Team Sky have announced a new partnership deal with Ford to replace Jaguar as their ‘exclusive supplier of cars and vans’.
Britain’s only WorldTour team have worked closely with Jaguar in recent years – a partnership which included aerodynamic input from Jaguar in the design of Sky’s team bike, the Pinarello Dogma K8-S, while the iconic British brand also supplied Team Sky’s fleet of race-day cars, including a custom F-Type Coupé for the penultimate stage of the 2014 Tour de France.
But Sir Dave Brailsford and co will be driving out in the Ford Mondeo Wagon in 2016, while the Ford S-Max, Ford Kuga, nine-seat Ford Tourneo Custom and the Ford Transit Jumbo van will also be supplied. The cars will be liveried in Team Sky’s distinctive blue and black colours.
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Ford will supply 24 vehicles in total, with the Mondeo wagon the most visible in races as it will be used by Team Sky’s directeur sportifs and mechanics. Vehicles equipped with Ford’s ‘All Wheel Drive’ technology will be used for the cobbled Classics and all vehicles will be fitted with bespoke bike racks (for nine bikes), three radio systems to communicate with riders and other team members, plus audio visual equipment
Meanwhile, the Ford S-Max and Kuga will be used by soigneurs to support the team, while the nine-seat Tourneo Custom to move team members between airports and hotels. The 3.5-tonne Ford Transit Jumbo van will be used for logistical support, carrying all riders’ gear at race, including moving their mattresses between hotels.
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The Tourneo Custom will be used to shuttle riders and team members around, meanwhile, and the Transits for logistics support, which Ford say even includes carrying personal mattresses during races.
Team Sky will use the cars for their first European race of the season at Challenge Majorca, starting on Thursday January 28.
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