Škoda Auto is the official sponsor of the 2018 UCI Road World Championships

ŠKODA AUTO is expanding its comprehensive engagement in cycling. The Czech company will be in the limelight as the official sponsor of the 2018 UCI Road World Championships, which will take place in the Austrian province of Tyrol from 22 to 30 September, 2018. ŠKODA AUTO will be providing the organizers with 122 support vehicles for the twelve races that finish in the provincial capital of Innsbruck. In addition, the ŠKODA logo will appear prominently along the route.

Around the world more than 200 million people from 150 countries will excitedly be watching the UCI Road World Championships on TV. These will be joined by around 500,000 fans who will be cheering on the best road cyclists in the world at the edge of the course in the twelve races. Approximately 1,000 athletes will be taking part in two different race formats:Time Trials and Road Races. Unlike the Tour de France or the Giro d’Italia, however, the competitors will be competing in the World Championships for their respective home country and national jersey. This year’s motto is ‘Riding the Heart of the Alps’. The routes lead through the picturesque landscapes of Tyrol and over extremely challenging climbs with gradients of up to 28 percent.

Alain Favey, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Sales and Marketing, says: “ŠKODA and cycling go hand in hand. Our commitment to cycling reflects the ŠKODA brand’s unique relationship with the bicycle, which the company began producing in 1895. With the Tour de France and the Tour of Spain “Vuelta”, we were already supporting two major events in international cycling as the official sponsor. Now we are extending our engagement by adding another season highlight – the UCI Road World Championships.”

Depending on the races, the competition starts in Ötztal, Hall-Wattens, Rattenberg or Kufstein. The finishing line of all the races is Hofburg at the heart of the Tyrolean capital Innsbruck. The longest competition – the Men’s Elite Road Race with a kick-off in Kufstein – takes place on 30 September, covering a distance of 254.2 kilometres. The riders will take on around 5,000 metres uphill. A day earlier, the women’s elite will be fighting for victory on the 156.2-kilometer circuit from Kufstein to Innsbruck, during which they have to master 2,413 metres uphill.

Cycling commitment demonstrates ŠKODA’s special relationship with the bicycle

The passion for cycling goes back to ŠKODA AUTO’s pioneering years. In 1895, Václav Laurin and Václav Klement founded a bicycle factory in the Bohemian town of Mladá Boleslav. Ten years later, the first automobile of the young company rolled out of the factory halls with the ‘Voiturette A’. Laurin & Klement merged with ŠKODA in 1925.

ŠKODA AUTO was the official partner and vehicle partner of the Tour de France for the 15th time this year, sponsoring the Green Jersey for the best sprinter for the fourth time. In addition, the automaker also supports the Tour of Spain “Vuelta” and other international cycling races. The brand also sponsors numerous national and international popular sports events. In addition, cycling accessories are an integral part of the brand’s expanded product range.

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