In early November, I was invited along with several journalists and biker reviewers to witness the relaunch of the new Eddy Merckx bike series. It had been somewhat quiet around this iconic brand in recent years, so my curiosity was piqued about their latest developments. Spoiler alert: there was plenty to see, making it definitely worth the visit!
The event started with a communal dinner. I quickly realized that I would need to switch between English, French, and German (with Italian being a useful addition). Aside from a journalist from Grinta, there were no other Dutch-speaking attendees. The evening turned into a delightful gathering filled with cycling experiences and stories from across Europe.
The following day took us to the Bike Valley Center. Here, stands were set up by brands such as Classified, Selle San Marco, Crono, DT Swiss, Limar, KMC, Deda, Gripgrab, and Vittoria. Each brand had half an hour to present themselves and their products. This was an enlightening experience. The freebies were a nice touch, but more importantly, I gained insights into the aerodynamics and technology behind various cycling products.
The unifying theme across wheels, components, and gear was the increasing focus on the current trend: gravel. For me, gravel is no longer just a trend but has become a norm. The gravel segment is universally appreciated and is clearly here to stay. Road biking, mountain biking, and cyclocross enthusiasts all find a common interest in gravel. Consequently, the market is heavily invested in this segment.
Photo: The Pévèle is a versatile bike, compatible with both gravel tires and road wheels. This frame is also available in steel and aluminum.
Photo: The Strasbourg is the pure gravel racer. This is the carbon model, but this bike is also available in steel and aluminum.
After a day filled with technical innovations, we returned to our hotel as snow began to fall heavily. A social ride with the new Eddy Merckx bikes was planned for the next day, but the snowfall (15 cm in Limburg) led to its cancellation for safety reasons. Instead, we were introduced to the new collection of Eddy Merckx bikes, featuring a diverse range including pure racers, gravel racers, and all-rounders. The retro models Mendrisio and 525 also received updates and will feature in official competitions by team Flanders - Baloise. Now, it's up to the riders to live up to the bikes' reputation!
In the afternoon, we toured the new Velodrome in Zolder, which was a fantastic experience.
On Thursday morning, we were asked to be ready in cycling gear. Most journalists expected an outdoor ride and dressed in winter attire. However, I suspected we might visit Zolder's new Velodrome and brought my short gear as well. My hunch was correct. We spent two hours on the track, culminating in a 500m time trial. The track leader guided the beginners, while I seized the opportunity to speak with Tuur Dens, a track specialist from Team Flanders - Baloise, about his career and future goals. He's focusing on the Paris games, with a 500m time of 26 seconds. I was quite pleased with my own time of 37.5 seconds.
The final leg of our journey was a transfer to Velofollies, including a stop at Brewery de Coureur, a unique bike cafe in Flanders that brews its own beer. The start of Velofollies marked the conclusion of the well-organized Eddy Merckx event. A big thank you to Erica, Maarten, and Pieter!
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