Škoda Auto Celebrates 20 Years of Tour de France Partnership with Electrifying Finale and Special Trophies

Škoda Auto Celebrates 20 Years of Tour de France Partnership with Electrifying Finale and Special Trophies

(IN BRIEF) The 110th Tour de France concluded with Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard winning the overall title, accompanied by a camouflaged new Superb Combi provided by Škoda Auto. The crystal trophies for the winners were created by Škoda’s design team. The event also marked the 20th anniversary of Škoda’s partnership with the Tour de France, highlighting their commitment to sustainability and electromobility with a fleet of 207 all-electric or hybrid vehicles. Škoda’s Enyaq Coupé Respectline, symbolizing diversity and inclusion, garnered attention at the event.

(PRESS RELEASE) MLADÁ BOLESLAV, 25-Jul-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Following an exhilarating three-week race spanning over 3,400 kilometres, the riders of the 110th Tour de France crossed the finish line on Paris’s iconic Champs-Elysée. Yesterday’s concluding ceremony marked the 13th time the winners – namely the overall champion Jonas Vingegaard and the winner of the points competition Jasper Philipsen –were awarded trophies created by the Škoda Design team. Amid the celebrations, Škoda Auto and the Tour de France acknowledged a milestone in their collaboration, commemorating the 20th anniversary of their strong partnership. The all-new Škoda Superb Combi paid a fitting tribute to this occasion, accompanying the racers to the finish line. The unique Enyaq Coupé Respectline also drew the crowd’s attention as a symbol of diversity, equity, fairness and inclusion.

“All the participants deserve our most sincere congratulations for their remarkable performances. It is always an emotional moment to watch up close with the fans as the riders zip past, and a special thrill for anyone with a heart for Škoda Auto to see more than 200 of our vehicles supporting the teams, staff and first responders as needed on the road. We at Škoda have been loyal supporters of the Tour de France for twenty years now and treasure the strong partnership we have built with the A.S.O. We feel at home at the world’s most famous cycle race – also because our company started 128 years ago by building bicycles. Bringing the camouflaged new Superb Combi to the race, just ahead of its world premiere this autumn, was one way we wanted to mark this special occasion in style.”

Klaus Zellmer, Škoda Auto CEO

New Superb Combi accompanied cyclists to the finish line on Champs-Élysées

To conclude the 110th Tour de France, two fourth-generation Superb Combis accompanied the peloton to the finish line on the famous Champs-Élysées. They were decked out in a special camouflage created specifically for this occasion. The underlying design concept is inspired by the map element, echoing both Škoda Auto’s ethos of exploration and the essence of the Tour de France. Safer and more spacious than ever, the new model is ready to add another chapter to the Superb’s longstanding tradition. Delivering outputs from 110 kW (150 hp) to 195 kW (265 hp), the Superb will be available with a choice of three petrol engines, two diesels, plug-in hybrid with an extended electric range of over 100 kilometres, and – for the first time – a mild hybrid. The grand première of the Combi estate and hatchback versions of the flagship model is slated for this autumn.

20th year of Škoda Auto–Tour de France partnership spotlights electromobility

On 23 July, the peloton, accompanied by Škoda support vehicles, completed the final, 21st stage of the Tour de France, having covered 3,404 kilometres. For the twentieth year running, Škoda Auto was one of the official main partners and vehicle provider. The 209-vehicle fleet championed sustainability with 207 being either all-electric or hybrid models. In keeping with this theme, Race Director Christian Prudhomme led the peloton from an all-electric Enyaq for the third consecutive year.

Trophies crafted by the Škoda Design team for the thirteenth time
The Škoda Design team traditionally creates the trophies for the overall champion and the winner of the points competition at the Tour de France. The sixty-centimetre, four-kilogram crystal trophies are then manufactured by the company Lasvit in Nový Bor. Each year, the trophies have a unique design thanks to different glass grinding techniques. Their silhouettes tapering towards the tip reflect the dynamic nature of the race: A wide peloton at the start, with contenders gradually emerging, until a lone winner crosses the finish line at the end.

Enyaq Coupé Respectline also catches the crowd’s attention
Besides the camouflaged Superb Combi, Škoda Auto showcased the unique Enyaq Coupé Respectline at the Tour de France. The car underscores the importance of human rights, respect for all people and the environment. It stands as a testament to Škoda Auto’s core values of acceptance, equitable opportunities, cultural diversity and mutual respect.

Tour de France Femmes avec ZWIFT follows the Tour de France
After this year’s Tour de France, the baton passed to the women who are competing in the second staging of the Tour de France Femmes avec ZWIFT. Comprising eight stages and covering a distance of 956 kilometres, the competition will culminate on 30 July in Pau. Here, the winners will receive their trophies, also created by the Škoda Design team.

Media Contact:

Thomas Drechsler
Head of Communications
e: thomas.drechsler@skoda-auto.cz

SOURCE: Škoda Auto a.s.