Campagnolo has reportedly laid off 40 per cent of its workforce as part of what it describes as a “dramatic” restructuring project in the wake of three years of substantial losses.
According to Italian newspaper Il Gazzettino, the iconic components manufacturer confirmed this week that 120 of its 300 staff members are being let go, stating that “there is no alternative” to this round of redundancies “without dramatic consequences” for the company and the surrounding region.
In a statement issued to Il Gazzettino, Campagnolo revealed that, according to its financial statements up to 31 May 2025, the company’s losses for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 financial years will surpass the €24 million mark.
These three years of consecutive losses have been attributed by the Vincenza-based brand to the global economic downturn which has battered the cycling industry since its Covid-era boom at the start of the 2020s.
“Given these challenging figures, primarily due to a truly challenging industry environment that affects Campagnolo as well as its competitors worldwide, the shareholder has subscribed to a €10 million loan between November 2024 and December 2025,” Campagnolo said in a statement.
But despite this loan, Campagnolo says its current liquidity “cannot currently guarantee business continuity under current conditions”.
The statement continued: “Therefore, along with a necessary ongoing product development plan, a relaunch is not possible without a significant rethinking of costs at all levels”.
These cost-cutting measures, Campagnolo says, include reducing its Vincenza-based workforce by 40 per cent (the company also has a manufacturing facility in Romania), a move it claims is vital to ensuring its Vincenza-based site can continue, albeit at a reduced capacity.
In its statement, the brand insisted “there is no alternative” to this plan without “dramatic consequences for Campagnolo and the city of Vicenza”.
Campagnolo’s management also explained that they have “produced a financial plan aimed at institutions and potential partners to reverse the trend and return to the Vicenza community a company that is not only technically excellent, but also capable of sustaining itself”.
This “40 per cent reduction in labour costs,” Campagnolo says, “will allow employment at the Vicenza site to continue well into the future, albeit at a reduced level”.
Campagnolo has been approached by road.cc for comment on the redundancies, which are expected to invite scrutiny from local authorities and unions in the region, given the brand’s role as a major employer.
> If Super Record 13 isn’t posh enough for you… Campagnolo has introduced a £900 Ultra upgrade
The large-scaled redundancies in Vincenza come in the wake of a busy few months for the legendary components manufacturer. In June, Campagnolo officially launched its new top-level Super Record 13, the world’s first wireless 2×13-speed groupset for road cycling, and what the company claims is the lightest and fastest-shifting 2x groupset on the market.
And just last month, the brand expanded its Super Record 13 platform with the addition of a gravel-specific Super Record X for the first time – complete with a micro-clutch rear derailleur to keep your chain in place over rough ground – along with 1x road and 2x all road configurations, satellite shifters, and new wheels.
25 thoughts on ““There is no alternative”: Campagnolo lays off 40% of its staff after suffering heavy losses for third year running”
I’ve still got Campagnolo
I’ve still got Campagnolo Super Record 10 speed on 2 of my bikes. The build quality and aesthetics, to me, are unmatched. Shifters and mechs are over 20 years old and still going strong.
But, Campag seriously took their eye off the ball with the 11 and 12 speed stuff. The shifters were horrible, EPS was finicky, expensive and unreliable. The later disc brake groupsets just made it worse in every way so I stayed away but always secretly hoping they’d come good.
I challenged their UK guy at a bike show years ago and asked why the shape of the shifters were so ugly. He said Campag had designed them so that no matter which version you picked or what year of groupset you were coming from, the shifter feel was the same. It’s that kind of stick-in-the-mud thinking that’s held them back.
The newest SR groupset looks like it’s a massive improvement but it really should be 4-5 years old by now. It does nothing exceptional and just about brings it into the same era as Shimanos current 12 speed stuff (SRAM are light years ahead). The shifters create this awkward angle where they meet the bars that means it’s an either/or hand position. Easily fixed with some extra bar tape underneath or some hardening mouldable plastic but still not great. And that rear mech is still an absolute aberration but slightly better.
I’ll also say I’ve never used the gravel groupset so can’t comment on that.
I wish Campagnolo well, I still think they have a place in the market and offers something with soul but I’m on 12 speed Di2 now and I doubt I’ll be moving off it any time soon.
Well, that’s a point of view.
Well, that’s a point of view. I used 10 and 11 speed extensively and even if you didn’t care for the look of the 11sp ergos, they were much nicer to use than the 10sp shape. I had a decade on 11sp EPS and it was rock solid and not in the least finicky, and the campag disc brakes are exemplary.
For now I’m still with Campag via an Ekar bike. Still mechanical but in 2025 it looks influential in proving the worth of 13sp which is very much incoming for e-shifting road bikes.
I wish them much success with the new Campag 13sp products. It will be great if they can bring a Chorus version to market at a non-luxe price point.
TBF, the Campag rationale
TBF, the Campag rationale about shifter shape was sound – SRAM have done the same thing. But the problem with Campagnolo was they were always faffing around and changing – adding speeds, botched electronics, etc – and nothing was cross-compatible. SRAM nailed it with Etap. So intuitive, and cross-compatible.
As for the middle ground – massive, massive error.
I love Campagnolo. But their
I love Campagnolo. But their visability is next to nothing. You used to at least rely on the top Italian brands to come resplendent in fully carbon Super Record. Today, you can’t buy a Pinarello Dogma F or a Colnago Y1RS with Campagnolo fitted. It doesn’t even appear on any of their websites as an option. When the top marquis brands have abandoned it where does Campagnolo have left to turn? You have to really want it to buy it. Dura Ace and Sram Red are both magnificent and are everywhere. Going down a level I can’t even remember the last time I saw Chorus. Does it even still exist??
My first proper road bike was a Bianchi Via Nirone 7 with Campagnolo Athena groupset and Zonda wheels. It was a very good easy to maintain bike and gear changes were crisp. Quite why Campagnolo gave up this middle ground of the market is beyond me but it has been a disastrous decision. I would hate to see them disappear, but right now I can’t see them holding on for the purists. EPS had its issues. But if they could get back to making 2nd & 3rd tier groupsets and market them at a competitive price they might survive. Their stuff always looked cool and innovative.
I have a Dogma F with Super
I have a Dogma F with Super Record Wireless – also Hyperon Ultra wheels and Pirelli tyres for the full Italian look!
So it’s possible, however I bought the frameset (MyWay) and built it myself with the help of my LBS. Wasn’t off the peg.
Is it the current MY26
Is it the current MY26 Frameset? The last dogma I saw with Campagnolo on was a 2024 Version before the upgrades to the frame design (Dogma F mk 2)
still, if you go the Colnago, Pinarello or Bianchi websites, Campagnolo is nowhere to be seen.
I think you just hit the nail
I think you just hit the nail on the head. Campy’s OEM sales must be woeful. How many people are actually out looking for a groupset for a frame build or a refresh of an existing bike? Nowhere near as many as buying complete bikes online or from their LBS.
Is it the current MY26
Is it the current MY26 Frameset? The last dogma I saw with Campagnolo on was a 2024 Version before the upgrades to the frame design (Dogma F mk 2)
still, if you go the Colnago, Pinarello or Bianchi websites, Campagnolo is nowhere to be seen.
Is it the current MY26
Is it the current MY26 Frameset? The last dogma I saw with Campagnolo on was a 2024 Version before the upgrades to the frame design (Dogma F mk 2)
still, if you go the Colnago, Pinarello or Bianchi websites, Campagnolo is nowhere to be seen.
I have a few bikes, only one
I have a few bikes, only one has Campag, with Delta brakes and Record groupset. It’s beautiful.
If Campag stuck their noses out and started making shiny silver groupsets, one would be on my next road bike. I hate black groupsets.
Over 45 years of serious
Over 45 years of serious riding my best bike has always had Campag. Spare Roadbike and winter hack have recently had Ultegra and 105, respectively.
My current Colnago C64 has Record 12-speed mechanical Disc and it works beautifully. The brakes are great. It looks the part and only 200g heavier than Super Record. And Merlin were doing a deal!
The outgoing Electronic 12-speed groupset without the thumbshifter has been a failure. Campag lost their loyal base and failed to win over new buyers. The new 13-speed Super Record groupset is hugely expensive but by all accounts works well. Looks gorgeous. Campag MUST bring out a Chorus version, without titanium, a bit less carbonfibre and priced perhaps between Dura-Ace and Ultegra (closer to Ultegra). If they do that, 10,000s of diehard Campag-heads like me will save up and buy it. They might also have a chance of winning new customers.
Let’s all become honorary Catholics for a minute and say a prayer for Campagnolo. They deserve to survive.
I’m a reformed Campag fanboy.
I’m a reformed Campag fanboy.
What caused me to drift away was the constant re-fettling that Campag would do with their groupsets which would cause issues with compatibility. Knowing what goes with what in the 11x range became a full time job. I bought Potenza, a perfectly decent groupset that was IMO better than Ultegra in many ways, but it wasn’t really compatible with anything else in the range, not even the hydraulic version of the same groupset, and then was dumped without spares in no time at all.
I disagree with the previous poster that the ergonomics aren’t as good as Shimano. They are superior; Shimano and SRAM levers are ugly. The thumb shifter is perfect for mechanical shifting.
Aside from compatibility on their own range, I believe the inability to use more widely available Shimano cassettes and wheels is another reason they are failing. I hope they adopt what should be the standard – Shimano free hub. It’s not the best solution but it’s the most common. I’d love to hear GFK’s (if you know, you know) take on this. He’d no doubt out a very interesting spin on this story.
If they want to return to profitability, just design two mid range groupsets, mechanical at first, and then trickle down an electronic version in time. But make them compatible with Shimano and stick with that for the future.
I wish them the best of luck.
I would hate to see
I would hate to see Campagnolo disappear. I have 12 speed Record on my winter bike and it’s beautiful and a joy to use. My C60 has Super Record RS which is stunning to look at and performs superbly, It is like art. Campag gearchanges are much more noisy than Shimano but are more precise and not as vague.
I agree that the high end bike manufacturers should offer Campag, especially the Italian brands such as Colnago, De Rosa and Pinarello. In fact I am surprised they don’t, given how staunchly loyal many european countries areto their own countries brands.
The fact that theres only one
The fact that theres only one Italian bike maker left (I think) that even fits Campy suggests its Campy that has done something wrong….
I was a Campag fan boy. Then
I was a Campag fan boy. Then I bought a 11 speed chorus groupset and the brakes were made by tektro and poorly finished. 105 works better then Record.
Sad but unless they can start polishing athena cranks from 92 with stardust, its over
I love Campg stuff, but
I love Campg stuff, but cannot ride the big gears any more. As far as I know, Campag don’t make kit for older, weaker folks who need lower gears. So I’m forced to go the Shimano route.
And I echo the lack of commonality re cassette hubs
Campag do Compact chainsets
Campag do Compact chainsets (50/34) and Road cassettes up to a 34-tooth sprocket.
They offer chainsets all the
They offer chainsets all the way down to 45×29, and cassettes as big as 11-36
I would happily ride Campag
I would happily ride Campag but they are essentially the Colnago of the groupset world. Massively overpriced and they don’t have the brand association with the likes of Pogacar to pursuade the wealthy to buy them.
I imagine that a lot of the people who ride Campy are either super wealthy and into their boutique bikes or older people riding the older stuff. Their core market is probably close to retirement age at this point.
Campagnolo are paying the
Campagnolo are paying the price for their complacency many years ago, when they dominated. The first Shimano indexed DA group absolutely changed the game, and then no doubt STI did it again. Campagnolo simply didn’t respond well enough, and has always since been hampered by being too small to compete.
Frankly, the only way I can see them keeping going is to find a partner, someone who can invest to help them broaden their range. And some consistency in their approach would help – simply adding speeds to their massively overpriced top groupset isn’t sufficient.
SRAM have shown what can be done with an innovative model, done well and done consistently. Campagnolo need to do the same. But their days are numbered unless they find investment.
I have campag record 10 speed
I have campag record 10 speed, all components around 10-15 years old. It is superb because it works smoothly, and is mechanically and ergonomically near-perfect. I think it is still better performing than Shimano and Sram groupsets on other bikes I have.
I’m also a big fan of Fulcrum wheels, which if I understand, are basically Campagnolo-owned and designed wheels
I think the more recent groupsets have lost their way, aesthetically, mechanically and maybe also ergonomically. The loss of cheaper groupsets like centaur was also a major loss.
I’ve a Veloce/Centaur/Chorus
I’ve a Veloce/Centaur/Chorus mixed groupset now, it started out as Veloce 10 speed. It looked beautiful but….the crank that they didn’t mak ethe tools foor, the shifters that fail peridocally in the same way each time, the willingness to rust, the lack and cost of spare parts… means it is just not viable anymore. Next time a compoennt fails its a complete refresh for Shimano 105 which is just better quality and works better all round.
Such a shame. In all honesty the last Campagnolo USP was shiny silver and that is disappearing now as are options for the more modest of pocket.
Agree with the comment about investment – big investment/partnering up needed because there is probably no other brand in cycling with the Campagnolo heritage but it being squandered.
I thought I was the only one
I thought I was the only one but apparently not. I have a Veloce/Centaur groupset which looks superb and works perfectly. Many of the components seem to last forever. However, like you I went through many sets of shifters – a few Quickshift sets and then Powershift and ‘had’ to get a new Powershift RD for “compatibility” (even though it actually wasn’t necessary) according to Campagnolo. When my LBS went bust I managed to get hold of a set of NOS Ultrashift Veloce shifters with the superior (metal ratchet) internals that allow multiple shifts on the thumb lever. These have lasted much longer and meant I could swap back to my original RD. Without these shifters I would have had to scrap the lot many years ago. After the bolt holder snapped off my original RD(!) I’ve swapped back to the newer RD which to my surprise worked absolutely fine! I’m expecting some other bizarre problem and have 105 11sp ready to go. It turns out that the cable pull on 10sp is the same regardless of gruppo. Only the RD spring tension differs. What a palaver.
PS: Ultrashift shifters are now confined to Chorus and above so the current Centaur groupset (with Powershift shifters) is a complete waste of money and I’m not sure why anyone would even sell it as complete item.
I don’t think it is fair to
I don’t think it is fair to say that Campagnolo have not tried in the mid-market. Their Athena 11, Potenza 11 and Centaur 11 groupsets were all excellent (I stlll have the Athena and Centaur on bikes) and the Centaur is still available, albeit rim-brake only. Chorus 12 mechanical isn’t cheap by any means but it is not unobtanium. Ekar GT 13 works well on the gravel end and is fairly affordable, as much or more so as my GRX 820 12 speed
Their problem was the loss of OEM business at a time when fewer and fewer riders were buying a frame and building it up, as opposed to buying complete bikes. Some misfires in that market by being a bit more expensive, sticking too long to rim brake offerings, and also having a proprietary cassette spline pushed them to the periphery and so there is seemingly no road back.
So, it is not surprising to me that they would finally go ultra high end for road offerings. The preserve of those who still build up their own bikes and of custom or top end offerings frame-wise. It isn’t the market I qm in but it makes a certain sense, even if it takes them down a niche path.
Hope it works and that they are some day able to mid tier products like they do with Ekar and their Campagnolo and Fulcrum wheels.
Campag’s reticence and price
Campag’s reticence and price are it’s undoing. Like, yes – it’s great stuff but having weird designs for equipment ie a BB axle that’s in 2 ½’s is weird as !