The credibility of cycling not only depends on such topics as riders’ health or the fight against doping. That’s the message a dozen sponsors with a widespread international presence wanted to convey in a MPCC meeting held early this month in Paris. The representatives of these companies that invest in our sport call on their alter egos to join the movement to express their vision on the future of cycling: as proven by recent debates on the professional cycling reform, the MPCC remains the body you can have the most constructive discussions with.
On December 6th, the MPCC College of sponsors
met in Paris on the initiative of the movement’s President Roger Legeay.
To date, 10 companies into a sponsoring partnership with professional cycling are part of the MPCC. Half of them have been loyal to cycling for more than 20 years.
AG2R La Mondiale
Adhésion :
11/03/2013
Président :
Yvon Breton
Bora Holding GmbH
Adhésion :
08/01/2015
Président :
Willi Bruckbauer
Cofidis
Adhésion :
21/03/2013
Direct Energie
Adhésion :
19/07/2016
Président :
Martin Bertran (Directeur Marque, Sponsoring et Communication)
FDJ
Adhésion :
01/02/2013
IAM
Adhésion :
28/02/2013
Président :
Michel Thétaz
Loterie Nationale Belge
Adhésion :
05/02/2013
Carrefour
Adhésion :
11/03/2016
LCL
Adhésion :
04/03/2013
PMU
Adhésion :
21/03/2013
The membership of these companies is alrealdy translated into very concrete actions:
> To embrace the philosophy of the MPCC (i.e. to promote the image of cycling by fighting against doping and all other forms of cheating)
> Not to hire riders or staff suspended in the past for communication purposes (commercials, PR, consulting)
The representatives of the sponsors also volunteer their services to enhance the communications of the movement.
During this meeting, the sponsor members stated the credibility of cycling not only depends on such topics as rider’s health or fight against doping anymore. Our attention now should be also paid to the control of the financial (money laundering, risks of corruption related to sports betting services) and technical aspects (technological fraud) – not forgetting the riders and spectators safety. The representatives ask the MPCC to consider new forms of commitment in those areas.
As members of the MPCC, the companies investing in our sport call on their alter egos (sponsors, race organizers) to join the movement. The call is also addressed to the bicycle industry which needs to be highly credible to face technological fraud suspicions.
The representatives attending the meeting lamented that the UCI did not think it was worth inviting them to join the professional cycling reform discussions. They also noted this new deal was still to be shaped only a few weeks before the beginning of the next season. That’s why the sponsor members wanted to thank the movement. They see the MPCC as the only professional cycling stakeholder that is actually willing to fully involve them and take their wishes and expectations about the future of cycling into consideration.
The sponsors also expressed their satisfaction to see the double world champion Peter Sagan now carrying the colours of Bora, a company committed to the MPCC since early 2015.
At the meeting’s conclusion, the College of sponsors renewed its confidence to Rodolphe Boulinguez (Responsible for Cycling Programs – FDJ) and Marc Frederix (Marketing Director – Belgian Lottery) as Board members.