After the withdrawal of Commerzbank as title sponsor of its eponymous triathlon team, a successor to the world-class team is in place and ‘its realization is within reach by the start of [next year’s triathlon] season.’ A new ambitious triathlon team has formed around top athlete Timo Bracht, six-time Ironman champion and two-time European champion. The Head Coach and Sports Director of the new team will be the renowned coach, Ralf Ebli.
Jorg Mayer, General Manager of the L&S Lauf- und Sport Shop GmbH, will serve as the Team Manager. Mayer is an experienced and innovative player in the sporting goods industry.
Title sponsor opportunity
With Timo Bracht as the team’s captain, together with five additional triathletes, the full team is already in place. The European online retailer, 21RUN.COM, has already committed as the presenting sponsor, along with an impressive group of notable material sponsors. The team is currently searching for a main, title sponsor to lend its name to the team. Negotiations with multiple interested companies regarding this are on-going.
Triathlon fan participation
A new and innovative element of the team is the financing and involvement of the growing community of triathlon fans in Germany and across Europe. Team Manager Jorg Mayer noted, “The sport of triathlon can’t be compared to commercialized sports. Despite the ultimate performance of the athletes, they often have to worry about finding sponsors and supporters from season to season. This also presents difficulties in promoting young talent.
‘Triathlon has meanwhile found so many friends that we believe that a contribution by the fans towards financing the ambitious new team project and associated support measures for the young talent is possible.” Thus, top sponsor 21RUN.COM will transfer an amount of €2.00 from every purchase from its online shop to the team’s fund.
Additional team, media and event partners will support this idea so that all triathlon fans and recreational athletes will soon have a wide range of possibilities to support the new triathlon team and its up-and-coming athletes.
“In our discussions with potential title sponsors it is important to us that the partner shares our enthusiasm for the sport of triathlon and our vision of fan participation. With our commitment to a world-class team from Germany we want make a sustainable contribution together with all partners and fans towards the further development of this exceptional and fascinating sport,” Mayer added.
“All options are still open but we are certain that we will be able to present the title sponsor for the team soon after the world championship in Hawaii!”
