Ridley and Merckx bikes considering ending team sponsorships, according to reports

The company behind Ridley and Merckx bikes is considering ending its team sponsorships, according to reports.

Belgian Cycling Factory, which supports pro teams Lotto-Soudal, Sport-Vlaanderen Baloisse and Bingoal Wallonie-Bruxelles, plans to review contracts that come to an end later this year, due to the uncertainty caused by coronavirus.

According to a report from Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, the bike builder wants to renegotiate its sponsorship deals and would even consider bringing them to an end because of the shakeup coronavirus has cuased in the cycling industry.

Ridley bikes have had a long-standing relationship with WorldTour team Lotto-Soudal, with Phillippe Gilbert and Caleb Ewan currently riding the machines, while UCI ProTeam Bingoal Wallonie-Bruxelles also ride Ridley bikes.

Also in the ProTeam ranks, Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise ride Merckx bikes, while in 2019 French WorldTour squad Ag2r La Mondiale started riding Merckx for two seasons, with an option to extend for another two years.

In 2018, Belgian Cycling Factory announced that Ridley and Merckx bikes would be made available direct to dealers in order to reinvigorate the brands.

The previous year, the Belgian Cycling Factory had been created when Ridley owner Jochim Aerts brought the struggling Merckx brand.

Another prestigious cycling brand, Colnago, underwent a major change earlier this year as owner Ernesto Colnago sold his majority share to an Abu Dhabi investment fund.

Chimera Investments LLC has acquired a majority of the shares in the 1954 founded mainstay of Italian bike design. The 88-year-old founder has said that the move will allow the brand to grow “and increase its presence in all markets, whilst maintaining and improving the quality of Colnago products.”

>>> Huge spike in fitness app use as time spent on Strava triples during lockdown

The brand currently sponsors the UCI World Tour Team, UAE Team Emirates, which plays hosts to eight Italian riders including Fabio Aru.