{"id":5133,"date":"2023-07-01T11:14:02","date_gmt":"2023-07-01T09:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/?p=5133"},"modified":"2023-07-03T11:18:48","modified_gmt":"2023-07-03T09:18:48","slug":"celebrating-the-20th-year-of-partnership-how-does-skoda-make-the-tour-de-france-happen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2023\/07\/01\/celebrating-the-20th-year-of-partnership-how-does-skoda-make-the-tour-de-france-happen\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating the 20th year of Partnership: How Does \u0160koda Make the Tour de France Happen"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 110th<\/sup> edition of the Tour de France and the 2nd<\/sup> edition of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will bear witness to an extra anniversary in 2023. \u0160koda, the official main partner of the race, celebrates the 20th<\/sup> year of this spectacular alliance. So, at the Grand D\u00e9part from the Basque Country for the Tour de France, and Clermont-Ferrand for the Tour de France Femmes, the closely watched riders won\u2019t be on their own but once again backed up by a partner with an immense passion for the sport.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Since 2004, the manufacturer has been standing by the side of the legendary bicycle race and has also been sponsoring the \u0160koda Green Jersey for the leader of the points classification since 2015. Much has changed in the course of 20 years, but this partnership is only getting stronger and more effective. This year, \u0160koda will be supplying the race organisers with 209 vehicles, mostly iV or hybrid, including the service and neutral support cars and, of course, the director\u2019s leading car. Throw in the team cars and you arrive at the number of over 250 vehicles, which the carmaker has been sending to the race every year.<\/p>\n

As Martin Jahn, \u0160koda Auto Board Member for Sales and Marketing, commented on the anniversary: \u201cThis partnership provides us with an ideal opportunity to demonstrate our firm commitment to a greener electric future while staying true to our original values and traditions, which are deeply rooted in cycling.\u201d To elaborate on the last part of Mr Jahn\u2019s statement, \u0160koda first saw the light of day as a small bicycle workshop called Laurin & Klement in 1895. Therefore, the brand\u2019s origin ties it closely to the cycling scene.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s delve a bit deeper into the individual vehicles present at the race. Starting from the top, the Tour de France\u2019s striking leading car, officially known as Direction Generale car number 1, could without exaggeration be called the most famous motorised vehicle in cycling. Found at the launch of each stage and at the tip of the peloton, the director\u2019s car serves as a mobile headquarters from which the directors stay in contact with their race marshals, and team and support cars. The cabin of the \u2018red car\u2019 is where the most important and split-second decisions during the race itself take place. This year, the specially adjusted\u00a0 \u0160koda Enyaq Sportline will carry directors Christian Prudhomme for the Le Tour and Marion Rousse for the Le Tour Femmes.<\/p>\n

Unsurprisingly, the leading car has undergone an evolution as \u0160koda has developed new models over the past 20 years. All three generations of the \u0160koda Superb model have starred as the race director\u2019s leading car, from Superb Mk1 to Mk3. The first non-diesel model to be used was the Superb iV Mk3 in 2020, followed closely by the fully electric Enyaq model that is used to this day. The leading car\u2019s tell-apart features include banners and decals, the \u2018Velvet Red\u2019 paint job, a yellow attachment above the windscreen, six antennas, a special horn, a flag holder, a panoramic retractable sunroof and more.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\ude0d The #TDF2023<\/a> starts on Saturday and we are delighted to see you on the route.<\/p>\n

\u26a0\ufe0f But to make the Tour a celebration, respect the safety of the riders!<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf8 Don't risk everything for a photo or to be on TV. pic.twitter.com\/SVOsC6FdBL<\/a><\/p>\n

— Tour de France\u2122 (@LeTour) June 30, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n