DuPont is withdrawing as the main sponsor of the largest cycling race in the United States after next year's event, ending a relationship that began in 1990.
"Over the past six years, the Tour DuPont has been an excellent vehicle for promoting our products," said Jamie Murray, DuPont brand manager. "However, we need to focus more on strategic markets in other parts of the world where a sustained annual program versus a two-week event can better leverage the DuPont brand equity for profitable growth."DuPont, the global research, chemical and energy company, has hosted the start of the race at its corporate headquarters in Wilmington since 1990. It took over the title sponsorship in 1991.
According to Michael Plant, president of Medalist Sports, Inc., the race organizers, DuPont was responsible for about one-third of the race's estimated $7.5 million annual budget.
"We're going to continue to be America's premier stage race," said Plant, speaking from Europe where he was at the Tour de France. "But we're going to start a new race with a new major player."
Plant, who is also president of the Goodwill Games, said he has had discussions with four global companies and six U.S. companies about title sponsorship of the annual May race.
"We have a firm commitment from DuPont for next year's race, and nothing will change," said Plant. "It will be business as usual. But after that we want to take the race to a new level."
Plant said the race still could begin in Delaware in 1998.