DMT

DMT is an Italian shoe manufacturer based in Verona, specialising in high-performance cycling shoes. It produces cycling shoes fit for road, gravel, triathlon and mountain biking, with a keen emphasis on lightweight comfort.

History

The company has been producing footwear since 1978 when it was founded by Federico Zechetto. The Italian previously worked for a cycling clothing company and was repeatedly asked for high-quality cycling shoes from his clients across Europe. With this in mind, Zechetto decided to launch his own business to fill the gap in the market, naming it Diamant, or Diamond in English.

As a small shoe manufacturer just starting out, Diamant’s quality products caught the eye of fellow Italian manufacturer Diadora. This helped the company to boost its reputation and connections, resulting in them making custom Diadora shoes for Giro d’Italia winner Giovanni Battaglin in 1981.

The company continued to collaborate with shoe manufacturers during the 1980s and 1990s. Alongside Diadora, Zechetto developed the first PVC-soled cycling shoes. Many of its partnerships sought to produce shoes that put performance at the forefront and enhance a rider’s pedal power as clipless pedals became more popular.

In 1996, Zechetto moved to launch DMT in a bid to make high-end cycling shoes without another company’s logo taking all the plaudits. It launched the R3 shoe first, swiftly followed by the Cronox in 1998.

Since the turn of the century, DMT has continued to share the similar marginal gains mentality that most of the cycling industry has fostered. It partnered with Boa Fit System in 2012 to deliver a shoe that was both faster and more secure than before. Meanwhile, in 2018, DMT became the first company to create a fully 3D knit cycling shoe.

Key Moments

1981 - Diamant team up with Diadora

A key moment in the company’s rise through the footwear market ranks was when it produced custom shoes for the Italian firm that would go on to be used by that year’s Giro d’Italia winner Giovanni Battaglin.

1986 - Diamant becomes DMT

After over a decade of producing shoes for other manufacturers, Zechetto launched DMT, a high performance shoe company that didn’t have to bear the logo of any other company.

2018 - The first-ever fully 3D knit cycling shoe

DMT proudly states it was the first company to release a fully 3D knit cycling shoe back in 2018, even if other companies had launched shoes with knitted uppers shortly before then. The company partnered with sprinter Elia Viviani to develop a comfortable, breathable and lightweight racing shoe.

DMT's shoes

Road: With both lace-up and BOA dial system road shoes on offer, DMT’s road range uses knit technology to reduce weight and improve comfort. Its top-tier models include the KR0 and the KR SL shoes.

Gravel: DMT’s GK1 gravel shoe features a knitted 3D upper and reinforced laces. A Michelin outsole also offers added stiffness for challenging terrain.

Triathlon: The KT1 triathlon shoes from DMT are made from a breathable, knitted material and can be slipped on for quick transition.

Off-road: DMT has a range of XC-Marathon and Enduro shoes that share the same focus on comfort as the road models whilst also ensuring maximum energy transfer and ground grip. The shoes, such as the top-level KM0 model, are fastened using the BOA dial system.

Did you know?

Pro cycling

Current sponsorships: Tadej Pogačar, Elia Viviani, Juan Ayuso, Team Laboral Kutxa, DMT Racing Team, Team Euskaltel-Euskadi.

Previous sponsorships: Philippe Gilbert.

Notable wins:

• Tadej Pogačar claims back-to-back Tour de France wins in 2020 and 2021 whilst wearing DMT shoes.
• Pogačar has also now been victorious in three of the five one-day Monuments, with two wins at the Giro di Lombardia (2021 and 2022), as well as wins at the 2023 Ronde van Vlaanderen and the 2021 Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
• Elia Viviani achieved stage wins across all three Grand Tours between 2015 and 2019, alongside a points classification at the 2018 Giro. The Italian also won the gold on the track in the Rio 2016 Olympics Omnium event as well as back-to-back Elimination World Championship titles in 2021 and 2022.
• Philippe Gilbert won the 2012 World Championships road race wearing the Prisma 2.0 - he also won five Monuments and seven Vuelta a España stages during his career.