Skoda Touring Down Under

BOTANY, Australia – January 21, 2009: For the second year in a row, Škoda Australia is proud to be a Premier Sponsor and the Official Car Partner, of the 2009 Tour Down Under UCI ProTour event, taking place in and around Adelaide, from 18th to 25th January.

In 2008, the Tour Down Under became the first UCI ProTour event to be staged outside Europe.

The all new Škoda Superb will make its Australian debut at the event. “The smoothest ride on the Tour Down Under” launches into the Australian market in April. Worldwide commentator, Phil Liggett, will utilise one of the Superbs during the tour.

As the official car partner of the event, Škoda is providing the tour with a fleet of over 90 vehicles, supplying all team and organization cars. The fleet of vehicles will include the popular Octavia and practical Roomster.

Lance Armstrong, a name recognized globally, will be competing in this year’s Tour Down Under and will also be using a Škoda during his time in Adelaide.

Another cycling legend involved in Tour Down Under is Phil Anderson, the first Australian to win a stage of the Tour de France (competed in 13 Tour de France events), Commonwealth Gold Medalist and Škoda Australia ambassador. Phil will be writing a daily blog during the event hosting a number of Škoda competition winners in the Škoda Breakaway Series.

Škoda’s romance with cycling began in 1895 with the production of bicycles. Whilst over time the brand has made the transition from bicycles to motorbikes and most recently cars (since 1905), the relationship with cycling has remained strong.

Škoda is also putting its name behind the ‘Škoda Breakaway Series’, which includes the Mutual Community Challenge Tour, a competition for the general public to win the chance to ride the same stages as the professionals and the ‘Mutual Community Mini Tour for Kids’, taking place on Day 1, just before the ‘Down Under Classic’.

Head of Škoda Australia, Matthew Wiesner, believes the brands long history with cycling makes it the ideal partner for the Tour Down Under.

“The Tour Down Under is a great way for Škoda to support cycling and to gain a significant boost in brand awareness and visibility in Australia,” said Mr Wiesner.

“This year we have taken the opportunity to showcase the new Škoda Superb at the Tour to demonstrate the quality and dynamic ability of this luxurious vehicle, which embodies the values of the Škoda brand – advanced technologies, roominess, value for money and the Simply Clever solution.”