For over a century, the initials BH (Beistegui Hermanos) have been synonymous with bicycles, cycling and sportsmanship. Their industrial activity began in 1909, in the arms manufacturing town of Eibar (Guipúzcoa, Spain), thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit of three brothers: Cosme, Domingo and Juan Beistegui Albistegui.

The company, which initially manufactured weapons, took a radical change of direction in 1923 after the end of World War I. Our production focus was on providing a fast, comfortable and affordable means of transport for the residents of Eibar. This resulted in some very lightweight, agile and reli|1||able bicycles. A new stage had begun.

From that family workshop - the starting point that shaped us - we moved to our new facilities in 1926. Eibar's mountainous landscape meant that we had to develop a unique type of industrial construction. And the buildings built by the Beistegui brothers in Eibar, with Francisco Zumarraga as the master builder, form part of the town's unique architecture and hold great importance in terms of the town's character.

This represented the birth of one of the current icons of cycling and one of the most established and successful brands. Legendary cyclists have used our bicycles to make their names on two wheels and many fans have been able to enjoy this sport that we love. Competition is part of our character.

The first cycling competitions were held in the 30s. These were the years of heroes. The beginning of cycling as a professional sport required the support of brands and we were one of the first companies to show our commitment to sponsorship. Our passion for competition grew during this period.

Vicente Trueba and Juan Puyol, editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Informaciones", approached us in this decade. They wanted us to get involved in a new project, something the French had been doing each year since 1903, to create the Tour of Spain. They only needed 75,000 pesetas for cash prizes and the involvement of brands such as BH in order to create it. The answer was clear - and very easy to reach. Obviously, we said YES. The rest is part of the BH brand's history, linked to the ever-lasting passion for the Vuelta a España.

News about the first Vuelta de España finally appeared on the front pages of newspapers in 1935. On 29 April, 50 cyclists were doing stretching exercises in front of the Ministry of Public Works, at the Ronda de Atocha in Madrid. Shortly before 8 a.m., the Assault Guard ensured that people on the street would not disrupt the start of the first stage. 14 stages covering a total distance of 3,431 kilometres, with fervent fans crowded on the roadside to support their idols.

It was an edition that saw the first great duel between Gustaaf Deloor and Mariano Cañardo, won by the Belgian cyclist from Team BH. His name was written in the competition's history books in golden letters. The first winner of one of the main tours – Tour, Giro and Vuelta; who was followed by 7 other winners in the history of cycling, such as Álvaro Pino, Roberto Heras or Aleksandr Vinokourov.

Bicycle design was consolidated during the 50s and 60s. Bicycles represented autonomy in a world in the midst of change, the search for modernity and the introduction of new concepts. They were the most prized possession for children and a vehicle for their adventures that would take them far from the watchful eyes of adults. And they became the daily means of transport for adults. Long- and short-distance rides that were enjoyed by many, before and after their long work days.

The company also moved its plant to a different city during this period. We left Eibar and moved to Vitoria. A newly-built industrial plant in Alava, featuring the latest technologies in order to take on the new and exciting challenges of upcoming years.

Cycling has always been very popular in this region and this has allowed us to launch models that have become very popular, with their own personality and which have achieved international recognition. The BH Gacela was born. However, this was also a period in which the company consolidated its presence in professional cycling. Human beings compete for fun, excitement and for the challenge. And cycling was consolidated as one of the number one sports.

Cycling was experiencing one of its most popular eras. The Vuelta a España was established as one of the main tours, the Tour de France was on the front page of international newspapers, and a new phenomenon started to stand out outside the United States: mountain bikes reached our stores.

In 1984, we introduced our first Spanish mountain bike – the BH Running Bull. Five-speed, single-plate and 26" wheels with iconic blue tyres. The BH Top Line was launched a few years later, based on this model, another flagship bicycle that still stirs up passion, and a few tears of emotion among hardcore MTB fans.

Road cycling fans discussed the prowess of Colombian cyclists, nicknamed "beetles", who would break up the pack, and even the race when they reached the first slopes. Fabio Parra, Lucho Herrera, Pacho Rodriguez… these were just a few of the cyclists that were challenged by the cyclist from Galicia who started his cycling career after someone found a lost bicycle and gave it to him: Alvaro Pino – winner of the Vuelta a España in 1986 and two-time Top 10 cyclist in the Tour de France. He was the leader of Team BH (formerly Zor-BH) who experienced moments of glory, such as the dual win at Alpe d’Huez with Fede Etxabe, followed by Anselmo Fuerte in the Tour de France ’87 or the stage wins of Lale Cubino in the Vuelta a España and the Tour de France. Who could forget the stage ending at Luz-Ardiden? Lale had raced out of the pack from Tourmalet, with Javier Minguez right behind him in a car, not giving him any information so he would not stop... Result: A 6-minute lead on Perico, Rooks, Parra and Bauer at the finish line.

Fat wheels? Mountainbike? MTB? The faces of surprise of the fans when seeing these first bikes, turned into eternal smiles when they rode those bikes. Two left their mark at that start of the MTB: BH Supra Litage Sakae and BH Coronas –the first for rare bird and the second for its expansion and recognition.

That BH Supra Sakae born in 1991 raised some eyebrows for its advanced solutions at its time. A frame made in Japan –completely in aluminium. His Sakae Pipe stem was a small piece of art with four pieces glued together, three made of aluminium and one made of steel. And it incorporated internal cable routing back in 1991!

The BH Coronas was born together with our MTB team to which it owes its name. Antonio Ortiz, Guillermo from Portugal, “El Quillo” Marzquez… names that illustrate the history of MTB, and that, even today, we can continue enjoying his exploits.

This incipient sport began to spread with the help of young kids passionate about mountain biking –a sport that had just arrived from the United States. And it would soon become an unstoppable trend. But, these MTB kids, with all their enthusiasm, their desire - and their technique, were continually surpassed in the big events by cyclocross riders, much more seasoned with specific training plans for the competition. José Marquez –one of those born from MTB, arrived at that stage. Coming from a land of great cyclists, he won with only 20 years his first National Championship. A crushing victory.

Marquez was one of those geniuses of cycling that in a good day and a circuit with strong climbs was practically unbeatable, but at the same time he did not have the regularity of others –a deficit that always penalized him for the Olympics. A genius who showed all his virtues in a magical 2000 year. National champion, champion of the GP Coronas, and… fourth in the World Championship in Sierra Nevada! A World Championship that had a podium with Miguel Martinez, Roland Green and Bart Brentjens. Seeing those 3 riders that 4th place tastes as gold. Four years later and after two more National Championships, Marquez ended his career at just 27 years old. Genius stuff.

Sidney ’00 opened the door to the triathlon as an Olympic sport and those "crazy youngsters" included a young lad from Vitoria with a calm face and innate physical conditions to become one of the best in the sport. World runner-up at Kona, world champion in the LD triathlon, European IM champion, participated 13 times in the Hawaii IM, personal best of 7h:55:16 at the age of 42... a legend and still participating in triathlons.

Eneko was a forerunner and was followed by the then beardless youngsters who would eventually become world triathlon champions: Mario Mola and Fernando Alarza – world junior champions in 2009 and 2010. This was the birth of the Tri-Armada.

The Vuelta a España which Roberto first experienced as a child was an almost winter-like stage during the changeable month of April. However, it was September when he started to master it and summer was almost over. It was during the last weeks of summer that he managed to turn La Vuelta into his own backyard with 4 trophies – one more than Rominger. La Castellana, filled with cyclists with golden jerseys with "Heras" on their chest and back, became a mainstay every September. In 2005, he became the first winner of the Pro Tour Vuelta, with an outstanding performance when climbing Pajares. And he used the first BH Global Concept, a BH G1 dressed for the occasion. A work of art with precious metals in a black carbon frame decorated with 24k gold touches and the phrase: The Vuelta in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005. A unique bicycle, which would be auctioned to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The amazing climber from Bejar was replaced by the fury from Kazakhstan. Vinokourov added another Vuelta to his track record. The Vuelta in 2006 was a very special tour, since Andrey Kashechkin also won a place on the podium. First and third position in one of the main tours during our first year competing with the Astana Pro Team.

Julie Bresset and Nicola Spirig recall memories of the unforgettable summer of 2012 at the Hadleigh Farm and Hyde Park circuits – venues of the MTB XCO and Triathlon competition of the London 2012 Summer Olympics. Winners of two gold medals at the Olympic games.

This was Julie's consolidation as one of the top cyclists in a year filled with podiums: world champion, French national champion and a gold medal at the Olympic games as the final touch. However, despite Nicola being one of the top cyclists, London betting agencies did not rank her in the top positions of their lists. A photo finish sprint racing against Lisa Nordén, which still leaves us breathless in the final metres.

In our history, London was followed by: Cozumel – where Mario Mola won the first of three world championships; Friedrichshafen – where we received the Eurobike Award for the revolutionary design of NEO e-bikes; Javalambre – the peak of Ángel Madrazo's emotive win in the Vuelta a España; Lenzerheide – World Cup, where Rocío García ranked in the Elite Top 10 for the first time at just 21 years old… And many other cities that have left a mark on us, and which will continue to leave a mark. With a history of more than 100 years, we feel younger than ever.

Technology moves forward and innovation and development have become our key principles, challenging the limits of what bicycles can achieve. The world needs bicycles, new forms of mobility, new leisure options and new ways of living in society. We will continue to build a better world and society together. Would you like to join the challenge?