Price dumping, retail distress, safety and cycling culture were frequently cited as key factors behind the current downturn in the Italian e-bike and bicycle market. But what is really holding back the Italian bicycle market? Massimo Panzeri, Atala CEO, former president of CONEBI and now a board member of European Cycling Industries, shared his shocking perspective with Bike Europe.

The Italian bicycle market closed 2025 in negative territory, confirming what now appears to be a structural downturn. Data released by Confindustria ANCMA and presented at Pirelli's advanced bike tyre manufacturing facility in Bollate near Milan, show total sales of 1.3 million units, down 4% year on year.

A repurposed automotive tyre factory on the outskirts of Milan was Pirelli's vision when it strategically decided to re-enter the bicycle tyre market in 2017. Operational since 2022, the factory prides itself on 'Made In Italy' premium quality bicycle tyres. Supported by "the broad shoulders" of the multi-billion-euro turnover of the Pirelli Group, the factory has a maximum capacity of 1.5 million FSC-certified natural rubber tyres annually — with plenty of opportunity for growth. What more reason to visit the factory floor at… Pirelli.

Compact and urban e-bikes are experiencing strong expansion, driven by the growing demand for practical urban mobility solutions that integrate easily with public transport and adapt to increasingly dense city environments. It is precisely within this context that OLI eBike Systems' PICO system has found its place.

Matteo Cassina, the Italian manager and entrepreneur, owner of Passoni and the media platform Rouleur joins the Campagnolo Board at a pivotal moment for the component manufacturer. It signals a new phase following recent restructuring talks and labour agreements. For the first time in its history, the Italian brand has taken a significant step in its governance by appointing a Board member from outside the founding family.

A drastic reorganisation during the current market disruption was unavoidable for Campagnolo. The Italian component manufacturer felt the urge to issue a statement this week, following months of wild speculation, including the suggestion of a large-scale lay-off. "Currently, the company is being reorganised, after the financial structure was defined together with all relevant stakeholders," writes Campagnolo. "The Campagnolo family is directly involved in this process and continues to invest an undisclosed amount in the project."

POZZOLEONE, Italy - For Selle Royal Group, 2025 signalled the first signs of recovery after a challenging 2024. A capital increase was approved for Selle Royal Romania in order to strengthen the equity structure during this phase of production ramp-up and volume-driven growth. This step was highlighted in the company's financial report for the period from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.

HEERENVEEN, the Netherlands - Velo-ce S.R.L. today announced the acquisition of the titanium bike brand Van Nicholas from Accell Group. The Italian company Velo-ce, renowned for its meticulous in-house bicycle production and state-of-the-art facility near Milan, will now take full responsibility for the production and distribution of Van Nicholas bicycles.

BASSANO DEL GRAPPA, Italy - Selle Royal Group and Stardue Group have joined forces to establish a new foundation to generate a positive and lasting impact on the community. This organisation, called Stravarda Foundation, will develop a project that places the bicycle at the centre as a tool for social, cultural, and environmental growth.

VICENZA, Italy - A group of private strategic investors led by former Crankbrothers CEO Gaspare Licata has acquired a majority stake in Extreme Racing Shox (EXT), the Italian manufacturer of high-performance suspension systems for bicycle and motorsports applications. Under the new ownership structure, EXT plans to invest in new technologies and strengthen its distribution.

PESCANTINA, Italy - Pon.Bike Italia, the Italian subsidiary of the Pon.Bike group, has announced its exclusive distribution of OneUp Components in the Italian market. Under the new agreement, Pon will become the sole authorised distributor of OneUp Components in Italy starting January 2026.

VICENZA, Italy - Amid growing media speculation about the company's future, Campagnolo clarified its strategy and reaffirmed its commitment to Italy in a reply to Bike Europe. The Vicenza-based industry icon, long considered one of the most technically sophisticated brands in the sector, released a detailed note outlining the pillars of its recently approved "Industrial Plan."

VICENZA, Italy - The ongoing crisis in the cycling industry may be hitting one of the sector's most iconic Italian brands: Campagnolo, the historic Vicenza-based company and a name synonymous with world cycling. Reports of significant redundancies announced by the company have been circulating across major national news outlets and local media, but nothing has been confirmed by Campagnolo.

ROSÀ, Italy - Italian bicycle parts and accessories manufacturer Ursus S.p.A. has acquired a majority stake in component manufacturer Saccon S.r.l. The transaction includes Sacconplast, the in-house division for high-quality "Made-in-Italy" plastic components. No details have been provided on the size of the majority stake acquired and the purchase price.

MASER, Italy - Sidi's transition from family ownership to Italmobiliare's investment holding has brought a profound change in management style and day-to-day operations. The latest quarterly results show a significant increase in revenue, although operating profit is still negative.

FONZASO, Italy - Fashion in cycling apparel and bicycles has long taken a different path, if only because the life cycle and price range of both categories are far apart. Still, there are a lot of parallels, only because the audience is the same. How do both worlds interact, and how can they strengthen each other? Castelli product line manager, Andrew Montgomery, took a deep dive into Castelli's market approach and how the fashion world interacts with its brand strategy.

POZZOLEONE, Italy - Sustainability, production efficiency and manufacturing in Europe spurred investments at the Selle Royal Group in recent years. The Stracciatella project, launched in November 2024, was a big step forward in sustainability, but also in quality control. During a visit, Bike Europe got all the details on this project and more.

ROVERETO, Italy - An additional funding of €1.6 million, following a previous pre-seed investment of €1 million raised from shareholders including Trentino Invest, makes it possible for Bikeflip to initiate further European expansion. "This investment confirms confidence in the project, supported by significant growth metrics in transactions and the availability of various bicycle models on the platform," says Bikeflip CEO Andrea Maranelli.