501c3 for race team

Starting a new club with a handful of people to promote cycling in our area; have group rides, etc. As well as also to have a race team within the club.

We’ve been approached by someone that would like to sponsor our race team (kits, licenses, and race fees), so long that we’re a 501c3. He’s done this for another group prior, though they were high school team.

From what I read , it seems this isn’t plausible to have a 501c3 and use funds to pay for kits, licenses, and race fees. Seems as though that’s only possible through youth teams/programs.

Has anyone looked into this prior?