Vittoria is the new partner of the Tour de Pologne

Vittoria tires have recently returned to Italy thanks to Wise Equity, a Milanese investment fund, which will guide the company into the future, while the racing department is raising the bar with important new World Tour partnerships. Formerly the official sponsor of Milano-Sanremo, the European Championships and the Italian Championships, this year the company will be the technical partner of the 77th edition of the Tour de Pologne UCI World Tour for the first time.

The EMEA/LATAM Sales Director René Timmermans talks about the Italian brand’s ambitious new plans to be protagonist in an increasingly bike-friendly and sustainable world. “Vittoria will be the technical partner of the Tour de Pologne UCI WorldTour for the first time” he explained, “and we are happy to be part of a historic competition. The company is expanding the racing service calendar to increase brand awareness, and this it is a great opportunity for us to grow. The Polish race has always been a point of reference in the second part of the season and, although world cycling has undergone significant changes in this 2020, we are convinced that its role won’t change.”

Timmermans said that the neutral service team attending the Tour de Pologne UCI World Tour, will consist of three cars, a motorbike and about ten high-level professionals, including drivers and mechanics, all used to moving in the race caravan and supporting the riders. “Vittoria has been in the racing world since the 1980s. In our team there are former professionals and mechanics who know the world of cycling thoroughly and give that essential added value to be able to achieve the highest standards.”

“In more than ten years, many things have happened,” said the EMEA/LATAM Sales Director. “I remember very well when Kruiswijk fell in the snow on the Colle dell’Agnello. It was the 2016 Giro d’Italia and the Dutch rider wore the pink jersey. He had had a mechanical and his team car was far back. Luckily, we were there and we did everything to help him and enable him recover his position. Another adventure was in 2018 at Strade Bianche. There was heavy rain and a lot of mud. Assistance is never easy in those conditions. That’s also the thrill of cycling.”

Timmermans also mentioned the company’s recent ownership change and his excitement about the outlooks. “Rudie Campagne, Vittoria’s outgoing president and now adviser to the new CEO Stijn Vriends, has a great vision for the future. The project he has in mind for Vittoria is ambitious and forward-looking. We are going through a very particular and delicate time worldwide, but cycling is involving more and more amateurs, and this change in management is an extra thrust to invest in smart solutions for mobility problems.”

The Tour de Pologne UCI WorldTour is getting closer, only 9 days left until the start of the 2020 edition. The organization is facing the last days of a more than ever delicate preparation, due to the particular historical moment. The patron of the Polish race, Czeslaw Lang, says: “We are very happy to have a partner like Vittoria by our side. We know the company and know how their job is precious and professional. The years of experience they boast certainly show that the team is well tested and their knowledge of this fascinating, yet complicated sport adds priceless value to the whole project. I am really happy that an agreement has been found between our two companies.“