Sports sponsorships are a popular way for various brands to boost their popularity, enabling them to attract more customers. The sponsorship market is thriving as more companies resort to it to increase brand awareness.

Biking-related events are among the most sponsored sports, with brands taking this opportunity to reach a diversified customer base.

Continue reading to understand why brands are dedicated to sports sponsorship investments and how these deals benefit the sport.

Popular Brands Sponsoring Biking 

Cycling or biking is a popular sport that attracts many brands. For example, the Tour de France, one of the most challenging and prestigious races in the world, attracts many sponsors seeking to increase brand awareness.

Many companies are into sports sponsorships, with gaming-related businesses among those that highly sponsor biking teams and individual bikers.

The gaming industry has become very competitive, pushing online casinos and sportsbooks to look for new ways to grow their market reach and attain a competitive advantage.

For many casinos and sportsbooks, especially those with financial capabilities, sponsorships are a sure deal. The deals allow them to tell fans about their offerings, including betting options and bonuses.

You might notice bikers in shirts sponsored by your favorite gambling website during big biking tournaments and competitions. In addition, some put posters with their brand logos and names on specific race stages.

Finding the Best Online Casinos in the Era of Sponsorships

The online gaming industry has grown at a rate that most people who experienced its transition to the internet could have never envisioned. It’s now home to a broad selection of gambling websites, each seeking to outdo the other.

We can all agree that this is a remarkable progress. But wait! The broad availability can make it hard for players to choose a good site since each site promises fair gaming in a secure environment.

You can check out this site that ranks the best NZ casinos if you ever find yourself in this situation. On these sites, New Zealanders have access to a variety of online slots, allowing them to immerse themselves in a compelling gaming adventure.

You will get resourceful information about online casinos. It's a great place to start if you want a list of casinos to consider and their bonuses.

Growth Opportunities through Sponsorships

Sponsored bikers and biking teams benefit a lot from their sponsors. Partnering with various brands gives teams and athletes a source of funds. This allows them to focus on training to advance their skills instead of worrying about finances.

Sponsorships reduces stress associated with finding enough money for training and other necessities, such as advanced bikes required by the races and racing shirts. Some companies usually provide these essentials to those they sponsor.

In a scenario where a big company sponsors an upcoming team or player, it increases its exposure to the public. People will always be interested to know more about someone or a team working with a big brand.

How Sponsoring Biking Benefits Brands

Gaming websites and other companies that sponsor sports gain several benefits. Let's look at some notable advantages tied to sponsorship deals. 

Increased Brand Awareness

Increasing the popularity of a brand is essential to gaining new customers and promoting loyalty. Businesses with a high brand recognition enjoy a higher customer base, helping them to meet their intended goals.

Sponsoring popular biking activities like the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy), and the Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain) enables them to get their brand to more people.

Companies put their logo in various places, including shirts, bicycles, and our stages. This ensures people attending the races or viewing them from home can see the names throughout the tournament.

The companies also announce on their social media platforms about these deals. Sponsorship is an easy and fast method companies use to increase their exposure and keep their brands at the top of fans' minds.

Heightened Positive Publicity

Racing events attract millions of fans worldwide, which gives gaming sites excellent avenues to boost their public image. The role of having a positive public image is unmatched; a site can't thrive without a good reputation.

Gaming sites and other companies can harness the team's goodwill by associating their brands with professional bikers and their specific teams. This helps them reinforce their brand image, boosting their credibility and creating trust.

Some companies partner with sports teams that share their goals and values or represent a similar organization. Through this, companies can align their goals with the sponsored teams, helping them to boost their public image effortlessly.

By working with famous and prestigious teams or players, businesses are able to develop positive publicity that, in return, attracts more people.

Better Emotional Connections

Most biking fans have memorable moments about their favourite athletes or team in general. One thing with sports, such as racing, is that they can evoke powerful emotions and promote immutable loyalty.

By working with an individual's favorite team, a company increases the chances of fans forming emotional connections with its brand. This grows trust among customers, and as we all know, trust is key to the success of any business.

Fans are more likely to connect with brands emotionally when they see them as part of the people helping their favourite teams to grow. The good thing about high emotional connection is that it fosters brand loyalty.

Accurate Demographic Targeting

Biking sponsorships give brands an opportunity to target ideal customers in a more effective manner. For example, a casino trying to promote its services can promise new customers better bonuses and promotions.

The casinos sponsor biking teams with the perspective that a number of fans will be interested in joining their sites because they love betting or they simply want to be at a casino that's associated with their favorite athletes.

Equally, a gaming site might sponsor a biking team as a way of engaging with customers who love sports betting. Online casinos and other gaming web pages should target the right demographics for their marketing to yield positive results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

article supplied

A HISTORIC RESULT FOR APRILIA, THE LAST ITALIAN BRAND TO WIN A LEG OF THE DAKAR IN 2012 AND NOW ONCE AGAIN PROTAGONIST IN RALLY RAIDS

IN HIS FIRST DESERT EXPERIENCE, FRANCESCO MONTANARI, ASTRIDE THE OTHER TUAREG IN THE RACE, FINISHES THE FIRST DAY WITH A GOOD 11TH PLACE

Aprilia officially returned to racing in the African desert yesterday, and they did it in grand style - with a win. Astride his Aprilia Tuareg, Jacopo Cerutti took a spectacular win in the first leg of the Africa Eco Race, from Nador to Boudnib, in Morocco.

It was a historic day for all of Aprilia Racing who, along with GCorse, launched the ambitious “Back to Africa” project less than one year ago with the goal of getting Aprilia back in the great African rally raids.
There was no better way for Aprilia to return to competing on the legendary African Desert tracks, where they had been protagonists in the period between 2010 and 2012 (to this day, Aprilia remains the last Italian brand to have won a leg in the Dakar, in 2012).

Credit for this milestone - besides the experience and speed of Jacopo Cerutti - goes to the great off-road capabilities of the standard factory Aprilia Tuareg, a bike which already won at its début in the Italian Motorally Championship and for which it took just a few months of development before proving to be immediately victorious in one of the most demanding rally raids in the world.

The first leg, 598 km long, had the riders busy with 174 km of special trials, at the end of which, Jacopo Cerutti managed to create a gap of almost 2 minutes ahead of his two most accredited rivals, Alessandro Botturi and Pol Tarres, both on Yamaha. 
And, in his first ever desert racing experience, Francesco Montanari, with the other Aprilia Tuareg, finished the day with a good eleventh place, just over 15 minutes behind his more experienced teammate and rather close to the top-five finishers.

Today, the convoy will tackle the second leg, from Boudnib to Mhamid, for a total of 425 km, including 383 of special stages.

For updates on all the news, follow the web page
www.aprilia.com/it_IT/aprilia-racing/aprilia-tuareg-rally/africa-eco-race/

JACOPO CERUTTI
“It’s really great to begin this adventure ahead of the rest. As I said the day before we started, I had hoped to be out front in some of the legs and managing to do so straight away really energises us ahead of the coming days of racing. It was a leg without any great difficulties, with slow sections alternating with other, faster ones, and on fairly flat terrain, but complicated enough in terms of navigation. A lot of riders made some mistakes, whereas I probably did not make as many, which helped me. I was immediately at ease on the bike, which allowed me to set a good pace straight away and so, at the end of the day, this nice win came. Having taken Aprilia back to winning in the African desert makes me proud and I’m enjoying the moment, but my mind is already on tomorrow’s leg!”

FRANCESCO MONTANARI
“Being my first experience in this type of race, I am satisfied with yesterday’s result. I tried to make it a clean ride, without overdoing it, and that allowed me to maintain a good pace for the entire duration of the leg. The only thing that’s a pity is the navigation mistake in the initial phases. The dust kicked up by the rider who started ahead of me - who I was getting close to - made me miss a turn and that cost me a couple minutes. As for the rest, there were no particular problems. The bike works really well, so I'm looking forward to today’s stage with great confidence!”

Embark on a European adventure on two wheels! Discover our concise guide to biking across Europe, your key to unforgettable cycling experiences.

Many kinds of transportation have been popular in Europe for a very long time. After working hard to make travel better, routes between places have gotten very fast and environmentally friendly. Speedy trains and buses connect countries, making it easy to get around.

Biking is a fun activity and sport in Europe that people of all ages enjoy. With sports betting becoming legal in more places, some people also like betting on professional bike races. But this guide is mostly about biking for fun and sightseeing, not bike sports.

Riding a bike is an important way for many Europeans to get around towns and cities. It also lets tourists see new countries in an exciting way. Biking offers a lot, from getting around faster to exploring nature trails. Here we will talk about what makes biking in Europe special and some of the top trails.

What About Biking in the Netherlands?

When biking in the Netherlands, learn this phrase: “Uitgezonderd fietsers”. It means “except for bicycles” and marks places where cars are not allowed but bikes can still go. As a cyclist, you can go almost anywhere.

Zandvoort has miles of beaches and beautiful seaside campsites. It also has bike routes through local villages and forests, perfect for mixing cycling with outdoor adventures. It brings you close to the North Sea, where the next major cycling route in Germany begins.

Can I Bike Through Germany?

The Elbe Cycle Path in Germany stretches 900km. It passes through major cities like Hamburg and Dresden before ending in the Czech Republic.

For city travel, Germany’s big cities are very bicycle-friendly. Berlin has wide roads and usually bike lanes. Bike rentals are also easy for visitors to find.

There are a few main categories of visitors to Germany: Members of the Schengen area and countries with special agreements. Then members of countries with more relaxed entry rules who can visit for 90 days.

Can I Bike Through Austria?

Austria’s capital Vienna is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in Europe. Bike lanes are common within the city, and the flat terrain makes exploring easy, even for beginner bikers. In some places, you can rent bikes by the half hour, with a full day of riding costing around 15 euros.

With 1,660km of bike paths, Vienna is exciting to see by bike and simple to get around. You can easily travel along the Danube River, but the best biking in Austria is outside the city.

Austria is especially popular for mountain biking. Stattegg, Leogang, and Saalbach-Hinterglemm are all popular mountain resorts for biking. If you want to experience both city and countryside biking, Austria has options for all interests.

What is Biking Like in France?

Rural France combines cycling and wine tours in a way few other countries can match. France's traditional old-world regions also make for beautiful, scenic rides. The Route Des Vins winds through vineyards and villages in Alsace. Whenever you need a break, there is usually a village or town nearby that makes a nice stopping point.

Riding in non-industrial areas helps avoid heavy traffic. If you want a famous challenging bike ride, head to Provence. A long uphill ride through vineyards and villages is difficult but rewarding.

Bike paths run throughout Paris and almost fully along the Seine River. This makes seeing the sights of Paris by bike easy for tourists. If you want to try cross-country cycling, Paris also connects to EuroVelo 3.

EuroVelo is a huge cycling network that started in 1995. Its goal is to promote cycling and connect regional and national bike routes across Europe. New additions are made to EuroVelo each year, with the aim of eventually connecting the whole continent.

EuroVelo Route 3 starts in Spain and enters France through the south. It then passes through Belgium.

What is Biking Like in Belgium?

Relative to its small size, Belgium has very diverse bike routes. Bokrijk park in Limburg offers unique cycling trails.

One section called Cycling Through Water has a carefully built path that lets you bike through the middle of a lake. Another section called Cycling Through the Trees is an elevated bike path 33 feet off the ground that rises above the forest. This gives a bird's eye view of the woods for brave cyclists.

For those interested in history over nature, Belgium has the Peace Cycle Route. This path goes through Ypres and many WWI historical sites and memorials. It explores Flanders Field itself and where the famous poem was written.

What is Biking Like in Spain?

Spain has a variety of cycling routes for all skill levels. A mix of mountain, hilly, and flat terrain offers options for beginners and experienced cyclists. To get away from cities, Spain has the Caminos Naturales.

Caminos Naturales are nature trails covering over 10,000km. Farmland, forests, and canals are all open and available to explore.

As mentioned before, EuroVelo Route 3 starts in Spain and goes to Norway. EuroVelo Route 8 also begins in Cadiz, Spain and travels through the Mediterranean, ending in Greece.  

The Sierra Nevada mountains are also a must-see. The rugged terrain is perfect for hiking, climbing, biking, and any outdoor activity. As one of the tallest points in Europe, it’s an amazing destination.

What About Biking in Portugal?

Portugal’s warm weather means the country rarely sees snow, except in the north. This allows excellent biking conditions year-round. Fall, winter and spring are ideal seasons, as summer can be too hot for cycling in some areas.

Portugal’s population is concentrated around Lisbon. The farther out you go, the fewer cars share the road, and the more scenic the backroads become. This makes for relaxing trips through rural villages.

If you’re in Lisbon, don’t miss biking along the waterfront. 20km of bike lanes provide a nice short seaside ride.

Can I Bike Through Italy?  

Italy has plenty to see by bike. Riding through the Dolomites can easily become a multi-day mountain biking adventure. Charming cafes and villages along the way provide places to rest.

For coastal views, nothing beats cycling around the Italian lakes. They offer hundreds of kilometers of paths for short or long rides.

One thing to avoid is August. Italy is busy with tourists and August is one of the most crowded months. For more peaceful cycling, visit during the off-season when weather is still nice.

 

 

 

 

article supplied

Wednesday 3.1.24 at 10.35am for a double bill screening of ‘Back to the Ace' and “The Leather Boys”, 

Back To The Ace with Talking Pictures TV Sky 328 Freeview 82 Virgin 445 Freesat 306

The Leather Boys DVD
Restored + Exclusive 60th Anniversary Bonus Film Featuring Rita Tushingham & The Leather Boys back at the Ace.

2024 is the 60th anniversary of the release in 1964 of the film "The Leather Boys" and, though it’s been a long time coming, it is now back in stock to include with exclusive bonus film featuring Rita Tushingham and The Leather Boys Back at the Ace.

The cafe played a leading role in this Sidney J. Furie film, which stars Rita Tushingham, Colin Campbell & Dudley Sutton, utilising many of the cafe’s patrons as film ‘extras’.

Shooting numerous scenes at the Ace Cafe, Furie, eager to achieve realism, took advice from the local riders. “You’d never find an Ace boy wearing them jeans” he was told one morning.

Furie’s direction, coupled with strong performances combine to make “The Leather Boys” one of the great British films of the sixties.

Locations, including the Ace, used in the film are shown at link:

To obtain a copy of this fully restored 137 minute film, see link:

 See you at the Ace !