Bike Europe main stage for e-bike innovations

Gilles Lapierre, former managing director of Cycles Lapierre, has broken his silence following the Dijon-based company's placement under judicial reorganisation. In a statement, he addresses the current situation of the brand, defends the record of his years at its helm and says he is prepared to contribute to a solution aimed at preserving both the company's activities and jobs.

Suddenly, the industry is questioning the purpose and setup of all trade shows in the industry which have for many years been anchored in people's agendas. On the opening day of the annual product managers' event, the Taichung Bike Week exhibitors were looking at many empty spots in their meeting schedule for the third consecutive year. This quickly raised the question among many: why are we here again?

After Taiwan's leading bicycle manufacturer Giant Group reported signs of a turnaround in the second quarter of 2026, its compatriot and competitor Merida Industry is seeing similar early indications of a recovery. However, the company's first-half results and latest market data show that the recovery remains uneven.

A 'World Leading Show' doesn't just appear out of nowhere, as became clear after the first presentation of 'towards tomorrow - European Bike Show' at the fairground in Cologne, Germany. Building a leading trade show takes time, so the industry will have to live with a fragmented show landscape for some years as Eurobike is also ambitious. The German industry association has taken on a major responsibility for the industry worldwide by pulling out of the Frankfurt show and launching a new one.