Ursus, another Italian company that enter the World Tourr with the clear intent to innovate and develop. It will be alongside the Team PicNic-PostNL for at least two years.
Enrico Stragliotto, of the sales department of Ursus, tells us some details of this partnership which has all the credentials to be the first step of a longer journey, with a broad view of the future.
When did the partnership with the team begin and when did it actually take shape?
Interest arises at the beginning of the 2024We wanted to make a level jump and after many years in professional teams, such as Total Direct Energies, Bardiani, Corratec and in the past alongside CCC, we felt ready to take the big step into the WorldTour. In mid-2024 we officially got in touch with the teamToday we are ready to go.
Is it possible to know some details that connect you to the team?
We too have just returned from our first retreats, where we effectively came into contact with the entire staff. We will be able to provide more details in the coming months. I can say that collaboration is intended to be long-termWe've signed a two-year contract so far, but…
After the first few days of testing and use, has the team already made any requests?
I dare say that the first feedbacks are positiveObviously, there's work to be done. I think we'll have to wait until after January to fully quantify the data and gain more insights. We are in contact with the team's technicians and we ask them for continuous updates.The team not only has Ursus wheels as new material, but also Lapierre bikes (it returns to the WorldTour with the new Xelius DRS and the Aerostorm for the time trials - Editor's note). So everything is in flux.
Will you be using the World Tour team for testing and development of future products?
For us this collaboration is definitely importantIt is for visibility, but the aspect that interests us most is the team's ability to process data and figure out together how to develop the products of the future. We're confident that by combining our expertise with that of the team, we'll have the opportunity to develop even higher-performance wheels.
And then the Enigma project. An Ursus evolution that's pushing decisively towards the WorldTour?
Exact. Enigma represents a first step towards what has always been a fixed point for UrsusInnovation and quality. We're still keeping our mouths shut at this stage, but I can anticipate that there will be some very interesting surprises in the coming months.
Compared to the sponsorships we've had to date, what does the World Tour commitment entail?
The WorldTour is the F1 of cycling. The commitment is remarkable in every aspect and within a company everyone is involved, directly and indirectlyUrsus is a solid company that has always been oriented towards growth and entering this category is an integral part of a growth process that is not just current. In fact, the link with a World Tour team is the icing on the cake of a journey that has lasted for several seasonsNow we're here and we're starting again with other steps of evolution.
