EICMA Breaks Attendance Records But Disappoints in Bicycles

MILAN, Italy - Double digit growth rates for this year’s EICMA. The Milan show reached and crossed the 500,000 visitors’ mark; way beyond its last year’s surprising 450,000 record. However the annual bicycle and motorcycle show in Milan turned out to be a motorcycle party only this year.

“This show represented a very valuable opportunity for us” stated Amedeo Colombo of MIC, Shimano’s distributor in Italy. ”We cannot understand the choice by most of the bike manufacturers not to take advantage of it.”

Amedeo Colombo stand pretty much on his own as the majority of the renowned Italian bicycle brands did not exhibit at the show. The ones who did were difficult to find as they were spread all over the fair ground with their stands between the motorcycle brands and the accessories suppliers.

EICMA General Director, Costantino Ruggiero was very clear in his remarks regarding the disappointing turnout of the Italian cycling industry: “We seriously regret the absence of many bicycle manufacturers, including some who cancelled their booths very late. They upset many cycling enthusiasts who came to Milan, even though the news about this situation had been clearly spread through the website and any other available media.”