Backers from Saudi Arabia want to take over Jumbo-Visma

The most successful cycling team in the world is apparently about to be taken over by financial backers from Saudi Arabia.

According to a report by Dutch journalist Raymond Kerckhoffs, Jumbo-Visma is to be sponsored by the Saudi urban development project Neom City from next year onwards. The supermarket chain Jumbo had announced that it was withdrawing as the main sponsor.

Team boss Richard Plugge was unaware of the interest, but did not want to rule it out, as several people and agencies are involved in the search for sponsors. Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard, Giro winner Primoz Roglic and classics star Wout van Aert ride for Jumbo-Visma.

Neom City is probably the largest architectural project in the world. Various cities and resorts are to be built on an area of over 26,000 square kilometres - almost the size of Belgium. The project draws its budget from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

The Gulf state, which is controversial due to human rights violations, is investing heavily in sport. Football superstar Ronaldo was lured into the national league, and in England the first division club Newcastle was taken over. It is also involved in Formula 1, golf and boxing, among others.

Copyright 2023, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved