Monterey, CA – April 16, 2026 — Van Rysel is pleased to announce the appointment of Karsten Hagen as U.S. Sales Manager, reinforcing the brand's commitment to establishing a premium presence within the North American specialty retail channel.
Hagen brings over two decades of experience in the cycling and endurance sports industry, including 14 years in sales leadership at Giant Bicycles USA, where he most recently served as Head of Sales for the Western U.S. region. His extensive background also includes senior regional sales roles at Garmin International and Trek Bicycle Corporation. His expertise across performance technology and specialty retail positions him perfectly to lead Van Rysel's expansion in the U.S. market.
In his new role, Hagen will focus on growing and supporting Van Rysel's network of specialty retailers across the United States, working closely with partners to drive wholesale sell-in and retail sell-through performance.
Developed in Lille, France, and raced at the highest level of professional cycling, Van Rysel continues to gain global momentum through its combination of performance-driven engineering and real-world race validation. Recent results from the Decathlon CMA CGM team, including the rapid rise and podium performances of Paul Seixas, further reinforce the brand's growing presence at the highest level of the sport.
"Van Rysel is at an exciting inflection point in the U.S. market," said Hagen. "The product performs at the highest level of the sport, and the opportunity within the specialty channel is significant. I look forward to working closely with our retail partners to build a meaningful and lasting presence."
Beverly Jacobus, Director of Specialty Brands at Decathlon NA, added: "I have known and respected Karsten for a long time. He brings deep experience in the specialty retail channel and a clear understanding of how to build and support dealer networks effectively. His background with leading performance brands makes him a strong fit for the future of Van Rysel in the U.S."
As part of his onboarding, Hagen joined the Van Rysel management team at Paris-Roubaix last weekend. He will also attend key industry events this spring, including the Sea Otter Classic and the Belgian Waffle Ride series, to engage with retailers and further immerse himself in the brand's performance DNA.
Van Rysel's U.S. strategy centers on a credibility-first rollout, focused on building a network of high-quality IBD partners who represent the brand at the highest level.
About Van Rysel
Van Rysel is Decathlon's performance road cycling brand, designed and developed in Lille, France. Built for racers and performance-focused riders, Van Rysel bikes are engineered through advanced aerodynamics, rigorous testing, and real-world validation at the highest levels of professional cycling.
