CENTURION Retrospection Our great deeds
Pioneering spirit The history of CENTURION is closely connected with the history of the company founder: Wolfgang Renner is a racing athlete, adventurer and visionary. If as multiple German Cross Champion, Alpine Crossing pioneer, “first mountain
The story starts in 1976: In Magstadt (Swabia), the Nowack KG Radsportartikel is founded as distributor for CENTURION racing frames and Japanese components. In 1979, BMX is in the focus: With top material and great commitment, CENTURION supports contests and course construction. In 1980, CENTURION CEO Wolfgang Renner discovers an MTB prototype in the USA and adapts it for Europe. In doing so, CENTURION presents the study of Germany’s first MTB – which conquers the bike show as serial model “Country” already in 1982! In 1984, the “Accordo” is introduced as the world’s first trekking bike (genre mix between road/off-road bike). In 1987, Wolfgang Renner is among the first bikers on the roof of the world. His bike “Lhasa-Kathmandu” is specifically created for that Tibet trip. It’s 1991: Nowack becomes the CENTURION Renner KG which proves at the European Bike Contest 1993 (2nd Rank for “Groundbreaking Innovation in Bike Building”) that touring bikes can be turned into everyday versions or MTBs in no time at all. In 1994, CENTURION enters the triathlon scene: At the Ironman on Hawaii, Thomas Hellriegel rides his new “Overdrive” to a record which is still valid today. In 1996, CENTURION stops full-suspension bobbing: The “No Pogo” wins the European Bike Contest. 1997: Again 1st Rank at the European Bike Contest for the trekking bike “Cross Comfort”; the “No Pogo” becomes “Bike of the Year”. In 1998, the “No Pogo Eurofighter” (European components only) scores the same success. In 1999, the “Bike” magazine editors have to invent a new top evaluation (“superb”) for the “No Pogo Comp”. And no less than three bikes rush into the top ranks of the “MountainBIKE” readers’ poll. In 2000, a new global dream team is created: Taiwan’s
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History
biker” in Tibet or simply as CEO of one of Germany’s most traditional bike companies: Since 1976, CENTURION has been representing a pioneering spirit which is thought beyond continuously.