Focus 2018 road & cyclo-cross guide: Izalco, Paralane or Mares?
Take your pick from the Izalco race bike, Paralane endurance machine and Mares cyclo-cross steed
German giant Focus was founded in 1992 by three-time cyclocross world champion Mike Kluge. The following year, he rode a Focus bike to glory in the German national championships as well as finishing runner-up in the World Championships, and, together with bike manufacturer Derby Cycle Werke, he began developing the Focus model range.
Kluge concentrated on mountain bikes at first, but soon moved into the touring sector. Pro riders quickly began to experience success on the world stage using Focus bikes – Hanka Kupfernagel became 2005 cyclocross world champion on a Focus Mares Team bike, and two years later she won the 2007 individual time trial at the World Championships, again riding a Focus.
By 2010, members of the German Pro Tour Team, Team MILRAM, were riding Focus racing bikes, as well as three other European Continental Teams – Team Van Vliet, Team Jelly Belly and Team NetApp. The following year, Focus was represented on the World Tour for the first time as the partner of the pro team Team Katusha. In 2012, Focus sponsored the Italian ProContinental Team Acqua & Sapone.
Following the demise of Acqua & Sapone, it was announced that Focus would be the Official Technical Partner for the AG2R La Mondiale Pro Cycling Team for the 2013 season. Team members rode the Izalco Team SL in one-day events and stage races, the Izalco Chrono in time trials, and the Mares in cyclocross. A highlight was Christophe Riblon’s performance in the Tour de France, where he won the 18th stage on the daunting Alpe d’Huez.
