The EF Pro Cycling organization is thrilled to welcome the innovative Japanese construction and asphalt company NIPPO CORPORATION as its co-title partner. The team will race, ride, and explore as EF Education-NIPPO from Jan. 1, 2021.
The NIPPO CORPORATION has long been a sponsor and supporter of racing in Europe — the NIPPO–Vini Fantini–Faizanè team raced the Giro d’Italia on three occasions — but the move marks the company’s first partnership at professional road cycling’s highest level.
“It is the first time for NIPPO CORPORATION to participate in the WorldTour, and we are thrilled and excited. It’s a new adventure for us,” said Hiroshi Daimon, director of sport for NIPPO CORPORATION. “We are excited to contribute as much as possible to furthering the success of the EF Pro Cycling team across the world.”
The NIPPO CORPORATION’s businesses work toward a realization of prosperous societies through reliable craftsmanship. Its approach of earning trust, passing on the art of its techniques and challenging itself to achieve dreams connects with the EF Pro Cycling team, which races across the world with the mission to compete but also to explore and inspire.
“Our team comes from far and wide, and the same is true for our partner family. There is a freedom and freshness on our roster and in our thinking between our partners since we all come from so many different places in the world. I’m very proud of that fact,” said team CEO Jonathan Vaughters. “With NIPPO CORPORATION joining us as a title sponsor next season, we will only add to our global approach to professional cycling and exploration.”
The NIPPO CORPORATION has a particular affinity for cycling given that some of its business involves the construction of velodromes and other race tracks — specifically the highly technical construction of a velodrome’s banked asphalt walls.
The company builds 90 percent of velodromes in Japan and has been a booster of cycling since the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Since then, NIPPO CORPORATION has sponsored assorted Japanese national teams over the years and smaller teams throughout Europe. One of the aims of NIPPO CORPORATION’s investment is to support and empower Japanese cyclists and cycling team staff, thus furthering cycling in Japan.
“We hope that the Japanese athletes and technical staff, from mechanics to soigneurs who join the team, will gain more experience and contribute to the development of Japanese cycling,” Daimon said. “We can’t wait to race as EF Education-NIPPO in 2021.”
In addition to EF Pro Cycling, NIPPO CORPORATION will also sponsor Nippo-Provence-PTS Conti, a Swiss-based continental team with riders from Switzerland, Ethiopia, France, Japan, Norway, and Poland.
Photo Credit: Ashley Gruber & Jered Gruber | Gruber Images
