Cape Town based wine estate, Klein Constantia, title sponsor for UCI team.

[janslabbert]

Anyone have an idea what the connection or commercial interest is behind Klein Constantia being the title sponsor for a development/feeder team for Etixx registered in Czech Republic?

[T-Bob]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klein_Constantia_(cycling_team)

 

http://kleinconstantiacycling.com

 

http://www.kleinconstantia.com/our-news/klein-constantia-has-a-new-cycling-team/

[JJ]

And not one south african rider in a south african sponsored team.

[Velouria]

The owner of Etixx also owns Klein Constantia (or something like that). I'll ask the farm manager next time I see him.

 

Same reason Mark Cavendish came out to do the Argus last year - and had all those social obligations at KC.

[T-Bob]

Zdenek Bakala owns EQS and the Klein Constania Team and Klein Constantia Vinyard. In fact he owns a lot of stuff and KC is just one of his businesses, he made his money in mining & coal. He lives in Geneva. 

He is a Czech businessman and millionaire hence the dev' team being sponsored to feed into the WT team. They're quite low key but have produced some great talent. It brought through Alaphilipe and has a couple of exciting rider on their roster at the moment.

 I'd guess the reason there is a lot of guys from the Czech Republic rather than a ton of Saffa's is that he's from the republic and wants to grow talent from there. As Oleg said 'you don't buy a vineyard to make money, you buy it to make wine'. 

[bikebloke]

The owner of Etixx also owns Klein Constantia (or something like that). I'll ask the farm manager next time I see him.

 

Same reason Mark Cavendish came out to do the Argus last year - and had all those social obligations at KC.

 

correct he does theres the connection

[DJR]

And good marketing for the wine in Europe. Plus a tax break somewhere I'm sure! Personally, I've gone off their wine a little bit the last few years.