Jan-Willem van Schaik

SHANGHAI, China - The postponement of the 30th China International Bicycle Fair which was scheduled for early May this year was inevitable. Initially the organization hoped that the fair could still take place in the second half of this year. That is not going to happen either. The next edition has been postponed to 2021.

BERGAMO, Italy - Vittoria, one of the world's leading manufacturers of bicycle tires with an annual production of more than 7 million tires and 900,000 high performance tubulars and cotton tires has changed ownership. Vittoria Group's President and CEO Rudi Campagne (76) presented the Italian private equity fund, Wise Equity, as the new owner of Vittoria Industries Ltd.

MADRID, Spain - For the second consecutive year, the Spanish e-bike market expanded by large figures. In 2019 the e-bike sales volume increased by 28.3% to more than 140,000 units. The average retail price for an e-bike

ANTWERP, Belgium - Now the bicycle enjoys an unprecedented rise in popularity, the next automotive stakeholder invests in this industry. The Belgium automotive distributor Beerens Group took over the Benelux importer and wholesaler Van der Wal for an undisclosed amount.

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany - The impact on product development and new introductions as a result of the corona pandemic become more and more evident. It is not only supply chain issues that hamper the industry today, also new developments for model year 2021 have been delayed on a large scale.

REUTLINGEN, Germany - For model year 2021, Bosch eBike Systems is extending the small, robust on-board Kiox computer to include a navigation function. According to Bosch, "the technical improvements optimise the e-bike experience making it the smart connected companion for long rides."

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - The topic of sustainability and circular economy is only slowly being picked up by the bicycle industry. The first steps towards circular economy are not easy to make. Erik Bronsvoort and Matthijs Gerrits who met at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands picked up the challenge to learn about how a circular economy could really work in the bicycle industry.

's-HEERENBERG, the Netherlands - Future ambitions and a focus on both sports bikes and urban mobility with their e-bikes made Specialized decide to look for a new location for its European shared service center in the Netherlands.

BUNNIK, the Netherlands - The e-bikes enjoys a rapidly rising popularity in many European markets, now many see it as the best alternative for public transport in urban areas. Even in mature markets like the Netherlands, e-bike sales continue to increase by double digits.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The new expert group of Cycling Industries Europe (CIE) has the ambition to become a unique think tank for cycling, attracting top strategic leaders and analysts from all sectors of cycling. The group will gather evidence and produce intelligence that will allow accurate market forecasting, stronger promotion of the industry, and better information for the industry as well as NGOs, policymakers and investors.