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GreenEdge announces explosives and chemicals firm Orica as co-sponsor

Name changed to Orica-GreenEdge starting with Giro - "new visual identity" to be launched ahead of Tour de France...

Australian WorldTour outfit GreenEdge has announced that it will change its name to Orica-GreenEdge after recruiting the explosives, chemical and mining services company as co-sponsor. The change of name will take effect from the Giro d’Italia, which starts on Saturday, with Orica’s name appearing prominently on team kit, although “a whole new visual identity” for the team will be revealed ahead of the Tour de France in July.

“This is a rare and fantastic opportunity to secure the founding co-naming sponsorship with this ground-breaking sporting venture,” said Ian Smith, Managing Director and CEO of Orica, which was known as ICI Australia until it was demerged from the former British chemicals group in the late 1990s.

“Cycling is dynamic, competitive and truly appeals to a global audience,” he continued.
“We have a lot in common with the team; we’re both multi-national organisations with an Australian DNA, and we share mutual aspirations driven by a focus on innovation and team work.

“This sponsorship forms one of the strategic platforms for Orica to increase its brand presence in key global markets and we’re convinced that the world-class performances of this team will help provide ongoing global exposure.”

The team’s founder and owner, Gerry Ryan commented, “We’re extremely proud to be teaming up with Orica in our debut season and onwards. It’s the perfect partner for us and we couldn’t have found a more ambitious and forward thinking company to get onboard.

“We have had a dream start to our sporting goals, winning big races and putting GreenEdge on the map in professional cycling.
This relationship with Orica, and our existing partners, will continue to make GreenEdge grow – for the athletes, for our fantastic fans and for cycling in general. It’s a significant milestone for us.”

The sponsorship agreement will run for three years and will also apply to GreenEdgde’s women’s team.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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11 comments

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captain_slog | 12 years ago
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I think you mean "not a fit person".

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James Warrener | 12 years ago
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Hope no one bought one of the two different kits they have had already this season.

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wild man | 12 years ago
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Well Sky might also make a big show of cuddling pandas, but they're still run by a 'billionaire tyrant.'

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Coleman | 12 years ago
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Perhaps one of the tour teams can get Addison Lee onboard?

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Simon_MacMichael replied to Coleman | 12 years ago
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Coleman wrote:

Perhaps one of the tour teams can get Addison Lee onboard?

Might make riders reluctant to call the team car up alongside them for assistance...

 3

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Edgeley | 12 years ago
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I think they are mining explosives rather than weapons explosives people. But there will be plenty of puntastic opportunities nonetheless, as riders blow up on ascents and as peletons are blown to smithereens.

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joemmo | 12 years ago
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very much doubt they are alone in having less than squeaky eco-clean sponsors. Gazprom, who sponsor katusha spring to mind.

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crazy-legs replied to joemmo | 12 years ago
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joemmo wrote:

very much doubt they are alone in having less than squeaky eco-clean sponsors.

Road Cycling, as a professional sport, is one of the least green sports going. Cars and trucks driving across Europe, riders flying all round the world to get to races. Add in the helicopters, motorbikes, team cars in the convoy, support logistics like the trucks taking the barriers, podium and gantries around the place and that's one hell of a lot of fuel burnt!

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notfastenough | 12 years ago
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Nice irony!

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VecchioJo | 12 years ago
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they've certainly blown the crap out the "new sponsor cliches" mine there

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fluffchucker | 12 years ago
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This just doesn't sound right;
`GreenEDGE' as in save the planet  1
`Orica' blow the crap out of the planet  2
or have I misread it  26

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