Dogtrousers
Lefty tighty. Get it righty.
I have one word left unaccounted for, and that's "Victorious". As in Bahrain Victorious. I think it's just a cruel joke.
Dodgy sponsors
- Thread starter mjr
- Start date
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No Ta Doctor
Über Member
"Random adjective" should do.
Dogtrousers
Lefty tighty. Get it righty.
I also had a problem with the Euskadi bit of Euskaltel - Euskadi and Laboral Kutxa - Fundación Euskadi
I couldn't figure out if it signified a separate sponsor or whether it just meant "hey, we're Basque". So should I have added an Euskadi entry to the "places" list? I gave up on this one.
I couldn't figure out if it signified a separate sponsor or whether it just meant "hey, we're Basque". So should I have added an Euskadi entry to the "places" list? I gave up on this one.
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Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
I would take slight issue with your listing INEOS and Grenadiers separately. The Grenadier is a car produced by INEOS ( a subsidiary called Ineos Automotive), so it is a single (automotive) sponsor, even though the parent INEOS are primarily a petrochemicals company.
Dogtrousers
Lefty tighty. Get it righty.
Feel free to take issue. I'm not changing it
When the new teams are announced next year I might consider it.
mididoctors
Über Member
Feel free to take issue. I'm not changing it
When the new teams are announced next year I might consider it.
I for one appreciate you covering this every year .
Dogtrousers
Lefty tighty. Get it righty.
So who are NSN?. What do they do?
This seems like a good place to look
https://www.wearensn.com/
"We elevate the meaning of sport.". That sounds good.
"A global cross-cutting axis between Barcelona, Tokyo, Mexico City and Emirates!" Splendid!
Nope, I still have no idea what they do. Hang on...
"We enable brands to reach their goals by leveraging partnership activation, increasing visibility, and expanding audience reach through business opportunities, strategic initiatives, creative content production, and 360º Marketing services."
Ah. Some kind of advertising agency then?
Seems to have been founded by an ex footballer called Andres Iniesta. Who is he? What's he been up to? I hope he is nice and wholesome and hasn't been accused of fraud in Peru or anything unsavoury like that.
Tap tap, Google Google ...
Oh dear https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/barcelona-legend-andres-iniesta-accused-fraud/bltc6aa139a7916bb74
Still, the only way is up.
This seems like a good place to look
https://www.wearensn.com/
"We elevate the meaning of sport.". That sounds good.
"A global cross-cutting axis between Barcelona, Tokyo, Mexico City and Emirates!" Splendid!
Nope, I still have no idea what they do. Hang on...
"We enable brands to reach their goals by leveraging partnership activation, increasing visibility, and expanding audience reach through business opportunities, strategic initiatives, creative content production, and 360º Marketing services."
Ah. Some kind of advertising agency then?
Seems to have been founded by an ex footballer called Andres Iniesta. Who is he? What's he been up to? I hope he is nice and wholesome and hasn't been accused of fraud in Peru or anything unsavoury like that.
Tap tap, Google Google ...
Oh dear https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/barcelona-legend-andres-iniesta-accused-fraud/bltc6aa139a7916bb74
Still, the only way is up.
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OP
OP
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
There's a bit more analysis and speculation in Never Say Never Cycling Team
https://inrng.com/2025/11/never-say...rss&utm_campaign=never-say-never-cycling-team
Dogtrousers
Lefty tighty. Get it righty.
Another year rolls round. New sponsors arrive and old ones leave.
We have said goodbye to:
Israel (Were they actually a sponsor, or just a trolling word inserted into the team name? Who knows, who cares?); AG2R ; Wanty (Which means there's nothing left of dear old Wanty Groupe Gobert
) Deceuninck; Arkéa; B&B Hotels; CERATIZIT; Vini Fantini (who always mean lemon yellow kit details and shameless doping to me. Also make me think of Milli Vanilli. Not sure that's what the sponsors intended); Faizanè; Le Dévoluy; Orange Seal; Roland; VF Group; Wagner-Bazin and Winspace.
Now for new arrivals. Pinarello have turned up as a name sponsor of Q36.5. Plus also other newcomers CMA CGM (logistics) have stepped into AG2R's shoes; MBH Bank; CSB Telecom; Modern Adventure; NIPPO (Construction); Rali & Rose (both bikes);Mayenne(Region of France); Monbana & My Pie (both food).
Possibly the most interesting of the new sponsors is Ma Petite Entreprise (My Small Business). They're a collective of small businesses. You can read about them here. https://en.3bikes.fr/2024/11/21/ma-...ue-exclusivement-par-des-petites-entreprises/
We have two new sponsors whose descriptions are such unbearable hogwash that I've had to add a new category of "sports branding" because I just can't figure out what they do:
NSN We enable brands to reach their goals by leveraging partnership activation
7Sabre combines the symbolic power of the saber with the sacredness of the number seven, reinterpreted as a new sign of energy . FFS
So here it is, my dodgy sponsor categorisation for 2026. If you look hard you will find mistakes and things that you don't agree with. Enjoy telling me and I will enjoy ignoring you.
My rules are a bit vague. If you get your name in the team's title you are listed, whether you are technically a sponsor or not, because it can be quite hard to figure these things out, and anyway you're benefitting from the exposure. So Ineos and Grenadiers are still separately listed. There's a key to what the colours mean below.
Men WT only
Women WT Only
Men and Women WT
Men WT Women Pro
Men Pro only
Women Pro only
Men and Women Pro
We have said goodbye to:
Israel (Were they actually a sponsor, or just a trolling word inserted into the team name? Who knows, who cares?); AG2R ; Wanty (Which means there's nothing left of dear old Wanty Groupe Gobert
) Deceuninck; Arkéa; B&B Hotels; CERATIZIT; Vini Fantini (who always mean lemon yellow kit details and shameless doping to me. Also make me think of Milli Vanilli. Not sure that's what the sponsors intended); Faizanè; Le Dévoluy; Orange Seal; Roland; VF Group; Wagner-Bazin and Winspace.Now for new arrivals. Pinarello have turned up as a name sponsor of Q36.5. Plus also other newcomers CMA CGM (logistics) have stepped into AG2R's shoes; MBH Bank; CSB Telecom; Modern Adventure; NIPPO (Construction); Rali & Rose (both bikes);Mayenne(Region of France); Monbana & My Pie (both food).
Possibly the most interesting of the new sponsors is Ma Petite Entreprise (My Small Business). They're a collective of small businesses. You can read about them here. https://en.3bikes.fr/2024/11/21/ma-...ue-exclusivement-par-des-petites-entreprises/
We have two new sponsors whose descriptions are such unbearable hogwash that I've had to add a new category of "sports branding" because I just can't figure out what they do:
NSN We enable brands to reach their goals by leveraging partnership activation
7Sabre combines the symbolic power of the saber with the sacredness of the number seven, reinterpreted as a new sign of energy . FFS
So here it is, my dodgy sponsor categorisation for 2026. If you look hard you will find mistakes and things that you don't agree with. Enjoy telling me and I will enjoy ignoring you.
My rules are a bit vague. If you get your name in the team's title you are listed, whether you are technically a sponsor or not, because it can be quite hard to figure these things out, and anyway you're benefitting from the exposure. So Ineos and Grenadiers are still separately listed. There's a key to what the colours mean below.
- Cycling/sports (13): BH (Bikes); CANYON (Bikes); DecathІon (Sports supermarket); Human Powered Health (Training); Lease a Bike (Employee bike leasing); Liv (Clothing/gear); Q36.5 (Clothing/gear); SRAM (Components); Trek (Bikes); XDS (Bikes); Pinarello (Bikes); Rali (Bikes); Rose (Bikes);
- Finance/insurance (9): AG Insurance; Baloise; Caja Rural - Seguros RGA; Cofidis; Groupama; Laboral Kutxa; zondacrypto; MBH (Bank); ADQ (Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company);
- Places (8): Astana (Coalition of Kazakh state owned companies); Bahrain (Government); Euskadi (Basque country); UAE (Government); VisitMalta (Tourism promotion); Burgos; Flanders; Mayenne;
- Engineering/construction (6): Bardiani (Valves); CSF (Sewage - and other - pumps); Premier Tech (Waste treatment); SUEZ (Waste water); Volker Wessels (Civil engineering); NIPPO (Construction);
- Building supplies (5): BORA (Extractor hoods); Fenix (Sinks, Washbaisins …); Hansgrohe (Taps); Quick Step (Floors); Soudal (Adhesives);
- Energy (5): Burpellet (Wood pellets); Solution Tech (Solar/renewable); TotalEnergies (Fuel supply and EV charging); Uno-X Mobility (Fuel supply and EV charging); XRG (Energy investment platform);
- Food/drink (5): Red Bull (Soft drink); Oatly (Oat milk); St Michel (Biscuits); Monbana (Chocolaterie); My Pie (Prepared meals);
- Consumer products (3): Alpecin (Shampoo); Polti (Appliances); Tudor (Watches);
- Shipping (3): EasyPost (US Shipping company); PostNL (Dutch mail, parcel, e-commerce); CMA CGM (Shipping logistics);
- Telco (3): Euskaltel; Movistar; CSB Telecom;
- Gambling (3): FDJ United (Lottery. Formerly just FDJ); Lotto (Belgian national lottery); Unibet (Online gambling);
- Supermarket (3): Intermarché; Lidl; Picnic;
- Software/systems (3): Protime (Time registration); SD Worx (HR/payroll); Visma (Accounting/business software);
- Hospitality/holidays/travel (3): AlUla (Resort); Emirates (Airline); Modern Adventure;
- Automotive (2): Grenadiers (4x4s); Jayco (RVs);
- Pharmaceuticals (2): Kern Pharma; Novo Nordisk;
- Sports Branding (2): NSN; 7Saber (Uzbek brand);
- Education (1): EF Education;
- Petrochemicals (1): INEOS;
- Property (1): Preference Home;
- Small Businesses (1): Ma Petite Entreprise (Small business collective);
- Other (1): Auber93 (Aubervilliers 1993. When & where the team was founded);
Men WT only
Women WT Only
Men and Women WT
Men WT Women Pro
Men Pro only
Women Pro only
Men and Women Pro
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No Ta Doctor
Über Member
Another year rolls round. New sponsors arrive and old ones leave.
We have said goodbye to:
Israel (Were they actually a sponsor, or just a trolling word inserted into the team name? Who knows, who cares?); AG2R ; Wanty (Which means there's nothing left of dear old Wanty Groupe Gobert
Now for new arrivals. Pinarello have turned up as a name sponsor of Q36.5. Plus also other newcomers CMA CGM (logistics) have stepped into AG2R's shoes; MBH Bank; CSB Telecom; Modern Adventure; NIPPO (Construction); Rali & Rose (both bikes);Mayenne(Region of France); Monbana & My Pie (both food).
Possibly the most interesting of the new sponsors is Ma Petite Entreprise (My Small Business). They're a collective of small businesses. You can read about them here. https://en.3bikes.fr/2024/11/21/ma-...ue-exclusivement-par-des-petites-entreprises/
We have two new sponsors whose descriptions are such unbearable hogwash that I've had to add a new category of "sports branding" because I just can't figure out what they do:
NSN We enable brands to reach their goals by leveraging partnership activation
7Sabre combines the symbolic power of the saber with the sacredness of the number seven, reinterpreted as a new sign of energy . FFS
So here it is, my dodgy sponsor categorisation for 2026. If you look hard you will find mistakes and things that you don't agree with. Enjoy telling me and I will enjoy ignoring you.
My rules are a bit vague. If you get your name in the team's title you are listed, whether you are technically a sponsor or not, because it can be quite hard to figure these things out, and anyway you're benefitting from the exposure. So Ineos and Grenadiers are still separately listed. There's a key to what the colours mean below.
Key:
- Cycling/sports (13): BH (Bikes); CANYON (Bikes); DecathІon (Sports supermarket); Human Powered Health (Training); Lease a Bike (Employee bike leasing); Liv (Clothing/gear); Q36.5 (Clothing/gear); SRAM (Components); Trek (Bikes); XDS (Bikes); Pinarello (Bikes); Rali (Bikes); Rose (Bikes);
- Finance/insurance (9): AG Insurance; Baloise; Caja Rural - Seguros RGA; Cofidis; Groupama; Laboral Kutxa; zondacrypto; MBH (Bank); ADQ (Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company);
- Places (8): Astana (Coalition of Kazakh state owned companies); Bahrain (Government); Euskadi (Basque country); UAE (Government); VisitMalta (Tourism promotion); Burgos; Flanders; Mayenne;
- Engineering/construction (6): Bardiani (Valves); CSF (Sewage - and other - pumps); Premier Tech (Waste treatment); SUEZ (Waste water); Volker Wessels (Civil engineering); NIPPO (Construction);
- Building supplies (5): BORA (Extractor hoods); Fenix (Sinks, Washbaisins …); Hansgrohe (Taps); Quick Step (Floors); Soudal (Adhesives);
- Energy (5): Burpellet (Wood pellets); Solution Tech (Solar/renewable); TotalEnergies (Fuel supply and EV charging); Uno-X Mobility (Fuel supply and EV charging); XRG (Energy investment platform);
- Food/drink (5): Red Bull (Soft drink); Oatly (Oat milk); St Michel (Biscuits); Monbana (Chocolaterie); My Pie (Prepared meals);
- Consumer products (3): Alpecin (Shampoo); Polti (Appliances); Tudor (Watches);
- Shipping (3): EasyPost (US Shipping company); PostNL (Dutch mail, parcel, e-commerce); CMA CGM (Shipping logistics);
- Telco (3): Euskaltel; Movistar; CSB Telecom;
- Gambling (3): FDJ United (Lottery. Formerly just FDJ); Lotto (Belgian national lottery); Unibet (Online gambling);
- Supermarket (3): Intermarché; Lidl; Picnic;
- Software/systems (3): Protime (Time registration); SD Worx (HR/payroll); Visma (Accounting/business software);
- Hospitality/holidays/travel (3): AlUla (Resort); Emirates (Airline); Modern Adventure;
- Automotive (2): Grenadiers (4x4s); Jayco (RVs);
- Pharmaceuticals (2): Kern Pharma; Novo Nordisk;
- Sports Branding (2): NSN; 7Saber (Uzbek brand);
- Education (1): EF Education;
- Petrochemicals (1): INEOS;
- Property (1): Preference Home;
- Small Businesses (1): Ma Petite Entreprise (Small business collective);
- Other (1): Auber93 (Aubervilliers 1993. When & where the team was founded);
Men WT only
Women WT Only
Men and Women WT
Men WT Women Pro
Men Pro only
Women Pro only
Men and Women Pro
7Saber ostensibly make sports clothing, including for the Uzbeki Olympic team. But.....
https://www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan-gas-ultimo-group-mirziyoev-otabek-umarov/32918830.html
Dogtrousers
Lefty tighty. Get it righty.
Sorry, I couldn't read all that. But one word suggests itself: DODGY.
No Ta Doctor
Über Member
I skimmed it, and if you look carefully* you find it's actually an acrostic repeatedly spelling DODGY
*Pick the right sentences, discard most, maybe rearrange some of them and hope there's a Y in there somewhere
Dogtrousers
Lefty tighty. Get it righty.
Bardiani CSF are your typical obscure Italian engineering firm-sponsored team. Managed by the son of their founder, all Italian riders. All very Italian. Now suddenly replacing Italian sponsors VF Group (modular furniture) and Faisanè (plastics fabrication) is an Uzbek outfit that seems to have dodginess right down to tits DNA.
For the Reverberi family, this agreement represents much more than a commercial partnership: it marks a strong bond with a country where sport is experiencing a phase of great expansion and international vision , and where the team has found enthusiasm, solidity, and an ideal strategic partner.
Hmm ...🤔
Anyway, they'll still be "Barmy Army" to me