Financial boost for Cycling Australia

Cycling Australia has announced a major sponsorship deal with Jayco Corporation until the end of 2012. Jayco, the largest recreational vehicle producer in the Southern Hemisphere, has increased its financial support of cycling in Australia to include the national road and track teams in addition to its backing of the Herald Sun Tour and the Victorian Institute of Sport.

"We are delighted to welcome as a major sponsor Jayco Australia, a company that has a long and proud history of support for cycling," said Cycling Australia CEO, Graham Fredericks. "Our partnership with Jayco will have a enormous impact on our high performance program and the development of our cyclists over the next three and a half years."

"Jayco has been supporting cycling since the early 1990s when they provided financial assistance to 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games gold medalist Kathy Watt," said Fredericks. "Since then the company has continued to provide support to cyclists, cycling events and development programs and is a major player in the growth of our sport.

The deal includes:

-Cycling Australia’s UCI registered continental team will be known as Team Jayco - AIS from July 1.
-Cycling Australia’s annual awards celebration will now be known as the Jayco Australian Cyclist of the Year Awards.
-A professional track team with a roster of cyclists from the Cycling Australia/AIS High Performance Program will compete as Team Jayco, beginning with the opening round of the 2009 - 2010 UCI Track World Cup Classics in Manchester at the end of October.
-Jayco branding on elite and U23 men's race clothing at the UCI Road World Championships.

Jayco will also be recognised as a contributing sponsor to the Cycling Australia mountain bike program through the discovertasmania.com-Cycling Australia professional MTB team.

"Even though times are a bit tough, sport deserves the support of business in helping to prepare our young athletes for international success," said Jayco Managing Director, Gerry Ryan OAM.