Mladá Boleslav, 28 July 2025: The 112^th staging of the Tour de France concluded yesterday on the Champs-Élysées, with Škoda Auto serving as the event’s main partner since 2004. Once again, Škoda Design created the trophies for the overall winner, Tadej Pogačar, the points and mountain classification winners, and the best young rider.

Škoda Auto CEO Klaus Zellmer presented the green crystal trophy to the points classification winner, Italian Jonathan Milan. The Czech carmaker not only sponsored his green jersey but also provided almost 220 electrified vehicles to the organisers. The fleet included the ‘Red Cars’ – a Škoda Enyaq and a Superb iV – for Race Director Christian Prudhomme. Last year, Škoda Auto extended its partnership with the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift through to 2028.

Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Škoda Auto, said: “The Tour de France is a true showcase of breathtaking athletic achievement, and this year’s event once again proved why it remains the world’s biggest and most celebrated cycling race. We are proud to have been the official main partner for over 20 years. Škoda Auto began its journey in 1895 as a bicycle manufacturer, and as we celebrate our 130th anniversary this year, it is especially meaningful to support the Tour with our electrified fleet of vehicles, which we provide to organisers and teams to help ensure the smooth running of the race.

“From providing the iconic Red Car of the Race Director to supporting logistics across challenging stages, our cars are an integral part of this legendary event. Congratulations to all winners and participants for inspiring us with their remarkable performances!”

Škoda Auto provides almost 220 electrified vehicles, including the Director’s Red Cars
Škoda Auto supplied the organisers with a fleet of almost 220 electrified vehicles. The Enyaq and the Superb iV also served as Red Cars – mobile command centres for Race Director Christian Prudhomme, from which he oversaw operations. Since 2019, he has been using electrified models; a year later, in 2020, the Enyaq joined the Red Car fleet.

Škoda Design marks the company’s 130th anniversary with this year’s crystal trophies
This year’s trophies, made from Czech crystal, featured a special Škoda logo to commemorate the brand’s 130th anniversary. The green trophy for the points winner echoes the shade of the green jersey and Škoda’s traditional brand colour.

During the Tour, Škoda showcased two special vehicles: the Elroq Respectline in rainbow colours, highlighting Škoda’s core values of respect, diversity and inclusion, and the tenth Student Car: the Škoda L&K 130, a support vehicle for bicycle races. Designed and built by students from the Škoda Auto Vocational School, it underscores the carmaker’s links to cycling. Fans could also enjoy the Škoda Coffee Car mobile café and get Škoda merchandise from a caravan throughout the race.

WeLoveCycling.com competition winners enjoy VIP experience on the final stage
Škoda Auto organised competitions and giveaways on the WeLoveCycling.com website. The main prize for seven lucky winners and their guests was the opportunity to ride in Škoda vehicles during the final stage. In Paris, they also joined former professional riders for a 60 km ride around the Champs-Élysées. Other prizes included professional bicycles and authentic green jerseys.

Škoda continues its support for world-class cycling events
Škoda’s story began with the production of bicycles in 1895. The Czech car manufacturer now supports numerous major cycling events, including, since 2022, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift – the world’s largest women’s cycling race. Škoda’s partnership with race organiser A.S.O. also includes sponsorship of 17 professional and amateur events, among them La Vuelta and classic races such as Paris–Roubaix, Paris–Nice and Liège–Bastogne–Liège.

This year, Škoda Auto has expanded its cooperation with the International Cycling Union (UCI). For the next two seasons, it will be the official partner of both the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, starting at the end of August in Switzerland, and the UCI Gravel World Championships, held in mid-October in the Netherlands.

Mladá Boleslav, 7 July 2025 – Seventy-five years ago, Škoda lined up for the first time at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Škoda Sport racing special. This unique car, meticulously restored to its original condition, has since made several return appearances on the renowned circuit as part of the prestigious Le Mans Classic for historic sports cars. This year, as Škoda celebrates its 130th anniversary, the car was again among the highlights of the event, also due to its performance on the track.

It is 24 June 1950. The second hand of the starting clock ticks past 16:00. Škoda’s racing driver Václav Bobek sprints across the start line, quickly slides behind the wheel of the Škoda Sport, car number 44, and sets off on his first 13.65 km lap at Le Mans. “Every time we climb into this original cockpit on this iconic circuit, we picture the Bobek–Netušil crew taking the start in 1950. It’s a truly special moment for Škoda and for us personally,” say Stanislav Kafka and Michal Velebný, the pair responsible for bringing this unique car back to Le Mans in recent years.

Le Mans 1950: the first and only appearance
Škoda’s entry in the 1950 Le Mans endurance race was a rare sight in its day. Europe had already been divided by the Iron Curtain, making the car from Mladá Boleslav a curiosity on the starting grid of the world’s toughest endurance race. The two-seater special, with its hand-built aluminium bodywork, was based on modified components from the 1946 Škoda 1101 ‘Tudor’ production model and made use of many standard parts. By dawn, the Škoda Sport held second place in its class for cars up to 1,100 cm³ and fifth overall on the performance index. After 13 hours – having averaged 126 km/h – a broken piston pin circlip dashed any hope of a surprise result. As the race regulations prevented this small, technical fault, from being repaired on site, lap 121 proved to be Škoda’s last at Le Mans.

Targeted technical adjustments for optimal performance on the track
The Škoda Sport features two additional headlights for better illumination during the night and special openings in the radiator grille optimized for the cooling of the drum brakes on the front wheels. An extended wheelbase of 2,150 mm ensures improved driving stability. The vehicle weighed in at 700 kg Including tools and spare parts. The water-cooled four cylinder engine with a displacement of 1,089 cm3 delivered an output of 50 hp (37 kW) at 5,200 rpm for a top speed of 140 km/h. The electrics were delivered by the Czech manufacturer PAL 12 V. The special fuel mix consisted of petrol, ethanol and acetone. The consumption of 12 litres per 100 km was low for its time compared to the competitors. Therefore, the Škoda crew had to refuel less often.

Back where history was made
Thanks to its start at Le Mans and its strong performance on the prestigious track 75 years ago, the original Škoda Sport as well as its drivers Václav Bobek and Jaroslav Netušil have a permanent place among racing legends. The vehicle now regularly competes in the prestigious Le Mans Classic. The 1950 Le Mans special – one of only two ever built – was long thought lost but was eventually rediscovered and brought back to life through a careful restoration that preserved as many original components as possible. The car’s aluminium body still bears the scars of battles fought on the race track more than seven decades ago. After a six-year restoration, the car made its return to the circuit in 2022. Last weekend, from 3 to 6 July 2025, it once again lined up on the starting grid, commemorating both the endurance racing tradition and this year’s 130th anniversary of the Škoda brand. The Mladá Boleslav racing special finished in 36th place on the performance index.

Mladá Boleslav, 4 July 2025 – The 112^th Tour de France, the world’s most famous stage race, gets underway tomorrow, and Škoda Auto is once again joining as the main partner – its 22^nd year in this role. The carmaker is providing up to 225 support vehicles for the organisers, all of which are either fully electric or plug-in hybrid models. Among them will be two ‘Red Cars’ – the new Škoda Enyaq and Superb iV – for Race Director Christian Prudhomme. Škoda is also the longstanding sponsor of the green jersey for the leader of the points classification and supplies the trophies for the overall winner, points leader, mountain classification leader, and best young rider. This year’s race will see a peloton of 184 cyclists in 23 teams compete over 21 stages, covering a total of 3,339 km, with the finish on Paris’s Champs-Élysées.

Martin Jahn, Škoda Auto Board Member for Sales and Marketing, said: “Škoda Auto is proud to mark 22 years as the main partner of the Tour de France. As we celebrate our 130th anniversary of Škoda Auto, our commitment to cycling is stronger than ever. We are looking forward to being part of one of the most watched sporting events on the planet, providing a modern fleet of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to support this exciting race. Škoda is joining millions of fans along the route and an incredible three billion TV viewers to witness the riders’ outstanding performances. And we are excited to connect with these fans through our WeLoveCycling platform and share the thrill of the race together.”

Tour de France returns to the Champs-Élysées
The 112^th Tour de France will take place from 5 to 27 July. The Grand Départ sets off from Lille in the north and will culminate with the traditional finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. A total of 184 riders in 23 teams will tackle 21 stages and 3,339 km with a total elevation gain of 52,500 metres, crossing France’s Massif Central, Pyrenees, the Alps including the legendary Mont Ventoux climb, and Jura Mountains. The highest point on the route will be the Col de la Loze (2,304 m above sea level).

Škoda Auto provides up to 225 support vehicles to the organisers and Race Director
As the official main partner of the event, Škoda Auto is supplying the organisers with up to 225 fully electric and plug-in hybrid support vehicles. The fleet will include the new all-electric Enyaq, as well as the plug-in hybrid version of the Superb. In addition to the official vehicles, Škoda will be bringing two show cars to this year’s Tour de France: the Elroq Respectline joins the caravan for every stage of this year’s race, highlighting the brand’s values of respect, diversity, and inclusion. Fans can also look forward to the tenth Škoda Student Car, the L&K 130, designed and built by students at the Škoda Auto Secondary Vocational School of Engineering.

Race Director Christian Prudhomme will have two Red Cars at his disposal, which will once again lead the peloton – the Škoda Enyaq and Superb iV. These mobile command centres, covered in distinctive liveries, are equipped with sophisticated communication technology to continuously monitor events on the track and exchange information with other race organisers.

Škoda Design creates crystal trophies featuring the 130^th anniversary logo
Škoda is the sponsor of the green jersey for the points leader and supplies the trophies for the overall winner, as well as the points and mountain classification leaders and best young rider. This year’s trophies will feature a special Škoda logo to mark the carmaker’s 130^th anniversary.

Škoda launches fan activities and a competition for a place on the Champs-Élysées
Throughout the Tour, Škoda will provide race updates and behind-the-scenes stories on WeLoveCycling.com and run competitions with exclusive prizes. The main prizes are places in Škoda cars on the final stage in Paris for seven winners and their companions, including the chance to ride alongside former pros on a 60 km circuit around the Champs-Élysées. Other prizes include professional bikes and official Škoda green jerseys. Members of the Škoda cycling community could also sign up for a ride with 2010 Tour de France winner and Škoda WeLoveCycling ambassador Andy Schleck. During the event, spectators can visit the Škoda Coffee Car, while a Škoda promotional caravan will tour the route with gifts and souvenirs. The car manufacturer also sponsors the official Tour de France app.

Škoda’s commitment to cycling rooted in the company’s history
The Czech automaker’s history is closely linked to bicycles. In 1895, Václav Laurin and Václav Klement – Škoda Auto’s founders – started with a bicycle factory in Mladá Boleslav. The Czech carmaker supports many other major cycling events for both professionals and amateurs, including the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, the Vuelta, and L’Etape. In May this year, Škoda announced it will be the official partner of two more flagship Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) events for the next two seasons: the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships and the UCI Gravel World Championships.