August 7, 2008 (Montreal, QC) – Canada’s Team Calyon might lose its title sponsor, Calyon, a corporate and investment banking group that's part of Crédit Agricole, a French-based bank that recently announced it will not be continuing to sponsor its French-based ProTour team.
When the news about Crédit Agricole was announced we contacted Team Calyon's manager, Bernard Vives, who commented, “To be honest, the situation with all banks worldwide is not very good due to the sub-prime crisis and Calyon has been largely affect by that as well. We know that it will be difficult next year and we are looking for a new partner, while at the same time we will continue to make a big event with Calyon at the Mardis cyclistes de Lachine finale on August 19. This year our race program was huge compared with last year. We have been to Belize, France, and many races in USA. We really hope that we can continue in 2009.”
Calyon has sponsored the team since 2006. Along with Symmetrics and Team RACE Pro, the team is one of three UCI-level Continental squads in Canada and the team members include Matt Bell, David Bergeron, William Goodfellow, Matthew Guse, Mike Norton (team captain), Mathieu Roy, Charly Vives, Maxime Vives.
Apart from Calyon, the team has many other sponsors, including: NewEdge, Credit Agricole Asset Management, Busac, BBSP, Cervelo, Topolino, Selle Italia, Cycles Lambert, Martin Swiss Cycle, Lake, McCarthy Tetrault, Le Pen Castel, ER Gestion Renovation, Salient Maritime, Beauvel MicroConsult Inc., Moishes, Verge, Rudy Project, Peak Centre Montréal, Mazda Canada.
Team Crédit Agricole’s managing director, Roger Legeay continues to look for a sponsor and the team website indicates that Legeay will continue looking until September 30, and if a sponsor is not found by that date, the team will fold - more on this a href="http://www.pedalmag.com/index.php?module=Section&action=viewdetail&item_id=14004">here. Team rider Dmitriy Fofonov was one of four cyclists to fail doping tests during the 2008 Tour de France. Legeay is known for his strong views against doping and it's unclear if this matter is linked to the team's current problems to find a sponsor.
Legeay, was on hand for a Team Calyon press conference in Montreal in early 2007, promising to keep an eye on the Canadian riders. Visit www.calyoncanadacycling.com for more info on Team Calyon
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Photo: Pasquale Stalteri
Charly Vives (Calyon Pro Cycling)
Photo: Pasquale Stalteri
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