Škoda Auto is the official main partner of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift for the third consecutive year. From 12 to 18 August, 154 riders in 22 teams will embark on a 950 km route across eight stages through the Netherlands, Belgium and France. Škoda Auto is providing the organisers with 70 electric and plug-in hybrid Škoda vehicles. Race Director Marion Rousse will oversee the event from an all-electric Enyaq, which will be serving as a Red Car. Fans can stay up-to-date with the latest news from the peloton and behind-the-scenes insights on the WeLoveCycling social media channels, with posts shared by Polish rider Katarzyna ‘Kasia’ Niewiadoma.
“As a long-standing supporter of cycling, we are proud to be the official main partner of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift for the third year in a row. With our ongoing commitment to women’s cycling, we aim to further strengthen the impact and reach of this wonderful event. We are looking forward to great performances from all the athletes and being close to the fans along the route. With a Škoda fleet of 70 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles for the organisers, we will maintain a strong presence and visibility of our brand from the Grand Départ to the finish line.”
Martin Jahn, Škoda Auto Board Member for Sales and Marketing
This year, a peloton of 154 riders in 22 teams will tackle the 950-kilometre route through the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Due to the Olympic Games in Paris, the Grand Départ will take place in Rotterdam. The most significant sporting challenge awaits the athletes on the eighth and final stage from Le Grand-Bornand to Alpe d’Huez. Here, on the Col du Glandon, the riders will reach the highest point of the route at 1,924 metres and conquer a total of 3,900 metres of elevation gain.
Fleet of 70 electric and plug-in hybrid Škoda vehicles
Škoda Auto is providing the organisers with 70 electric and plug-in hybrid Škoda vehicles. The Director of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, Marion Rousse, will use the fully-electric Škoda Enyaq as a Red Car, overseeing the action on the track from the specially equipped command centre. By offering a choice of vehicles to the race organisers, the Czech car manufacturer contributes to enhancing the sustainability of the fleet and ultimately the race itself.
The Škoda brand will also be present in other ways: As in previous years, the car manufacturer is sponsoring the green jersey for the leader of the points classification, and the winner will receive a green crystal glass trophy created by Škoda Design.
Women’s Tour up close through the WeLoveCycling.com platform
Fans will once again have the opportunity to get up close to the racing action through the WeLoveCycling social media channels this year. Polish cyclist Katarzyna ‘Kasia’ Niewiadoma, last year’s mountain classification winner, will be posting updates from the peloton and behind the scenes. On the WeLoveCycling website, fans can take part in a weekly contest to win exciting prizes: an electric bike, a GPS bike computer and original Škoda green jerseys.
Škoda Auto: a long-standing partner of elite cycling
This year, Škoda Auto has extended its partnership with the organising body A.S.O. and now supports a total of 20 international professional and amateur cycling events for both men and women. Besides the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, these include races like La Vuelta and La Flèche Wallonne. The automaker also sponsors the L’Étape by Tour de France, an event organised for amateur cyclists.
Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com