German bicycle company UNIVEGA has confirmed its continuing and expanding relationship with the FIM by announcing the three FIM awards that it will support in 2012. UNIVEGA will be donating three of its state-of-the-art mountain bicycles, which will be presented at the end of the season to celebrate the special achievements of three respective riders.
UNIVEGA has enjoyed a long and rich association with the trial community, having backed the likes of Iris Kramer, Laia Sanz, Adam Raga and Jeroni Fajardo through its athlete sponsorship programme. Although supporting a number of established male and female riders, the company believes that celebrating the success of those who are new to top level Trial and in particular, new to the FIM Women’s Trial World Championship and the FIM Youth Trial World Cup, is vital to the future of the sport.
In 2010, UNIVEGA in conjunction with the FIM created a new award, titled the FIM Women’s Trial Rookie of the Year. 2012 will mark UNIVEGA’S third year as the sponsor of this award. This year the company will also provide a prize for the second placed rider in this category as well as rewarding the best newcomer in the FIM Youth Trial World Cup. This newly introduced award will be known as the FIM World Youth Cup Rookie of the Year award. The Rookie awards are open to all newcomers in both of the respective championships. The winners will be the best placed eligible riders in the final standings.
Mr Uwe Reinkemeier-Lay, Director of UNIVEGA, commented: “I am very happy to be continuing our work with the FIM Women´s Trial World Championship and to also extend our support to the FIM Youth Trial World Championship in 2012. Many professional World Pro riders, including Adam Raga and Jeroni Fajardo are doing their fitness training on UNIVEGA bicycles. So with these FIM awards, which we are offering in conjunction with Yosemite Sport GmbH (Bikemax Weiterstadt - Iris Kramer), we look forward to supporting young riders from both men and women categories.”
Olivier Godallier, FIM Marketing and Communications Director, said “On behalf of the FIM I would like to thank UNIVEGA for its increased support this year. We are looking forward to seeing what new talent this season has to offer and I am sure all young newcomers will be greatly encouraged by these awards and the fantastic prizes kindly being supplied by UNIVEGA.”