EF Pro Cycling announce new headline sponsor and name change
The team has also signed a number of riders from the Nippo Delko One Provence ProTeam
EF Pro Cycling has announced a new headline sponsor for 2021.
The US-based WorldTour squad has welcomed Japanese construction and asphalt company Nippo Corporation as a joint partner, as the team will change name to EF Education-Nippo.
EF, run by former pro Jonathan Vaughters has also signed a number of riders from the Nippo Delko One Provence ProTeam as they announced their new backer.
Vaughters said: “Our team comes from far and wide, and the same is true for our partner family. There is a freedom and freshness on our roster and in our thinking between our partners since we all come from so many different places in the world. I’m very proud of that fact.
“With Nippo Corporation joining us as a title sponsor next season, we will only add to our global approach to professional cycling and exploration.”
This will be the first venture into the WorldTour for Nippo, which is ending its ProTeam sponsorship next season but will also be supporting the Swiss Continental squad Nippo-Provence-PTS Conti.
The corporation builds 90 per cent of the velodromes in Japan, also sponsoring a number of racing teams in Japan and Europe since 1988.
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Director of sport for the sponsor, Hiroshi Daimon said: “It is the first time for Nippo Corporation to participate in the WorldTour, and we are thrilled and excited. It’s a new adventure for us.
“We are excited to contribute as much as possible to furthering the success of the EF Pro Cycling team across the world.”
>>> Chris Froome confirms first race with his new team for 2021
EF has signed Japanese pro Fumiyuki Beppu to the squad from the Nippo ProTeam, along with Frenchman Julien El Fares.
Daimon said: “We hope that the Japanese athletes and technical staff, from mechanics, to soigneurs who join the team, will gain more experience and contribute to the development of Japanese cycling.”
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Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
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