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SPONSORSHIP MANUAL
SPONSORSHIP MANUAL
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The team’s winning ride at the Haystack Mountain Team Time Trial near Boulder, Colorado.
10,9,8… WE HAVE LIFTOFF 2011 marked the inaugural year for Coursa Sports’ Team juwi/First Solar, and things really took flight. While we expected some good things from our talented roster, we had some surprise successes along the way. The temporary addition of Chris Baldwin to the team helped us to a podium finish at the Redlands Bicycle Classic; Greg Krause’s oh-sonear defeat of Lance Armstrong at the Leadville 100 qualifier made for some great stories; and Mike Olheiser’s less surprising, but nonetheless thrilling, 4th World Masters Championship in Belgium helped close out our first season on a high note. As well, a valuable complement to the team’s presence at certain races this year was the simultaneous sponsorship of the event, offering our sponsors unique exposure and community outreach. While we didn’t win them all, both on the course and off, we were given the opportunity to learn at every turn. What we hoped to establish as a small, but high-profile, Elite Team surpassed our first-year expectations, leaving us, and hopefully you, excited about what the future may bring. We’ve established serious momentum, and we’re ambitious to keep the wheels rolling into 2012 and beyond. We want our success as athletes and ambassadors of cycling to be integrated into the bright future of your company. Get on board.
SPONSORSHIP MANUAL
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Chris Baldwin climbs to a top-ten finish in the opening hillclimb time trial of the San Dimas Stage Race in San Dimas, California.
Dan Harm applies some pressure at the Cascade Classic in Bend, Oregon.
STATES RACED IN
COUNTRIES RACED IN
33 28 14 8
TOTAL PODIUM PLACES
TEAM AWARDS
AMERICAN CYCLING ASSOCIATION’S BEST ALL-AROUND TEAM POINTS SERIES WINNER
1st PLACES
2nd PLACES
3rd PLACES
DNFs
ROCKY MOUNTAIN CUP TEAM POINTS SERIES - 3RD
SELECT VICTORIES
MASTERS WORLD TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS MASTERS NATIONAL CRITERIUM CHAMPIONSHIPS MASTERS NATIONAL TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS MT. HOOD, STAGE 3 ROUGE ROUBAIX SONIC BOOM CRITERIUM MT. EVANS HILL CLIMB IRON HORSE CLASSIC, OVERALL FT. COLLINS CYCLING FESTIVAL, TIME TRIAL
MICHAEL OLHEISER MICHAEL OLHESIER MICHAEL OLHEISER MICHAEL OLHEISER GREG KRAUSE JESSE GOODRICH LEROY POPOWSKI GREG KRAUSE DAN HARM
SPONSORED COMMUNITY EVENTS
4
REDLANDS BICYCLE CLASSIC SUPERIOR MORGUL CLASSIC NORTH BOULDER PARK CLASSIC SCOTTSDALE CYCLING FESTIVAL
LIEGE, BELGIUM BEND, OREGON BEND, OREGON HOOD RIVER, OREGON FAYETTEVILLE, LOUISIANA LOUISVILLE, COLORADO 14,240 FT. - COLORADO DURANGO, COLORADO FT. COLLINS, COLORADO SCHOOL VISITS
KIDS’ RACE/EXPO
FIRST SOLAR
KIDS’ RACE/EXPO
FIRST SOLAR
KIDS’ RACE/WELCOME BAGS
JUWI/FIRST SOLAR
KIDS’ RACE/VARIOUS
FIRST SOLAR
3
REDLANDS, CA BOULDER, CO VIENNA, VA
RACE TYPE DISTRIBUTION
CRITE
47%
RIUM
TIME T RIAL
97
RACES WITHIN A MULTI-DAY STAGE RACE
16%
JERSEYS SOLD TO FANS
ROAD RAC
VELOD
6%
E
IN BIKE MOUNTA 5%
ROME
26%
PRESS: ONLINE AND IN PRINT
ROAD BIKE ACTION LAWRENCE JOURNAL THE ASPEN TIMES DURANGO HERALD STEAMBOAT TODAY REDLANDS DAILY FACTS THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC PEZCYCLINGNEWS.COM ROAD MAGAZINE 303CYCLING.COM CYCLINGNEWS.COM VELONEWS.COM
1 PHOTO 2 PHOTOS 3 MENTIONS, 1PHOTOS 6 MENTIONS, 4PHOTOS 4 MENTIONS, 4 PHOTOS 8 MENTIONS, 3 PHOTOS 1 MENTIONS, 1 PHOTO 5 MENTIONS, 6 PHOTOS 18 MENTIONS, 5 PHOTOS 28 MENTIONS, 14PHOTOS 32 MENTIONS, 26 PHOTOS 37 MENTIONS, 18 PHOTOS
12 8 FLAT TIRES
CRASHES
BROKEN BONES
SPONSORSHIP MANUAL 1 SCAPULA 1 CLAVICAL 1 VICTIM
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On the startline at the North Boulder Park Classic in Boulder, Colorado.
Jesse Goodrich sprints for the line at the North Boulder Park Classic.
Michael Olheiser takes a solo victory at the 2011 Masters National Criterium Championships in Bend, Oregon.
The throngs of people at this year’s USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado demonstrated that cycling lives in the hearts and minds of the public.
WHY CYCLING MATTERS (TO YOU) There is no sport like cycling. This is why we love it. It’s a unique activity that’s globally understood. As a sport, cycling’s rich history has been played out on the great landscapes of the world. As an activity, cycling is as fundamental as the transportation necessary for survival, or as lighthearted as a Sunday afternoon workout with friends. What we find most intriguing about cycling is that it means so many different things to different people. For many, riding bikes represents freedom and youth, taking us back to the days of gliding through the neighborhood, long out of parental earshot. For others, cycling points to the future as an alternative to our car-centric societies. And then there are the health benefits. Everyone knows riding a bicycle is good for you, physically as well as mentally. In recent years, cycling has become a downright fashionstatement: one of fitness, freedom and environmentalism. For some in this world, bikes are anything but a trend. In Rwanda, for example, the acquisition of a functioning bike can help transport crops to market and lead the way out of poverty. Bikes in Africa are increasingly becoming a way to a better standard of living. Recently, Team juwi/First Solar had the chance to meet with a few Team Rwanda riders and talk with them about how cycling has changed their lives.
This is why we take such keen interest in competitive cycling. It’s not just a sport. Cycling represents something larger; bikes have the power to change individual lives and society at large. We’re not the only ones who feel this way. Recently, at the week long USA Pro Cycling Challenge, more than a million spectators came to the Colorado roadsides to support their favorite racers, often traveling great distances to remote locations to see the racers simply whiz by. And they loved it. With thick crowds and racers flying by in a matter of seconds, it was clear that the fans weren’t out there just to witness a great day of sporting action. The reason the fans were out there was because of their love of cycling in general and what it represents to them. For this reason, we recognize cycling as a sport like no other, and that team sponsorship provides an excellent opportunity for a brand, such as yours, to become associated with the multifaceted notions that surround our sport. Coursa Sports will be your ride into this world. We will effectively represent your brand not just in the context of competitive cycling but also in the larger, and more important realm – a new bike-loving generation.
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Way out front, Michael Olheiser takes the win of stage 3 in the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic in Hood River, Oregon.
VIVE LA DIFFÉRENCE (HOW THIS ORGANIZATION IS DIFFERENT) EXPOSURE ORIENTED As a competitive cycling team we are focused on top results and performances. We race to win. Yet, as an overall organization our primary focus is on exposure. We’re constantly creating ways of putting our image in the best light. We take great pride in our effort and ability to place our sponsors in the media forefront. JOURNALISTIC APPROACH Cycling is a unique visual mix of bright colors, landscape, and athletic bravado. We take it upon ourselves to capture the best of these moments – as well as the enticing stories that come with them – and distribute them throughout the wide variety of media channels available today. Week-in, week-out, in conjunction with our press releases, we blog, twitter and facebook about our victories (and malfunctions alike) creating a broader story. Along the way, we’re providing great exposure for our sponsors. BRAND FOCUSED We bring to the table the value of associating your brand with all the glories and positive qualities the sport of cycling connotes. By becoming an integral part of your brand and company culture, we will help you round out your brand as a whole. We give your customers and associates a home team to root for. We aim to be your team.
INTO THE FUTURE We dream big. Constantly. We dream about doing the best races, about attracting the best talent, about being the best team we can be. To do this we are focused on an “organic” growth of the organization. We aim to mature intelligently and sustainably. And yes! We do have our eyes set on one day competing in the big events: Tour of California, Tour of Utah, USA Pro Cycling Challenge, to name a few. On the marketing front, we strive for brand synergy. We aim to attract green sponsors and create a snowball effect that will attract even more green sponsors. We aim to be an example of the great successes a small-carbon-footprint team can achieve! We are invested in the future of cycling, as well as the future of our world.
SPONSORSHIP MANUAL
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The Set Up (BASIC TEAM STRUCTURE) LEADERSHIP Director Sportif / Manager – Keith Harper Assistant Manager/Event Coordinator – Jen Harper ELITE TEAM 6 to 8 riders This is the core traveling team that will be dedicated to fulfilling the majorety of the season’s race schedule. MASTERS TEAM 5 to 7 riders On and off the bike, our masters are talented individuals with multiple obligations in their lives. Thus, the masters team will mostly focus on the local race schedule while augmenting the Elite Team when called for. RACE SCHEDULE We anticipate next year’s schedule to be similar to 2011’s, with a focus on more national travel and a larger team at each race. Ideally, we will also hit the international scene, as budget allows. EVENT SPONSORSHIP Once again, we will focus on securing a presence at cycling events that provide the best exposure for your brand. While keeping an eye out for quality opportunities, the emphasis will most likely be on repeat performances considering that the events of 2011 were successful in meeting the goals of brand awareness, public outreach and team recognition.
SPONSORSHIP MANUAL
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Jesse Goodrich wins his hometown race in Louisville, Colorado.
Let’s Do This! Indeed, we're seeking your sponsorship. Meaning, we’ll carry your corporate name and logo on our backs in exchange for your financial or material support. That’s the usual scenario; however, we propose to go well beyond that and provide more creativity and more value. As we have shown, Coursa Sports is serious about our sport and our endeavor. We are also serious about having fun, about sharing the experiences of cycling and about increasing the public interest in our sponsors. For the 2012 race season, not only will we be documenting our ventures with photos, videos, tweets, and blog posts, all on the web for the world to see, we will also be making art of it – the art of sport and laughter. More importantly, we hope to engage your company, your brand and your audience on our journey towards success and fulfillment. Join us. It’s going to be an adventure full of fun, learning and value. We look forward to your response and answering any questions you may have. Keith Harper
Director Sportif Coursa Sports 720.240.3108 solarcycling@gmail.com
SPONSORSHIP MANUAL
Web: Facebook: Twitter: Email: Phone:
www.solarcycling.org www.facebook/solarcycling @solarcycling solarcycling@gmail.com 720.240.3108