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Dozens of bidders target Accell relaunch following bankruptcy
Sixty parties have expressed interest in a relaunch of the bankrupt bicycle manufacturer Accell, known for brands such as Lapierre, Batavus, Koga, Babboe, and Raleigh.



Sixty parties have expressed interest in a relaunch of the bankrupt bicycle manufacturer Accell, known for brands such as Lapierre, Batavus, Koga, Babboe, and Raleigh.

One of the biggest bicycle companies in the world that some weeks ago went bankrupt, initiated the industry-changing e-bike trend. But the huge e-bike success also brought about the demise of the company. What happened in those years? To honour his induction into the E-bike Hall of Fame, the founder and former chief editor of Bike Europe, Jack Oortwijn, shares his thoughts on the biggest change during his bicycle industry career, the rise of the e-bike.

Taiwan's third-largest bicycle manufacturer, Ideal Bike Corporation, is seeing signs of a recovery in business conditions, following similar developments reported by Taiwanese rivals Giant Group and Merida Industry. The improvement was particularly visible in the second quarter of 2026.

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?

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.

Accell Group's bankruptcy has created significant uncertainty in the industry. Throughout the value chain, companies are closely following all developments around the potential takeover. September is the best time in Europe for retailers to decide which brands to offer in their shop next year and to order 2027 models. Retailers are now unsure what to do, as they can't wait too long.

Unlike the three largest Taiwanese manufacturers - Giant Group, Merida, Ideal Bike - bicycle manufacturer Axman Enterprise Co. Ltd., which is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TPEX), was able to increase its revenue in the first but not in the second quarter of its 2026 fiscal year. Nevertheless, the outlook is positive as e-bikes become an increasingly important growth driver for the manufacturer.

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.

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.

Spanish company, Berria Bikes which specialises in high-performance bicycles, has achieved an 18% increase in revenue (July 2025-June 2026) and is seeking to expand its market reach in the Iberian market through a new partnership program with independent bicycle retailers. As it enters a new phase of growth, the brand will also look to expand its foothold in international markets.
SponsoredGerman tyre specialist Schwalbe has undertaken a comprehensive realignment of its tour and everyday cycling portfolio, restructuring its range into three clearly defined product families: Marathon, Motion, and Hybrid. By consolidating its offering, the brand aims to simplify point-of-sale guidance, streamline inventory management across the global bike trade, and set a unified structural benchmark for its overarching brand architecture.

MVC Group, a group specialising in technical apparel for cycling and outdoor sports, announces the acquisition of Tailfin, the global leader in the premium technical bikepacking segment.

The introduction of an updated certification standard for electronic security systems on e-bikes is intended to further reduce theft figures. An estimated 100,000 e-bikes are stolen every year, just in the Netherlands. Official statistics on e-bike thefts in other EU countries is not available. However, as e-bikes become more valuable, strong security is also becoming more important.
SponsoredIn 2024, BEIC launched its platform and enabled OEM companies in the cycling industry to easily sell and buy batches of surplus parts. Two turbulent years for the industry and a redesign of the platform later, the trading system seems more relevant than ever.

The Canadian bike sector is steadily growing, thanks to the growing sales of e-bikes in the local market. This is part of a broader trend of increased demand for sustainable urban mobility solutions in the entire North American region. However, despite some positive momentum, 2026 is shaping up to be tough for the Canadian bike sector, mainly because of protectionist policies implemented by the Trump administration in the US.

Looking to replace the industry's historical reliance on estimates, European Cycling Industries (ECI), has partnered with sports data specialist Sporting Insights. The outcome is the launch of State of Trade European Cycling, SoTEC - a data platform to provide cycling brands with insights into the dynamics of the European market.

A total of 422,000 e-bike units were imported into the European Union in the first six months of 2026, the latest Eurostat data shows. This is up 36% from the same period in 2025. Unlike last year, China now supplies the lion's share of these imports. Year to date, China accounts for 41% of e-bikes entering the EU.

The German bicycle market rose 10% year on year between January and June, while e-bike sales increased slightly by 2%. Despite this positive market development, the German industry association ZIV is careful in its reporting and calls it only a 'slow recovery'.

The appointment as President of Shimano Europe Group was like coming home for Fabio Takayanagi. At the start of his career at the Japanese component manufacturer in 2006, he was assigned to Shimano Europe, based in the Netherlands. He stayed here for one year to gain experience in the bicycle business. Since then, he has travelled the world for Shimano before coming back to Europe. A brief introduction of this industry insider and his view on the European market.

The e-bike plays a central role for the brand Velo de Ville. More than 80% of production in Altenberge, Germany, consists of e-bikes. Although general manager and owner Volker Thiemann is positive about the market, he is also concerned about recent technological developments that, in his view, threaten the survival of today's e-bike.

The Canyon booth at Eurobike was impossible to miss this year. In the middle of Hall 11, the German D2C brand put up one of the nicest booths at the show, claiming a centre stage position at the event. "We want to showcase our team effort since I assumed operational responsibilities as executive chairman in September 2025," said Canyon founder, Roman Arnold.

The Indian family-owned company Amar Wheels Pvt. Ltd. has been doing business with European companies for close to five decades. "We strive to stay relevant, which we love. The challenges are amazing and the last 10 years have been more challenging than the past 40 years. We are constantly evolving in order to stay relevant," Karan Aggarwal, director of Amar Wheel tells Bike Europe.
SponsoredMachontrol is launching updated versions of two of its fork machines: the MCFe-27 fork cutting machine and the PFe-27 fork press. Both run a faster cycle at a lower cost of entry, and both are built to work on the line itself. CTO Ricardo Santos explains what has changed.
SponsoredWhere is the shifter? Riders getting on the new Amflow TL for the first time at Eurobike 2026 might well ask that question. The cockpit looks clean and uncluttered, yet the familiar shifter of a conventional derailleur system is nowhere to be seen.
SponsoredIn the fall of 2027, CycleExpo Amsterdam aims to become an industry meeting point for OEM brands and suppliers from around the world. Using the cycling culture of the Netherlands and Amsterdam's international accessibility as key advantages, the new fair proposes a dedicated purchasing platform for OEM stakeholders in the cycling industry.
SponsoredFrom braking performance to faster internal routing, Jagwire's latest product introductions have one thing in common: they address the details that increasingly define modern bicycle service. Five new products extend the brand's braking and workshop offering, giving dealers and mechanics more ways to simplify service, improve performance and cover more bikes with fewer compromises.
SponsoredAs bicycle manufacturers face growing pressure to shorten development cycles, reduce emissions and improve efficiency, surface finishing is rapidly evolving from a production step into a strategic competitive advantage. That is precisely why the sppot partnership platform was created.
SponsoredThe motor system has been selected. Fork, drivetrain, brakes and wheels are locked in. The product manager works through the BOM, and then comes the question: Are we actually connected-ready? Surprisingly often, the answer is: not yet.