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There’s a growing number of logos at http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/p_sponsors.html
The seed sponsors were regional development agencies and bodies such as Sport England and Transport for London.
With the race just a fortnight away, Liv Corbishley, the sponsorship manager, is daily adding new supporters.
Some, such as T-Mobile, are sponsoring all stages. Others, such as The Derbyshire building society, are supporting just the stage that passes through their region.
Rob Hill, corporate cmmunications manager at The Derbyshire, said:
"We are thrilled to be sponsoring such a major sporting event. As an organisation that is committed to supporting the community, we are delighted to be playing our part in bringing some of the most elite cyclists in the world right into the very heart of Derbyshire for free, in an exciting spectator event that many would not otherwise get to experience."
The Derbyshire was brought on board because of the involvement of EMDA, the East Midlands Development Agency.
EMBA’ chairman Derek Mapp, said: "We were delighted to be able to secure a stage of the Tour for the East Midlands.
"Our investment in the Tour of Britain is based on it offering us a fantastic opportunity to showcase the East Midlands to regional and national TV audiences. The Tour of Britain presents a whole host of exciting opportunities to local people and businesses."
Another one of the new regional sponsors is Newport’s Celtic Manor resort, which is hosting the start and finish of the Welsh leg of the Tour.
Celtic Manor Resort, a golf venue, is looking to ramp up its involvement with cycling. It stages its own races and, at the beginning of August, played host to the British Olympic Cycling Team as its members made their final preparations for Athens.
The resort was used a training base for the team for two weeks while they trained on the roads around the resort and in the Velodrome in Newport
Host to The Celtic Manor British Road Race Championships for the last two years, the resort will also host a Women’s World Cup cycling event in August 2005.
The Tour of Britain takes place 1st-5th September. Companies interested in sponsoring parts of the Tour should contact Liv Corbishley on Tel: 01932 268731 Email: corbishleyl@thetour.co.uk
