TotalEnergies will be part of Ineos as a co-sponsor, with the French oil main showing on the jersey in time for the Tour de France subsequent week.
There’s no information from the staff on this but however it’s on the Whole company web site. The dimensions of the emblem ought to inform us one thing concerning the dimension of ambitions.
Whole is the French oil main, one of many greatest firms in France valued at €120 billion at present which suggests it is likely one of the greater company sponsors within the sport. As talked about right here earlier than they’ve acquired a historical past of working with Ineos too.
TotalEnergies has finalized a sponsorship deal for the INEOS Grenadiers’ jersey, beginning at this yr’s Tour de France– Press Launch
It’s a shirt sponsorship deal based on the press launch and nothing extra for now. So the staff is prone to keep as Ineos Grenadiers. We’ll should see what occurs with the package, presumably the emblem is distinguished on the chest and again somewhat than a small addition on the again pocket which will get coated by the emblem.
Le swap?Not fairly as TotalEnergies may also stay title sponsor for at the least yet another yr for Jean-René Bernaudeau’s band of baroudeurs. They’ll focus on plans for 2027 and past after the Tour de France. We’ll see the place these talks go, for now it appears like a gracious exit route, TotalEnergies shouldn’t be doing a runner. Bernaudeau is retiring quickly and depart with out a bitter observe.
Dangle on…In the event you’re considering a sponsor can’t have two groups, you’re virtually proper. It’s in opposition to the UCI guidelines. Right here is the related a part of the rulebook:
2.15.052 The members of a UCI WorldTeam could haven’t any hyperlink with the members of one other UCI WorldTeam, with a UCI ProTeam or with an organiser of a UCI WorldTour occasion prone to affect the sporting course of occasions or to be perceived as so doing. In distinctive instances, which don’t problem the integrity of the competitors or the sporting equity, the UCI Administration Committee could grant an exception.
But when this rule sounds acquainted, you would possibly keep in mind it being cited when FDJ purchased Unibet and at present FDJ and Unibet are every title sponsors of respective groups regardless of in the end being a part of the identical firm. Maybe having completely different manufacturers means the notion is diminished? Be aware notion is a matter right here however we’re speaking concerning the “paying agent” within the UCI jargon, the folks controlling and funding the staff. Many groups have frequent sponsors, assume Canyon or Specialised as bike suppliers, likewise for elements or clothes.
There may be a method round however this is a matter recognised by Whole of their press launch at present:
TotalEnergies confirms that its agreements with these two biking groups are strictly business and exclude any affect and/or interference in sporting issues and race methods. The Firm is implementing inner guidelines to make sure this separation and the total independence of each groups. A precept the UCI will monitor in accordance with its regulation.
This assertion is supposed to reassure however keep in mind the foundations cite notion so it’s an open concern, presumably the UCI have blessed all of this however think about what a median fan would possibly assume if there’s a breakaway with an Ineos rider, a TotalEnergies rider and a rider from one other staff? It’d look awkward right here however in actuality on this scenario there is no such thing as a cause for collusion. The dangers are in all probability larger up when it comes to administration, would Brailsford need to assist out Bernaudeau or vice versa? Hopefully not however we’re again to notion.
Additionally whereas the Whole talks have been occurring, a number of riders are being linked with a transfer to Ineos like Kévin Vauquelin, Benoît Cosnefroy and Dorian Godon and guess what they’ve in frequent. Linked for now however we’ll see if the staff wants to rent a few French riders.
The large query is whether or not the additional cash means they will go after Remco Evenepoel, both to purchase him out of his contract or to wave a contract for 2027 so tempting that he’ll signal it this summer time and wait out his final yr at Quickstep. This and different recruitment choices await after an exodus final summer time that ended with Tom Pidcock’s shock late swap.
TotalEnergies may also turn into a sponsor of the Tour de France as nicely. The press launch mentions it as an “Official Accomplice” which is a proper time period with race organisers ASO. There are 4 “Most important Companions” whose branding seems on the 4 jerseys within the race and get prominence elsewhere too. “Official Accomplice” is the subsequent stage down like Vittel water, Shimano and others, together with Ag2r which have sponsored a staff as nicely. It offers the corporate much more protection, from the Tour’s publicity caravan to VIP alternatives.
It’s an enormous transfer by Whole which acquired into biking sponsorship by accident because it purchased Direct Energie, another power provider in France, again in 2018 and located it had a biking staff. But it surely stayed with this, certainly the corporate boss Patrick Pouyanné has taken an curiosity within the sport, if just for sponsoring and communication, for some time. They got here near signing Julian Alaphilippe, now they’ve a full males’s staff.
SummaryTotalEnergies is rising its sponsorship within the sport. This seems like a gradual take care of jersey sponsorship at Ineos to start with and yet another yr with the French professional conti staff, the present contract with Bernaudeau’s staff was expiring this yr. That is uncommon with two groups sharing the identical sponsor.
For now we are able to’t see new Ineos jersey however when it comes out in time for the Tour de France the dimensions of the Whole brand will inform us a lot concerning the dimension of the deal… and their ambitions too.
