Jumbo is said to have informed the cycling and skating team management months ago that its title sponsor contract would expire at the end of 2024. Since then, skating coach Jack Ory and cycling director Richard Plough, among others, have been working to make the smoothest transition possible.
It is very likely that jumbo will disappear from the sport completely after 2024. He advertisement The Brabant department store chain, which has had a turbulent year, is currently considering the matter, it was reported on Tuesday evening.
Jumbo confirmed this on Wednesday. “We are currently examining our location,” says a company spokesperson. “We are also looking at whether our sponsorship policy still aligns with our vision, ambitions and the needs of our customers.”
An old man died, and his son was named in a money laundering case
Supermarket chain Jumbo has had a hectic year. CEO Frits van Eerd withdrew from the company in March 2022 due to his alleged involvement in a money laundering case. His father and CEO Karel van Eerd died last December at the age of 84.
The elder Van Eerd was considered an avid sports fan. At the end of 2014, he took the initiative to invest money in cycling and skiing. This happened for the first time as an associate sponsor, and since 2018 as a main sponsor.
So it comes as no surprise to General Manager Plugge of the Jumbo-Visma Cycling Team that Jumbo has withdrawn from the role of title sponsor. “I expected a decision would be coming,” he said on Wednesday. number. “A lot happened there.”
Gumbo disappearing would be a big change
The disappearance of Jumbo as a sponsor would be a major change in the Dutch sporting landscape. Jumbo-Visma teams were dominant for years. Sven Kramer skated in the yellow and black formation for eight seasons. Jutta Leerdam is currently the eye-catcher on the ski team.
In cycling, Jumbo-Visma is considered the best team in the world. Last summer, Dane Jonas Wingegaard became the first Dutch team rider to win the Tour de France. Wout van Aert, Primoz Roglic and Dylan van Baarle are also very successful Jumbo-Visma riders.
Max Verstappen is also sponsored by Jumbo, but as an individual. If the supermarket chain withdraws completely from the sport, the two-time Formula 1 world champion will also have to look for a new lender.
