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Van Rysel: From Flanders to the world stage
In the world of road cycling, heritage matters. From the windswept cobbles of Northern France to the steep bergs of Flanders, the sport’s history is etched into the very roads that its racers do battle over.
Born just a stone’s throw from the legendary pavé of Paris-Roubaix, Van Rysel is a brand with deep roots in cycling’s heartland and the home of its biggest monument. But this is no fashionable nostalgic throwback without substance; Van Rysel is a modern racing brand built just as much on innovation and performance as its connection to its home.
With two core segments – Endurance, helping you go further, and Race, helping you go faster – Van Rysel is committed to serving cyclists who chase performance no matter the distance. Whether it’s a Sunday café ride through the Ardennes hills or a full-gas sprint on the famous Roubaix velodrome, a stones throw away from Van Rysel HQ, the brand’s DNA is built around maximising performance.
'From Lille'
The name Van Rysel itself tells a story. In Flemish, 'Van' translates to 'from', while 'Rysel' is the Flemish name for its hometown, Lille. Together, they not only literally mark the brand’s origins, but they are an everyday reminder of the brand's cultural mission too.
Situated in North Eastern France, the city of Lille sits right in the heart of Flanders, home of another monument, the Ronde van Vlaanderen, and a place where bikes are not just a pastime, but a way of life. This geographical and emotional connection defines Van Rysel’s identity.
Only a short ride away lies Compiègne, the start town of Paris-Roubaix, the world’s most iconic one-day race. Here, across sectors like Carrefour de l'Arbre and the Trouée d’Arenberg, cycling’s legends are made: Merckx, De Vlaeminck, Moser, Museeuw, Boonen, Gilbert, and more recently Kopecky, to name just a few of the Belgians to have lifted the famous cobblestone trophy in the Vélodrome André-Pétrieux.
It is on these very roads that Van Rysel’s bikes are developed and tested, ensuring they are forged in the same fire as those legendary names and their contemporaries. The region's unpredictable weather, brutal terrain, and fiercely competitive amateur scene make it a proving ground that few other brands have at their disposal.
This connection was underlined when the 2025 Tour de France Grand Départ rolled out from Lille. For Van Rysel, it wasn’t just a local celebration; it was a full-circle moment that brought the world’s most prestigious race to its doorstep. The roads the pros raced on were the same roads used daily by Van Rysel engineers and test riders.
The proof is in the peloton
Sponsorship in cycling is common, but Van Rysel’s approach goes far beyond simply providing bikes and branding.
As a technical partner to the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale WorldTour team, its engineers, designers, and product developers are embedded with the squad, collaborating with riders to co-develop equipment fit for the rigours of the professional peloton.
This relationship allows riders to give feedback instantly. Riders report sensations and performance directly to the design team, who adapt prototypes and make real-time adjustments. This tight integration ensures that nothing gets lost in translation between lab and road, and in turn allows Van Rysel to iterate and innovate quickly and efficiently.
Every watt matters at the top level, and marginal gains are never just theoretical. From wind tunnel testing in partnership with Swiss Side, to the use of aerospace-grade materials thanks to collaborations with aerospace engineers ONERA situated nearby, Van Rysel is applying cutting-edge science to the demands of WorldTour racing. And through its partnership with Deda, a respected name in cycling components, the brand is pushing the envelope in cockpit design and rider ergonomics.
Even its eyewear – designed for clarity, fit, and aerodynamic efficiency – is a result of direct rider input. With custom lens technology and wraparound designs tested in the harshest racing environments, these aren't just a lifestyle accessory; they’re your ticket to more comfort and free speed.
Van Rysel is clearly serious about its core principles of innovation and performance, and it should be a serious contender for your next upgrade, too.
Beyond the bike: Van Rysel is the complete package
What truly sets Van Rysel apart is the breadth and depth of the equipment it supplies – not just to pros, but to everyday cyclists. While most sponsors provide frames or selected gear, Van Rysel supports its team with a comprehensive suite of products, including bikes, helmets, eyewear, clothing, footwear, and more. This unified ecosystem ensures consistency, quality, and a rider experience that’s cohesive from head to toe.
The brand’s Race range is all about speed. Built for riders chasing KOMs, race wins, or personal bests, these bikes are wind-cheating, lightweight, and optimised to the max. Designed in collaboration with elite racers and refined in the wind tunnel, they represent the pinnacle of aero engineering.
Meanwhile, the Endurance range is perfect for sportive riders, long-haul ultra riders, or anyone who simply wants to go further, thanks to a focus on comfort and control over long distances.
These bikes blend stiffness and compliance with relaxed geometry, giving riders the confidence to tackle big days in the saddle, ensuring the only discomfort at the finish line is the burn in your legs.
Importantly, the products developed for the pros are also available to the general public, so if you want to emulate your heroes on the cobbles of the Carrefour de l'Arbre or the slopes of the Oude Kwaremont, you can. Whether it’s a pair of sunglasses or the hyper-aero RCR-F race bike, the same attention to detail and quality control is guaranteed.
West Flanders, born and raised
In a sport that reveres its history while constantly chasing the future, Van Rysel has struck a fine balance.
Rooted in the legendary cycling culture of Lille and Flanders, yet relentlessly forward-looking in design and innovation, it is a brand of passionate cyclists who live and breathe our sport.
By embedding itself deeply in both the professional peloton and the roads where cycling's heart beats strongest, Van Rysel has established itself among the big players.
From the cobbles to the WorldTour, from café rides to Champs-Élysées sprints, Van Rysel is here to stay, and looks as though it's just getting started.