Cicli Esperia was founded in 1989 by Franco Zanaga, and within its first year had already reached a production of 1,600 bicycles. In the following three years, this number rose to 12,000.
1993 marked a turning point: Cicli Esperia reached an impressive production of 120,000 units—80,000 manufactured as an outsourcing partner for the Bianchi brand and the remaining under the Esperia name. In the same year, the company began its export journey, and over the following three seasons production climbed to 300,000 units, making it a European leader in the large-scale retail trade.
However, numbers alone were not enough for Cicli Esperia. In 1998, the company aimed to raise the quality of its products through the acquisition of three prestigious national brands: Bottecchia, Graziella, and Stucchi.
The following year, it became the official licensee of several high-profile brands: A.C. Milan, F.C. Inter, F.C. Juventus, Benetton-Playlife, and Yu-Gi-Oh, allowing the company to increase its visibility within the cycling world.
Less than three years later, the company continued its growth with the acquisition of the legendary Padua-based brand Torpado.
In 2005, a new brand was born—4US, distinguished by its unmistakably “Yankee” style, created for the most extreme and demanding bikers. Around this time, work also began on new facilities in Cavarzere (Venice), and in the summer of 2005 the company moved to its new headquarters: a district comprising five warehouses, covering an area of 75,000 m², 24,000 of which are indoors.
But growth—and the desire to grow—didn’t stop there. Cicli Esperia also set its sights on the world of competitive cycling. This dream came true in 2006 with the acquisition of the Fondriest brand, founded by the renowned road cycling world champion Maurizio Fondriest.
The company’s mission also includes winning over new generations. With the Torpado brand, Cicli Esperia decided to create a new line of mountain bikes, combining tradition, innovation, colours, shapes, and design.
2010 was marked by the use of cutting-edge materials developed by the research and development department, the consolidation of marketing strategies, the strengthening of brand image through the new official Torpado team, investment in the most important Italian and international cycling media, and a strong focus on the internet through the use of major global information portals.
In 2012, the company also acquired the historic Legnano brand.
Since 2022, Cicli Esperia has been part of the Alete Bikes group, one of the leading European players in the industry, with a strong presence in large-scale retail, specialist shops, and urban mobility.
The true secret behind Cicli Esperia’s success lies in teamwork. It is a company made up of valued and motivated individuals, fully aware that they are working for an important company—because it is people who make an idea great.
