Since 1946
1946 Lapierre, a small bicycle business in Dijon
The paint station in the old factory
Gaston Lapierre inspects a frame
Raymond Carteret from Team Lapierre at the cyclocross championships
The company benefited from this expansion, and Gaston guided the Lapierre name along this growth curve until his death in 1960. The management was passed on to his son, Jacky Lapierre.
Jacky Lapierre (D) and a rider after a podium ceremony
1973 The new factory
A new factory was constructed in the industrial zone of Dijon to accommodate increased production numbers; it was inaugurated on January 1, 1973.
In addition to the production plant, a new building was also dedicated to spare parts sales, complete with a showroom for the bike collection.
Jacky Lapierre celebrates the opening of the new factory
1993 ACCELL GROUP
As the company continued to thrive and the Lapierre name became synonymous with high-quality bikes, specialists around Europe started to notice. It was with Accell Group (Netherlands) that Lapierre decided to form a partnership, and in January 1993, the powerful European group announced its intentions to purchase 33 percent of Lapierre’s shares.
The partnership proved to be successful, and in April 1996, the Lapierre family decided to sell the rest of their shares.
1996Consistent and unprecedented growth
At this time, Gilles Lapierre, son of Jacky, took control of the company as Managing Director. From this year on, the company will experience consistent and unprecedented growth.
By being one of the few European companies to anticipate the MTB phenomenon that occurred in the late 80s, Lapierre quickly positioned itself as a leader of this market. Lapierre has since sponsored several competitive MTB teams who have won titles at all levels since the start of this activity in 1988.
Gilles Lapierre
Lapierre MTB Team
1999 From Mountain Biking to Road Racing...
After solidifying Lapierre’s MTB image through competition and technology, Gilles Lapierre decided to try the same adventure with road bikes. This activity has always been an important aspect of the company culture, and a solid and ambitious marketing strategy was necessary in order for Lapierre to achieve the same status as in mountain biking.
2000 French National Champion – Amateur Elite
In 2000, Lapierre rider Romain Mary became the French National Champion in the DN1 amateur Elite division. This was a first for Lapierre, putting the brand in the national spotlight for their road achievements for the first time in company history.
2001 MTB French Championship
After three years of R&D, Lapierre introduced its renowned full-suspension mountain bike, the X-Control, equipped with the patented FPS (Full Power Suspension) anti-bobbing system. Consumers were now able to find an ideal combination of efficiency and comfort in one bike.
Jérôme Chiotti went on to win the 2001 MTB French Championship on his X-Control, the first rider to win on a full-suspension bike.
Jérome Chiotti wins the French national Championships with his X-Control
2002 Road racing with team Francaise des Jeux
The following year, Lapierre took a huge stride in its road racing activities by signing with the professional team Française des Jeux. Lapierre could now be seen in Elite competitions, including the notorious Tour de France.
Gilles Lapierre with French National champion Nicolas Vogondy
2003New Lightweight carbon technology, LP 0.9C
During the 2003 season, Lapierre decided to extend its field of activities. After signing a 3-year contract with 10x DH World Champion Nicolas Vouilloz, a complete range of freeride and DH bikes was created to complete the existing MTB range.
Testing session in Dijon with Nicolas Vouilloz
A partnership with Lafuma, French leader in outdoor apparel and equipment, was finalized in order to create a clothing and baggage line, Lapierre by Lafuma.
Lapierre also introduced its all-new lightweight carbon technology, LP 0.9C. With this breakthrough development, a road frame was introduced that weighed only 900 grams.
Carbone monocoque frame at 900g (1.98lbs)
As if to reinforce the technological advancements, the results of Lapierre’s athletes continued to be impressive in all disciplines.
The Française des Jeux was the only team to wear all four jerseys in 2003’s Tour de France, and they finished in green thanks to an aggressive sprint by Baden Cooke in the final stage.
Bradley McGee wears the yellow jersey after the 2003 Tour's prologue
2004 Giro d’Italia, World Cup and Olympic Games
The collection of ‘maillots’ was completed during the 2004 Giro d’Italia, when Bradley McGee took the pink jersey after an impressive prologue.
Lapierre’s top cross-country athlete, Jean-Christophe Péraud ranked 4th overall in 2004’s World Cup after the seventh race in Livigno, Italy. His consistent performances earned him a spot on the French Olympic team, and he finished a respectable 11th in Athens.
Jean-Christophe Péraud finished 11th at the Olympic Games in Athens
2005Passion for bikes
The introduction of the 2005 collection included several innovations, including the new X-Control Evo2 with the improved FPS2 anti-bobbing suspension system. The addition of the X-Race model, positioned between a hardtail and a dual-suspension bike, completed the Lapierre Suspension Philosophy: for every style of riding, there is a specific model designed to meet its demands.
Lapierre also chose to concentrate on its export activities in 2005 by opening its own offices in the United States, Canada, Spain, and Germany. The decision to distribute directly to such challenging markets is certainly a large investment, but has the added value of allowing us to control the image of our brand.
This season more than ever, it’s a passion for bikes that motivates Lapierre and pushes us forward. Our future depends on our capacity to innovate, never settling for the status quo. The leader’s position is held at this price, and we are ready to rise to the challenge.
Lapierre Headquarters in Dijon, France
