Skoda Australia en route for Santos Tour Down Under

BOTANY, AUSTRALIA – Jan 16, 2013: For the sixth consecutive year, Skoda Australia is looking forward to playing a highly visible role as Premier Sponsor in the Santos Tour Down Under, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest cycling race – the first race on the UCI WorldTour calendar for 2013.

Now in its 15th year, the Santos Tour Down Under will take place in and around Adelaide from 20th – 27th January 2013. More than just a race, the Santos Tour Down Under is a festival of cycling and showcases South Australia’s unique regions and their attractions.

As Official Car Partner of the event, Škoda will be providing vehicles for race staff, the organisation, as well as tour partners and media representatives. Each race day throughout the event, the versatility of the Škoda range will be showcased in the colourful Škoda Tour Parade travelling 30 minutes ahead of the race.

The Škoda Breakaway Series will give recreational riders of all ages the opportunity to ride a UCI WorldTour route just hours before the ProTeams in the Bupa Challenge Tour.

Always fiercely competed, the Škoda King of the Mountain Jersey will be awarded to the rider leading the cumulative mountain points tally each day.

Škoda has a longstanding history in cycling, which began in 1895 with the production of bicycles. While the brand has made the transition from bicycles to motorbikes and cars (since 1905), the relationship with cycling has remained strong.

Globally, Škoda is a major partner of the Tour de France, while also focusing on cycling in Australia.

Since 2012, Škoda Australia is a proud sponsor of the UCI Continental Cycling Team, Drapac Professional Cycling, and young Australian cycling talent, Jack Bobridge, who has been a Škoda brand ambassador since 2009.