A phoenix rising from the ashes
The German Power Horse Team started to fall apart when main sponsor Power Horse pulled out. The team is now running as Team Sport For Good, but that is not really a title sponsor. It is an effort to support the Laureus Foundation and their mission to work with children's sports charities across the world. The proper name of that group is actually Laureus Sport For Good Foundation. Laureus is charitable organization but is obviously not giving the team money, that however means the squad is supported by the various other sponsors and suppliers.
Several folks of this new team were originally part of Team Commerzbank, and when that very big effort ended, some of the folks ended up on team 21run.com. That however did not last very long and soon after team became Team Power Horse. With the main sponsor an Austrian energy drink. At the end of last year there were rumors that Power Horse would not continue in that main sponsor role and earlier this year we saw Horst Reichel compete at Challenge Dubai in all black plain kit as the whole sponsorship situation was still in the air then, but today the new Team Sport For Good was announced, and now Reichel is flying a fancy blue and white race outfit.
The team is led by 2014 Challenge Roth Champion Timo Bracht, features Ironman champions Jan Raphael and Horst Reichel [as we had mentioned earlier}, plus Georg Potrebitsch who is known by fans as Little George. These 4 athletes were all part of the Power Horse squad and will now be joined by fast 22-year old age grouper Julian Beuchert who will want to make his own mark.
“I’m very excited and looking forward to learning from the experience and support of successful professionals and the team, and hope I can enhance my personal development based on that,“ said Julian Beuchert. “For me the highlight of the season is the 70.3 age group Ironman world championship, which I will be preparing for with the help of my colleagues on the team.”
Among the bigger suppliers of the team is Mercedes-Benz who is also a key partner for the Laureus Foundation. Other sponsors are Stada AG, Rudy Project, Giant Bicycles, X-Bionic and X-Socks, ENVE Composites, Saucony, the Viva Blue Hotel on Mallorca and Rotor Bike Components. Plus the individual athletes have some personal sponsors too.
“We are proud to be the first professional triathlon team to give our name to the Laureus Sport for Good foundation,” said Timo Bracht. “We’re a professional team, so of course our focus is on taking part in as many races as possible at a high level. But we are also intent on shouldering our social responsibilities. We want to support the Laureus Mission because we have years of experience in the field of sport and know what a positive effect it has on society.”
All images courtesy Team Sport For Good.
