Europcar given sponsor's boost

French team Europcar have recieved a boost at the Tour de France after their main sponsor announced the extension of its current contract with the team. Uncertainty surrounded the future of Europcar, whose main stars are Thomas Voeckler and climbing specialist Pierre Rolland, with reports suggesting the car hire company was about to end its three-year deal without renewing. Europcar announced Monday during the race's second rest day in Avignon it would sponsor the team for a further two seasons, until the end of 2015. "After three seasons with the team run by Jean-Rene Bernaudeau, Europcar, a European leader in car hire, wishes to announce the renewal of its partnership for a further two years," the team said in a statement. "This agreement demonstrates our trust in the riders and in Jean-Rene." Voeckler has on several occasions in the past enjoyed spells in the race's yellow jersey, and he won two stages and the best climber's polka dot jersey in 2012. He has endured a relatively low key campaign this time around. Rolland, who won two stages in 2012 and finished eighth overall, had been leading the climbers' competition this campaign but that is now being led by overall leader Chris Froome following the Team Sky rider's win atop Mont Ventoux on Sunday. From: AFP