POC will be the official helmet, eyewear and apparel sponsor for the German UCI Continental Team Stölting, which is based in Germany.

Team Stölting will be using products from POC's AVIP collection for enhanced performance and improved safety. AVIP stands for Attention, Visibility, Interaction and Protection, and is POC’s most ambitious initiative to date, promoting safety for road cyclists. The AVIP concept was created in collaboration with some of the best minds in science, health and technology and in November 2014, the concept was recognized with a Design S Award, Sweden’s national design award.

“We are excited to partner with Team Stölting and we are extremely proud to have the team riding in the full POC AVIP kit, supporting our mission of doing the best we can to possibly save lives and to reduce the consequences of accidents for gravity sports athletes and cyclists,” says Sara Laurell, sports marketing manager at POC, which is based in Sweden and owned by Black Diamond Inc. of Salt Lake City, UT. “These athletes are not only top cyclists, they will also play an important role in our development process and we are looking forward to supporting them with the most optimal equipment in their quest to win.”

Team Stölting will be competing in road races across Europe, fielding a roster of 15 cyclists, including U23 junior world champion Lennard Kämna (Time Trial) as well as German cyclocross and road champions Silvio Herklotz and Ole Quast. Since the beginning of 2015, the team has also been a member of the Mouvement Pour un Cyclisme Crédible, a union created to defend the idea of clean cycling.

“We’re thrilled to work with such a great partner as POC to be able to develop and improve products together and to help our riders perform at their best,” says team CEO Jochen Hahn.

The collaboration with Team Stölting is another exciting partnership for POC, as it continues its move into the road bike scene. In early 2014, POC announced a three-year partnership with Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team as well as an exclusive collaboration with Volvo Car Group. POC is also the official helmet, eyewear and apparel sponsor for the California-based POC + Ritte Cycling Team.