Raelert Brothers Ride BMC In 2011

Andreas and Michael Raelert have announced that they will be leaving their current bike sponsors to race together under the BMC name.
See photos of the Raelert brothers riding BMC bikes here.
Click here to see a video of the first ride.

The move means that Michael Raelert, two-time reigning Ironman 70.3 world champion, is no longer to be a part of the Trek/K-Swiss Triathlon Team. Michael originally joined the team in January of 2010, entering a contract with both title companies. Both Raelert brothers will continue to represent K-Swiss.

Two-time Olympian and 2010 Ironman World Championship runner-up Andreas Raelert will be moving to BMC from his former partnership with Blue Competition Cycles. Andreas signed with Blue in the spring of 2009 after a successful 2008 season that included victories at both Ironman 70.3 Monaco and Ironman Arizona.

Both Raelerts have expressed the desire to build a global brand around the Raelert family name. This joint partnership with BMC appears to be the first step in the development of that brand. The brand will be known simply as “Raelert Brothers” and will feature a tagline of “Passion for Triathlon.”

“Every professional business needs a business plan,” Michael told German newspaper Wiesbadener Tagblatt. “We are no different. We have a five-year business plan. So far, we are on track. Our next big goal is for Andreas to win the Ironman World Championship 2011 in Hawaii, and I want to be on the podium as well. One year from that, we are going to create history as brothers and repeat that triumph hopefully in 2013.“

BMC is a Swiss-based cycling company. The BMC Time Machine TT01, BMC’s marquee aero bike, is manufactured entirely in Switzerland and doubles as both a triathlon bike and time trial bike for road cyclists. Until now, BMC has focused most of its sponsorship efforts on cycling, most notably on the Cadel Evans-lead BMC Racing Team.

“The triathlon is a constantly growing market around the world in which we see great potential for ourselves. If BMC makes this kind of commitment, this occurs over the long-term and with decisive pervasiveness. Andreas and Michael are a perfect match for us. The intensity and seriousness as well as their truly natural air in combination with their social involvement for the sport also complement our image very well”, stated Frank Schreiner, Head of Marketing at BMC, in a press release.

See also –
Triathlete.com Exclusive: Raelert Brothers Training In Canary Islands
Training Log: Raelert Brothers Canary Islands Training Run
Endurance LIVE Awards Gala: Michael Raelert
Michael Raelert From Kona
All In The Family: Raelert Versus Raelert
Andreas Raelert’s Old Bike: The Blue Triad SL
Michael Raelert’s Old Bike: The Trek Speed Concept

Check back with Triathlete.com in the coming weeks for a Training Day episode featuring Andreas and Michael Raelert.