:BMC Switzerland
{{Short description|Swiss bicycle company}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| name = BMC Switzerland AG
| logo = BMC Logo 2021.jpg
| image = BMC Grenchen 02.jpg
| image_caption = BMC HQ
| type = Aktiengesellschaft
| foundation = 1986
| location_city = Grenchen, Solothurn
| location_country = Switzerland
| industry = Bicycles
| products = Bicycles, cycling accessories
| homepage = {{url|www.bmc-switzerland.com}}
}}
BMC Switzerland AG (abbreviation of "Bicycle Manufacturing Company") is a Swiss bicycle and cycling product manufacturer based in Grenchen.{{cite web|title=Contact - BMC Switzerland|url=http://www.bmc-switzerland.com/contact/|work=bmc-switzerland.com|access-date=16 November 2014}} BMC designs, builds and distributes road bikes, mountain bikes, and commuter bikes primarily for sale to dealers in North America, Europe, South Africa, Australia, East Asia and the United Arab Emirates.{{cite web|title=Find a BMC retailer - BMC Switzerland|url=http://www.bmc-switzerland.com/find-retailer/|work=bmc-switzerland.com|access-date=16 November 2014}}{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
History
=1986-2001 founding and early years=
In 1986, American Bob Bigelow founded BMC as an assembler and wholesale distributor of Raleigh bicycles (then owned by Derby Cycle).{{Cite web |title=Derby to keep selling Raleigh in Europe |url=https://www.bicycleretailer.com/north-america/2012/04/27/derby-keep-selling-raleigh-europe |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=Bicycle Retailer and Industry News |language=en}} After losing his distributor's license, Bigelow began building bikes under a new BMC label, but it remained a niche brand. In 2001, the company shifted their strategy, turning to greater investment in engineering and design.
=2001-present=
BMC's relationship to performance cycling began when BMC began supplying the Swiss professional road racing team Phonak with bikes. The team's patron was Andy Rihs, owner of the world-leading hearing-aid company of the same name. Andy Rihs took over BMC in 2000 with the vision of building a carbon production facility in Grenchen, Switzerland to produce the ‘Porsche of race bikes’ and the Impec road bike was created. Having a carbon production facility at its disposal has heavily influenced how BMC approaches bike manufacturing. The facility is now called the Impec Advanced R&D Lab, and it is primarily used for research and development by the company's design and engineering teams.
Professional cycling teams and athletes riding BMC's bikes have won the Tour de France,{{cite news|last=Beaumont|first=Peter|title=Cadel Evans blazes ahead to become first Australian Tour de France winner|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jul/24/cadel-evans-tour-schleck-andy-frank|access-date=18 December 2011|newspaper=The Guardian (UK)|date=23 July 2011}} the Tour de Romandie,{{cite news|last=Guinness|first=Rupert|title=Latest win gives Evans Hope|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cycling/latest-win-gives-evans-hope-20110502-1e54r.html|access-date=18 December 2011|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=3 May 2011}} the Tirreno–Adriatico,{{cite news|title=Evans targeting second Tour win, Hushovd wants Paris-Roubaix|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/10667/Evans-targeting-second-Tour-win-Hushovd-wants-Paris-Roubaix.aspx|access-date=18 December 2011|newspaper=VeloNation Press|date=16 December 2011}} the Tour de Wallonie,{{cite news|title=Van Avermaet wins Tour de Wallonie |url=http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/news/31949/van-avermaet-wins-tour-de-wallonie |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121230195900/http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/news/31949/van-avermaet-wins-tour-de-wallonie |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 December 2012 |access-date=18 December 2011 |newspaper=SBS (Australia) |date=28 July 2011 }} the Paris–Tours,{{cite news|title=Greg Van Avermaet wins 2011 Paris–Tours|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/10/news/greg-van-avermaet-wins-2011-paris-tours_194776|access-date=18 December 2011|newspaper=VeloNews|date=9 Oct 2011}} Critérium International,{{cite news|last=Wynn|first=Nigel|title=Evans wins Criterium International after mountain finale|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532245/evans-wins-criterium-international-after-mountain-finale.html|access-date=26 April 2012|newspaper=Cycling Weekly|date=26 March 2012}} Paris–Roubaix, and many other high-profile events. In 2014 and 2015 the BMC Racing Team won the UCI Team Time Trial World Championships. In 2015, Australian rider Rohan Dennis broke the hour record on a BMC.
Sponsorship
File:Cadel Evans en jaune 2011.jpg of BMC Racing wearing the maillot jaune during the final stage of the 2011 Tour de France]]
At the end of the 2018 season, BMC withdrew support of the BMC Racing Team, whose former leader, Cadel Evans won the 2011 Tour de France, the BMC Mountain Bike Racing Team as well as the BMC Factory Trailcrew. From 2019, BMC is a bicycle supplier for Team Dimension Data. Beside that, BMC is also co-sponsoring the [http://www.uplacebmctriathlon.com/ Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team] as well as many other athletes. As of 2023, BMC is a sponsor and supplier of the Tudor Pro Cycling Team which was founded and is run by Swiss professional road racing cyclist Fabian Cancellara.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|BMC Switzerland}}
- {{Official website|https://www.bmc-switzerland.com/}}
{{Sports equipment brands}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Cycle manufacturers of Switzerland
Category:Cycle parts manufacturers
Category:Mountain bike manufacturers
Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1986
Category:Swiss companies established in 1986
Category:Manufacturing companies of Switzerland