Look Cycle International

Last updated

LOOK Cycle International
LOOK
Industry Bicycle Industry
Founded1951;74 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 multiple world records, of which 3 are still standing.

History

Look is best 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 best 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, Jean Beyl invented the Look Nevada dual-pivot ski binding system, which laid the foundation for the company’s future innovations. [2]

In 1951, the Look company was officially 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 Jean 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, the La Vie Claire team, led by Bernard Hinault, won the 1985 Tour de France using LOOK's PP65 pedals, marking a turning point in cycling technology. The success of the pedals helped establish clipless systems as a staple in professional cycling. [4] [5] LOOK's pedal designs would go on to inspire rival manufacturers for years. [6]

In 1986, LOOK unveiled the KG86, the first-ever carbon frame, handcrafted with a combination of carbon and kevlar. The frame was first tested in competition at the 1986 Tour de France by Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault. With this innovation, LeMond won his first Tour, using both the KG96 frame and PP65 pedals

In 1987, LOOK partnered with the FFC to develop high-performance winning track bikes, a collaboration that continues today.

The 1990s

In 1990, LOOK unveiled the KG196, its first monobloc carbon frame, further solidifying the company's position in innovative bicycle manufacturing.

In 1994, LOOK's ski binding division was sold to Rossignol, allowing the company to focus entirely on cycling products.

At the 1996 Summer Olympics, LOOK achieved its first Olympic success, helping French cyclists win six medals, including four gold.

Company buy-out

In 1998, a management buyout was led by Dominique Bergin, Thierry Fournier, and Jean-Claude Chrétien. The company was renamed "LOOK Cycle International," reflecting its focus on cycling.

In 2001, LOOK expanded its production capabilities by opening a subsidiary in Tunisia, known as Look Design System, to manufacture carbon frames.

In 2016, Activa Capital became the majority shareholder of the company, [7] [8] along with the management team. Later that year, LOOK acquired Corima, a French manufacturer of high-end carbon wheels for road, triathlon, and track cycling.

Recent product development

In 2004, LOOK launched the KEO pedals.

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

In 2023, LOOK returned to the Tour de France by partnering with the Cofidis cycling team to promote the 795 Blade RS bike. With this bike, the team achieved two stage wins, marking the end of a 15-year winless streak at the Tour.

In 2024, LOOK launched the P24 track bike, developed in collaboration with the FFC and athletes, to support the French team at the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics. The bike contributed to winning 7 medals, including 3 gold (Men's Omnium, Women's C5 3000m individual pursuit, and Men's C2 3000m individual pursuit).

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

Related Research Articles

Trek Bicycle Corporation is a bicycle, cycling product and electric motorcycle manufacturer and distributor under brand names Trek, Electra Bicycle Company, Bontrager, and Diamant Bikes. The company has previously manufactured bikes under the Gary Fisher, LeMond Racing Cycles, Klein, and Villiger Bikes brand names. With its headquarters in Waterloo, Wisconsin, Trek bicycles are marketed through 1,700 independently owned bicycle shops across North America, subsidiaries in Europe, Asia, South Africa, as well as distributors in 90 countries worldwide. Nearly all Trek bicycles are manufactured outside the United States, in countries including the Netherlands, Germany, Taiwan, and China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shimano</span> Japanese manufacturer of bicycle components, fishing tackle and rowing equipment

Shimano, Inc., originally Shimano Iron Works (島野鐵工所) and later Shimano Industries, Inc. (島野工業株式会社), is a Japanese multinational manufacturing company for cycling components, fishing tackle and rowing equipment, which also produced golf supplies until 2005 and snowboarding gear until 2008. Named after founder Shozaburo Shimano and headquartered in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, the company has 32 consolidated and 11 unconsolidated subsidiaries, with the primary manufacturing plants based in Kunshan (China), Malaysia and Singapore.

Campagnolo is an Italian manufacturer of high-end bicycle components with headquarters in Vicenza, Italy. The components are organised as groupsets (gruppi), and are a near-complete collection of a bicycle's mechanical parts. Campagnolo's flagship components are the Super Record, Record, and Chorus groupsets with all three representing their recent shift to 12-speed drivetrains. Super Record and Record are the top groupsets, followed by Chorus, Potenza, Centaur and Veloce. Campagnolo also produces aluminum and carbon wheels, as well as other components.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg LeMond</span> American racing cyclist

Gregory James LeMond is an American former road racing cyclist. He won the Tour de France thrice and the Road Race World Championship twice, becoming the only American male to win the former.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernard Hinault</span> French cyclist (born 1954)

Bernard Hinault is a French former professional road cyclist. With 147 professional victories, including five times the Tour de France, he is often named among the greatest cyclists of all time. In his career, Hinault entered a total of thirteen Grand Tours. He abandoned one of them while in the lead, finished in 2nd place on two occasions and won the other ten, putting him one behind Merckx for the all-time record. No rider since Hinault has achieved more than seven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bicycle pedal</span> Bicycle part which the rider pushes with their foot to turn the wheels

The pedal is the part of a bicycle that the rider pushes with their foot to propel the vehicle. It provides the connection between the cyclist's foot or shoe and the crank allowing the leg to turn the bottom bracket spindle and propel the bicycle's wheels. A pedal usually consists of a spindle that threads into the end of the crank, and a body on which the foot rest is attached, that is free to rotate on bearings with respect to the spindle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernard Tapie</span> French businessman and politician (1943–2021)

Bernard Roger Tapie was a French businessman, politician and occasional actor, singer, and TV host. He was Minister of City Affairs in the government of Pierre Bérégovoy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pinarello</span> Italian bicycle manufacturer

Cicli Pinarello S.p.A. is an Italian bicycle manufacturer based in Treviso, Italy. Founded in 1953, it supplies mostly handmade bicycles for the road, track, E-bikes(NYTRO), mountain bikes and cyclo-cross. The company also produces an in-house component brand – MOST.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1985 Tour de France</span> Cycling race

The 1985 Tour de France was the 72nd edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It took place between 28 June and 21 July. The course ran over 4,109 km (2,553 mi) and consisted of a prologue and 22 stages. The race was won by Bernard Hinault, who equalled the record by Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx of five overall victories. Second was Hinault's teammate Greg LeMond, ahead of Stephen Roche.

Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. is a Taiwanese bicycle manufacturer, recognized as the world's largest bicycle designer and manufacturer. Giant has manufacturing facilities in Taiwan, the Netherlands, China and Hungary. They have future plans for Vietnam to be the fifth location.

Gitane is a French manufacturer of bicycles based in Machecoul, France; the name "Gitane" means gypsy woman. The brand was synonymous with French bicycle racing from the 1960s through the mid-1980s, sponsoring riders such as Jacques Anquetil (1963–1965), Lucien Van Impe (1974–1976), Bernard Hinault (1975–1983), Laurent Fignon (1982–1988), and Greg LeMond (1981–1984). It is owned by Grimaldi Industri AB.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cofidis (cycling team)</span> French cycling team

Cofidis is a French professional road bicycle racing team sponsored by a money-lending company, Cofidis. It was started in 1996 by Cyrille Guimard, the former manager of Bernard Hinault, Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon of the Renault–Elf–Gitane team of the 1980s. The team's sponsor has supported the team despite repeated problems such as doping scandals. After it was part of the UCI ProTour for the ProTour's first five seasons, from 2010 the team competed as a UCI Professional Continental team. The team joined the UCI World Tour for the 2020 season.

La Vie Claire was a professional road bicycle racing team named after its chief sponsor La Vie Claire, a chain of health food stores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cycling shoe</span> Shoes designed for riding a bicycle

Cycling shoes are shoes purpose-built for cycling. There are a variety of designs depending on the type and intensity of the cycling for which they are intended. Key features include rigidity, for more-efficient transfer of power from the cyclist to the pedals, weight, a method of attaching the shoe firmly to the pedal and adaptability for use on and off the bicycle. Most high-performance cycling shoes can be adjusted while in use, via a quick-adjusting system that has largely replaced laces.

Time is a manufacturer of pedals and bicycles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LeMond Racing Cycles</span> American bicycle company

LeMond Racing Cycles is a bicycle company founded by Greg LeMond, the only American winner of the Tour de France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luz Ardiden</span> Ski resort in France

Luz Ardiden is a ski resort in the Pyrenees. It is situated in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, in the Occitanie Region. The ski resort lies at a height of 1,720 m (5,640 ft) and was opened on 16 January 1975. In recent years the road to Luz Ardiden has served as an occasional stage finish for the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renault (cycling team)</span> French cycling team (1978–1985)

Renault was a French professional cycling team that existed from 1978 to 1985. The team cycled on and promoted Gitane racing bikes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3T Cycling</span> Italian cycle sport company

3T Cycling is an Italian cycle sport company. It was founded in 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of bicycles</span> Overview of and topical guide to bicycles

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to bicycles:

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)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.