HANOVER, Germany — Continental A.G. will supply tires to Tour de France support vehicles, including cars, vans and motorcycles, for the next five years as part of an agreement naming the tire maker an offcial partner of the annual bicycle racing event.
Nikolai Setzer, head of Continental's global tire business, said the move was a logical step for the firm, which has committed itself to the development of high-tech bicycle tires.
"Through this move," Mr. Setzer said, "we are demonstrating our great tire manufacturing expertise in a unique environment of worldwide significance — a cycle race that not only demands the ultimate in safety but also calls for benchmark standards in terms of rolling resistance and weight."
The five-year partnership runs through 2022 and will allow Continental to maintain high visibility throughout the tour, which runs for three weeks every July.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.