tour de france skoda cars

The Tour de France car in front is a Skoda… again

Skoda is the official car partner of the tour de france once again – and the 2021 fleet includes the pure electric enyaq iv..

For the 18 th year running, Skoda is the official car partner for the 2021 Tour de France, which begins this weekend and runs for 21 stages until 18 July.

Skoda is supplying a total of 250 vehicles in support of the Tour – including a pure electric Enyaq iV which will serve as the ‘Red Car’ command vehicle for Tour director Christian Prudhomme on the majority of stages.

Other Skodas in the fleet include the Octavia, Octavia iV and Superb iV.

Skoda is also sponsoring the Tour de France Green Jersey award for the leader in the points classification.

“Our company’s long history is inextricably linked with cycling,” said Skoda board member Martin Jahn.

“Skoda is committed to being a strong long-term partner of international elite and amateur cycling; supporting the Tour de France has been one of the cornerstones of our activities.

“I am particularly pleased that the Enyaq iV, our first all-electric SUV, will be used as the lead vehicle in the Tour de France.”

In total, the 2021 Tour de France will cover over 2,000 miles, and Skoda cars will be used by race officials as well as organisers and VIPs.

For stages where the Enyaq iV will not run as the Red Car, a Skoda Superb iV plug-in hybrid will take its place.

From either vehicle, the race director will wave the yellow flag as the start of each stage, before directing the race from the vehicle itself with a welter of onboard communication tech: hence all the aerials on each Red Car….

Skoda is also partner of the official Tour de France app, allowing cycling fans to keep up to date in real time: the free app has a live tracker, real-time GPS tracking and plenty more.

It works on both iOS and Android devices.

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Škoda marks 20 years of supplying the Tour de France 'red car' – the most famous car in cycling

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Skoda electrifies Tour de France

This year’s Tour de France, which started on 1 July, marks Skoda’s 20th anniversary as the official main sponsor of the world’s most famous cycling race. This year’s 209 support and organisation vehicles are almost entirely electric.

207 of the 209 Skoda models in use have electric or hybrid drives. The race director leads the field in the so-called “Red Car”, a specially converted Skoda Enyaq Sportline iV. The Tour of France ends on 23 July in Paris.

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2028 : the future remains green with Škoda

Škoda, loyal major partner of the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, is celebrating twenty years of presence on the Tour, 10 years of sponsorship of the prestigious green jersey that rewards the best sprinter in the Tour de France (since 2015) and will continue its commitment until 2028. Beyond the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, Škoda has confirmed its wider involvement in cycling by committing to the Spanish races La Vuelta and La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es, as well as in Germany with Eschborn-Frankfurt and the Deutschland Tour. The Czech carmaker sees its future in cycling as an opportunity to promote both women’s and men’s cycling, as well as providing solutions for carbon footprint reduction. Škoda is supporting A.S.O on 19 international cycling races and 3 cyclo-sportive.

It is worth a look in the rearview mirror: twenty years ago, the red Škoda’s Superbs made their appearance on the Tour de France to help supervise the pack, iniciating an adventure that witnessed the Czech carmaker switch from official supplier and White Jersey partner from its arrival on the race in 2004 to a different colour in 2015, namely the Green Jersey for the points classification. This collaboration built on loyalty has constantly been nurtured by new perspectives and the next five seasons, for which Skoda has signed up will  again, see it continue this culture of challenge. The partnership involves sponsoring the Green Jersey on the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, but also La Vuelta, La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es, and provides overall support for all women’s races, namely Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift, La Flèche Wallonne Femmes and Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes. Looking ahead to 2028 also makes it possible to imagine and develop new carbon footprint reduction plans. Already, the organiser’s entire fleet of light vehicles is made up of cars with hybrid engines and three fully electric Škoda Enyaq iV cars will be joining the fleet this year for several stages. In total, 17 races organised by A.S.O., in France and abroad, will benefit from the professionalism of Škoda’s teams and the quality of their vehicles.

Yann Le Moënner, CEO of A.S.O.: “I am very proud of Škoda’s commitment to us in several ways: in addition to its involvement in promoting both men’s and women’s cycling throughout the world, Škoda is a major player in the ecological transition of our races thanks to the alternatively powered vehicles that the brand is making more widespread on all the events. Its digital activations based on “we love cycling” or official mobile applications for our races also contribute to increasing the fans’ involvement and promoting the discipline to young people. This partnership is the perfect expression of our shared commitment to developing cycling in all its forms, both in France and abroad”. Christian Prudhomme, Tour de France director: “I am delighted to see that the future of the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will take place with Škoda. Since 2004, Škoda’s commitment has never wavered. First with the White Jersey and then with the Green Jersey, Škoda has seen its brand share top billing with prestigious names such as Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck, Thibaut Pinot, Peter Sagan, Mark Cavendish, Jasper Philipsen or Lotte Kopecky. Škoda’s adventure is unquestionably linked to the history of the Tour de France and its elite women and men riders”. Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Škoda Auto “Supporting the cycling mission of the world’s preeminent race organiser A.S.O. is an honour and privilege for us at Škoda Auto. After all, we started as a bicycle company almost 130 years ago, and cycling today is a passion for many of the everyday explorers who are our customers. We have been the main partner and car supplier of the Tour de France for the past 20 years, so it is only logical to now extend our relationship and support a growing portfolio of events – for men and women, professionals and amateurs. We want to help A.S.O. and the cycling community inspire people to pursue their highest personal standards of individual performance, teamwork and fairness”. Martin Jahn, Škoda Auto Board Member for Sales and Marketing “By continuing our trustful partnership with A.S.O. and the Tour de France, Škoda Auto reaffirms its strong connection to cycling and its fans worldwide. The Tour de France is the world’s most-watched cycling race. In 2023, it attracted nearly 150 million viewers in Europe alone. This exceptional visibility greatly benefits our products, offering us the opportunity to reinforce Škoda’s position as a key supporter of cycling and to celebrate the heritage of our brand”.

The 17 races organised with the support of Škoda:

• Paris-Nice (march, 3-10)
• Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift (april 6)
• Paris-Roubaix  (april 7)
• La Flèche Wallonne men and women (april 17)
• Liège-Bastogne-Liège men and women (april 21)
• Eschborn-Frankfurt (may 1)
• La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es (may 1-7)
• Tro Bro Leon (may 5)
• Critérium du Dauphiné (june 2-9)
• Tour de France (june 29 – july 21)
• L’Etape du Tour de France (july 7)
• Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (august 12-18)
• Deutschland Tour (august 21-25)
• La Vuelta (august 17-september 8) 
• Paris-Tours (october 6)

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Mercedes-benz g 580 with eq technology unveiled in beijing, smart concept #5 mid-size suv previews brand’s first electric 4×4, next-gen opel grandland gets 700-km electric version, skoda official main partner of the tour de france for 19th time.

SKODA AUTO will again be supporting this year’s Tour de France (1 – 24 July 2022) as the official main and vehicle partner. This is the 19th time the company has supported the world’s largest cycling event. 250 vehicles will provide mobility to the organisers and race management of the Tour de France or be used as support and service vehicles.

The vehicle fleet also includes the all-electric SKODA ENYAQ iV that Tour Director Christian Prudhomme will be using as a command vehicle (‘Red Car’) on 16 of the 21 stages.

Martin Jahn, SKODA AUTO Board Member for Sales and Marketing, emphasises “Our long-standing commitment to cycling is one of the cornerstones of our sponsorship activities in elite international and grassroots sport. In the early days of our company, the founders Václav Laurin and Václav Klement began by designing and manufacturing bicycles – this makes for an ideal ‘brand fit’. We are delighted to be supporting this great event again this year.”

The 109th run of the classic cycling classic starts on 1 July with the Grand Départ in Copenhagen, Denmark, the northernmost starting point in the history of the race. The 21 stages, including six mountain stretches, will take the peloton through four countries over a distance of 3,300 kilometres. On 24 July, the riders will reach finish on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris.

SKODA AUTO is supporting the world’s largest cycling event for the 19th time. As the official main and vehicle partner, it is also providing 250 vehicles to the organisers and race management, as well as service and support vehicles. Alongside the ENYAQ iV , the fleet includes OCTAVIAs and the SKODA SUPERB iV with plug-in hybrid drive.

Ahead of the field, Tour Director Christian Prudhomme will be travelling in an all-electric SKODA ENYAQ iV. He will be waving the yellow flag through the sliding roof of the ‘Red Car’ at the start of each stage. This is the third time the SUV has served as Prudhomme’s mobile command centre. On some stages, the SKODA SUPERB iV with plug-in hybrid drivetrain will be taking to the course as the command vehicle.

Now for the 12th time, the Czech car manufacturer has designed the crystal trophy for the winner of the world’s largest cycling race. SKODA AUTO has also been sponsoring the green jersey for the leader of the points standings since 2015.

Furthermore, SKODA AUTO is a partner of the Tour de France Femmes, which starts on 24 July. The participants will cover eight stages over a distance of 1,029 kilometres from Paris to La Planche des Belles Filles.

As the ‘engine of cycling’, SKODA AUTO supports the Tour de France as well as numerous national and international cycling races and popular sports events. In addition to the Spanish tour ‘Vuelta’, this includes the amateur race L’Etape. Under the umbrella of the Tour de France, the worldwide racing series enables ambitious amateur cyclists to follow a race stage.

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Blagojce Krivevski is physicist and green technology lover. Keep in touch with Blagojce through his email , web site , Twitter , Linkedin , Facebook and Google+ .

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Skoda Tour de France editions revealed

Start of the tour de france marked by three special edition skodas.

Skoda will celebrate the start of the Tour de France this week, with special editions of the Skoda Yeti , Skoda Octavia Estate and Skoda Superb Estate.

The models are badged ‘le Tour de France’ and have been designed 'with the keen cyclist in mind’. That means they come with Tour de France branded waterproof seat covers and bike wheel bags, as well as Skoda bicycle carriers. Buyers also get a Centenary edition of the Rouleur Tour de France book (worth £250), plus the chance to win a VIP Tour de France experience.

In homage to France’s national flag, the cars can only be had in blue, white or red, and just 198 examples of each model will be built.

The Skoda Yeti TdF, priced at £23,490, is based on the four-wheel-drive 138bhp Yeti Outdoor SE 2.0-litre diesel. Extra kit includes an Amundsen sat-nav system with digital radio, keyless start and go, floor mats and an internal bike rack.

With more boot space, but a less flexible interior, the £24,290 Skoda Octavia TdF is based on the 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel Estate SE. It gets the same kit as the Yeti but swaps the internal bike carrier for a roof-mounted version.

Completing the trio is the capacious Skoda Superb TdF. Like the others, it’s based on the Outdoor model and gets a 2.0-litre diesel engine with 138bhp and four-wheel drive. It gets the same equipment as the Skoda Yeti TdF.

Skoda has a long-standing connection to push bikes, with the company’s founders Laurin and Klement originally starting out in cycle manufacture in 1895. The firm is currently signed to sponsor the Tour de France until 2018.

The manufacturer’s cars have certainly struck a chord with Christian Prudhomme, the director of the Tour de France, who said: “Skoda has been a strong and reliable partner for international cycling events for 10 years. I personally feel that my Skoda during the race is more than just a car; it is my office and the place where I spend most of my day."

Read reviews of the Skoda Yeti, Skoda Octavia, and Skoda Superb on the Carbuyer Skoda reviews page .

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Škoda Cars Suit Every Need Imaginable During the Tour de France

Škoda, formerly Laurin and Klement, took its baby steps in a small bicycle workshop in 1895 in then Austria-Hungary, today’s Czech Republic, so it’s only natural that two-wheelers feature heavily in the brand’s present-day activities. In 2004, Škoda became the Tour de France’s official vehicle partner, and its cars have ensured the spectacular race’s smooth course ever since. About 250 Škoda OCTAVIAs and Škoda SUPERBs set off each year to aid in writing yet another Le Tour success story. Let’s zero in on the roles of each individual vehicle group, sorted by function.

First, some impressive numbers. A single Škoda car covers a distance of approx. 10,000-12,000 kilometres every year, the grand total of the whole Škoda fleet is close to 2.8 million kilometres, and the cars are manned by some 300 drivers and 60 technicians. These figures will help us to get the importance of the Tour’s support vehicles into perspective.

The race director’s Leading Car

The morning Tour de France routine of Christian Prudhomme, Le Tour and A.S.O. cycling director, always involves settling into the back seat of a specially-modified Škoda SUPERB that functions as a mobile captain’s bridge governing each stage. This year, the honour will fall upon the Škoda’s brand new plug-in hybrid, Škoda SUPERB iV. As in the case of its predecessors, its signature ‘Velvet Red’ shade will catch the eyes of millions of spectators around the globe, as the ‘Red Car’ became one of the Tour’s most distinctive visual symbols, on par with the Arc de Triomphe. Its presence is indispensable to the grand race’s success.

Inside, we will find the command and communication console with a two-way radio placed between the front seats, broadcasting via six antennas mounted on the roof. Mr Prudhomme uses it to contact his race marshals, to check in with the race’s headquarters, to receive requests and inquiries from the team cars and to give orders about the stage’s course. The car’s custom-made retractable glass sunroof isn’t just a style statement – the race’s director uses it to wave a white flag at the starting kilometre of each stage, setting the peloton into motion and leading it as it surges ahead. Besides these essential organizational add-ons, the car features one lovely detail – the horn’s tune has been altered to sound like this and its sound is the heaven’s choir to any die-hard Tour fan. The Leading Car No. 1 also enjoys a special dose of spotlight as the only car allowed to cross the finish line at Champs Élyseés before the riders.

Only a few lucky mortals have had the honour to experience the Red SUPERB No. 1 from the inside – including French presidents and one of our writers who summed up the unique experience in this article .

The team cars

Each team has a fleet of support cars at their disposal, carrying mechanics, medics, food, drinks, spare bikes and all imaginable components, and one cannot fail to notice that especially Škoda OCTAVIAs are particularly popular among those. The driving order of the team cars is a subject to a strict hierarchy determined by the race organizers based on the ranking of the team’s lead rider, which is updated at the start of each stage. The convoy’s order is not just a pedantic play with numbers and seconds gained and lost – the closer the car is to the nose of the peloton, the faster it can get to the team’s rider if he gets in trouble. It is said that the cobbled and mountainous parts of stages are critical as they’re most likely to break up the peloton, and team cars have to make difficult decisions about which riders need their support the most.

That’s also the reason nearly all drivers are former cycling pros. When a team car is called to action, it needs to ask Christian Prudhomme’s permission through radio feed to break the assigned rank and accelerate towards a rider in need. Which is easier said than done with swarms of other cars, motorbikes, cyclists and spectators surrounding you. That’s why you want to have someone intimately familiar with the peloton’s rhythm and behaviour behind the wheel to avoid accidents. But if the team cars are unable to intervene quickly enough or at all for any reason, the stranded cyclist can still count on the Mavic neutral fleet.

The Mavic support fleet

Jens Voigt in 2010, Chris Froome in 2016, Rigoberto Urán in 2017 – all these racers (and a portion of their ranking) were saved by a yellow-clad angel. That descriptor applies to both the Mavic support cars and the crewmembers driving them. All three found themselves in a similar pickle: their bikes damaged, the team cars far away or stuck behind, the finish line nearby and their inclination to give up strong. Enter the Mavic neutral support vehicle. Bikes were exchanged, sprockets straightened and stages finished.

The Mavic fleet consists of Škoda SUPERBs, each stacked with six bikes of different brands, sizes and pedals. The cars are bicycle workshops on wheels, carrying an array of cranksets, seat posts, chains, puncture kits and so on, and each component can be swapped quickly by a skilled mechanic riding in the back. One of the cars always stays near Christian Prudhomme’s Leading Car with three bikes specially adjusted for the top three general-classification contenders, ready to be deployed to save the day if needed.

The VIP Škoda Tour de France Hospitality Programme vehicles

Just like the Leading Car, the Hospitality Programme fleet this year also comprises of Škoda SUPERBs iV, one of the brand’s first-ever two new hybrid cars recently introduced. You can find these interspersed throughout the peloton on certain days, carrying the lucky, wide-eyed winners of our VIP Škoda Hospitality Programme contest , in which you too can take part. Driven by former cycling pros, these speciality cars with custom decals snake through the stages to provide an unforgettable experience to a selected few.

Watch out for the Škoda cars at the Tour de France from 29th August to 20th September anywhere between Nice and Paris – we might have got used to their presence at the race to the point of taking them for granted, but now you have a better insight into the great deal of work they and their crews get done each year so let them enjoy a little recognition.

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ŠKODA ENYAQ i V gets ready for Tour de France

In fact, it’s simple: you turn a car that the public hasn’t seen yet into a star of one of the most watched sporting events on the planet. This is exactly how the new ŠKODA ENYAQ iV was transformed into the Tour de France director’s car.

I n order to be able to lead cyclists through three stages of this year’s Tour de France, the ŠKODA ENYAQ iV electric SUV had to be transformed from its serially produced form into a mobile control room, the “command car” of the race director, Christian Prudhomme. This involved cutting out a piece of its roof, for example. See how the director’s “red” car came into being in the video:

The ŠKODA brand has long been the main official partner of the famous cycling race and provides the fleet to the race organizers. The fleet also includes the director’s red car, which needs to be adapted to the needs of the Tour de France director, before it can be used on the race route. The transformation of this year’s car took place in complete concealment near Mladá Boleslav, where the ENYAQ iV was manufactured . Details were disclosed to ŠKODA Storyboard by Martin Smutný of the firm Best Modell, which carried out the modification in cooperation with the car manufacturer.

Simply clever champagne glasses

What modifications did you make to the car?

The car has six aerials, four on the roof and two on the sides, a flag holder, a special horn, advertising banners, five radio circuits, and a number of other electrical installations. 

What was the most difficult?

The most difficult task was to cut out the sunroof in a way that met the requirements of the Tour de France director. We had to find the right position and then cut out the opening in the roof, so that it didn’t get damaged; this was a really big challenge. Everything had to fit exactly in just one go.

What criteria did you take into account when looking for the right position?

Several clues served us during our work. We had the sunroof solution available from the director’s SUPERB. We also consulted the location of the sunroof with the organizers of the Tour de France. The key criterion was that it had to be possible for the director to easily stand up from his seat. First, we had to dismantle the whole car, cut out the hole while cutting also the existing reinforcements, weld the sunroof, seal it, connect it to the power supply, and make a new roof lining. In order for the director to have something to hold on to, we raised the roof racks, so that they could be comfortably gripped in the palms.

If I’m not mistaken, there is never a champagne fridge missing in the director’s car...

Yes, that’s right, Director Prudhomme invites important guests aboard his car and welcomes them with a glass of sparkling wine. Therefore, there is also a refrigerator for two bottles of champagne in the ENYAQ iV. We searched for a suitable refrigerator for quite a long time, but we managed to find one. In addition to the refrigerator and the movement of the sunroof, the director’s car also has power-operated beacons and a radio station, thanks to which the director is in contact with all important units of the race. We placed two 75 ampere batteries in the car’s luggage compartment.

Does the ENYAQ iV for the Tour de France also have some Simply Clever solutions that are typical of ŠKODA cars?

In my opinion, the Simply Clever solution is champagne glass holders, which we made ourselves on a 3D printer. We designed them so that the glasses could be hung comfortably.

Was your work affected by the fact that the modifications took place before the premiere of the ENYAQ iV model ?

It was nothing new to us. We process car models for ŠKODA AUTO that are still being prepared and that will be produced only at some point in the future, so we are used to working while maintaining the highest degree of confidentiality.

How do you feel about the result?

I think we did a good job and I am sincerely happy about it. I have been in the field for a long time, but ENYAQ iV for the director of the Tour de France is still a unique novelty for us, because it will be shown to the public, unlike most of the results of our work. If I do not count the models for the ŠKODA Museum, no one sees our models, outside the narrow circle of the car factory’s employees. The ŠKODA ENYAQ iV for Christian Prudhomme is the exact opposite, as it will appear live during one of the most watched sporting events on the planet. I used to watch the Tour de France even in the past, but now I will not miss a stage.

Martin Smutný

Martin Smutný, originally a cabinetmaker, founded Best Modell with his colleague three years ago and works in it as a production manager. They focus mainly on modelling the bodywork of future car models in a 1:1 scale. The company often collaborates with ŠKODA brand designers and with the EGV department, which prepares prototypes. It also deals with the renovation of antiques. The Best Modell designers are the authors of a golden sculpture that is on display in an exhibition celebrating the car factory’s 125th anniversary, in the ŠKODA Museum in Mladá Boleslav.

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ŠKODA AUTO Main Partner of Tour de France | ŠKODA UK

Mladá Boleslav, 19 August 2020 – The company is providing up to 250 vehicles for the organisation and race management of the cycling event, including the command vehicle (‘Red Car’) for Christian Prudhomme. The director of the Tour de France will be monitoring and directing the race from a ŠKODA SUPERB iV with plug-in hybrid drive. In addition, ŠKODA is again sponsoring the green jersey for the best sprinter and, as a partner of the official Tour de France app, will be keeping fans up to date on the latest racing action.

Alain Favey, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Sales and Marketing emphasises: “Our deep commitment to cycling and our many years of close cooperation with Tour de France organiser A.S.O. are integral parts of ŠKODA AUTO’s global sports sponsorship. This event is the perfect setting for us to present our brand and products internationally and at the same time, share our enthusiasm for this dynamic sport with millions of fans.“

As the official vehicle partner, ŠKODA will be providing up to 250 vehicles this year. In addition to the new, fourth generation of the brand’s bestseller, the OCTAVIA and the top model SUPERB, the KODAIQ, the KAROQ and the KAMIQ will be used for the organisation and race management. The SUPERB iV, ŠKODA’s first model with plug-in hybrid drive, will serve as the ‘Red Car’ for tour director Christian Prudhomme. From here, he will be leading the field, and using the modern and sophisticated communication technology on board, he will be kept informed about the latest developments on the track and oversee the race. The specific glass roof of his red-coloured official vehicle will always give him the best view of the peloton, for example, before the start of a stage.

21 stages, 180 cyclists and 3,470-kilometre course

This year’s Tour of France covers a total distance of 3,470 kilometres. On 29 August, around 180 riders will set off for Paris from the Grand Départ in the southern French coastal city of Nice. They will face 21 stages, including eight mountain stages, four mountain climbs and an individual time trial. The route of the Tour de France includes twelve new cities and towns, including Le Teil, Chauvigny and Mantes-la-Jolie. Among the highlights of the 107th run of the cycling classic are the mountain routes, which lead the peloton through the Alps, the Pyrenees and the Vosges mountains as well as the Massif Central and the Jura. The professional cyclists will have to master the Grand Colombier, the Col de la Lusette and the Col de la Madeleine, among others. On 20 September, the peloton will reach the finish line on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées in Paris.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting postponement of the Tour de France, the organiser A.S.O. and the training platform Zwift jointly organised six virtual Tour de France stages. From 4 July, professional riders competed against each other, and in three of these races, amateur athletes also had the opportunity to participate virtually. ŠKODA accompanied this event digitally and raffled off a Tour de France VIP hospitality package as a prize among all those taking part. Three winners can look forward to unforgettable experiences, including a helicopter flight over the peloton.

ŠKODA Campaign ‘To the Greatest Family of all: Cyclists’

To mark this year’s Tour de France, ŠKODA has launched the 360-degree campaign ‘To the Greatest Family of all: Cyclists’. The campaign aims to communicate the passion for cycling and team spirit in the international cycling community. To achieve this, ŠKODA is not only using TV commercials and its social media channels, but also the company’s own website WeLoveCycling.com . This is where cycling enthusiasts can find lots of exciting information about the world’s most famous cycle race and enter a competition to win exclusive prizes: ŠKODA is giving away, among other things, a signed green jersey, a ŠKODA carbon bike and a place in the Tour de France hospitality package. In addition, ŠKODA is again the exclusive partner of the official Tour de France app this year. The app enables cycling fans to stay up to date with the latest racing action at all times, even on the go. In addition to standings and a live ticker, it offers real-time GPS tracking, rider profiles and much more. The free app is aailable for Android and iOS.

ŠKODA with a strong tradition as the ‘engine of cycling’

ŠKODA’s passion for cycling goes back to the very beginning of the company’s history. In 1895, 125 years ago, Václav Laurin and Václav Klement founded a bicycle manufactory in Mladá Boleslav, Bohemia, thus laying the foundation stone for ŠKODA AUTO as it is known today. Nowadays, the Czech car manufacturer is involved as the ‘engine of cycling’ on many levels: In addition to the Tour de France and the Tour of Spain (‘Vuelta’), ŠKODA supports other international cycling races as well as numerous national and international popular sports events. Bicycles and bicycle accessories are also an integral part of ŠKODA’s extended product range.

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Škoda has been the official vehicle partner of the Tour de France since 2004 and continues to have a major presence at the world’s biggest cycling event. As the brand gears up to support riders, officials and teams for the 20th time, it does so with its all-electric Enyaq.

Since 2004, Škoda has used the Tour de France as a showcase for its cars. In addition to supplying the command car used by the race director – known as Direction Generale car number 1 – the brand also provides more than 200 support vehicles for members of the organising team and event management.

It is the race director’s car that most will recognise thanks to its starring role at the front of the field. This vehicle, known simply as the ‘red car’ in Tour de France circles, is effectively the office of the race director and is a communications hub via which race officials and management teams can control and monitor the race.

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• Superb Outdoor

Skoda Superb Tour de France edition review

The skoda superb tour de france edition is based on the superb outdoor, and celebrates the famous cycle race.

3.0 out of 5

Although the Skoda Superb Tour De France comes with a load of equipment, it looks pricey next to the basic Outdoor model. If cycling is your thing, we’d save the cash and fit a top-of-the-range bike rack to a standard Skoda estate.

The Tour de France is cycling’s most famous event, and one of its main sponsors, Skoda, is celebrating the race by releasing this Skoda Superb Tour De France edition.

The car is based on the Superb Outdoor and builds on the already generous spec by adding a host of extras for the cycle enthusiasts. Like all Outdoor models, it’s only available with four-wheel drive – with the TdF model mated to a 138bhp 2.0-litre TDI engine and six-speed manual gearbox.

It’s as smooth as ever, with pretty generous fuel economy, too. Motorway cruising is a strong point, with decent refinement and a nice cushioned ride. In short, it’s as good as any other Superb.

Outside you get a choice of white, red or blue paint in tribute to the French flag and some subtle Tour de France badging. Our car came with a useful roof-mounted bike rack, but all models come with a clever internal racking system and a set of cheap and cheerful waterproof seat covers to protect the standard leather trim.

The Superb also gets dual-zone air-con, 18-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, sat-nav and DAB radio.

The Tour de France edition costs almost £1,500 more than the equivalent Superb Outdoor, and will cost exactly the same to run thanks to identical economy and emissons. While the equipment list is extensive, it’ll only really appeal to die-hard cycling fans – so unless your name is Bradley Wiggins or Chris Hoy, we’d save the cash and spend the difference on a new bike with a few choice extras.

Richard has been part of the team for over a decade. During this time he has covered a huge amount of news and reviews for Auto Express, as well as being the face of Carbuyer and DrivingElectric on Youtube. In his current role as deputy editor, he is now responsible for keeping our content flowing and managing our team of talented writers.

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