Having enjoyed their most successful season yet, Orica-GreenEDGE have laid the foundation for more success in the future. The team has extended its collaboration with sponsor Orica for another two years.

Tony Abbott, Prime Minister of Australia, today joined Australia’s only professional cycling team on the WorldTour, ORICA-GreenEDGE, on a morning ride in Canberra to celebrate the team’s successful 2014 season.

Orica’s Executive Global Head of Corporate Affairs and Social Responsibility Gavin Jackman said: “ORICA-GreenEDGE has never been higher in the rankings of world cycling and Orica is delighted to have helped them get there.”

A keen rider, Mr Abbott teamed up with ORICA-GreenEDGE riders Simon Gerrans, Matthew Hayman, Luke Durbridge, Caleb Ewan and Cameron Meyer and Orica-AIS riders Lizzie Williams and Jessie McLean for a 26-kilometre training ride through the streets of the national capital.

“It was a real privilege to have the Prime Minster join us this morning for a ride here in Canberra. It’s good to see that he is also a keen cyclist,” said Gerrans.

A two-year extension of Orica’s naming rights agreement also announced today will continue the successful collaboration between the team and Orica, the global leader in the supply of explosives and mining chemicals to customers in the resources and infrastructure sectors in more than 100 countries. The agreement also includes the renewal of Orica as naming rights sponsor of the highly successful Orica-AIS women’s cycling team.

“The ORICA-GreenEDGE partnership has been a resounding success with Orica’s sponsorship helping the team deliver world-class performances which in turn have generated global exposure for Orica. We’ve also been particularly delighted to work with the men’s and women’s teams in local communities in which Orica operates,” Mr Jackman said.

“ORICA-GreenEDGE is a partnership built on our shared commitment to technical excellence and teamwork. It is a powerful collaboration between two organisations with a proud Australian heritage and which are both successfully competing on the world stage. I am very pleased it will continue for a further two years,” Mr Jackman said.

Since its inception, ORICA-GreenEDGE has recorded over 100 victories and the 2014 season seeing the team record the third highest number of wins of any team in the world.

Team owner, Gerry Ryan said, “We’re delighted to be extending our naming sponsor agreement with Orica. The company has been the ideal partner, helping put the team on the map in professional cycling. We have come a long way thanks to the support of Orica. ”

“Everyone at ORICA-GreenEDGE, from our riders to members of the support staff who work tirelessly to keep the team on the road are very proud of our association with Orica. We are all looking forward to sharing our future success with them,” Mr Ryan said.

Gerrans welcomed the news of Orica’s renewal, recognising their contribution to the team’s success.

“It is fantastic news that we have prolonged the contract with Orica,” Gerrans said. They’re a great partner for the team and we have taken some major steps together with them these last years.

“The support of a global company like Orica is fundamental to us and we all look forward to developing even further with them over the next two years.”