Finish Line Sponsors Astana with Lubes, Grease and Cleaners

PRESS RELEASE: Finish Line Technologies, Inc., a leading manufacturer of premium bicycle lubricants and care products, will partner with UCI ProTour Team Astana as an official technical sponsor for the 2010 season.

Team Astana will utilize Finish Line’s race-tested products, including Teflon® Dry and Ceramic Wet Lubes, its Premium Teflon® Grease, and Citrus Degreaser.

“Team Astana is one of the most competitive in the world, and Finish Line products are engineered to deliver peak performance when every second counts,” said Finish Line President Hank Krause, who founded the company in 1988. “We’re excited to be part of a winning team and look forward to contributing to Team Astana’s continued success in 2010.”

Team Astana’s Alberto Contador was the winner of the 2009 Tour de France. Teammate Lance Armstrong, riding alongside fellow American cyclist teammate Levi Leipheimer, made his return to professional cycling that same year, placing third in the overall standings.

“We’re very pleased with this new relationship,” said Team Astana Sport Director Dmitri Sedoun. “Winning races is all about taking care of small details and Finish Line lubricants create confidence for our riders and mechanics. There will be a great synergy between all our technical sponsors.”

Specialized has been named as the complete bike sponsor for Team Astana. Zipp will outfit the team with wheels and SRAM Red will provide the componentry.

Additionally, Finish Line announced that it will continue working as official supplier to UCI ProTour Teams Liquigas and Lampre.

“By working with three tour teams, we have a unique feedback loop that allows us to obtain information that would otherwise take years to accumulate,” said Krause. “This is how we were able to fast track our Ceramic Wet Lubricant which many racers tell us is quickly becoming their lubricant of choice. When Team Saunier Duval disbanded after the 2008 Tour de France, we were down to working with just two tour teams. Over the years, we have found that three teams are optimal for testing products in the field, and Astana gets us back to this important number.”