Cycling: Not only the cycling fans in this country are already looking forward to the Grand Départ 2017 in Düsseldorf - a year before - the German teams and riders are also looking forward to the starting signal for the Tour de France 2017 on the Rhine. Bora-Argon18 is cooperating with the city of Düsseldorf to start the Grand Boucle on July 2nd with a specially designed jersey as a 'brand ambassador' for Düsseldorf in order to get the buzz around and to generate some international attention.
At yesterday's press conference in Düsseldorf, Bora-Argon18 team manager Ralph Denk and Düsseldorf's mayor Thomas Geisel announced the new partnership. At the Tour de France, which starts on July 2nd in Mont-Saint-Michel ( all the info here ), the nine Bora professionals will wear a specially designed jersey from outfitter Craft, featuring a new logo for the 2017 Grand Départ on the sleeves.
“I am delighted that we are cooperating with the German BORA – ARGON 18 team and that the riders will already be wearing the Grand Départ Düsseldorf 2017 on their jerseys at this year's Tour de France, thus carrying the message of the German Tour start 2017 out into the world,” commented Düsseldorf's Mayor Geisel on the collaboration. Bora team manager Denk also echoed this positive sentiment and is looking forward to the future cooperation: “The Grand Départ in Düsseldorf 2017 is enormously important for German cycling. Therefore, as a German team, we see it as our duty to support it within our means. This idea led to the concept of designing our own Tour de France jersey. I am very pleased that this cooperation has been successful and that we can thus present the Grand Départ 2017 in France this year.”
Bora-Argon18 2017 as WorldTour Team?
Rumors persist surrounding the Bavarian cycling team, its WorldTour plans, and potential signings of top riders like Peter Sagan . While Denk declined to comment further on possible transfers, he made no secret of his team's future ambitions. "It would be a dream to participate in the Grand Départ in Düsseldorf as a top-tier team. We will apply for a WorldTour license and believe it will be a mere formality," the Bora boss stated confidently. BORA will remain the primary title sponsor, and another financially powerful backer is expected to join: "With the budget available to us from next year, we will significantly strengthen our roster and expect to play a major role in WorldTour races," Denk said, remaining somewhat cryptic. These statements, at least, do not contradict the rumors circulating about Peter Sagan, Specialized, and Bora-Argon18. However, regardless of where the team's journey takes them, they want to maintain the basic idea of the racing team in any case: “[…] we will continue to rely on young, especially German talents and develop them carefully.”
We're looking forward to it.