Just released today is the sad news that Barloworld is stepping away from what their Head of Marketing is saying as “one of the most successful sponsorships in sport”.

Barloworld first came to the sponsorship in 2003 with only one real goal in mind. A Tour de France podium finish within 5 years. They certainly achieved this and more. With two stage wins, and the polka dot jersey in the 2007 Tour. Barloworld put together a strong team that had great success the globe over.

Chris Fisher, Head of Corporate Marketing at Barloworld says:

“The success of the team and therefore the sponsorship has been remarkable. The return on investment since inception makes the sponsorship one of the most successful sports sponsorships certainly in Africa.”

“All sponsorships run their logical course and 7 years is a relatively long life for a sponsorship. We have achieved everything and more than we could ever have hoped to achieve with the sponsorship. We have also made good friends in the cycling world, none more so than our association with Claudio Corti – a true professional and a gentleman in the sport. It was a privilege to have worked with him and his team.”

Team management also thanks their many sponsors: Bianchi, Avis, Barloworld Automotive, Barloworld Equipment, CAT, Kask, to name just a few.

The team also wants to thank their riders, who embodied the Barloworld values of teamwork, integrity, excellence and commitment.

They conclude by thanking their fans for their unwavering support, especially during their darkest days.