It has been a tricky few months for Campagnolo. Il Gazzentino reported in November that the Italian brand was preparing to cut more than 100 jobs at its Vicenza headquarters, as part of a restructuring plan, after it had incurred losses exceeding €24 million.
Campagnolo responded quickly, stating the strategy it had presented to trade unions was “a highly structured plan, the result of months of work… with possible positive developments”. However, it acknowledged a reduction in staff was “expected at this stage”.
But in a statement released yesterday, Campagnolo said it had reached an agreement with “trade unions and social partners” in December that avoids redundancies.
“Seventy-seven percent of employees expressed their support. This agreement led to the signing of a solidarity contract and clearly ruled out any form of layoffs. The process was completed before Christmas, allowing the company to enter the new year with greater stability and a strong sense of responsibility,” Campagnolo said in its statement.
This will be welcome news to FIOM Vicenza, the branch of the Italian Federation of Metalworkers for Vicenza. The trade union said in November that its analysis of Campagnolo’s financial situation was not as disastrous as the company implied and said layoffs could not be the only option.
But Campagnolo’s statement still addressed the scale of change required. “The company is undergoing a deep internal reorganization that affects both its structure and the way it works. The goal is to simplify, reduce decision-making layers, speed up processes, and give space to the young talents who are already part of the organization. This is not a cosmetic change,” it read.
Campagnolo said these changes are necessary to meet the demands of today’s market. While it didn't divulge the specific demands, many cycling companies are struggling after a chaotic and challenging five years.
The Covid cycling boom prompted many companies to over-order, followed by a period of excessive inventory and discounting, issues in the supply chain and subdued economic forecasts – not forgetting geopolitical pressures and US tariffs.
These conditions led Canyon to lay off 320 staff in Koblenz and Amsterdam last month, following redundancies last year in the USA. There were also layoffs at Trek in January due to similar pressures, according to Escape Collective.
But, despite a tricky market, Campagnolo said it is seeing “encouraging” signals. “The new 13-speed platform is delivering very positive results, both in terms of sales and customer satisfaction. The market has recognized a real shift in pace: technology, precision, speed, and reliability that make this drivetrain truly unique,” it said.
BikeRadar’s Warren Rossiter argued that Campagnolo’s woes are partly its own making, because of how the company positioned itself as a ‘high-end brand’, neglecting the lower end of the market.
Campagnolo’s statement from yesterday suggests this is an issue of which the luxury brand is aware – and one it intends to address.
It says the technology developed through its 13-speed Campagnolo Record groupset, launched in June 2025, will be introduced at lower price points.
“This is a key step in strengthening Campagnolo’s presence in the market and in bringing our products back onto the bikes of the world’s leading manufacturers,” Campagnolo said, adding that “Many other important developments will be unveiled over the course of the year.”
“We continue to build the future of cycling with genuine passion, respect for our history, and a clear focus on what lies ahead. Not only for business, but for love of this sport,” Campagnolo’s statement concluded.
