Mitchelton Scott announced that Manuela Fundacion will be the new main sponsor of the Australian World Tour team for the remainder of the 2020 season.

The Australian team, founded in 2012, will be named after the Spanish non-profit organization. It is not yet known how long the partnership will last, but team owner Jerry Ryan has hinted that the sponsorship will continue beyond the end of the season.

In the years since the team's inception, the team has received financial support from an Australian businessman, most recently through his winery and spa hotel, the Mitchelton.

"After a period of uncertainty and uncertainty, especially in recent months, we are excited to have the support of Francisco Huertas and Manuela Fundacion to ensure our future in 2021 and beyond," Jerry Ryan said in a team statement.

"We have always believed in our product and values as a team to our prospective partners, but the importance of this long-term agreement cannot be overlooked for us, especially in light of the recent struggles in the cycling and sports industries, as well as the broader global health and economic climate. As an organization, we are moved by Manuela Fundacion's story and look forward to doing our part to contribute to their vision of working with such a generous project and helping to create a more supportive world"

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Manuela Fundacion is run by Francisco Huertas and his wife, Maria Angustias González, and the organization's activities are supported by their funds.

Little is known about Manuela Fundacion, but there is a web page (open in new tab) counting down to its inauguration in October. Currently, it says: "Manuera Fundación is the culmination of a macro-social project with diverse objectives: solidarity in support of the needy, sports, and the performing arts.

Huertas, on the other hand, is a Granada-based businessman in the construction industry who was previously involved in soccer sponsorship. His company Hufrago was a sponsor of Granada CF in the late 2000s, and Huertas was part of the takeover bid for then third division Real Jaen in 2017. The hard work was intense between "Manuela Fundación's sporting director, Emilio Rodriguez, and Mitchelton Scott's general manager, Shayne Bannan.

"It is an incredible opportunity and we are honored to reach this agreement.

The new sponsorship deal came just weeks after rumors circulated that Mitchelton Scott might disband at the end of 2020. The team has reportedly cut rider and staff wages by 70% as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic downturn. Owner Jerry Ryan has been the team's main source of funding since the chemical and explosives company Orica pulled out at the end of 2017.

Manuela Fundación has already sponsored the Andalusia-based U-23 team for the past two seasons, but it is unclear if the team will share a relationship with the World Tour team. China-based Continental feeder team Mitchelton-BikeExchange was not registered for the 2020 season.