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MTN-Qhubeka partners with Canadian bike manufacturer Cervélo

MTN-Qhubeka, Africa’s first pro continential team, Gerard Vroomen (Cervélo co-founder), Cervélo and Rotor have announced a partnership that goes beyond the traditional framework of what constitutes sponsorship of a professional cycling team.  On Tuesday, all parties announced that Gerard Vroomen will join MTN-Qhubeka in 2015, marking his return to professional cycling team management, since 2010 when Cervelo Test Team disbanded. Cervélo will supply the team with bicycles, while Rotor signs on as an equipment supplier.

Where this partnership goes beyond the typical sponsorship deal is with the financial commitment Cervélo is making to Qhubeka Foundation, an African charity that provides bicycles to communities and individuals in need of reliable transportation. “Cervélo is a great believer in cause-based initiatives,” says Rick Vosper, Cervélo marketing director. “Qhubeka is a great charity, serving a need and we’re pleased to help out.”  Cervélo, long known for making the exact bikes that the professional riders race on available to consumers, will support the Qhubeka Foundation by donating the purchase cost of a Qhubeka Bicycle for every replica MTN-Qhubeka team bike Cervélo, and its worldwide network of dealers, sells.

Gerard Vroomen states that he has had several opportunities to get back into pro cycling since Test Team, but his return had to wait for an approach from MTN-Qhubeka team principal, Douglas Ryder, to bring him back. “I always had this crazy notion that it had to involve making a difference,” Vroomen said. “With MTN-Qhubeka, that opportunity existed.”  Vroomen adds that “as the icing on the cake, the Qhubeka part provides a different way to make a difference.”

“Cervelo is the perfect partner for our team in many ways,” comments Douglas Ryder.  “Leading edge technology to a network of dealers, distributors and customers that are incredibly loyal to the brand.  We are so fortunate that Gerard Vroomen could orchestrate this partnership for the benefit of Team MTN-Qhubeka and the Qhubeka Foundation.”