14 DAY TRIAL // Taiwan-based mobile phone maker HTC Corporation and High Road Sports, Inc., the owner of Team Columbia-Highroad, announced recently the signing of a three-year sponsorship agreement that would bring the HTC brand at the 2009 Tour de France's starting line on July 4 in Monaco.
The team is called Columbia-Highroad at the moment, and has gained the most victories in the professional cycling in 2008 and 2009. At the 2009 Tour de France (which is at the 96th edition), the team will come under the name of “Columbia-HTC,“ while being set to present its new uniform on July 3 in Monaco.
“High Road Sports is elated to be partnering with HTC, a recognized leader and growing global brand in mobile phones. Team Columbia-HTC is now sponsored by two leading companies in their related industries and we are ready to show the growing power of our partnership at this year’s Tour de France,” said Bob Stapleton, owner, Team Columbia-HTC.
Business Weeks 2009 InfoTech 100 has recognized the HTC Corporation as the 13th best-performing tech company all around the world. The mobile phone maker is determined to make its handsets work more naturally and in a simpler way, in a people-centric approach. According to the manufacturer, these are the main factors that determine its choice of partners, product creations and platforms. HTC also says that it tries to understand and anticipate people’s needs so as to be able to offer them a more personalized experience.
“The HTC - High Road Sports partnership is a great match of like minded organizations driven by innovation, excellence and competitiveness and we are excited about the opportunity to communicate HTC’s brand value through the great sport of cycling,” added Peter Chou, chief executive officer, HTC Corporation.
The new three-year sponsorship agreement announced by High Road Sports and HTC Corporation runs through 2011 and includes professional cycling teams formed by both men and women. Said teams already won over 80 races combined in 2009, the highest number in the world at the moment, and are among the top teams all around the globe.