The Art Of Premium Positioning: From ASSOS to POC with CEO Derek Bouchard-Hall
Derek Bouchard Hall went from pro cyclist to CEO of POC, with stops at Wiggle, USA Cycling, and Assos along the way. He's got some really interesting perspectives on what makes premium brands work in cycling—the importance of staying consistent, letting your design team do their thing, and not trying to be everything to everyone. It's a great conversation about building brands that cyclists actually connect with and what it takes to keep them authentic as they grow.[0:00] Introduction & Derek’s Early Journey[3:00] From Pro Cycling to Business Leadership[10:00] Wiggle & USA Cycling: Disruption and Challenges[18:00] Leading Premium Brands: Assos and POC[36:00] Brand Philosophy, Innovation & Industry Outlook[59:00] Closing Thoughts & How to ConnectRead the latest 'The Business of Cycling' BlogSign up for 'The Business of Cycling' Newsletter
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54:48
Building Specialized Europe: Ermanno Leonardi's 36 year Journey
On the heels of his recently announced retirement, I interviewed Ermanno Leonardi, the managing director of the Italian subsidiary of Specialized Bicycle Components, a role he has held for 36 years. He will be stepping down on October 1st. When I recorded this interview, I didn't know he would be stepping down from his role. He's not leaving the company—he's just stepping back and taking on a different role. But he was definitely someone I had always wanted to interview.I'm really happy to give you the opportunity to learn more about Ermanno, who is a pillar of European cycling. He was a huge part of Specialized's rise in Europe and serves as Mike Sinyard's right-hand man in Europe. I want to give you all the opportunity to see inside the mind of the man behind Specialized's European growth throughout the last 25 to 30 years.Introduction & Guest Background – 0:00Early Career and Entry into Cycling – 1:33Building Specialized in Europe – 11:08Competing, Strategy, and Brand Development – 17:15Innovation, Product Development, and COVID-19 – 26:34The Future of Cycling & Closing Thoughts – 38:23Read the latest 'The Business of Cycling' BlogSign up for 'The Business of Cycling' Newsletter
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From Rapha's Explosive Growth to Sustainable Scaling: Graeme Raeburn's Journey
Graeme Raeburn brings a rare perspective to cycling apparel design. As Rapha's lead designer from 2008-2018, he witnessed the brand's explosive growth from a single room to industry dominance. Now leading design at sustainable British brand Albion, Graeme applies fashion training through an industrial design lens. This conversation explores how commercial reality shapes product decisions, the critical importance of power user feedback, and balancing innovation with market viability in cycling's demanding technical apparel segment.ChaptersIntroduction — 0:00Early Life and Education — 2:31Entering the Fashion Industry — 6:04Joining Rapha — 8:31Growth and Innovation at Rapha — 11:08Transition to Albion — 16:38Product Design Philosophy — 22:34Feedback Loops and Product Evolution — 28:21Brand Expansion and Focus — 31:25Looking Forward at Albion — 33:53Read the latest 'The Business of Cycling' BlogSign up for 'The Business of Cycling' Newsletter
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Live Panel Eurobike 2025 - Brand Positioning Master Class
The Eurobike 2025 panel explores branding in the cycling industry, featuring Gerard Vroomen founder and Entrepeneur, Greg Shapleigh Brand Strategy Consultant, Justin Day Founder and Creative Director and Ricky Buckelei Marketing Manager.This is a rare opportunity to get real insights from a series of experts in the cycling industry on branding. The panel underscores that successful branding in cycling requires authenticity, strategic clarity, consistent investment, and a willingness to focus and say no to distractions, all while staying attuned to both heritage and evolving customer needs.Chapters0:00 — Introduction & Panel Overview2:38 — Guest Introductions7:02 — Differentiation in Cycling Brands14:02 — The Role of Storytelling & Brand Positioning15:28 — Sponsorships & Brand Activation26:13 — Heritage vs. Innovation31:44 — Brand Investment vs. Short-Term Sales42:14 — Strategy vs. Opportunity53:27 — Brand Evolution & Audience Q&A55:59 — Closing RemarksRead the latest 'The Business of Cycling' BlogSign up for 'The Business of Cycling' Newsletter
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Shark Tank Meets Cycling: Gerard Vroomen on Picking Winners in Micro-Mobility
Gerard Vroomen is best known as the founder of Cervelo. This is the second time Gerard has been on the show, and this time around we talk about his new investment fund, Fundracer. Fundracer specializes in micro-mobility startups, and he started the fund just over a year ago with his partners, Rene Wiertz, who is the former owner and CEO of 3T, and Andy Ording, who was the former CEO and the founder of Zipp Wheels. The fund focuses mainly on safety technologies like AI collision detection, foldable helmets, as well as bicycle ABS systems. The discussion provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at how a micromobility investment fund actually operates. Vroomen candidly discusses decision-making criteria, operational division of responsibilities among partners, and hands-on support. Their market intelligence from evaluating 600 companies annually explains their safety-tech focus over performance products.0:00 – Introduction & Purpose of the Interview0:51 – Meet the Founders: Backgrounds and Industry Experience7:12 – Building the Team & Fund Structure14:04 – How Fundracer Invests: Process, Criteria, and Due Diligence19:20 – Investment Size, Portfolio Strategy, and Active Support23:12 – What Makes a Great Startup: Criteria, Challenges, and Lessons Learned32:14 – Reflections, Industry Trends, and How to ConnectRead the latest 'The Business of Cycling' BlogSign up for 'The Business of Cycling' Newsletter
The Business of Cycling podcast takes you inside the cycling world from the perspective of those that work in the sector. Hear from passionate entrepreneurs and professionals from brands, teams, and bike shops.Read the latest 'The Business of Cycling' BlogSign up for 'The Business of Cycling' Newsletter
Österreich