Giro Sport Design has announced the launch of the Imperial All-Season (AS), a performance road cycling shoe that the company notes is designed for elite-level efficiency in colder and wetter conditions. The product launch arrives alongside a strategic reinforcement of the brand’s European operations, including the appointment of Daan van Meeuwen as Marketing Specialist EMEA.
Based in Barcelona, Spain, van Meeuwen will lead Giro’s regional marketing strategy as the brand seeks to build deeper connections with riders and retail partners across the UK and Europe. The brand has also partnered with Fusion Media to manage its communications and PR strategy for snow and bike categories across the European region.
The new Imperial AS has been developed in collaboration with WorldTour riders including Biniam Girmay and Paul Seixas, alongside Giro’s footwear development team in Annecy, France. It is engineered for early-season training and shoulder-season racing where weather resistance is required without sacrificing power transfer.
Raphael Dale, Footwear Development Director at Giro Sport Design, said “Our footwear development team works hand-in-hand with our professional athletes to fine-tune every aspect of performance. Input from the top climbers, sprinters, and GC contenders helped shape the Imperial AS to meet the demands of training and challenging spring conditions.”
The shoe features a thermo-bonded two-layer upper made of warp-knitted mesh and a 0.25mm TPU skin. This construction is designed to balance breathability with protection from road spray and wind. It shares the same forged carbon fibre outsole platform used in the Imperial II and Empire SLX II, providing a consistent stiffness profile across Giro’s top-tier road range.
The closure system utilises the BOA Fit System with Dual-Dial Li2 micro-adjustability and machined aluminium dials. Technical specifications for the Imperial AS include:
- Weight: 234g (per shoe, size 43)
- Size range: EU 36–48 (including half sizes from 42.5–45.5)
- Sole: Giro-designed forged carbon fibre
- Upper: Two-layer mesh and TPU skin
- Footbed: SuperNatural Fit Kit with adjustable arch support
- Price: £399.99, US$449.95, or €449.99
The Imperial AS will be raced throughout the 2026 road season by professional athletes including Kasia Niewiadoma, Jay Vine, and Thymen Arensman.
Regarding the brand’s European expansion, Daan van Meeuwen, Marketing Specialist EMEA at Giro Sport Design, said “We’re excited about this new chapter and look forward to working closely with our partners and the media to make Giro’s presence in Europe stronger than ever.”
Giro Sport Design was founded in 1985 and is a specialist in performance equipment for cycling and snow sports. The brand’s gravity-focused mountain bike media relations will continue to be managed by Mike Rose, while Fusion Media supports broader brand campaigns and trade activity across the continent.
