Made In America No More: Cannondale Goes Canadian As Doral Corp. Makes Bid of Approximately 200 Million

C is for Canada: Cannondale frames will now be under the Canadian flag after being sold this week

Cannondale bicycles, one of only two American-made bicycles (the other is Trek) ridden by professional cyclists in the USA, announced today that they have been sold to a Canadian conglomerate named Dorel, for approxamitely 200 million dollars. Dorel also owns the Schwinn, GT and Mongoose brands.

Dorel is an established company that should have no problem supporting the Cannondale brand

Over the years, the Cannondale brand has garnered great results in the European peloton, winning the Giro d'Italia and other large races. Mario Cipollini, "The Lion King" originally made the brand famous in the 90's, riding for the Italian team Saeco. He and his team came to the Tour de France in 1997 looking to increase Cannondale brand awareness in Europe as a whole, and did just that.

Cipo's exploits in the 1997 TDF were largely responsible for Canondale's recognition outside of America as a first-class bicycle maker.

"Super Mario" lost 18 seconds in the Prologue, but stormed to victory in stage one (in stars and stripes shorts---for Cannondale) and took the yellow jersey with time bonuses. The next day, he arrived at the start line with a full yellow team kit, complete with a brand new yellow Cannondale bike, further increasing awareness of the American-made frame. Back then, you were fined if you raced in anything other than team issued apparel. No matter to Cipo and Saeco, they took the fine.

"The Killer" strikes: Di Luca attacked perfectly in Liege in 2007 to win the world's oldest Classic. Frank Schleck and "Tin Tin" Rebellin trail behind him

His domination would continue, as Cipo came first again the next day in stage two, winning in the yellow jersey. An extremely rare occurance, winning a stage in the Tour while in yellow is an experience to savor forever, just ask Fabian Cancellera. Cipollini got the most out of his time in yellow that year, no doubt to the delight of Cannondale executives back in the USA.

In 2004, Cannondale's bikes were so light that the UCI outlawed them for pro competition---they had to be laden down with ballast to make them weigh as much as other frames. The resulting "Legalize My Cannondale" campaign was ingenious

Years later the Canondale frame was still being seen at the front of the peloton, this time in the form of day-glo green, under the Liquigas moniker. Danilo Di Luca, "The Killer," took victory in the oldest Classic in cycling, Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 2007, and weeks later capped an improbable overall victory in the Giro d'Italia. Once again Cannondale was on top of the cycling world, and making the biggest headlines in the sport.

In the pink: Like in 1997 at the TDF with Cipollini, Cannondale outfitted Giro champ Di Luca with a pink bike to match his jersey in the 2007 Giro

What will happen now to the Cannondale brand is anyone's guess. Will Dorel ownership continue to grow the brand, keeping it involved in pro cycling, or will doping concerns eventually see Cannondale bikes fazed out of competition riding? One thing that will always remain will be the enormous success and reputation that Cannondale has enjoyed while a part of the pro peloton. Deserverdly, they have earned the recognition and success they have built up over the years, as one of the world's leading frame builders.

Salvatore "Meatball" Commesso won his lone Italian national championship on a Cannondale