News VIP 13

For all Ekoi teams, the first part of the 2022 season has already been marked by victories, emotion, success and above all new challenges.

-Victories first, with our professional teams and our champions on road, mountain bike or triathlon… With in particular the formidable victory of Ben Hoffman in the Texas Ironman and exciting comebacks like those of Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Warren Barguil and Nacer Bouhanni. Unfortunately, Nacer was once again marked by fate with a terrifying crash in the Tour of Turkey and a long convalescence that postponed his ambitions of a comeback until 2023. We wish him a good recovery. His morale and his talent should help him to overcome this new event.

Pauline Ferrand Prévot © Paul Foulonneau

-Friendly and cordial visits from our ambassadors, these former champions who have become references in terms of achievements and precious advisors. Their opinions and suggestions are regularly taken into account by our staff. -And the presence of our VIP club at events of the size of Paris Roubaix with the only aim  to meet  for the same passion

JC.Rattel

One of the major characteristics of the Ekoi Spirit is certainly loyalty. Loyalty to the passion for cycling, loyalty to the notion of style and performance, loyalty to its formidable cyclists community and loyalty to the flag bearers. This is how Nicolas Roche and Fumy Beppu have always established links with the Ekoi team and the leader : Jean-Christophe Rattel.

Nicolas Roche, an Irishman from France and son of former champion Stephen Roche, has been in contact with Ekoi since the AG2R team days in 2010. He is passionate about material and equipment and has always been a happy user of Ekoi productions. He has also contributed to the development of these products with his advice and observations as a pro cyclist.

Fumy Beppu, the Japanese star, met the Ekoi universe when he joined Fred Rostaing in the Marseille Provence team. A fan of performance and style, and a fan of modernist design, Fumy worked with the Ekoi teams to develop specific products for Asia. He is now the brand's ambassador for Japan and a consultant for the Asian market where his glamorous image has made him a symbol.

Fumy and Nicolas, who were visiting the Côte d'Azur, naturally came to meet the Ekoi team in Fréjus. It was a great opportunity to share a moment of friendship and to discuss the new perspectives of the Ekoi label.

A loyal Ekoi ambassador, El Diablo Claudio Chiapucci still enjoys a huge amount of goodwill among cycling fans. His exploits in Milan San Remo and the Giro are still remembered. Even if it is on the roads of the Tour that he really forged his legend. With two second places in 1990 and 1992 and anthological exploits in the mountains where his small size as a pure climber was huge.

Always passionate, always exciting and incredibly nice, El Diablo has made a serious partnership with Ekoi. He is very involved in technical advice and feedback, because of course he is always riding.

He regularly visits Fréjus to meet Ekoi technicians and designers, to share information and choices… Insisting with a smile on this or that detail.

It's not surprising that this two-time winner of the best climber title in the Tour and three-time winner of the same title in the Giro, is one of the most active ambassadors on the roads in Italy, Spain and France.

If you meet him on a bend in the Galibier or Stelvio, don't hesitate to say hello and talk about your shared passion for heroic cycling and for Ekoi! El Diablo dresses as Ekoi and he loves it!

Friday 11 April, second stage of the Tour of Turkey. Leader of the Arkéa Samsic team, Nacer Bouhanni is well placed in the peloton waiting for the final sprint that he plans to compete in. He is optimistic since his victory in the Roue Tourangelle a few days ago. The condition and spirit are back. The former French champion, with a 70 victories career, is on the way to a great comeback. All the lights are green after months of doubt.

But everything suddenly changed when a spectator crossed the road in front of the riders without the organisation reacting. Nacer, who was riding at more than 55 km/h in the wheel of his team-mates, could not avoid the terrible impact and the fall. He was evacuated to the Izmir hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured neck and was transferred to France in a serious condition. Not only did the Champion come close to death, but he could end up a quadriplegic.

At the Bizet clinic in Paris he was fortunately taken care by the efficient doctor Georges Abi Lahoud. The worst was avoided… But Nacer will have to wear a neck brace and a corset for 3months. He will not be able to ride again until the end of July. Season 2022 over. The series of misfortunes continues…

Accustomed to the blows of fate as well as the blacklisting, the Lorraine rider says that this time he is very affected. Physically obviously, but above all psychologically. He admits it without false modesty. The eternally discreet man no longer hesitates to talk about his distress, anxieties but not his doubts.

"For a moment I thought of the end. Death, paralysis. I thought of Roger Rivière, Frank Williams, Wayne Rainey, all those cursed champions. But then this 2022 season is a damn. Not only for me : I think of Bernal and Julian. The3 of us are not doing so bad… Alive and intact for tomorrow. And I am lucky to be supported by my manager Manu Hubert and my sport director Yvon Ledanois. Then there are partners who have become friends : I am thinking in particular of Jean-Christophe Rattel. So I'm going to do everything I can to get back to health and prepare for the future. Once again".