First spins of wheel, first victories!

After the emotion of year 2021, that of 20 years, Ekoi enthusiastically approaches the 2022 season. A legitimate enthusiasm with the exponential growth of our customer figures and the incredible strength constituted by our community of passionate cyclists. An enthusiasm further reinforced by our champions’ first victories : Tim Wellens (Team Lotto Soudal) in the Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana and Amaury Capiot (Team Arkéa Samsic) in the Grand Prix de La Marseillaise.

From these champions and the partnerships forged with professional teams, Ekoi not only draws pride, but also and above all the valuable lessons that will constantly improve the products in technicality, performance, comfort and of course safety and style.

A permanent dialogue is established with athletes who have who cycle tens of thousands annual kilometers traveled both in racing and in training, which constitutes for our technicians, the most credible and efficient test laboratory. On this observation basis, Ekoi arrives in the world of Off Road by entering into a partnership with the prestigious Team VTT Absolute Absalon, which becomes the Team Factory of the prestigious brand BMC.

From the immense Julien Absalon, with a long history, to the now legendary Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, multiple World Champion and reigning European Champion, we expect much more than victories or titles. Feedback and advice through a permanent dialogue as Ekoi already does with the Road Teams.

Jean-Christophe Rattel

Glory and legend

Born in Reims, the mythical city where the Kings of France were once crowned, the Queen of women's cycling never ceases stay with legend and glory. To the point of now joining the prestige of Jeannie Longo or Maria Canins in the golden album of the history of women's cycling. Eternal passionate, she is now aiming for the only title missing from her incredible track record. That of Olympic Champion. Interview…

- Pauline, you have just participated in the official presentation of the BMC MTB Racing mountain bike team managed by the Absolute Absalon structure. We are part of the Show Room Ekoi in Fréjus. Ekoi which now becomes partner and supplier of the team. How are your relations with the Côte d'Azur brand chaired by Jean-Christophe Rattel?

- The best in the world. Truly ! Ekoi equipment, clothing for me, is exceptional in quality, comfort and performance. Ekoi strives for excellence and achieves it. And I also appreciate the quality of the dialogue with the brand's technicians and stylists. We feel that these people are themselves passionate cyclists. It is not for marketing alone that so many big international teams use Ekoi productions. It is obvious !

- You are wearing the distinctive European Cross-Country Champion jersey. What are your ambitions for the new season? There is talk of a possible return to the road in parallel with mountain biking. What about?

- Yes, I am wearing the European Champion jersey and I am naturally very proud of it. Even if I have already had the opportunity to wear many other distinctive jerseys for years. From the rainbow to the tricolor. For 2022, after my disappointment with the Olympics where technical problems prevented me from getting involved in the fight for the title, I want to be positive. I am in the BMC Factory Team with Absolute Absalon coaching and structures. It's awesome. So I still want to progress and aim for victory as often as possible. And for that I am revolutionizing my training, both in intensity and in quality. This winter, for the first time, I did bodybuilding. And the power is there. And I alternate road and MTB. Which is already an answer to your question. Because yes I will run on the road too. Even if mountain biking remains the priority. I will participate in the classics that I like. Paris-Roubaix, the Flèche Wallonne which I have already won, and the Tour of Flanders. 3 exciting adventures. And mountain bike side I will not fall asleep on my laurels. I will aim for a new title and victories. To get the momentum going again.

- Precisely the main objective would it not be the Paris Olympics in two years ? Even if by then there will also be the return of the women's Tour de France.

- As for the Tour, I salute the initiative of Christian Prudhomme and Marion Rousse. But this Tour, which is too regional, does not really seem to me to correspond to what the girls' peloton wants. I will not participate. But if the course tomorrow were to resemble that of the men, I will surely be at the start. As for the Olympics, obviously that remains my main objective. I will do everything to get in shape for the day of the Cross-Country event. After 3participations and 3 disappointments, why not finally a gold medal?

It was in Fréjus, at Ekoï, that Julien Absalon and David Zurcher (CEO of BMC) presented the new BMC MTB Racing team, centered on 5 drivers including Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Filipo Colombo.

For the 4th year it was created, the team of double Olympic Champion Julien Absalon, confirms its desire and its ambition to settle permanently at the top of world Cross-Country mountain biking. BMC, a major partner since the creation of the training, renews its support by once again reinforcing its material and financial investments in the structure. The team also confirms its stability by keeping all its riders from last year and by integrating the vice-champion of the world hope: the Italian Juri Zanotti.

"I want more than anything to add an Olympic Champion title to my record"
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot.

BMC's investment covers in particular the creation of a brand new paddock which will allow the team to work in the best possible conditions on the MTB World Cup rounds.

"After 3 years of collaboration, we wanted to get even closer to our main sponsor, explains Paul Foulonneau, communication manager. This change of identity is also explained by BMC's desire to invest further a little more in mountain biking and the Team, by offering us even more financial, material and human resources."

BMC's investment covers in particular the creation of a brand new paddock which will allow the team to work in the best possible conditions on the MTB World Cup rounds.

The arrival of the Italian Juri Zanotti also marks the international ambitions of the team. “Juri is a very promising youngster and he chose BMC for his very first season with the Elites” noted Julien Absalon. Note that Juri Zanotti finished in second place at the U23 MTB World Championships last year in Val di Sole (ITA) and won the title of Italian U23 Champion that same year.

On the sponsor side, it is now Ekoï, which will equip the pilots of BMC MTB Racing. The entire workforce will have racing and training jerseys and shorts, while the men will also benefit from helmets and glasses developed by the French brand. The team will then regroup for the start of the school year on the classic sequence of Spanish races Chelva (February 20) / Banyolès (February 26-27).

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 )

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

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