A 20th edition with the men, and a 2nd for the women’s Tour de France: Škoda has further innovated by continuing its efforts for a more virtuous accompaniment, with more electrified models, a festive and colorful caravan and an original tank in its new colors .
Škoda at the start of its 20th Tour de France
A major partner and supplier of vehicles for the Grande Boucle, Škoda took the start of the Tour de France on July 1, 2023 for the 20th consecutive edition. Since 2004, the Czech manufacturer has been supplying the official cars of the entire ASO organization for the Tour de France, including the mythical red car n°1 of the race director, Christian Prudhomme. Year after year, Škoda has made available models from its range that meet the needs of Tour de France organizers. In 2023, aligned with the CSR policy of the Tour de France, Škoda continues its commitment to the transformation of the Tour since 100% of the cars used by the organization within the race are 100% electrified, plug-in hybrid or electric models. Škoda also provides all the official Tour de France cars for the organization: 10 vehicles for the management teams (2 Kodiaq TDI / 2 Superb iV / 6 Octavia iV) and 93 cars for the Tour de France (45 Octavia iV / 47 Superb iV / 1 convertible as a medical car). A true command center, the opening vehicle in which race director Christian Prudhomme travels on all stages will be a 100% electric SUV vehicle: the Enyaq.
Škoda has also equipped many cycling teams, partners and service providers present on the Tour (France TV, Senseo, LCL, Mécénat Chirurgie cardiac, FDJ, etc.). In total, more than 250 Škoda vehicles will travel the Tour de France 2023 between Bilbao and Paris.
The Green Jersey
Since 2015, Škoda has strengthened its commitment as an official sponsor of the Green Jersey which rewards the winner of the points classification of the Tour de France. This distinction, one of the most difficult to obtain, is granted to the rider who has distinguished himself as being the best sprinter during the stage finishes in question or on the intermediate sprints. The handover of the jersey is carried out by the Škoda hosts and hostesses after each stage, live. For this year 2023, a jersey in the new Škoda colors presented last September is proposed, a symbol of the strong attachment binding the Czech manufacturer to this partnership.
The Škoda Caravan and 2023 activations
Parisian Valentin Frachet, who was taking part in his 7th Tour de France, managed 30 people as Caravan Leader for the duration of the Tour de France. These include drivers, hosts and hostesses distributing the goodies. In total, on all Škoda devices, 30 people are part of the manufacturer’s team: from all over France, they operate every day whether at the start village, on the start line, upstream, in the caravan . This does not include the people present on a daily basis for Škoda Auto, and recruited directly from the Czech head office. This particular recruitment includes hospitality hosts and hostesses, those who put on the green jersey every day as well as hospitality drivers, most of whom are former professional cyclists. Aligned with the CSR policy of the Tour de France, Škoda also exclusively uses 100% electric cars to surround its tank within the caravan itself and upstream.
The Škoda caravan was composed of: A new tank with the faceted Green Jersey effigy with screen, 4 Škoda Enyaq in caravan with baskets, 2 Škoda Enyaq Coupé RS in caravan. The new float, created especially to celebrate the 20th edition of the partnership and piloted by Philippe Dufraigne, is animated by an actor who puts himself in the shoes of the Green Jersey, seated on a bicycle. A stewardess or host distributes the goodies in the back. The float welcomes four guests from the Škoda We Love Cycling teams every day.
Škoda visible from the start
Every day, three people are in charge of animating the starting line until the passage of the caravan. A bicycle with a trailer and a delivery tricycle will travel with Félix, Škoda’s famous mascot on the Tour de France, to distribute shopping bags and t-shirts. The same device is present on certain sprint finishes. This year, Škoda also has good visibility on the signature podium, with an Enyaq Coupé RS on display in front of the public present before each stage start to meet the riders. A traveling showroom, run by local partners and dealers, will be set up almost every day, outside the village, in order to introduce the general public to the history of Škoda and its range of vehicles.
In the last kilometers of some stages, Škoda is on stage with three corners, the last of which before the finish line, which are fully decorated in Škoda colours. The Virages Vert are a meeting and communion point for all cycling enthusiasts. The rallying sign? An Enyaq Coupé RS installed in the front row of the teams preparing for the sprint or to celebrate the final wrapping of a breakaway. For the final Virage Vert in Paris, a model from the Škoda range is installed on Place de la Concorde. A Relais Etape system also makes it possible to welcome guests and spectators on several stages.
Caravan goodies
Between 500 and 600,000 goodies in the new colors of Škoda, electric green and emerald green, are distributed by the caravan: t-shirts, bucket hats, shopping bags and key rings. A large QR-code is integrated on all the goodies and deployed on the Škoda caravan in order to allow spectators to scan it to be redirected to the competition which makes it possible to win a Škoda Fabia.
Andy Schleck, Škoda Auto ambassador
Winner of the Tour de France in 2010, Andy Schleck is now the organizer of the Tour du Luxembourg Škoda. Since 2018, the Luxembourg star has been the ambassador of Škoda Auto in the Tour de France. In particular, he accompanies all the VIPs every day for a Škoda Auto program, to give his prognosis, explain the stages, and even go on bike rides every morning.
Škoda partner of the 2nd edition of the Tour de France Women
Like the Men’s Tour de France, Škoda will supply the car fleet to ASO with 33 vehicles planned for the organisation, including race director Marion Rousse’s car. Škoda will also naturally sponsor the Green Jersey. The manufacturer will also activate its advertising caravan for the 8 stages of the Tour de France Women with the presence of the tank and 2 Enyaq nacelles and 2 Enyaq Coupé. This investment and loyalty of Škoda to the Tours de France demonstrates Škoda’s commitment to cycling, and the continuation of this chapter with women’s events. The Jurassian Evita Muzic, new ambassador of Škoda We Love Cycling since April 2023, will participate in the Tour de France Women by Swift, in the FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope team.
The Czech car manufacturer’s commitment to cycling is a cornerstone of Škoda’s sponsorship strategy, partner of numerous cycle races around the world, including Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, La Flèche Wallonne, Paris- Nice, the Critérium du Dauphiné, La Vuelta and the legendary Tour de France. Škoda is also a partner of the French Cycling Federation in support of the French Cycling Schools and alongside the French teams throughout the season in France and abroad. Bicycles and accessories have also been part of Škoda’s extensive product range for many years.
On the other hand, in 2016, Škoda also launched its own program called Škoda We Love Cycling which unites all cycling enthusiasts (road, MTB, triathlon) within a community. The objective is to share his passion for riding and to live unique and convivial experiences within We Love Cycling clubs or with “teams” sponsored by renowned champions and ambassadors giving regular meetings to all lovers. biking. The program currently brings together the largest community of cyclists in France with 28,000 members.
