Wilton-based bicycle maker Cannondale’s professional cycling unit ”“ Cannondale Pro Cycling SpA ”“ and Colorado-based Slipstream Sports will join forces in 2015.
Cannondale is a brand of Canada-based Dorel Industries Inc. It recently moved from Bethel into a new headquarters at 761 Main Ave. in Norwalk but maintains a Wilton address, listed as 1 Cannondale Way.
Cannondale will become a title sponsor and technical bicycle sponsor for the team and take an unspecified ownership stake in the management organization of Slipstream Sports L.L.C.
Slipstream Sports bills itself as “the top American professional cycling organization dedicated to ethical sport and developing the next generation of champions.” It will manage the overall operations of the team. The official team roster will become available later this year.
This year, Slipstream Sports riders won the team competition at the Tour de France and a Slipstream rider wore the coveted leader”™s yellow jersey during the 19th stage.
“Cannondale is excited to team up with Slipstream to create the next evolution of Cannondale Pro Cycling with the most progressive and innovative team in the peloton,” said Peter Woods, president and CEO, Dorel Recreational/Leisure, in a statement. “Professional athletes play a key role in testing our products in some of the most extreme conditions worldwide, helping us to create the perfect ride for our consumers. We are thrilled about progressing our product development approach while bringing exciting racing to our fans around the world.”
Cannondale has been involved with pro racing since 1997 when it became the technical sponsor of Saeco and the first U.S. manufacturer to sponsor a European Pro Tour team. Since Dorel acquired Cannondale in 2008, investments in pro racing have steadily increased. In 2010, Cannondale became a co-sponsor of the Liquigas-Cannondale Team and became title sponsor and owner in 2013 with the creation of Cannondale Pro Cycling.
Since 2007, the team has won three Grand Tours including the Giro dӪItalia in 2007 and 2010 and the Vuelta a Espa̱a in 2010.
