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This year’s Tour de France has been a big win for high-end road bike maker Colnago. There are good reasons for this. Since CEO Nicola Rosin took over almost four years ago, the company’s €15,000 road bikes are selling like hotcakes, growing the company’s revenues three-fold.
But it’s not so much his company’s popularity with well-to-do amateur bike riders that gets Rosin excited these days - although it certainly doesn’t hurt. Rather, Rosin’s good mood stems from his most famous client, Tadej Pogacar. The 25-year-old Slovenian is on course to win his third Tour de France later this week and Rosin is in awe of his rider “doing magic."
£45,600
The price at which the special edition Colnago belonging to superstar Tadej Pogačar was sold.
Colnago has been around since the company’s founder, Ernesto Colnago, started welding steel bikes in Northern Italy in 1952. Ernesto is still around today and at 92 he remains an iconic figure in and around the company.
Under Rosin’s leadership, Colnago is having a renaissance in more ways than one. The company has cemented its position as an innovative market-leader after its new Emirati owners injected fresh capital and is quickly becoming one of the most-revered bike brands, combining high-tech offerings with a hint of nostalgia to the world of cycling. A case in point: one of Tadej Pogacar’s special edition Colnago recently sold for £45,600 - the price of a high-end car.
Ernesto Colnago
Founder of Colnago.
Rosin himself is the embodiment of that approach. Before becoming the CEO of Colnago, he founded the Eroica race in Italy, a grueling but rewarding bike ride through the hills of Tuscany. Only riders using vintage steel bikes are allowed to participate in the race, adding to its “heroic” aspect.
Eroica, like other amateur races, is proving to be a magnet for riders of all stripes, including corporate executives. For many among them, cycling is now the new golf, a trend that started about a decade ago.
This interview has been edited for brevity.
Down to business
Fortune: What global news item is top of mind for you?
Ensuring world peace.
Tour de France superstar Tadej Pogačar riding Colnago:
Which long-term trend are you most bullish about for society and the economy at large? Which one makes you most worried?
I’m excited about sustainability trends and I’m worried about all forms of extremism.
If you were an economic policymaker, what would be your top priority for Europe?
To ensure freedom and focus on younger generations.
Being productive
What time do you get up, and what part of your morning routine sets you up for the day?
Reading the news with a cup of coffee.
What time do you work until? Do you continue sending emails during the night and/or weekends?
I don’t have a pre-defined routine, as long as I have motivation and strength. I try to avoid sending emails over the weekend, but I often find weekends to be quite productive for me.
What apps or methods do you use to be more productive?
Respiration exercises before I go to bed.
Who is on your “personal board”?
A few basketball mates and some colleagues I led in the past.
Getting personal
What book have you read, either recently or in the past, that has inspired you?
Good to Great by Jim Collins.
I’m excited about sustainability trends and I’m worried about all forms of extremism.
If you could ask your idol one question, who would it be, and what would you ask?
Michael Jordan. The secret to his motivation and power.
As a consumer, what is your favorite company and why?
I love all companies with brands that can create a lifestyle, such as Red Bull, Virgin, and Apple.
And to end on a lighter note: what was the last costume you wore?
Dressed up as Johnny Depp from Pirates of the Caribbean.
CEO Agenda provides unique insights into how leaders think and lead, and what keeps them busy in a world of constant change. We look into the lives, minds and agendas of CEOs at the world's most iconic companies. Dive into our other CEO Agenda profiles.
