Look (company)

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LOOK Cycle International
LOOK
Industry Bicycle Industry
Founded1951;73 years ago (1951) by Jean Beyl
Headquarters
Nevers
,
France
Key people
 Bernard Tapie (former owner); Federico Musi (CEO)
Products
OwnerActiva Capital (majority since 2016)
Website lookcycle.com

Look Cycle International is a French sports equipment company renowned for developing, designing, manufacturing, and marketing high-end bicycles, bicycle pedals and other cycling components and apparel under the brand name LOOK in more than 80 countries.

Contents

The company, headquartered in Nevers, has been a pioneer in the cycling industry since its acquisition by Bernard Tapie in 1983. Notably, the company introduced the first clipless pedal in 1984 and the first carbon fiber frame in 1986.

Look Cycle's bicycles and pedals have contributed to victories in all three Grand Tours (Tour de France, La Vuelta, and Giro d'Italia), as well as in most classic cycle races and in Road and Track World Championships. Additionally, athletes using Look products have won gold, silver, and bronze medals at the Olympics and the Paralympics and set three world records.

History

Look is most known for clipless pedals which are widely used in road cycling (picture of Look Keo Blade Carbon) LOOK Keo Blade Carbon clipless pedals.jpg
Look is most known for clipless pedals which are widely used in road cycling (picture of Look Keo Blade Carbon)
A permanent Look exhibition at the Palais ducal de Nevers in the central French city of Nevers, where Look was founded and is still based Nevers ducal expo 04.JPG
A permanent Look exhibition at the Palais ducal de Nevers in the central French city of Nevers, where Look was founded and is still based

Inception of the company

In 1950, Beyl invented the Look Nevada dual-pivot ski binding system. [2]

In 1951, the Look company was founded and named after the American magazine Look. [3] The 1962 Look Nevada II single-pivot ski binding design would significantly influence the company's bindings for the next 40 years. [2]

Bernard Tapie's era (1983-1989)

In 1983, after Beyl's early designs of a clipless bicycle pedal, the company was acquired by French businessman Bernard Tapie.

In 1984, LOOK introduced the first-ever clipless pedals, the PP65. [4] Simultaneously, Tapie established the professional cycling team La Vie Claire to promote this new product.

In 1985, with the La Vie Claire team, Bernard Hinault won the 1985 Tour de France using PP65 pedals, which significantly contributed to the adoption of clipless pedal systems in the professional peloton. This innovation remains widely used today, [4] [5] and LOOK's pedal designs have inspired rival manufacturers ever since. [6]

In 1986, LOOK unveiled the KG96, the first-ever carbon frame. Handcrafted with a combination of carbon and kevlar, it offered enhanced stiffness and improved bike handling. Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond were the first to test this innovation at the 1986 Tour de France, and with this new bike and PP65 pedals, LeMond won his first Tour.

In 1987, LOOK formed a partnership with the FFC to develop high-performance winning track bikes. The partnership still exist.

The 1990's

In 1990, LOOK released the iconic KG196, its first monobloc carbon frame.

In 1994, LOOK's ski binding division was sold to Rossignol.

In 1996, LOOK achieved its first Olympic success during the Summer Olympics, helping France win six medals, including four gold.

Company buy-out

In 1998, a group of employees led by Dominique Bergin, Thierry Fournier, and Jean Claude Chrétien completed a buy-out of the company. The company is renamed "LOOK Cycle International"

In 2001, LOOK opens a subsidiary in Tunisia (Look Design System) to manufacture the carbon frames

In 2004, LOOK launched the KEO pedals, setting a new industry standard for road clipless pedals.

Activa Capital

In 2016, Activa Capital became the majority shareholder of the company. [7] [8]

In 2019, LOOK launched its first E-bike, in collaboration with Fazua.

In 2023, to support the launch of its new 795 Blade RS, LOOK returned to the Tour de France with the Cofidis cycling team. With this new bike, the team secured two stage wins, ending a 15-year streak without success.

Sponsorships

LOOK has been bike sponsor for top-tier professional cycling teams throughout its history, including La Vie Claire, Kelme–Costa Blanca Kelme–Costa Blanca, Gazprom–RusVelo, Crédit Agricole, CSC–Tiscali, [9] Nippo–Delko–One Provence. [10] [11] As of 2024, LOOK is sponsoring Cofidis.

LOOK has also been pedal sponsor of multiple teams and athletes, including Israel–Premier Tech, Movistar Team, Astana Qazaqstan Team, Intermarché–Circus–Wanty, AG2R Citroën Team, Cofidis, Tadej Pogacar, Nairo Quintana, Biniam Girmay and many more.

Bibliography

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References

  1. ↑ Moore & Benson 2012, p. 85.
  2. 1 2 Needham, Richard, ed. (September 2002). "The ski industry: Look launches Nevada toe". Skiing Heritage. 14 (3). The International Skiing History Association: 28.
  3. ↑ Moore & Benson 2012, p. 82.
  4. 1 2 Moore & Benson 2012, p. 83.
  5. ↑ Smythe, Simon (7 April 2015). "Icons of cycling: Look's revolutionary clipless pedals". Cycling Weekly . Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  6. ↑ Clemitson 2017, p. 46.
  7. ↑ "Chez LOOK Cycle, l'innovation commande – Partenaires Libération" (in French). 11 July 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  8. ↑ "Le fonds Activa Capital reprend Look Cycle à Nevers". Les Echos (in French). 29 June 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  9. ↑ Moore & Benson 2012, p. 86.
  10. ↑ "BIKES by Look". Team NIPPO DELKO One Provence (in French). Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  11. ↑ November 2018, Josh Evans 30 (30 November 2018). "Team Delko-Marseille Provence partner with Look for 2019". Cyclingnews.com . Retrieved 15 April 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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