News VIP 01-2021

Just twenty years ago this year, the Ekoï brand was born. As the realisation of a dream for its founder Jean-Christophe Rattel.

« Myself a cycling enthusiast and cyclist, I wanted to create a brand entirely dedicated to cyclists. With the need to offer the best at affordable prices in mind. »

Initially dedicated solely to cycling sportswear, distributed through the traditional network, the young French Riviera brand quickly diversified while inaugurating with intelligence and passion its innovative vision of e-commerce and therefore of direct relations with cyclists.

« Cycling textiles absolutely had to make technical progress. While preserving costs and ensuring direct availability to the buyer. This is what prompted us to move to e-commerce. In the same spirit, it became clear to us that our brand had to become global by offering all cycling equipment. After textiles came helmets, glasses and shoes. In addition, we wanted to bring not only evolutions but even more innovations. That's how Ekoï really came into its own. By constantly innovating, both in terms of design and technology. At Ekoï you don't just come to get a good deal, but also to benefit from cutting-edge technology developed in consultation with our professional champions. »

Today Ekoï is one of the European leading manufacturers of cycling equipment. Textiles, helmets, sunglasses, shoes, accessories related to the practice of sports. This year, no less than seven professional teams are equipped with Ekoï products. Helmets for Qhubeka Assos. Helmets and sunglasses for Cofidis, Euskaltel Euskadi and Lotto Soudal. Helmets and textile for Arkea Samsic. Textile and sunglasses for Saint-Michel Auber. Textile, helmets and sunglasses for KMC Orbea.

Some of today's greatest riders are Ekoï ambassadors. Among them are Caleb Ewan, Elia Viviani, Nacer Bouhanni, Nairo Quintana, Warren Barguil or Philippe Gilbert.

Also worth mentioning is the collaboration with legends of world cycling. Freddy Maertens, Claudio Chiappucci, Laurent Jalabert, Pedro Delgado and Miguel Indurain.

« Technical partnerships with teams and collaborations with past and present champions are never based solely on financial marketing. Nor is it based on communication. On the contrary, they are genuine technical exchanges that enable Ekoï engineers to improve the products and riders to obtain maximum performance, comfort and safety. »

As the Fréjus-based brand celebrates its twentieth anniversary, its founder believes it is essential to preserve and even further develop the relationship of sharing values and emotions with practitioners. This is how the VIP club was born, bringing together the most passionate people.

« Our current success owes a lot to our community of enthusiasts. Several hundred thousand French and European cyclists who adhere to our philosophy. In this context, we wanted to go even further with our VIP club. A community within the community. For these hyper-passionate people we reserve advantages, news, scoops and meetings. And also this new monthly newsletter designed with our friends from Top Vélo ».

Jean-Christophe Rattel's credo, "making design and technological performance available to the greatest number of people" has become a reality. To the point of seeing whole groups of cyclists wearing the now famous Ekoï outfits. A choice reinforced in the spirit of cyclosportives by the very fruitful partnership that Ekoï has established with the world of professional riders.

« In fact, I believe in certain values. Like respect, progress, performance, safety and citizenship. So we highlight these values. For example with our partnership with Douglas Ryder's wonderful UCI World Tour Khubeka team. They are not content to just participate in the world's most beautiful events, they also engage in solidarity and charitable actions in favour of the poorest African populations. Ekoï obviously intends to support them. »

Professional rider, team creator, leader of a solidarity foundation and team manager, the incredible Douglas Ryder has managed to make Qhubeka a manifesto for socially involved cycling. The partnership with Jean-Christophe Rattel and Ekoï is part of this approach. New in the World Tour universe! Interview with an exceptional man...

- Douglas, your Qhubeka team is not a World Tour team like the others. Its purpose is not only to win. You regularly explain that you want to change life through cycling. In what way?

- « Indeed our team is not really a team like the others. And by signing with us the riders, champions or not, must integrate this difference. The objective of Qhubeka Assos, shared by our main partners, including Ekoï, is to give back a chance and mobility to underprivileged African youth. In other words, to change life in our own way. But we do not neglect the need to perform at the highest level. We have the riders for that. »

- How did the relations with the French of Ekoï come about?

« We had several partnership possibilities. But it was the record-holder of the hour Victor Campenaert, a member of our team, who spoke to me about the quality of Ekoï helmets. Especially the one for the time trial. The discussion with Jean Christophe Rattel was decisive. Not only does Ekoï produce exceptional products, but its boss really shares our solidarity views. It was an easy agreement. I'm very happy about that. »

- The European Champion Giacomo Nizzolo, also a member of your team, spoke to us about his emotion when the young Africans were given bicycles intended both for sports and for traveling. Does that surprise you?

« Not at all! Each person, each rider, who participated or attended this type of social ceremony keeps the memory of it for life. And I know that Giacomo tells everywhere that he was privileged to be able to take part in this bike handover. This is also why he is still a member of our team in 2021. He is not only a champion but also and above all a good man. »

- Do you really think it is possible to change the lives of young Africans with the bicycle?

« I'm convinced that it is! Convinced! Owning a bicycle, whether it's sporty or not, gives them a capacity for movement and action that is synonymous with freedom. This freedom that conditions everything. »

European Champion and reigning Italian Champion, the Italian of the very metaphysical Team Qhubeka Assos admits his admiration for Douglas Ryder and Jean-Christophe Rattel. According to this extraordinary athlete, sport would be nothing without social commitment. This is what he explains in the preamble to every interview.

« With Douglas Ryder and Jean-Christophe Rattel I not only found a manager and an equipment supplier, but above all I met two incredible people. Both passionate about cycling and both socially committed. Which for me is absolutely essential. Our sport, which is meant to be a nature sport, must absolutely take the turn towards social commitment. Especially at a time of the dreadful global pandemic. »

And our double champion to recall his emotion when he took part with Douglas Ryder in the handing-over of bicycles to underprivileged young Africans. His emotion also when he wore for the first time the bracelet of the Qhubeka foundation, which aims to change the lives of the poorest through sport.

« Belonging to the Khubeka team means understanding the necessary evolution of the world towards more justice and solidarity. When I attended the handing over of the bikes to young Africans a few weeks ago, I had to hold back my tears because I was so moved and touched. To the point of being as proud of this action as I am of my titles as European and Italian Champion. But beware. I am not a politician. I am simply a citizen. And it is as much as a citizen as an athlete that I engage in solidarity actions. »

When the sport takes over, the Champion becomes the Champion again. With the satisfaction of having established a privileged relationship with Ekoï, on the helmet side, and with his team, on the diary side. With the focus on the famous Primavera where he aims to succeed his compatriot and friend Filippo Pozzato. The same Pozzato who sees in him his heir.

« From the very first moments of my collaboration with the Ekoï technicians and their boss JC Rattel, I had confidence. The products on offer are all really excellent. And the AR 14 that I have chosen seems to me to be beautiful, light, reliable and comfortable at the same time. You can feel that for this brand the athlete's point of view is absolutely essential. Here we are working together on the final design of the helmet. I hope to be able to cross the line of via Roma in Milan San Remo as a winner with this helmet, which will necessarily be customised with the double Italian and European sign. I know that Pozzato has mentioned my name among his possible successors. I will do everything to be up to the task. Especially with my European Champion jersey on my shoulders. »

But the season of Giacomo "Magnifico" (as the tifosi nicknamed him) should also see him competing in one of the most beautiful races of the French calendar, Paris Nice. Then will come the Belgian classics and finally the Giro where he will aim for the points classification. Then it will probably be the return to ...France.

« After the Giro, I would like to take part in the Tour de France. To meet my friends from Ekoï and to aim for a nice stage victory in this wonderful event where the greatest Italian champions have distinguished themselves. Obviously everything will depend on the evolution of the pandemic and the decision of the UCI and the organisers. But hey, we riders will adapt ourselves. »

Aitor Galdós, himself a former talented professional rider, talks enthusiastically about the collaboration of his Euskaltel Euskadi team with the Ekoï brand. For the manager of the Basque team, it is essentially a question of being able to have the best for his champions.

« The average age of our riders is 26. They all pay attention to the material and equipment that the team puts at their disposal. Especially in terms of design and performance. Our agreement with Ekoï for the supply of helmets and goggles was welcomed. Everyone knows that they can have the best. This is all the more important because helmets and goggles are absolutely essential safety products. With Ekoï we have the assurance of performance in all areas. For helmets, design, comfort, lightness, safety. For sunglasses, comfort, lens quality, design too. »

Aitor Galdós also insists on the choice left by Ekoï to the riders in the selection of equipment. Whether it's helmets or goggles.

« The Ekoï range is very wide. This allows each rider to try out and choose the models that suit him or her best. A choice that can also take into account the specific nature of the event. Stage or classic race. Mountain or time trial. Glasses also play an important role in this context. The Ekoï technicians advise the riders and then produce customised frames and lenses that can be customised with the rider's name. It is also possible to obtain these glasses in the rider's own eyesight. In fact, there is a real relationship of trust and a genuine technical partnership between the Euskaltel Euskadi team and Ekoï. Moreover, the feedback from the riders is 100% positive. This demonstrates the validity of our choice, guided both by the performance of the equipment and by their undeniable and rare innovative capacity at this level. »

For the 2021 program, Aitor Galdós naturally evokes the great Spanish events. In particular, the Tour of the Basque Country, where Jacques Anquetil was once famous. But he also specifies that France will be the strong point of the Euskaltel Euskadi calendar. With the Tour, but not only.

« We are very attached to the great Spanish events. The Tour of Catalonia, the Tour of the Basque Country, the Classica San Sebastian and of course the Vuelta. But for us France is a wonderful battleground. With the Tour, the most beautiful race in the world, and also some very nice races like the Mont Ventoux, the Limousin or Paris-Tours. Our new leader, Luis Angel Mate, likes French events very much. And so do his team-mates. They are all very proud to run the Tour and to show our colours and those of our sponsors and partners. Including Ekoï! »

THE EKOI PRO TEAMS

Lotto Soudal (helmets and sunglasses) - Qhubeka Assos (helmets) - Arkea Samsic (textile and helmets) - Cofidis (helmets and sunglasses) - Euskaltel Euskadi (helmets and sunglasses) - Saint-Michel Auber (textile and sunglasses) - KMC Orbea (textile, helmets, sunglasses)

THE CHAMPION AMBASSADORS

Philippe Gilbert - Elia Viviani - Nacer Bouhanni - Nairo Quintana - Warren Barguil - Caleb Ewan

THE EKOI LEGENDS

Freddy Maertens - Claudio Chiapucci - Laurent Jalabert - Pedro Delgado - Miguel Indurain