According to a press release from the Swiss Cycling Federation, Swiss Cylcling is joining forces. Four parties with extensive cycling expertise and different core competencies are founding Cycling Unlimited AG, based in Grenchen. Swiss Cycling as the national cycling association and rights holder of the Tour de Suisse, the international sports marketing group Infront, Tortour GmbH as the organizer of ultracycling and gravel competitions and ProTouchGlobal GmbH as an international consultant and organizer of cycling races are establishing a new company. This cycling joint venture will take over the management and marketing of the Tour de Suisse from InfrontRingier. The focus of Cycling Unlimited is on developing cycling and building a modern and sustainable community platform - for everyone who identifies with cycling.

In an effort to further develop the popular national tour, including the supporting program, Infront and Tour rights holder Swiss Cycling found first-class partners in ProTouchGlobal GmbH and Tortour GmbH. Olivier Senn, co-owner of ProTouchGlobal GmbH, has a wealth of experience in top-class sport as former Tour de Suisse director. Joko Vogel, on the other hand, Managing Director of Tortour GmbH, has developed several attractive popular sports formats. Patrick Hunger, Co-President of Swiss Cycling, summarizes the strategic initiative as follows: "It is time for us in cycling to think in terms of ecosystems and create tangible added value for cyclists through networking." Hans-Peter Zurbrügg, Infront Vice President Personal & Corporate Fitness and member of the InfrontRingier Board of Directors: "Cycling Unlimited bundles the Switzerland-based cycling activities and expertise of the four new JV partners in the most ideal way."

The top event on the new platform is the Tour de Suisse. All target groups can be involved in the Tour of Switzerland, as the Tour de Suisse Challenge takes place at the same time, offering amateur athletes the opportunity to get a taste of professional cycling. The Tortour with its ultra-cycling and gravel events completes the current portfolio. Further activities are planned for the deliberately open cycling platform. These range from club rides and training camps to digital cycling.

Cycling Unlimited AG will commence operations on July 1, 2019. Olivier Senn and Joko Vogel will act as Co-Managing Directors, while Swiss Cycling Managing Director Markus Pfisterer will take on the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors. The core operational team of the Tour de Suisse with Célina Rovescala (commercial management), Kurt Betschart (technical management) and David Loosli (sporting management) will move from InfrontRingier to Cycling Unlimited AG at the beginning of July 2019. The Tortour will remain under the management of Joko Vogel and Mario Klaus.

As part of the establishment of Cycling Unlimited, Ringier AG plans to take over the previous joint venture InfrontRingier in full. Following the takeover, the company is to be integrated into the Ringier brand world and operate as Ringier Sports AG.

Source: Press release