Colnago, the sprint of two -wheeled luxury: over 60 million turnover thanks to Pogacar and exclusivity

The first Colnago bicycle was sold for 300 lire. For the Giro d’Italia 2023 the « jewel » limited edition was built in gold leaf: number 1, with a diamond set on the handlebar, It was sold by Sotheby’s for 125 thousand euros. Follies that can only be done for the most famous bike brand in the world. A story born in 1954, for the intuition of the visionary Ernesto Colnago, who started his company in Cambiago, In the Milanese, without knowing that he would write the history of cycling. In 1972 Colnago produced the bicycle for Eddy Merckx’s time recordjust weighed just 5,750 grams. COn the support of Enzo Ferrari, Ernesto was the first to believe in carbon for his frames. Today it is riding a Colnago bike that the Slovenian phenomenon Tadej Pogacar is dominating in this sport having already won 3 Tour de France at only 26 years old, a tour, a world championship, 4 Lombardy, 2 Liège, a Flanders.
The turning point comes when Ernesto, who is 93 years old today, today, He decides to sell Colnago to Chimera Investments LLC, Abu Dhabi investment fund. And entrusts the guide to Nicola Rosin, former general manager of Selle Royal Group, multinational with over 1,400 employees.

As a manager of a multinational to CEO of a brand considered national heritage.
«I felt a strong responsibility: I collected the legacy of a great founder. Meeting a neighbor, he said to me: « I heard that you went to Colnago, I recommend! ». For an Italian it represents a value, even if it does not follow cycling ».

How did the new property behave?
«He only asked to perform but also to give a vision for brand and company. We created a team with people already present and relaunched, plus other hired, and made a lot of market research. Thus understanding that there was space to make Colnago become the most desirable Cycling brand in the world. We have relaunched Serie C, whose frame is still glued to Italy, and which represents the important values ​​of Italianness, style, know -how. On the frame it says « handmade in Italy ». At the same time, and luck here, I arrived with the victories of Pogagar ».

How much is the best?
«If you use your bike, the fact that you have a performing means. There are countries in the world that are not conditioned by victory, others in which success determines the purchase, as in Italy or Southeast Asia. But the sample is an ingredient of success also in the development of the vehicle because it helps you with its feedback to improve ».

Why did the Emiratines have chosen you?
«I made an important path in the world of bike and in that part of the world they are based on references: luckily I enjoy a good reputation. I started from Gillette, in commercial marketing for the pens sector. Then I was for 10 years general manager of Selle Royal Group. And ten years ago I bought a cycling event in Gaiole in Chianti: the heroic. An entrepreneurial activity created with a group of people with whom we created the heroic brand. And with this we are opening restaurants inspired by the world of bike. One is already operational in Padua and one in Milan. Where a third is about to open in via Tabacchi and a quarter at City Life by June ».

They will be grateful to you, given that in three years you have tripled the value of sales.
« This year we exceeded 60 million euros in turnover, over 9% compared to the previous year, with Ebitda at 26%. Colnago is a company that has chosen to do one thing but do it very well. We are a small company totally dedicated to racing bikes. And evidently in five years we made it to become very desirable. Although in the last two years the world of two wheels is in difficulty, the high -end one are still going well ».

What goals have you given yourself for 2025?
«We have a budget of 72 million euros in turnover but it is realistic to reach 75 million, with a growth of 25%. I have an orders visibility for the next six months ».

What is the main market for Colnago?
«Italy, which today is worth 25% of our turnover. Colnago is distributed in more than 50 countries around the world and we have particular success especially in continental Europe and throughout the Southeast Asia, where we grow more on the market. Now there is a particular focus in North America, where a reorganization is underway that will lead us to great results. We are moving the headquarters from Chicago to San Diego: California is the home of racing cycling and there are people with more financial resources ».

How many bikes do you produce the year and where?
«About 20 thousand between bikes and frames, of which the complete bike is worth more than 70%today. And this is also a small revolution because first colango produced only frames. We have the Serie V which, like almost all racing bikes made in the world, comes from the Asian countries (China and Taiwan). And not for price issues but because they have developed significant skills on carbon. While line C, which represents more than 5,000 bikes and frames per year, is proudly glued to our factory in Cambiago ».

How does the innovation change the bike?
«In the aerodynamics. The new rules give companies the opportunity to be more daring: we have just launched the Y1, the fastest in the world. Then there is the relationship between weight and rigidity and we have a team of engineers who are looking for the right compromise, thanks to collaborations with the Polytechnic of Milan and the Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi. Today our athletes depending on the race route can choose the V or Y line ».

How much do you expect and pay today if you want to buy a Colnago?
«We try to deliver them in three months. Consistent with desibilities and luxury, we are very strong above 10 thousand euros. But we have reached 25 thousand with special editions ».

The e-bike market grows. Will there ever be an electric colnago?
«Colnago has a responsibility, every time he presents a new product, it must be the best. The racing electric bike can be interesting, but we still don’t have ongoing projects. And if we still don’t have it, it is better to do nothing ».