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GT Bicycles and Ritchey Design Inc. today announced the signing of sponsorship agreements with the Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team, a continental road cycling team.
As a direct result of a strategic partnership with Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team's apparel sponsor Champion System, GT Bicycles signed a deal to become the exclusive bicycle frame supplier for two years starting January 1, 2008. Ritchey Design will be the exclusive provider of handlebars, stems and seatposts to the Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team for the 2008 racing season.
"Our riders depend on their equipment, so they can focus on the extreme demands of training and racing," said Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team Director, Danny van Haute. "My team has 100% confidence in the race-proven products GT Bicycles and Ritchey are providing. We're excited to welcome these two strong partners to our distinguished roster of sponsors."
The Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team will be riding GT Bicycles' GTR Team racing frame, a lightweight and stiff carbon fiber monocoque road frame, which is manufactured through GT Bicycles' proprietary composite manufacturing process called Force Optimized Construction. GTR Team bikes are available to consumers through independent bicycle dealers (IBD).
"GT Bicycles has a long-standing commitment to racing," said Steve Reeds, executive vice president and general manager of Pacific Cycle IBD division. "We are proud to align GT Bicycles with the Jelly Belly Pro Cycling team."
Founded by product innovator Tom Ritchey in 1974 and well-known for attention to detail and high-quality components, Ritchey Design will supply all "cockpit" components including their WCS Carbon One-Bolt seatposts, WCS Alloy handlebars, WCS Carbon 4AXIS stems and Pro Oversized 30-degree stems and alloy adjustable stems for time trial bikes.
"We believe bike racing is the best place to prove our component designs," said Steve Parke, Ritchey Design's general manager and vice president of marketing. "Jelly Belly Pro Cycling's team roster has some of the best racers in the U.S. and we are looking forward to helping them have a successful year."
In the last two years, Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team riders have accumulated 47 wins and close to 100 podium finishes in both domestic and foreign events as they've raced in front of nearly 9 million spectators. In 2007, the team took the individual and overall victory at the Tour of Hong Kong to Shanghai, first place general classification rider at the Redlands Bicycle Classic, the Georgia Cup, the Tri Peaks Challenge, and the Missouri State Road Championships, as well as first place Team Classification at stage 7 of the Amgen Tour of California, a stage win at the Sea Otter Classic and Sport Beans® King of the Hill jersey at the Nature Valley Grand Prix. With the addition of pro veterans Bernard Van Ulden and Olympic hopefuls Brad Huff and Todd Wells, the team is poised for another successful season in 2008.
Team Partners
• Jelly Belly® Candy Company - Fine Confectioner;
• ARAMARK - Worldwide Leader in Business Services;
• GT Bicycles - Bicycles;
• Richey Design - Cockpit components;
• Champion System - apparel sponsor;
• Campagnolo - Bicycle Components;
• Lake - Cycling Footwear;
• Gatorade - Hydration and Nutritional;
• Park Tool - Bicycle Repair Tools and Pumps;
• Rudy Project - Helmets and Performance Eyewear;
• Inno Advanced Racks - Automobile Bicycle Racks;
• Fi'zi:k - Saddles and Handlebar Tape;
• Speedplay -- Pedals;
• Hutchinson - Performance Tires and Inner Tubes;
• Arundel - Water Bottle Cages.
Jelly Belly® is a registered trademark of the Jelly Belly Candy Company, Fairfield, CA 94533.
About GT Bicycles
Built on its race-proven performance products, GT Bicycles (gtbicycles.com) has been designing technologically advanced bikes in the road, mountain and BMX categories since 1973.
Pacific Cycle and its GT Bicycles brand are part of the Dorel Industries group of companies. Dorel Industries (TSX: DII.B, DII.A) is engaged in the designing, manufacturing and marketing of a diverse portfolio of powerful consumer brands, sold through its Juvenile, Recreational/Leisure and Home Furnishings segments. Headquartered in Montreal and with significant operations in the United States and Europe, Dorel employs approximately 4,700 people in 15 countries. Annual sales are US$1.8 billion and are made in over 60 countries worldwide.
About Ritchey Design, Inc.
Northern California-based Ritchey Design 9ritcheylogic.com) was founded by road racer, mountain bike pioneer and product innovator Tom Ritchey in 1974. The company is well-known for its technical merits through attention to detail during the product design phase, resulting in high-quality, reasonably priced road and mountain bike components. Under its Fit Logic philosophy, Ritchey Designs offers a wide range of "cockpit" components (handlebars, stems and seatposts) that help riders custom fit their bikes for a more efficient, comfortable, and enjoyable ride. Ritchey Designs also offers a complete line of innovative products ranging from headsets to tires for professional racers and the serious weekend rider, as well as its line of "Break-Away" travel bicycles for traveling cyclists.
About the Jelly Belly Professional Cycling Team
Entering its ninth year of professional bicycle racing, The Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team (jellybellycycling.com) is a Continental team composed of 12 riders who compete throughout the United States in races sanctioned by USA Cycling on the National Racing Calendar.
About Jelly Belly Candy Company
Jelly Belly Candy Company makes the taste defining Jelly Belly jelly beans in 50 official flavors and an ever changing array of new flavors and limited editions. The company that put the gourmet jelly bean on the map became known worldwide when Jelly Belly beans were taken to the White House during the Ronald Reagan administration. Today, Jelly Belly beans are celebrating 30 years of fun and flavor, and are the leading jelly bean brand.
For more information about Jelly Belly jelly beans, go online at JellyBelly.com or contact the Jelly Belly Hotline at 800.522.3267.
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