Link My Ride, the community focused cycling app, has rolled out in Spain following a launch event at premium retailer Velodrom, Barcelona, in late October.
The launch also celebrated Link My Ride’s backing from Endurance Sport Ventures, a Spanish investment fund focused on tech start-ups in the sports sector.
Endurance Sport Ventures is a new investment vehicle from Luis Genero, co-founder and former CEO of pay TV channel Win Sports, and Pere Francitorra, Vice President of the Catalan Basketball Federation.
The fund also brings together other investors in the sports tech space, with the aim of creating… ‘an influential and well connected network from which brands such as Link My Ride can benefit.’
Amongst a range of new updates in both the Link My Ride App and Club Portal, is set the roll out of a full Spanish version. Alongside Spanish, the app will be available in French, Dutch and German in the coming weeks allowing many more riders globally to use the app in their own native language.
Co-Founder and CEO of Link My Ride, Jacques Sauavagnargues said “With strong links to Spain and Catalonia especially, together with the huge cycling community and culture, setting up a home for the app here was always high on our priority list. To do so with the support and backing of the Endurance Sports Ventures team is even more exciting.
“The reception we received at our launch event and ride outs in Barcelona and Girona was great; and we’re already building a strong community on Link My Ride in Catalonia now. So adding in the language capability is a powerful upgrade to improve each rider’s experience when using the app.”
Luis Genero, co-founder of Endurance Sports Ventures (ESV), added “From first discovering Link My Ride we have been seduced by the concept of what Jacques and the team are working towards, in a really smart way.
“Link My Ride has the potential to become a reference app for all cyclists worldwide and from ESV’s perspective, we want to be a part of this journey.”
Link My Ride was founded by professional cyclist Tom Pidcock, a Tour de France stage winner and rider for Team INEOS, together with former teammate Jacques Sauvagnargues. The platform launched in September, reportedly attracting over 10,000 users in just six weeks of being active, climbing to the App Store’s top 15 list of apps in its opening week.
Link My Ride is designed to simplify organising group rides, whether as a club or those wishing to join a group of cyclists, with a range of smart features aimed at convenience and creating connections. Riders can find rides within the community suited to their ability, discipline and location.
The backing of Endurance Sports Ventures follows that of the Dutch Sport Tech Fund, providing funds to further development and improvement of the platform, while also opening up an industry network of sports, tech and data companies supported by Link My Ride’s growing network.
Last month, Link My Ride added that it became the Official Cycling App for Cycling Canada… ‘to better connect the cycling community across the country and to provide a new and exciting way to meet and interact with other cyclists in Canada.’
