It was one of the most moving pictures of last summer: Arnstadt's Marcel Kittel fulfilled a childhood dream by winning the first stage of the Tour de France and was finally allowed to stretch his hands to the sky in joy in the yellow jersey.
Normally one would have to assume that successes like this would attract numerous sponsors. Until a few weeks ago, Iwan Spekenbrink, the manager of the Argos-Shimano team, which also includes Kittel, John Degenkolb, Nikias Arndt, Simon Geschke and Johannes Fröhlinger, seemed to have the same opinion.
At the end of October, he announced the arrival of a new main sponsor, with whom a three-year contract had reportedly been signed, replacing the previous main sponsor Argos, which had also started in 2012 with the aim of supporting the team long-term. However, it was revealed today that the planned deal has apparently fallen through. According to De Telegraph, the new sponsor was a US-based charity.
But the team seems to be blamed for luck in disguise at first. The vacant post of main sponsor will most likely be taken over by the Taiwan-based bike manufacturer Giant. At the end of 2013, he ended his involvement with competitor Belkin. The deal will initially apply to this season. It is also believed that Shimano will remain a co-sponsor of the team.