Fuji Bikes is adding three new continental teams to its pro sponsorship ranks: the Synergy Baku Cycling Project, Team Scody Downunder, and Wibatech Fuji Zory. This is in addition to Fuji’s sponsorship of Tour de France-bound NetApp-Endura and USA Cycling NRC’s 2013 Team Classification Winner, TIBCO.
Synergy Baku Cycling Project
Fuji has penned a two-year sponsorship agreement with the Synergy Baku Cycling Project, a UCI continental team established in 2013 with the support of the Azerbaijan Cycling Federation. Aimed at developing Azeri riders, helping them to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics, and growing the sport of cycling in the South Caucasus country, the 17-rider squad features five Azeri riders and three Azeri stagieres to come in August – with several other nationalities represented as well.
The team will race Fuji SST 1.1 carbon road bikes. According to Fuji, this is designed for explosive sprinters. The SST features a tapered head tube for steering precision; asymmetrical chainstays to offset drivetrain-induced torque and maximize power transfer; aero-shaped tubing in the top tube, seat tube and seat mast for improved aerodynamics; and a reinforcing RIB (Reinforced I-Beam) – a patented technology from Fuji’s carbon manufacturer – in the oversized downtube and fork that amplifies stiffness and results in a more responsive ride and sharp handling.
Team Scody Downunder
Team Scody Downunder is a continental team established in 1999 to help develop young Australian road racers.
After its first year of racing in Australia and winning the Tour of Tasmania, Team Scody Downunder spent eight years in Belgium, raced as a UCI continental team, raced two years as a professional Trade Team 3, and helped riders like Cameron Jennings, Glen Chadwick, and Matt Wilson enter the pro ranks. The team is now based back in Australia and will race National Road Series events in 2014, with hopes of riding continental events in China, the US and New Zealand. The team’s official 2014 roster will be announced in the coming weeks.
Team Scody Downunder will race Fuji SST 2.1s, along with sister brand Oval Concepts 946 deep-section carbon wheels. The hand-built 946 wheelset utilizes aero 46mm full-carbon rims, 20/24h Sandvik T302 spokes and Oval 900 (6-pawl, dual-engagement freehub body) hubs. The team will additionally race Oval Concepts bars, stems and seatposts.
“We are thrilled to support a new generation of young Australian riders and provide them the opportunity to shine at the highest levels of national competition,” said Fuji Australia/Oceania Bicycles Operations Manager Craig McGregor.
“We believe that in the world of premium bicycle distribution, sponsorship of top teams and top riders is crucial to reinforce the credibility of our products. It is equally vital to provide information for ongoing product development to ensure that we are selling the best bikes and components in the world. We are proud to establish our new partnership with Team Scody Downunder to achieve these goals.”
Team Wibatech Fuji Zory
Wibatech Fuji Zory is a UCI Polish continental team established in 2008. The team will race largely in Poland, with hopes of also racing in Holland, Belgium and other European countries (race calendar still to be confirmed).
Its new team bike is the Fuji Altamira SL. Designed for the road racer seeking an ultra-lightweight, all-around competition platform that excels on the climbs, the Altamira – winner of the 2011 Vuelta a España – features super-thin seatstays for greater compliance; a BB86 Press-Fit bottom bracket for maximum stiffness; oversized downtube for superior pedalling efficiency, a tapered head tube for enhanced steering precision; and the frame is made of Fuji’s top-level c15 carbon, which utilizes High Compaction (HC) moulding.
Fuji notes that HC uses internal moulds to eliminate wrinkles and maximize resin flow for greater compaction in the carbon layers. The payoff is a lighter and stiffer frame with an interior as finished as the exterior.
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 philosophy in utilizing 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, triathlon, specialty, mountain, women’s, kids, urban, transportation, comfort, and cruiser – through its network of specialty bicycle retailers across the globe.
