Team Jumbo add Visma as title sponsor - News shorts

Richard Plugge's WorldTour squad has secured a new title sponsor, with the Norwegian software company Visma signing up to support both Team Jumbo's cycling and speed skating programmes. The squad will race as Team Jumbo-Visma in 2019.

"Thanks to the fruitful cooperation and the development that we have gone together, Jumbo dared to support our vision for a long and indefinite period of time," Plugge said in a press release. "This has not gone unnoticed. It has created appeal within the sports world and also in the business world. The agreement with Visma is a result of this."

Grocery chain Jumbo signed on for a new five-year sponsorship deal this season as LottoNL's planned exit drew near. The addition of Visma not only gives the team further stability, it could ease the transition of Belgian 'cross star Wout Van Aert into the WorldTour team once his legal wrangles with Sniper Cycling are wrapped up.

"We believe this sponsorship will put the Visma brand on the European map and help Visma increase its presence and brand awareness in the Netherlands and throughout Europe," said Visma CEO Øystein Moan.

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"Visma is expanding its activities in the Netherlands and recently acquired one of the leading Dutch providers of payroll and HR software, Raet. Cycling is also a popular sport in both current and potential markets, making the sponsorship a great fit for Visma."

Schurter beats Federer for Swiss Sports Personality of the Year

Mountain bike world champion Nino Schurter has finally won the Swiss Sports Personality of the Year award after 10 years in the running. Schurter, who had a perfect season in 2017, winning all of the MTB World Cups and the worlds, this season again claimed the overall World Cup with four victories and the world title.

"The most difficult victories are also the most beautiful. Receiving this award is a great honour for me," Schurter said at the presentation.

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