Castelli Cycling
Castelli Cycling is an Italian premium cycling apparel manufacturer founded in 1876, producing performance jerseys, bibs, jackets, and triathlon gear for professional and serious amateur cyclists, distributed globally through DTC e-commerce, flagship stores, and authorized retailers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1876
- HeadquartersFonzaso, Italy
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Castelli Cycling does
Castelli Cycling is an Italian premium cycling apparel manufacturer founded in 1876, currently operating as a brand of Manifattura Valcismon S.p.A. within the MVC Group (which also owns Sportful and Karpos). The company designs and produces performance cycling and triathlon apparel — including jerseys, bib shorts, jackets, skinsuits, base layers, and accessories — for professional racers, serious amateurs, and triathletes. Its product portfolio is organized around signature sub-brand collections such as Gabba/Perfetto (weather-resistant jackets), Espresso, Aero Race, Unlimited/Gravel, and the recently launched Polartec AirCore PFAS-free line, with flagship products priced around $320 USD.
The business is differentiated by proprietary textile and design innovations — first aero Lycra shorts (1977), first sublimation-printed jerseys (1983), and windproof fabric technology validated through an 8-year partnership with the Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team, the longest-running pro team relationship in its history. Manufacturing and R&D are centered at the company's headquarters in Fonzaso, Italy, with additional operations including a US distribution warehouse in Portland, OR, and flagship retail stores in Girona, Spain, and Berlin, Germany.
Castelli operates a hybrid go-to-market model combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce across 30+ country-specific storefronts, a global network of authorized retailers, a Custom Team Program for cycling clubs, and a subscription-style Industry Program for cycling professionals. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time apparel purchases, supplemented by licensed collections (Giro d'Italia, AC Milan, Soudal Quick-Step) and event/team-driven brand development. The company employs 250+ people across 7 countries and is privately held with no public listing or disclosed funding history.
Castelli Cycling firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Castelli Cycling
- Legal name
- Manifattura Valcismon S.p.A.
- Website
- https://castelli-cycling.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1876
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Castelli Cycling is an Italian premium cycling apparel manufacturer founded in 1876, producing performance jerseys, bibs, jackets, and triathlon gear for professional and serious amateur cyclists, distributed globally through DTC e-commerce, flagship stores, and authorized retailers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Castelli Cycling industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium Cycling Apparel
- NAICS
- Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992), Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors) (315250)
- SIC
- Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bike Apparel, Helmets & Protective Gear Retail (CRAMAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Cycling & Micromobility Products Distribution (CRAOAJAF)
Keywords
Where Castelli Cycling is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fonzaso
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Castelli Cycling business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Direct Consumer E-commerce: Castelli sells directly to consumers through its e-commerce platform castelli-cycling.com with multiple country-specific storefronts. Products include jerseys, bibs, jackets, accessories, and triathlon apparel. Revenue is generated through one-time product purchases with various pricing tiers.
- Custom Team Apparel: Castelli's custom program produces team-specific cycling and triathlon apparel for professional and amateur cycling teams, including the Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team. Joint product development through wind tunnel and real-world testing.
- Industry Program Sales: Exclusive discounted pricing for cycling industry professionals, outdoor industry employees, certified instructors, and journalists, with annual purchase caps per region.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard E-commerce Pricing |
| Subscription | Annual | Industry Program Discount Pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Castelli Cycling product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Castelli Cycling is an Italian premium cycling apparel manufacturer that designs, produces, and sells performance cycling and triathlon clothing — including jerseys, bib shorts, jackets, base layers, speed suits, and accessories — through its own e-commerce storefront, flagship retail stores, authorized dealers, and a custom team apparel program. The brand serves both individual competitive and recreational cyclists and professional/amateur cycling teams, leveraging proprietary fabric technologies such as Polartec AirCore and aerodynamic constructions developed in collaboration with pro teams.
Product overview
Castelli Cycling is an Italian premium cycling apparel manufacturer offering a comprehensive product portfolio spanning men's and women's cycling clothing, triathlon gear, and accessories. The core offering includes performance jerseys, bib shorts, jackets, base layers, and protection gear organized under signature sub-brands such as Gabba/Perfetto (weather-resistant jackets), Espresso (everyday performance), Aero Race (aerodynamic racing), and Unlimited/Gravel (off-road). The company provides a full custom team apparel program allowing personalized designs for cycling teams. Castelli maintains a long-standing partnership with the Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team and holds official licensing for the Giro d'Italia. Recent innovations include the Perfetto RoS 3 jacket featuring Polartec's PFAS-free AirCore waterproof technology. The company operates physical flagship stores in Girona, Spain and Berlin, Germany, and is part of the MVC Group parent company alongside Sportful and Karpos brands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cycling Apparel (Men's) Full range of men's performance cycling clothing including jerseys, bibs and shorts, vests, speed suits, base layers, protection, jackets, bibtights and knickers, and off-bike casual wear for road, gravel, and all-weather riding.
- Cycling Apparel (Women's) Complete women's cycling clothing collection featuring jerseys, bibs and shorts, vests, base layers, speed suits, protection, jackets, bibtights and knickers, and off-bike casual options, designed for performance road and gravel riding.
- Triathlon Collection
- Cycling Accessories Technical cycling accessories including gloves, socks, warmers, shoe covers, headwear, bags and backpacks, and essential ride accessories that complement Castelli's apparel lines.
- Perfetto RoS 3 Jacket Premium breathability-focused cycling jacket featuring Polartec AirCore fabric, windproof and highly water-resistant construction for cool-to-cold conditions with mixed wet weather; priced at $320 USD.
- Custom Cycling Clothing Full custom team apparel program allowing professional and amateur cycling teams and individuals to design personalized cycling kits with custom graphics, team colors, and team-store functionality, delivering the same quality apparel used by pro teams.
- Lifestyle / Off-Bike Casual Casual off-bike apparel for travel, post-race, or everyday activities, combining lifestyle styling with technical fabric heritage from the cycling line.
- Crash Replacement Program Free crash replacement within 30 days of purchase for brand-new kit damaged in a crash, with a 40% discount offered for items purchased within the prior two years that fall outside the 30-day window.
- Industry Program Exclusive discount program for cycling and outdoor industry employees, certified instructors, and outdoor/cycling journalists, with annual purchase caps per region (e.g., 1500 EUR / 1500 USD / 2500 AUD).
Quantifiable outcome
- Castelli holds 30% premium cycling apparel market share alongside Assos and Rapha in the premium segment
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Castelli Cycling
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Castelli Cycling technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Castelli Cycling partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling TeamflagshipExtended three-year partnership marking eight years of total collaboration, making this Castelli's longest-running partnership with a professional cycling team. Includes joint product development through wind tunnel and real-world testing, plus safety initiatives with distinctive electric green visibility elements on 2026 race kits for both men's and women's teams.
- AC MilancorePremium cycling apparel collection marking AC Milan's first-ever official cycling line. Built on Castelli's Competizione platform including jerseys, premium bib shorts, gloves, socks, and neck warmer, plus special edition jersey commemorating AC Milan's 125th anniversary. Draws on shared Milanese heritage.
- PolarteccorePartnership for Polartec AirCore fabric technology in Castelli's Perfetto RoS 3 jacket. Represents industry-leading PFAS-free waterproof-breathable fabric technology adapted for cycling apparel.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Castelli Cycling competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rapha: Rapha is the most direct competitor to Castelli: a UK-founded, premium DTC cycling apparel brand with strong subscription/club model and overlapping customer base of performance cyclists. Both brands share the top tier of the premium segment alongside Assos.
- Assos: Swiss premium cycling apparel manufacturer sharing the 30% premium segment with Castelli. Closely comparable on price point, technical positioning, and pro-team sponsorship model.
- Sportful: Sister brand within MVC Group (Castelli's parent). Produces performance cycling and Nordic apparel with shared manufacturing scale, overlapping product assortment, and common pro-team heritage.
- Santini Cycling Wear: Italian cycling apparel manufacturer with similar heritage, made-in-Italy positioning, custom team kit programs, and comparable mid-to-premium price bands. Direct Italian competitor.
- Alé Cycling Wear: Italian cycling apparel manufacturer with overlapping custom team kit and consumer product lines; competes most directly in the Italian/European mid-to-premium segment.
Broad incumbents
- POC Sports: Swedish premium cycling safety/helmet/protection brand that has expanded into apparel; a broader incumbent in cycling performance gear whose apparel line encroaches on Castelli's premium territory.
- Pearl Izumi: Larger, broader-line cycling apparel manufacturer with mass-to-premium range; competes in the same end-use category but Castelli sits at the top of its range, while Pearl Izumi stretches deeper into mid-tier.
Emerging players
- MAAP: Australian premium cycling apparel brand targeting the same premium-cyclist demographic with strong DTC and lifestyle positioning; a credible challenger brand riding the same customer overlap.
- Q36.5: Italian premium cycling apparel brand with strong technical identity and made-in-Italy positioning; a niche competitor in the same premium-tier overlapping Castelli's core geography.
- Pas Normal Studios: Danish premium cycling apparel brand with DTC-led growth and Scandinavian design language; competes for the same performance-and-aesthetic-driven premium cyclist.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Castelli Cycling social profiles
Digital presenceCastelli Cycling financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Castelli Cycling leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Castelli Cycling funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Castelli Cycling M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Castelli Cycling
What does Castelli Cycling do?
Castelli Cycling is an Italian premium cycling apparel manufacturer that designs, produces, and sells performance cycling and triathlon clothing — including jerseys, bib shorts, jackets, base layers, speed suits, and accessories — through its own e-commerce storefront, flagship retail stores, authorized dealers, and a custom team apparel program. The brand serves both individual competitive and recreational cyclists and professional/amateur cycling teams, leveraging proprietary fabric technologies such as Polartec AirCore and aerodynamic constructions developed in collaboration with pro teams.
Is Castelli Cycling a public or private company?
Castelli Cycling is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Castelli Cycling founded?
Castelli Cycling was founded in 1876.
Where is Castelli Cycling based?
Castelli Cycling is headquartered in Fonzaso, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Castelli Cycling make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct Consumer E-commerce is the primary driver. The others are custom Team Apparel and industry Program Sales.
Who are Castelli Cycling's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rapha, Assos, Sportful, Santini Cycling Wear and Alé Cycling Wear. Broad incumbents are POC Sports and Pearl Izumi. Emerging players are MAAP, Q36.5 and Pas Normal Studios.
Does Castelli Cycling have an API?
No public API is recorded for Castelli Cycling.
What industry is Castelli Cycling in?
Castelli Cycling's product category is Premium Cycling Apparel. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAHAC, Bike Apparel, Helmets & Protective Gear Retail, with a secondary code of CRAOAJAF, Cycling & Micromobility Products Distribution. Its NAICS code is 33992 and its SIC code is 3949.