Eurobike closed Aug. 31 after drawing 45,200 trade visitors from 111 countries, up from 43,700 in 2012, according to show producer Messe Friedrichshafen.
A total of 1,280 exhibitors from 54 countries presented at the 22nd edition of Europe’s largest bicycle trade show, which ran from Aug. 27-30 in Friedrichshafen on the shores of Lake Constance. About 300 new products made their global debut with ped-electric, folding and cargo bikes continuing to drive the most excitement.
Messe Friedrichshafen estimated that 56 percent of Eurobike 2013’s visitors came from outside Germany. All in all, visitors came from 111 countries this year, up from 97 in 2012. That included 1,883 media representatives from 45 countries. The event also drew 20,400 bike fans when it opened its doors to the public for a day.
The highlight of this year’s show was a visit from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the first German head of state to visit the trade show.
“With the opening speech by Chancellor Angela Merkel, the subject of cycling is now on the agenda at the highest political level, giving it a new momentum which should be taken advantage of in the coming months and years,” said Bernhard Lange, managing director of Paul Lange & Co. OHG, which distribute Shimano products. “This makes the Eurobike a huge national and international success. Furthermore, we also noticed a very positive mood. Once again, the Eurobike has impressively shown that it is truly worthy of the title of the world’s leading trade show for the bicycle industry.”
