It’s a classic start-up story: two guys named Václav start a bicycle company in 1895. Fast forward 130 years, and that same company is the main partner of the world’s most prestigious cycling event for the 22nd time, leading the charge with a fleet of fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars. It seems Škoda hasn’t forgotten its roots; it’s just electrified them. As the 112th Tour de France kicks off, Škoda is once again playing a role that’s far more significant than just slapping its logo on a few banners. The Czech brand, celebrating its 130th birthday, is reminding everyone that long before the Enyaq or the Octavia, there were pedals and a pushbike factory in Mladá Boleslav. This long-running partnership with the Tour is less a marketing exercise and more of a 3,339 km-long, high-speed family reunion.
The Electric Command Centre
Forget your typical support vehicle convoy. For this year’s Tour, Škoda is supplying a fleet of up to 225 support vehicles, all of which are either fully electric or plug-in hybrid models. Leading this silent but powerful peloton will be the new Škoda Enyaq and the Superb iV, which will take turns serving as the Race Director’s ‘Red Car’.
This isn’t just a comfy ride for Race Director Christian Prudhomme to watch the drama unfold. These Red Cars are sophisticated mobile command centres, bristling with communication tech to monitor the race and coordinate with officials. It’s essentially the coolest, most high-tech office on four wheels, offering a front-row seat to one of the most-watched sporting events on the planet, a spectacle that draws an estimated three billion TV viewers.
Trophies, Tributes, and Student Projects
Škoda’s commitment runs deeper than just providing the wheels. For the 15th time, Škoda Design is behind the magnificent crystal trophies awarded to the winners of the overall, points, mountain, and best young rider classifications. This year, the glassware gets an extra touch of class, featuring a special logo to mark the company’s 130th anniversary.
The brand is also the long-standing sponsor of the coveted green jersey for the leader of the points classification. And if you’re spectating along the route, you’ll see a couple of unique show cars in the promotional caravan. There’s the Elroq Respectline, promoting diversity and inclusion, and the L&K 130, the tenth creation from the talented students at the Škoda Auto Secondary Vocational School of Engineering.
Your Chance to Join the Lycra Party
Think this is just for the pros? Škoda wants fans to get in on the action, too. Through its WeLoveCycling.com platform, the company is running competitions with some seriously impressive prizes. Forget a new jersey; the grand prize is a spot for you and a companion inside a Škoda for the final stage on the iconic Champs-Élysées in Paris, complete with a chance to ride a 60 km circuit alongside former pros. Other prizes include professional bikes and official green jerseys, and some lucky members of the Škoda cycling community could even score a ride with 2010 Tour de France winner and brand ambassador Andy Schleck.
So, as 184 riders battle it out across the Pyrenees, the Alps, and the legendary Mont Ventoux, Škoda will be there for every gruelling kilometre. It’s a powerful statement from a company that has seamlessly transitioned from human-powered two-wheelers to battery-powered four-wheelers, proving that after 130 years, it still has a deep and abiding love for the bicycle. This blend of heritage and forward-thinking technology is what makes the partnership feel so authentic and engaging.
