Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Northern Ireland Announces Official Sponsors

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The 2017 Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia NI, which will take place on June 4th, has announced famed Italian cycling clothing company Castelli and newcomer Italian nutrition company NamedSport as official sponsors of the event.
Last year’s event saw Castelli come on board and produce the official Gran Fondo Jersey, which was included in the registration fee. This will again be the case in 2017 and recently Castelli and Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia NI released the design of the 2017 official jersey.

Steven Smith, Castelli Global Brand Director said “Castelli is proud to partner for the second year with the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Northern Ireland and bring the spirit of the Giro to Northern Ireland, especially in this year of the 100th edition of the Giro. To make this demanding event just a little easier, each rider will receive a Castelli Team jersey that was developed with the pros for those long hard days in the saddle. There’s a special link this year since Stephen Roche will be riding the event, and he wore the Castelli pink jersey when winning the Giro d’Italia 30 years ago in 1987. Tracing its roots back to 1876 and the Vittore Gianni tailor shop in Milan, Castelli has brought nearly every significant clothing innovation to pro cycling over the past four decades including Lycra shorts, synthetic chamois, sublimation printing, wicking jerseys, synthetic thermal wear and windproof jackets for cold weather, aero jerseys, flat leg grippers in cycling shorts, and wind-cheating skin suits. You know you’re getting an unfair advantage.”

NamedSport, an Italian company founded in 1988, has recently become an official sponsor of the 100th Giro d’Italia and Presenting Sponsor of Strade Bianche, Tirreno Adriatico, Milan-Sanremo, Il Lombardia and Milan-Torino – all of the great events organised by RCS Sport.
Participating in Gran Fondos and putting the body under “abnormal” stress results in a change in food and normal power supply requirements. Providing specific nutrients before, during and after riding a Gran Fondo assists the body in maintaining a good balance in terms of performance and recovery.
NamedSport products will be available at the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia NI food and hydration stops and will assist the riders at these critical moments during their ride by increasing energy, countering pain and onset of lactic acid and promoting power and endurance.
Alessandra Fedrigo, International Marketing & Innovation Manager said
“We are very pleased to partner with Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia NI on their event next June. On top of our other high profile sponsorships of the Giro d’Italia and all other RCS Sport events and World Tour teams such as Bahrain Merida, Trek Segafredo, Astana and UAE Fly Emirates, our nutrition products are fast becoming the must-have item in rider’s preparation for, and participation in, cycling events of all levels. We wish all the riders the very best of luck in Belfast next June, which will be a very important period for NamedSport as we enter the UK market. We are confident the riders will find our products will assist them in performing at their maximum.”

Shadetree Sports’ Darach McQuaid concluded ”We are honored to have two great Italian companies – Castelli and NamedSport – partnering with us on the 2017 edition of Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia NI. Castelli’s clothing has been iconic for many years throughout the sport, and seeing all of the riders wear the official jersey with pride during our event is something special. NamedSport will provide our riders with a range of energy and nutrition products that will, of course, assist them in completing this challenging event. We thank both companies for their support.”