Matteo Cigala and David McQuaid team up on Italian project
Matteo Cigala has jumped right into the Irish scene; winning big races and coaching top riders. He now teams up with David McQuaid on a new project.
The form rider on the home scene at the moment and a man who has already been in the bike game for 20 years are teaming up with an Italian project in Ireland.
Matteo Cigala has become an ambassador with David McQuaid, whose DMC Sports are the distributors for Miche and Santini in Ireland.
The brands - top end wheels and quality custom clothing - are both Italian, as is Cigala of course.
And while Cigala is top of the Cycling Ireland rankings and also claimed a stage of Rás Mumhan, McQuaid said it wasn’t just the Italian’s riding that made him a natural fit.
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“It’s pretty incredible the way he’s integrated himself right into the Irish scene so quickly,” he said.
“Obviously he did very well last year on the bike and he’s moved up another gear this year.
“But he’s also set up his own coaching business, so he’s selling himself to the Irish scene and really getting stuck in in every sense, he has a good network there now. And I really like that about him.
“Our Santini clothing and Miche wheels are Italian and I think Matteo coming to Ireland from Italy and getting on so well so quickly; it speaks volumes about the guy.
"And we’re delighted to team up with him. I’ve always had a short spot for Italy and its people.”
Cigala's SMS Santini kit, top. And two other examples of the SMS Santini kit McQuaid has done for other clubs - Bikeworx Celbridge and Kilmallock Cycles. The kit can be supplied to clubs and sportives; indeed any event, business or organisation.
Cigala Coaching has already been given McQuaid’s Santini treatment, with a new kit in the company’s livery.
The duo were introduced two years ago when McQuaid was meeting Navan Road Club to fit their riders with their club kit for last year.
And as McQuaid rode in Italy for a number of years they had plenty to talk about.
He says teaming up with Cigala is part of a new strategy for DMC Sports.
With the cycling business in Ireland, indeed globally, changing; McQuaid said it was more important than ever to set clear strategies and really focus hard on them.
“We’re around almost 15 years now and we’ve tried different things to stimulate brand awareness and association,” he said.
“Some years back we worked with the Cycling Ireland and Triathlon Ireland and that went well. Our brands were very happy and the sponsorship investment was overall a good one.
“Things have evolved a lot since then in the market place. You now have the impact of social media and an increase in competition across all fields.
“So we took a step back and watched to see how we could improve our relationships and our image and that of the brands.
“Compared to eight years ago, for example, we deal with almost 25 per cent fewer retailers.
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The Miche Supertype 338s; carbon with tubulars. Rims 38mm height, 23mm wide. Set weighing in at 1,195g.
“Market conditions have changed a lot across our own sport and businesses or sole trades have had to adapt very quickly and smartly.
“The cycling retail area in Ireland will never be the same again, it's shifted greatly.
“In that sense it is very important to pick you strategy for promoting your brands. And then put your resources behind that, and only that.”
Cigala said he was delighted to get the call to team up with McQuaid.
And while working on the business side of Irish cycling is his job now, he says the kit McQuaid is supplying is at the premium end of the market.
“The Santini clothing fits like a second skin; the colours of the new Cigala Cycling kit really stand out; very bright and distinctive.
“David gave me a pair of Miche carbon SWR wheels at the start of the season and they go really well, very stiff. They respond really well and it’s the kind of kit you want to use anyway.
"I am currently using the SRW tubeless model 36-50mm which is the perfect set of wheels for Irish roads and conditions.
“During crosswind, the 36 mm front rim keeps the stability on the bike without sacrificing aerodynamics.
“The wheels are really responsive, rigid and attractive. The acceleration is instant, therefore perfect for sprinting.
“I’m loving the puncture resistance technology of tubeless as it makes me more confident while I am racing, and without the inner tube, the rolling resistance is superb.
“OK, the brands are Italian and SMS Santini is based in Bergamo very close to where I’m from near Lake Garda.
“But you don’t want to be associated with brands or use kit when you’re training or racing unless it’s top quality and looks great. And that’s what I’ve gotten with the kit David supplies.
"I can understand now why some clubs in Ireland have used Santini for as long as they have.
As races like the Rás and Shay Elliott get closer, Cigala will also use Miche’s high end tubular Supertype wheels as well as the tubeless ready clincher SWRs.
Brands with history and quality
McQuaid felt brands like Miche and SMS Santini had a rich history, stretching back almost 100 years in Miche’s case, that they didn’t fully exploit in their marketing.
“They do incredible stuff in terms how they produce their products and I’ve said it to Santini before that they should make more of that; let people in on what they do a bit more.
“So with Matteo we get a top rider and a nice guy with a great attitude who will test this gear in training and racing and promote via social media some insights into the history of both brands.
"We’re getting that feedback from him and we’ll send that on to the brands back in Italy as well as pass onto our dealer network.
"The information that has come back on the tubeless-ready with the SWR is already with the Miche dealers here.”
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