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Future unclear for Cavendish's team
Source: Agencies |
July 16, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
HTC High Road team manager Bob Stapleton, seeking sponsors for next season, said the American team of Briton Mark Cavendish could fold if he failed in his quest for new funds.
"It is an option I cannot rule out," he said before the start of the Tour de France's 13th stage to Lourdes yesterday.
Stapleton, who launched the High Road outfit in 2006, admitted he was "disappointed" to have struggled in his search for partners given the team's good results over the past five years.
HTC High Road secured its 49th stage victory on a big Tour when prolific sprinter Cavendish won the 11th stage in Lavaur on Wednesday. The Manxman has won 18 stages in four Tours, including three in this edition.
Stapleton said he was not giving himself a deadline to announce the future of the team but made it clear that he expected an outcome before September.
The deal with HTC expires at the end of the year.
"Our main focus is to keep HTC as our main sponsor," he said, stressing that the pro cycling team had given the smartphone maker an exceptional media profile.
"In terms of global exposure, the team generated the equivalent of 450 million euros (US$636,997) in revenue.
"It's now become a pretty big company," he said, adding that each victory by Cavendish amounted to five to 10 million euros in media revenue.
"We made a survey at the end of the last Tour which showed that Cavendish stage wins generated more revenue than (Spain's Alberto) Contador's Tour victory," he said.
If HTC failed to renew its sponsorship deal, Stapleton said he had "other leads" with potential partners and was hoping for increased investment from the team's technical partners. The American businessman said the uncertainty around the team had fuelled rumors of possible departures.
"It is an option I cannot rule out," he said before the start of the Tour de France's 13th stage to Lourdes yesterday.
Stapleton, who launched the High Road outfit in 2006, admitted he was "disappointed" to have struggled in his search for partners given the team's good results over the past five years.
HTC High Road secured its 49th stage victory on a big Tour when prolific sprinter Cavendish won the 11th stage in Lavaur on Wednesday. The Manxman has won 18 stages in four Tours, including three in this edition.
Stapleton said he was not giving himself a deadline to announce the future of the team but made it clear that he expected an outcome before September.
The deal with HTC expires at the end of the year.
"Our main focus is to keep HTC as our main sponsor," he said, stressing that the pro cycling team had given the smartphone maker an exceptional media profile.
"In terms of global exposure, the team generated the equivalent of 450 million euros (US$636,997) in revenue.
"It's now become a pretty big company," he said, adding that each victory by Cavendish amounted to five to 10 million euros in media revenue.
"We made a survey at the end of the last Tour which showed that Cavendish stage wins generated more revenue than (Spain's Alberto) Contador's Tour victory," he said.
If HTC failed to renew its sponsorship deal, Stapleton said he had "other leads" with potential partners and was hoping for increased investment from the team's technical partners. The American businessman said the uncertainty around the team had fuelled rumors of possible departures.
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