Toyota will not renew team's sponsorship

United Pro Cycling Team seeking replacement title sponsor

Toyota Motor Sales, USA, has decided not to renew its title sponsorship of the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team after the end of the 2008 season. The decision coincides with the expiration of the three-year sponsorship agreement signed December 1, 2005. Team Owner Sean Tucker informed his riders, staff and management of the news and said he is looking for a new partner for the 2009 seasons.

"The Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team has performed at a level that truly symbolizes the Toyota way. We have the utmost respect for Sean Tucker, his management, the marketing and PR team, and the athlete riders all of whom have represented us valiantly," said Keith Dahl, National Manager of Engagement Marketing for Toyota. "We accomplished our goals in this three-year term and have since shifted strategies."

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"Certainly we have enjoyed our partnership with Toyota these past two and a half years which has been incredibly successful for both organizations with 118 wins in just over two seasons. We will always be grateful for the support Toyota, its dealer network and employees have shown our team and me personally," said Tucker.

"We are looking forward to securing a new partner for the 2009 season in the next 100 days who can benefit from and build their brand by being associated with our world class organization. We are confident another sponsor will capitalize on the value United Pro Cycling Team generates with our 25,000 registered fans, eight-figure annual measurable media exposure, 3.3 million annual onsite spectators and the charitable work our team does in the communities we race in."

Toyota-United is regularly on the start line of America's top stage races, including the Tour of California, Tour de Georgia and Tour of Missouri. It counts 89 stage wins over a little more than the past two seasons.

Current Toyota-United members hail seven different countries including the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Cuba, Serbia and Mexico. The team includes current UCI B World Road Race Champion and 2008 Olympian Ivan Stevic, from Serbia 2008 Tour of California stage four winner and overall sprint jersey winner Dominique Rollin and Mexican National Time Trial Champion Jose Manuel (Chepe) Garcia.