Europcar cycling team in Volta ao Algarve in Portugal, 19-23 February 2014

Europcar is one of the world’s leading car hire companies.

In 2006, Europcar, owned by the Volkswagen Group (VW, Audi, Seat, Skoda, Lamborghini, Bentley and Porsche) was sold to the French, Paris-based investment company Eurazeo.

Europcar sports sponsorship 
Ever since Eurazeo acquired the giant of car hire industry Europcar, its marketing strategy has developed towards greater visibility in public sphere, focusing on outdoor advertising campaigns and sponsorship of popular sports events.

In 2011, Europcar took over the sponsorship of a cycling team managed by Jean-René Bernaudeau - Team Bbox Bouygues Telecom - and renamed it to Team Europcar. Team Bbox Bouygues Telecom was formerly known as Bonjour, and before that, Castorama and System D.

The French cyclist Thomas Voeckler is the main star of Team Europcar, with the forth position at 2011 Tour de France race as his best result ever.

Watch Europcar cycling team's first World Tour 2014 race in Australia:

Team Europcar in World Tour 
The year 2014 will be very exciting for Team Europcar, which for the first time is going to join ProTeam division of the UCI (Union Cyciste Internationale).  In 2014 there are18 cycling teams from all over the world in UCI’s ProTeam division: Astana (Kazakhstan), Lampre-Merida (Italy), Movistar (Spain), Orica-Green Edge (Australia), Sky (Great Britain), Giant-Shimano (Netherlands), Trek Factory Racing (USA). Ag2R-La Mondiale (France), Belkin (Netherlands), BMC (USA), Cannondale (Italy), FDJ.fr (France), Garmin-Sharp (USA), Omega Pharma-Quick Step (Belgium), Katusha (Russia), Tinkoff-Saxo (Russia) and Lotto BELISOL(Belgium).

All the teams in UCI ProTeam category are entitled to enter the prestigious Tour de France race.

Between 19 and 23 of February 2014 Team Europcar runs in the Volta ao Algarve stage of the World Tour in southern Portugal.