Orbea

Orbea is a Spanish bike manufacturer based in the Basque town of Mallabia. Part of Mondragón Cooperative Corporation, Orbea is Spain’s largest bike manufacturer and currently operates in over 65 countries across the world.

History

Originally based in Eibar, Orbea grew steadily during the middle of the 20th century, producing up to 50,000 bikes in a year at times. This increased profile was helped by its pro cycling team featuring in the Tour de France from 1934.

Yet, despite the company’s success as a manufacturer and pro cycling team, it faced severe financial uncertainty, and nearly bankruptcy, in 1969 due to an economic crisis. To keep the company afloat and ensure the future of its more than 1,000-strong workforce, the business was transferred to the employees and it became part of the Modragón Cooperative Group in 1971.

A few years later, Orbea moved into its current headquarters in Mallabia and reignited its ambition to sponsor a professional cycling team. It would sponsor Pedro Delgado’s Orbea-Gin MG team as he won La Vuelta a España for the first of two times in his career. Later in the 1980s, Orbea started producing mountain bikes and launched a professional mountain biking team.

In the decades that followed, Orbea began to internationalize its products, first exporting to France and then other major markets including the USA, Italy, the UK, Belgium, Germany and Australia. The company now sells bikes in more than 60 countries. On top of that, its range has expanded to take in road, mountain bike, gravel, triathlon, and urban bikes.

Key Moments

1971 - Orbea joins the Mondragón Cooperative Corporation

Arguably the most important moment in the history of Orbea, the move to join the cooperative ensured that the company’s 131-year history, as well as the workers’ livelihoods, was in safe hands for years to come.

1989 - Orbea's first mountain bike

After more than half a century building road bikes, Orbea entered the world of mountain biking in 1989, and hasn't looked back. Today, more than 75% of sales come from mountain bikes and e-mountain bikes.

2009 - E-bike journey begins

Orbea launched its first electric bike in 2009, an urban model known as the Eline. It then produced a first electric-assisted road bike with the Gain's low-profile hub motor in 2017, with the model going carbon fibre in 2019. In 2022, Orbea strengthened its commitment to e-bikes by partnering with Shimano to create the OOLab R&D programme.

Orbea's bikes

© Orbea

Road - The flagship road bike is the Orca, whose name comes from the first two letters of the brand, and carbon. This is also available in an aero-focused version, while the Avant is the endurance bike for more relaxed rides.

Mountain - There are no fewer than six lines of mountain bikes, the Oiz being the flagship XC racer, with the Alma offering another option, while the Laufey and Occam cater to the downhill trail riders. There is an Enduro model in the Rallon and a leisure bike in the Onna.

Gravel - The Terra is Orbea's gravel offering, available in aluminium and carbon versions, striking a balance between adventure capability and speed.

Triathlon - The Ordu is the flagship triathlon bike, previously ridden to victory at the Ironman World Championships and further refined in recent years.

Urban - The Carpe is a nippy city bike, while the Vector is the more versatile flat-bar offering.

E-bikes - The Gain is Orbea's prized electric-assisted discreet-motor road bike, while the mountain bikers have bikes for enduro -the Wild - for downhill - the Rise - plus a couple of hardtail options in the Urrun and Keram. There Mountain biking is where the focus of the OOLab lies, and the Wild is an Enduro bike, while the Rise is a trail bike. There are also no fewer than five urban e-bikes, covering commuting, city riding, and touring.

Did you know?

Pro cycling

© Velo Collection / Getty Images

Current sponsorships

• Lotto Dstny - in early 2024 Orbea was announced as the bike sponsor of Lotto Dstny with both the Orca and Orca Aero bikes released in the team's livery. The bikes feature Orbea Oquo wheels which marks the first outing for the brand's own wheels in WolrdTour racing. In terms of team livery the Orca is a timeless affair with a black frame paired with a fork sporting the team's red and teal colours. While the Orca Aero features a greater splash of colour with red extending further along the frame.

Orbea's Orca and Orca Aero will be used by Lotto Dstny through the 2024 season

• Ceratizit-WNT
• Euskaltel-Euskadi
• Laboral Kutxa
• Orbea Fox Endura
  

Notable wins

• Vuelta a España (Pedro Delgado, 1985)
• Olympic Games road race (Samuel Sánchez, 2008)
• Olympic Games XC Mountain Bike (Julien Absalon, 2008)
• Tour de France stage win at Alpe d'Huez (Iban Mayo, 2003)
• Critérium du Dauphiné (Iban Mayo, 2004)
• UCI Mountain Bike World Championships XC (Catharine Pendrel, 2011)