August 12, 2006 – Skoda, part of the Volkswagen group, will not renew its contract with the Tour de France after 2007. According to reports the company was “generally content with the sponsorship” of the world’s biggest bike race which helped increase its visibility in European markets, but it does not want to be associated with drug scandals like the one involving Landis at this year’s Tour.

Skoda took over sponsorship from Fiat at the Tour in 2004 and also sponsors other big races such as Paris-Roubaix.