Tour de France Sponsors Questioning Future Amid Scandals

Scandals Surrounding Top Riders Like Vinokourov (c)  Forcing Companies To Question Ties To Cycling

The withdrawal of top cyclists Michael Rasmussen, Cristian Moreni and Alexander Vinokourov from the Tour de France amid questions about performance-enhancing drug use "have prompted several sponsors to question whether it is good for their brands to be associated with the event, according to Patrick & Esterl of the WALL STREET JOURNAL.  adidas is considering “ending all sponsorship of professional cycling,” and Chief Corporate Communications Manager Jan Runau said that the company “will make a decision ‘in the near future.’”  adidas spends around $685,000 on cycling sponsorships, including the Tour de France, annually.  Other companies, including T-Mobile and auto manufacturer Skoda, are also “looking at dropping out of sponsorship” of the Tour.   Havas Sports Int’l Deputy GM Jerome de Chaunac said, “It’s not going to be easy to replace the sponsors that are withdrawing because of the general atmosphere.  I think it is, for cycling, one of the worst moments [in its history]” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/26).

Trek, Nike To Continue Sponsoring Discovery Team

MORE SPONSOR REAX: The AP’s Sarah Skidmore writes European sponsors “were quicker to distance themselves from the tainted event than those in the United States.”  Germany-based truck company Man has dropped out as a sponsor, and Audi said that it is “reconsidering [its] sponsorship.”  Wisconsin-based Trek Bicycle Corp. said that it will “continue its sponsorship of the Discovery Channel team,” while Nike and Discovery said that they are also “standing by the team.”  Discovery had previously announced it is not renewing its sponsorship after this year due to “business reasons.”  California-based Computer Sciences Corp. also said that it will “continue its involvement in cycling” (AP, 7/26).  France-based LCL le Credit Lyonnais has sponsored the yellow jersey worn by the race leader for 20 years, and LCL spokesperson Arnaud Loubier said, "In times like this, we need to show our support for the ASO (organisers of the tour).  Pulling out is not going to help change the situation."  France-based supermarket chain Champion spokesperson Gerard Castrie, whose company recently renewed its sponsorship through '09, said, "The public makes a distinction between the sport and the few individuals who chose to cheat" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 7/26).