Team
Barloworld accepted as a wildcard entry in Le Tour de France
Wednesday 30th May, 2007
by Martin Williamson
South African-sponsored professional cycling outfit,
Team Barloworld, today received and accepted their wildcard invitation
to ride the most prestigious cycle race in the world, the Tour de
France, in July 2007.
Entry into the Tour de France is extended by invitation only to the
best of the world’s professional cycling teams. Team Barloworld
have had a phenomenal start to the 2007 cycling season, and are leading
the 66 team UCI Professional Continental rankings.
"Team Barloworld’s success in being invited to compete
in the Tour de France is thanks to both a great team effort as well
as representation from Claudio Corti, the highly respected Italian
Team Manager,” said Chris Fisher, Head of Corporate Marketing,
Barloworld.
"When Barloworld first began sponsoring the team five years
ago, their stated aim was to have a South African sponsored team in
the Tour de France. We will finally achieve this objective. Corti
has worked tirelessly for over a year to get us into this race,”
continued Fisher.
"The team’s success has been due to their exact application
of the Barloworld brand personality and values, namely being professional,
competitive, passionate, honest, diverse and doing everything we do
with the greatest degree of integrity.”
Claudio Corti, the Team Manager of Team Barloworld said today: “The
UCI have recognized these qualities and now granted us just reward
for years of hard work.”
"Barloworld and Team Barloworld’s brand philosophy
is the same – a combination of teamwork and individual excellence.
This is what has been the core of the team’s success right from
the beginning. We contract with riders that put the team first.”
said Corti.
Team Barloworld’s next challenge is going to be the selection
of the riders within the team to compete in the Tour de France.
In-form riders thus far this season are Robert
Hunter (Rsa), Alexander Efimkin (Rus), Felix Cardenas (Col), Geraint
Thomas (Gbr) and John-Lee Augustyn (Rsa). Nine riders will be selected
purely on merit.
"Our Tour de France objective now shifts to achieving a podium
finish in a stage of the Tour de France.” said Fisher.
VeloResults wish the
team (and Geraint!) every success. Bravo!
