2014 was a strong year for the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team with 21 victories and a total of 46 podium finishes, including 4 continental Championship titles and the women’s victory at Challenge Bahrain. In almost 70% of the races, the Uplace-BMC athletes placed on the podium. The team also delivered a solid performance in the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii with 5 athletes in the top 12.
The ambitions for 2015 are clear: The Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team wants to ‘consolidate last year’s results and maintain its number one position in the world.’ On top of that the team aims to be competitive in the most important races worldwide – with a clear focus on the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Sell Am See, Austria, and the Challenge Family Triple Crown Series.
9 athletes with 7 different nationalities will represent the Uplace-BMC team in 2015: Corinne Abraham (GBR), Bart Aernouts (BEL), Liz Blatchford (AUS), Dirk Bockel (LUX), Will Clarke (GBR), Helle Frederiksen (DEN), Sofie Goos (BEL), Romain Guillaume (FRA) and Ronnie Schildknecht (SUI).
Over the last 5 years, the team notes that triathlon has been one of the fastest growing sports in the world. The core values of triathlon – such as strength, drive, sportsmanship, persistence and character – ‘stress the authenticity and the purity of the sport.’
Along with its popularity, the Uplace-BMC team feels that the professionalization of the sport has grown to a level that makes commercial sustainability possible. The aspect of sustainability is fully in line with Uplace-BMC’s mission statement to create a legacy in triathlon. It is this vision that has enabled Uplace-BMC to develop a project offering significant added value and return for its sponsors.
The Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team is now in a position to expand in partnerships and to also attract sponsors from outside the sport. Compared to other sports, triathlon is still relatively inexpensive to obtain worldwide coverage and therefore commercially it is seen as a perfect moment to step in.
The Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team will continue its aim to be a future proof sustainable project and to create a legacy in the triathlon sport for the years to come.
The Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team is the billed as largest, most ambitious project in today’s professional triathlon. Nine world-class athletes race for Uplace-BMC: Corinne Abraham, Bart Aernouts, Liz Blatchford, Dirk Bockel, Will Clarke, Helle Fredriksen, Sofie Goos, Romain Guillaume and Ronnie Schildknecht.
Real estate group Uplace and bike manufacturer BMC Switzerland serve as the team’s main sponsors. Additional support is provided by: Shimano/Pro bike components, Pearl Izumi race and training clothing, Etixx sports nutrition, Lululemon casual clothing, Continental tubulars, Giro helmets, Tacx bike trainers and drink bottles, fi’zi:k saddles, Sailfish wetsuits, Sands Beach Active for warm weather training, BMW Le Couter, Adidas Eyewear, Ogio travel and sports bags, Technogel mattresses and pillows, Bakala Academy sports-scientific support, Best Swim Centre, Sportoase pool and gym facilities, Assumax insurance and Scicon bike bags.
