's first professional cycling team in 2009. It is currently the only registered UCI professional team in New Zealand.

Currently the team comprises 12 of New Zealand's leading cyclists including Olympic bronze medalist Westley Gough and under-19 rising star Dylan Kennett who won three silver medals and a bronze medal at Augusts world junior track championships in Invercargill riding for New Zealand.

The SUBWAY® Pro Cycling Team will operate as scheduled until the end of the 2012 season with the Armstrong Motor Group Festival of Cycling in Christchurch on the 1st and 2nd of December being the last official event for the SUBWAY® Pro Cycling team.

For more information please visit www.subwaycycling.co.nz

ENDS

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