Tim van den Bergh, CCO of Sunweb Group, explains why Sunweb has launched a lifestyle platform:
“In the current media landscape, it is increasingly difficult to reach consumers in a way which they perceive as pleasant. In 2016, we began a sport sponsoring initiative aimed at further accelerating our international growth—the professional bike racing Team Sunweb was the result.”
The team, which includes successful Dutch rider Tom Dumoulin, is an important source of insights, tips and behind-the-scenes content for The Prologue.
The activation of the partnership between Sunweb and Team Sunweb is essential. “The focus should be on explaining who Sunweb is, and what we do,” says Van den Bergh. “Not just to Team Sunweb fans—but also the fans of other bike racing teams, and all other practitioners of this increasingly popular sport.” The choice of an online platform is logical, since Sunweb is an e-commerce company. Van den Bergh: “What better way is there to reach our audience in a sympathetic way than through an international cycling platform with great content?”
The media brand The Prologue is aimed at a broader cycling audience, rather than just race fans. Wayne Parker Kent has developed the visual identity and the technical infrastructure behind the platform. All the content production is also created in-house at the Amsterdam-based agency, where an editorial team creates new articles on a daily basis. Editor-in-Chief Mike Cooper says:
“We are very passionate about bike racing, but also the wider cycling culture. We love touring and racing, but equally enjoy a ride to a coffee bar on the fixie. The cycling lifestyle, beyond the sport, is just as interesting.” According to Cooper, The Prologue is a wide-ranging platform aimed at both racers, racing fans and people who have just bought a new bike and want to know more. “Sports cycling culture is growing exponentially,” says Cooper. “We want to help men and women better understand and experience this sport. The range of our stories is therefore very wide: from practical tips on riding, nutrition and training, to inspiring, exclusive background stories on well-known professional riders.”
The Prologue currently appears in both English and Dutch, with German and French versions to follow in a later phase.
More info on: www.theprologue.com
