Identity of new backer not yet confirmed, Shimano stays on board as secondary sponsor

Although the Argos oil company was expected to be on board for one more season, Team 1T4i – or, Argos Shimano, as it has been titled since March of last year – has announced that a new backer will take its place next season.



The news was confirmed this morning, with Argos set to stand down and give way to the new sponsor, which has not been named at this point in time.



The three year deal will run until the end of 2016 and comes after an approach to the team. General manager Iwan Spekenbrink has explained how it came about.



“Very recently, a company expressed interest in taking over the main sponsorship. The new sponsor is a good fit with our ambitious team goals,” he stated.



“We would like to thank Argos for supporting the team and enabling it to reach its current level, and for giving us the space to further develop our project with our new major partner. We are also grateful to our new sponsor for expressing such confidence in our organization, athletes and staff and in the vision for top sports and pro cycling upon which our organization is based.



“We will soon announce our look and feel, jersey, and ambitions for next year, together with our new partner.”



After a very solid year in 2012, the team stepped up a level this season when Marcel Kittel clocked up four stage victories in the Tour de France and proved that he is the world’s fastest sprinter at the moment. The team also took 25 other victories, including Kittel’s triumph in Scheldeprijs, Warren Barguil’s two stages in the Vuelta a España and John Degenkolb’s stage five victory in the Giro d’Italia plus Paris Tours success.



Shimano will remain on board as a second sponsor in 2014.



It is not yet clear whether Argos decided to end its backing early or if it instead agreed to take a step back once a new sponsor indicated that it wanted to come on board for three years. However it expressed satisfaction at what both it and the team achieved during their time together.



“The partnership has been a commercial and sporting success. We are very proud of the development of the team and its performance in the last two years,” it said in a statement. “Team Argos-Shimano’s recent performance at the Tour de France was a particular highlight. Argos wishes the team – supported by its new sponsor – continuing success in the future.”