Fuji Bikes has signed a two-year sponsorship agreement with Spanish pro continental cycling team Caja Rural-Seguros RGA.
“Caja Rural-Seguros RGA is a team that has grown tremendously over the last few years and makes their presence known in every event they race — always looking for opportunities to attack, always in the breaks fighting for stage wins. Just look at how they performed at the Vuelta this year,” said Fuji Sponsorship Manager Milay Galvez.
A member of the team was named Most Combative in 10 different stages of the 2014 Vuelta a España; Luis León Sanchez donned the polka dot jersey atop the podium – winning the overall Mountains Classification ahead of Alberto Contador; and the team tallied two stage top-5s and a top-10.
“A lot of great things have happened for Fuji in Spain,” Galvez added. “We partnered for three years with Spanish team Fuji-Servetto (later Footon-Servetto and Geox-TMC) to design our Altamira, named after the prehistoric caves in Cantabria, Spain. And the team went on to earn us our first-ever grand tour victory on it at the 2011 Vuelta. Last year, Leo König showed us again just how much the Altamira loves the Spanish mountains, winning Stage 8 of the 2013 Vuelta.”
In addition to the Altamira (Fuji’s lightest ever production bike), Caja Rural’s 19-rider squad will race Fuji’s brand-new aero road bike launched at the 2014 Tour de France: the Transonic.
The riders will have their choice between Fuji’s top two carbon road platforms to determine which caters best to their riding style. The team will also race Fuji’s Norcom Straight time trial bike, which earned a podium, top-5, and Team Classification victory at the 2014 TdF TT.
“Fuji has an excellent reputation in the pro peloton, and we were looking for a partner to take us to the next level,” said Caja Rural-Seguros RGA Team Manager Juan Manuel Hernandez.
“Plus, it’s exciting to see how Fuji’s sponsorships have shaped their products. They’re really invested in collecting product feedback from their athletes. We look forward to collaborating with them on their next road project that we’ve already begun discussing.”
“Sponsorship is at Fuji’s core. We have supported the sport of cycling since bike racing began in the early 1900s, and we’ll continue to do so,” said Fuji VP of Marketing Karen Bliss. “Not only do we think it’s important for the growth of our industry and establishing credibility for our products, but we learn so much from our athletes and their mechanics.”
She continued, “Look at the front-end adjustability and vertical dropouts on our Norcom Straight or the direct-mount rear brake on the seatstays of the Transonic. We are producing best-in-class road and time trial bikes because of the time we’ve spent learning about the performance needs of our pros. We look forward to what this next chapter with Caja Rural-Seguros RGA will bring.”
Established in 1992 in the junior and amateur categories with the aim of promoting the sport of cycling to the next generation and supporting clean racing, Caja Rural has fostered the development of riders such as Aitor González, Mikel Nieve, Iker Flores, and Rubén Fernández.
In 2010, the team turned Continental, winning stages at the Tour of Leon and Tour of Portugal. And in 2011, the team turned Pro Continental. The Spanish banking company, Caja Rural, has been a sponsor since the team’s inception, and its insurance house, Seguros RGA, recently signed on.
To date, the team’s greatest achievements include: Antonio Piedra’s 2012 Vuelta Stage 15 victory, Javier Aramendía’s overall Combativity Classification win at the 2013 Vuelta, Francesco Lasca’s 2013 Vuelta La Rioja title, and Amets Txurraka’s 2013 Vuelta a Asturias GC win.
In 2014, the team tallied four victories, including four-time TdF stage winner Luis León Sanchez’s stage wins at the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon and La Tropicale Amissa Bongo – plus the Vuelta Mountains Classification victory.
The team’s current roster is largely comprised of climbers who excel in stage races, particularly mountain stages. But the team has added new riders for 2015 to bolster their versatility, specifically in one-day races and the classics.
Notable returnees to the 19-rider squad include Amets Txurruka, Francesca Lasca, Javier Aramendía, David Arroyo (2nd at the 2010 Giro d’ Italia), and Pello Bilbao (winner of the 2014 Klasika Primavera). Noteworthy additions include 21-year-old Hugh Carthy of the UK – winner of the 2014 Tour de Korea – and 2012 Portugese National Time Trial Champion José Gonçalves.
The team’s schedule has yet to be determined, but sure to be on the calendar are the Vuelta a España, Volta a Cataluna, Clasica de San Sebastian, Vuelta a Burgos, and Vuelta a Portugal.
Established in 1899, the Fuji brand is one of the oldest surviving bicycle brands in the world. Guided by three core principles – strength, heritage and craftsmanship – Fuji’s steadfast philosophy in utilizing the most advanced technology and incorporating elite athlete input into its high-performance products has enabled the brand to endure.
Fuji offers a complete line of premium bikes – road, specialty, mountain, women’s, kids, urban, transportation, comfort and cruiser – through its network of specialty bicycle retailers across the globe.
