New agreement unlocks investment and expertise that will allow Velon to take the lead in delivering a full athlete experience to fans using ground-breaking and innovative technology.
Trek-Segafredo partnered with Velon in its inception in 2014, joining 10 other UCI Pro Teams in forming a business enterprise targeting future growth of professional cycling.
Velon is thrilled to announce a revolutionary partnership with Infront Sports & Media. The deal will give Velon access to Infront’s market-leading technology, media production, and sports marketing expertise and enable Velon to build a long-term and sustainable economic model for the sport, its teams, and riders.
The first phase of the partnership will enable live race data to revolutionize the fan experience by bringing the racing alive in an innovative and meaningful new way.
The agreement will result in the ability for bikes to carry the necessary technology to live stream performance data and video to feed into the race coverage.
This is pivotal to a core goal of Velon: bringing fans closer to the riders, races, and teams, and enhancing their experience in following cycling, while also growing the core fanbase of the sport through this exciting development.
Data capture will include various streams, however, what will be publically visible is subject to the outcomes of Velon’s discussions with all stakeholders (teams, riders, event organizers, the UCI, broadcasters, etc.).
This data will be aggregated, interpreted, and made available to race organizers for their broadcasters for use in the race coverage. Data will be handled sensitively so as to respect rider privacy rights and will use filters to ensure that live usage does not deliver a competitive advantage or disadvantage during a race.
Graham Bartlett – CEO of Velon:
“We are delighted to be partnered with Infront Sports and Media. Our partnership enables us to make a major step forward to enable data to be shared with fans, and it is going to be fantastic. Just imagine how great it will be for fans to see the performance of the riders as they follow races on their screens or see them at the race. This is something that has been available in other sports, and now we’re bringing it to cycling so fans can better engage with the riders and get a much better experience.”
Stephan Herth, Executive Director of Infront Sports & Media:
“Cycling is a key sport in Infront’s long-term strategy and also an important pillar of the wider Wanda Sports Holding business. We are therefore proud to partner with Velon in revolutionizing the cycling experience of the fans, as well as the way that the sport is positioned and marketed in the digital sphere. Involving also our subsidiaries HBS and Omnigon, we will provide an extensive array of in-house marketing, production and digital experience to Velon, as we fully share the team’s vision: to engage and grow the global cycling community, enhance the perception of the sport, and ensure long-term economic stability.”
Simon Thompson, Trek Sports Marketing Manager, Trek-Segafredo:
“This partnership marks a landmark change in the sport of cycling. The collaboration of the Velon teams and major stakeholders will revolutionize the way the sport is consumed by the fans, by giving a greater insight and understanding of the extreme demands and beauty of the sport and ultimately making it more intimate and exciting for everyone.”
Fabian Cancellara:
“It’s great to see the teams working together with a new partner to make the sport more sustainable. It’s incredible to see the technology that Infront and Velon can bring to cycling to give the fans insight into what happens in the peloton. It’s important for pro cycling to keep up with the modern times – this is the future of cycling.”
