Orica to stop sponsoring Australian WorldTour team after 2017
Mining services company Orica will stop sponsoring the GreenEdge Australian cycling team after 2017, citing a 'challenging environment'
Orica will stop sponsoring Australian WorldTour team Orica-GreenEdge at the end of 2017 due to the "challenging environment facing the resources and mining services sectors".
The Australian mining services company joined four years ago in May 2012. It sponsors both the men's team, with British twins Simon and Adam Yates, and the women's Orica-AIS team. Overnight, it said it would extend through 2017, but that it would be its final year.
>>> BMC team dismiss Oleg Tinkov’s claim that they will ‘close doors soon’
“Exiting the partnership after 2017 was not a decision made easily," said Orica Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Samantha Stevens.
"However, given the more challenging environment facing the resources and mining services sectors, it is the appropriate decision for Orica at this time. We wish the teams all the best for the future.”
Orica-GreenEdge won Paris-Roubaix this spring with Mathew Hayman and just finished a successful Giro d'Italia with Esteban Chaves placing second overall. It is building for the Tour de France now with stars Simon Gerrans, Michael Matthews and the Yates twins.
Orica's sponsorship renewal for one more year gives the team's brass time to find a replacement sponsor for Australia's first and only WorldTour team. The team began as GreenEdge in 2012 with a large sum of its money coming from owner Gerry Ryan, who became one of Australia's richest men with the global travelling show, Walking with Dinosaurs.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The average WorldTeam budget is around £11 million with some teams, like Sky, enjoying £24 million. Orica-GreenEdge's budget is around the average, or £11 million. Ryan puts in some of his money, but will need to help the team find a backer to make up the rest to continue into 2018 and to keep stars like the Yates, whose contracts end this season.
Ryan said: “They have been a great partner for us and we will of course continue our efforts to build this team even stronger going onwards."
Watch: Secrets of the toolbox - Orica-GreenEdge
Chaves's contract, unlike the Yates's, continues beyond 2016. The team made a push towards racing for Grand Tours in recent years and successfully kept Adam and Simon when Sky was knocking on their doors. In the Giro, it was the first time that the team raced to win the general classification.
The team has punched above its weight with big one-day monument wins in Milan-San Remo, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and this year, Paris-Roubaix. In the 2013 Tour de France, the team won the time trial in Nice, and Simon Gerrans and Daryl Impey wore the yellow jersey.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
Shimano Ultegra C60 wheelset review: fast rolling and great value, if a little heavy
The Ultegra C60 wheels share many similarities with the more expensive Dura-Ace model except for price and weight
By Andy Turner Published
-
The 16-year-old bike that's just won the British National Hill Climb championships
Rim brakes, no paint, tiny seat stays and a decade-old groupset are still plenty fast enough to help champion Harry Macfarlane see off some serious competition
By Joe Baker Published
-
Global backers in talks over new British WorldTour team
Former management of Ribble Weldtite courting interest in new project
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘Current WorldTour system is killing all the smaller teams,’ says Reinardt Janse van Rensburg
South African ex-Lotto Soudal rider fears more teams could find themselves in B & B Hotels-KTM situation if the system doesn’t change
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
As Cristiano Ronaldo puts the boot in, Jumbo-Visma talk to Manchester United about tactics and managing egos
The Dutch team’s senior sports director has spoken to Manchester United’s manager for sporting advice
By Owen Rogers Last updated
-
'It's a really absurd way of racing' - EF boss Jonathan Vaughters on WorldTour relegation scrap
EF Education-EasyPost manager says he hated racing for UCI points
By Tom Davidson Published
-
BikeExchange safe from WorldTour relegation, no more 'scrapping over points to the death'
"The points system is clearly broken" says Matt White, team's head directeur sportif
By Adam Becket Published
-
Trek-Segafredo win the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta team time trial
Elisa Longo Borghini led the American squad home and will take the leader's red jersey into the remaining four stages
By Owen Rogers Last updated
-
Seven woman teams a possibility at the 2023 Tour de France Femmes
Race Director Marion Rousse confirms the organisers ASO are considering other changes for 2023, including the possibility of a time trial
By Owen Rogers Published
-
“I feel my legs a bit less when I hear the crowd,” riders react to the Tour de France crowds
Huge crowds, excellent organisation, a good route and plenty of press attention, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is a huge step for the women’s sport
By Owen Rogers Published