BOLD IDEA, CONTROVERSY AHEAD: Classified is quietly reshaping how we think about bike drivetrains, and this isn’t just hype—it’s a long game that could redefine what OEMs and pros expect from transmission technology.
In the earliest days, hype surrounded Classified as it built toward a future of multi-speed hubs and gearboxes. SRAM’s push toward 1x drivetrains sparked a pivotal shift, and Classified asked a simple question: why settle for 12 speeds when 15 or 16 could be possible with our system? Mathias Plouvier, Classified’s co-founder and CEO, shared this origin story with Cyclingnews, revealing how the drive to create a two-speed hub system emerged from a desire to push past conventional front derailleurs.
Classified has grown into a recognizable player. Although its roots trace back to 2005, the company officially launched in 2019, spearheaded by Plouvier and Dr Roëll van Drutenen. Several team members hail from automotive powertrains, including stints at Punch Powertrain in Belgium, bringing a different engineering perspective to cycling components.
The brand’s ascent likely benefited from high-profile endorsements, notably from Tom Boonen and later Philippe Gilbert, which generated media buzz in Belgium and beyond. Boonen reportedly borrowed a bike with Classified’s system for two weeks and proclaimed he would have won more races with it. This kind of downstream validation helped spread word of the front-derailleur-killer system, which fit neatly with the modern focus on marginal gains, reducing cross-chaining and eliminating the common risk of a front-shift failure.
In early 2023, Victor Campenaerts’ 1x Ridley/ Classified-equipped classics bike stirred discussion, and by 2024, teams like Ineos Grenadiers were using Classified hub-equipped disc wheels in key events, including a Giro d’Italia time trial where the system’s potential was spotlighted by figures like Filippo Ganna—until a surprise outcome shifted attention away.
Recently, Classified achieved a major milestone by integrating Shimano Di2 with its Powershift hub. This enables a Shimano Di2 shifter to control the Classified hub, removing the need for an extra on-bar shift button, simplifying the cockpit, and boosting system integration.
If you step back, Classified’s trajectory looks like a deliberate, steady climb. The brand has launched a robust product, seen adoption by non-sponsored WorldTour teams, and navigated a space long dominated by Shimano, SRAM, and other giants by prioritizing collaboration over confrontation. Rather than entering a straight competition with Shimano, Classified chose a partnership path for Di2 integration, signaling a broader industry strategy rather than a zero-sum battle.
Yet the pro road arena presents obvious hurdles. Sponsorships and supplier agreements complicate messaging around non-sponsor equipment. Ineos Grenadiers reportedly purchased and tested Classified gear without the brand’s direct involvement, and road-team exclusivity often prohibits full disclosure in advertising. Time-trial scenarios offer a bit more leeway, but overall, widespread pro adoption remains constrained by agreements and brand loyalties.
This creates a central tension: the potential for Classified to disrupt remains constrained by sponsorship frameworks, even as OEMs and teams validate the technology with real race results. The company’s response isn’t to burn bridges but to deepen relationships with OEMs like Shimano, leveraging joint opportunities to broaden market access.
Plouvier frames this as a marathon, not a sprint. The goal is sustainable, long-term engagement with OEMs and the broader cycling industry. OEM partnerships, he notes, are the engine of growth, because three to four years often pass between a product’s concept and its widespread availability on bikes. Early collaboration with OEMs, testing, and validation are key steps in that process.
Looking ahead, Classified continues to emphasize the OEM pathway while expanding its aftermarket presence. The roadmap includes multi-speed hubs, integrated gearboxes, and motors aimed at positioning Classified as a leading OEM supplier in the e-bike era and beyond. Specific product details remain under wraps for now, but the company promises more news in the coming months as it aligns with industry partners and timing across bike-production cycles.
In Plouvier’s words, the mission is clear: build a lasting company grounded in serious transmissions, meaningful development, and strong industry relationships. The journey—rooted in automotive discipline and a purposeful, steady approach—reflects a belief that true progress in cycling tech takes time, trust, and collaboration.
What about the front derailleur itself? While 1x setups are increasingly common on road bikes, the broader question remains: is the era of the front derailleur truly ending, or is it merely changing shape? Plouvier suggests the latter view: the front derailleur feels old-fashioned and likely nearing its expiry, though not in a fixed, universally timed way.
Classified’s ambitions are ambitious. If the company can translate OEM collaboration into broad, affordable, and reliable gear innovations, it could lead a shift toward a new era of bike technology—one where speed, simplicity, and integrated systems redefine performance for riders at all levels.
Would you welcome a future where OEMs routinely specify multi-speed hubs and integrated transmissions on mass-market bikes, or do you prefer keeping traditional drivetrain conventions as they are? And as this technology matures, what trade-offs would you consider acceptable in the quest for cleaner, more efficient shifting?
