This meanwhile 14th issue of the Eurobike Award was once again characterized by a large range of products handed in which from the manufacturer’s point of view have the potential to define new trends on the cycle market. In spite of the almost two months earlier Eurobike Show date this year, the big number of 366 products applied for the coveted Eurobike Award. A six-strong expert panel of judges chose the winners in a two-stage process.
Part of the expert panel was Dirk Zedler, an expert for bicycle tests and product safety. The retailer’s perspective was assessed by Wolfgang Hohmann managing two sports bike shops in Dubai and Heitersheim, Germany (Wolfi’s Bike Shop). The special-interest media were represented by the journalists Marta Villa and Sissi Paersch. Tarek Rasouli, owner of the agency Rasoulution is an insider of the mountain bike scene. The Brit Cat Heraty is a textile designer and endurance athlete.
At the end of the two-stage process the panel of experts finally agreed on 40 products which will be displayed in a special show at Foyer East of the Friedrichshafen Eurobike Show. For twelve products that in the judges’ opinion are particularly innovative the Eurobike Award was gold-plated in addition. Furthermore, two other product novelties received the special Green Award for their eco-friendliness.
“The bicycle market is currently facing many new influences, such as modified demands on mobility, but also an increasing influence due to digitisation. The Eurobike Award also documents with how much bravour this challenge is handled by the market players in the cycle industry. It offers once again a concentrated view on the innovative future of the bicycle market”, says Eurobike project leader Dirk Heidrich.
Like every year the winners of the Eurobike Award still have to be patient until the curtain rises for the winners of the Gold Awards. These will be published on the first day of the Eurobike Show (Sunday, July 8) during the ceremony at Foyer East.
Author: Tillman Lambert
Photo: SAZbike