NFTO have announced details of a new partnership with a fund management company, Aberdeen Asset Management, which they hope to build on to enable the team to move to Pro Continental level next year.
The sponsorship will start next month, when the company logo will appear on the team’s jerseys at the Tour de Yorkshire. Aberdeen Asset Management may become the title sponsor next season, but no financial details of the sponsorship have been disclosed.
The team had an impressive win last year through Adam Blythe, when the English rider won the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic ahead of the likes of Philippe Gilbert. Blythe has since moved on, but the team have made some good signings including former Garmin rider Steele Von Hoff. Irish rider Eddie Dunbar also joined NFTO over the winter, and has impressed in a number of UK races. Earlier this week, he also put in a big ride in La Cote Picarde. Dunbar spent much of the day away on his own, where he was representing Ireland.
Team owner John Wood told Cycling Weekly, “We’ve got a lot to live up to from last season, but we want to build on something that we can take to another level. We want to race more abroad. The only way to hold talent on a team is to give them a bigger race programme. Aberdeen’s offices are worldwide, so they may want us to go to places so as to raise their profile.”
ProContinental teams are required to meet the UCI’s ethical, financial and administrative criteria and teams must consist of a minimum of 16 riders. The UCI requires new applications to Pro Continental level before August 1 this year.
