Jo Beckendorff

BOLOGNA, Italy - At the 2018 Milan EICMA two-wheeler show on the booth of Italian motorbike legend Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. e-MTBs made a star appearance. They are named 'Ducati MIG-RR powered by Thok'.

TORRE DE ROVERI, Italy - Two Italian companies specializing in making machinery for production automation have joined forces. One of the two companies has a long history in the bicycle sector and was for instance closely involved in the set-up of robotized alloy frame production.

PLOCHINGEN, Germany - With a campaign in Germany for its road bikes, Decathlon is introducing two new brand names: Triban as well as Van Rysel. These two are not the only new names coming for the bikes retailed by the sporting goods giant. Next to the already longtime used B'Twin name there is more to come. M

ALBSTADT, Germany - E-bike drivetrain manufacturer Alber acquired a part of the electronics specialist and display supplier Bloks GmbH. Munich-based Bloks GmbH filed for insolvency last July. The administrator failed to find a new investor and Bloks was brought to bed at the end of 2018.

BONN, Germany - Germany's national competition authority (Bundeskartellamt) announces that it has imposed an over ten million euro fine on the Cologne-based dealer cooperative Zweirad-Einkaufs-Genossenschaft eG (ZEG).

MORGAN HILL, USA - Specialized Bicycle Components announced a voluntary recall of specific 'Roubaix', 'Ruby', 'Diverge' and 'Sirrus' road models. They are specified with the brand's own innovative front damping system 'Future Shock'.

BERLIN, Germany - Signa Sports United expands its reach to Asia. One of Europe's leading online sports, outdoor and bicycle platforms enters into a strategic partnership with Aeon Co. from Japan and Central Group from Thailand. According to Signa, both are "Asia's largest retailers".

BERLIN, Germany - German ACI Systems Germany GmbH (ACISA) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Bolivian state-owned Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB). It provides this subsidiary of the ACI Group direct access to lithium material.

E-bike rear hub motor pioneer BionX Canada Inc. was forced to file for bankruptcy on 27 February this year. At that time its European subsidiaries BionX GmbH and Elby Bike Europe GmbH were not affected. Since then, BionX GmbH has been searching for a European motor producer. Without success. 10 December 2018.

RENO, USA -Yesterday, Interbike organizer Emerald Exposures announced the cancellation of the 2019 edition of America's leading bicycle show. "The past four years have been difficult for the U.S. bicycle market," says Darrell Denny, Executive Vice President of Emerald Expositions' Sports Group.