German automaker Mercedes-Benz and the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) announced today a three-year partnership as presenting sponsor of the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships and title sponsor of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.

Starting in 2018, Mercedes will support every World Cup Race as well as the World Championship with a fleet of V-Class multi-purpose vehicles for shuttle services and the all-new X-Class pickups for course preparation. There will also be test drives and rides at each venue.

The sponsorship comes as the Stuttgart-based company prepares for the global launch of the mid-sized X-Class in addition to increasing its brand presence in outdoor sports particularly within the mountain bike segment given its active global reach.

“This partnership provides an excellent opportunity for us to accelerate the development of mountain bikes, one of our flagship disciplines. Our events will benefit from the brand’s global reputation and knowledge. That a manufacturer of the calibre of Mercedes-Benz has chosen to invest in cycling is evidence that our sport is attractive to major economic players who select our events to launch their new products. We are delighted with the trust shown by Mercedes-Benz in our federation, our discipline, and our major events,” said newly-elected UCI President David Lappartient.

www.uci.ch