Marc Hanisch was a professional cyclist, team manager, business student and is now an entrepreneur. With his clothing company "Dos Caballos", he serves the cycling world with functional cuts and special designs, and with the sportswear line consisting of long-sleeve shirts and polo shirts, you can also look good on an après-bike.
Hanisch has big plans for his young company - anyone expecting Dos Caballos to be a partner of an MTB team would be looking in vain. Instead, Hanisch is co-sponsor of a Porsche racing team. We met him for a chat at the Nürburgring at the Porsche Sports Cup in the VIP area of the Ring-Police team.
Marc Hanisch in a BIKE interview
BIKE: How did you come up with the idea of sponsoring a motorsport team?
Marc Hanisch: The Dos Caballos brand is very event- and experience-orientated, we want to embody a certain experience, adrenaline is part of it, action, and that is motorsport - as well as cycling and winter sports, of course, where we are also active.
You come from a cycling background. How does the cycling image fit in with motorsport?
I think the connection comes through the experience. The experience is above all else and that can arise in different sports. The ecological aspect is one thing, but people want to have fun. Where they have fun is up to each individual.
Don't you think that motorsport has a negative connotation for many people?
I think it's exactly the opposite. A lot of people enjoy it, you can see how many spectators get excited about motorsport at the weekend. But for us, that's only part of the concept. The other, larger part of Dos Caballos takes place outside in nature.
How did the motorsport thing come about? You're an ex-bike pro - one would expect you to be involved in cycling!
We have a strong commitment, cycling is our number one sport. But we also want to offer our customers something special and invite selected people to motorsport events like this one. I got to know the racing driver Jan Erik Slooten through a friend and that's how the co-operation with Ring Police came about.
Dos Caballos should grow through this partnership with the Porsche team?
For us, this is an aspect of the brand and an opportunity to place our brand in a special environment, which makes us interesting.
How should we visualise the collaboration?
We have a co-sponsorship, contribute to certain costs, get a nice placement on the car, are present at the events.
How big an overlap do you see between Porsche racing and mountain biking?
You see them all the time: cyclists who enjoy racing, who are pumped full of adrenalin - there's a relatively large overlap.
What does your current product range look like, proportionally leisurewear and cycling clothing?
We are certainly focussing on cycling, but next winter we will be adding a multisport collection to cover other sports. Around 40 per cent of the collection are nice items that you can wear after sport in a café or in the club in the evening.
Which existing labels do you compare Dos Caballos with?
Our brand is positioned in the premium segment. Brands such as Ralph Lauren or La Martina are certainly comparable.
And when it comes to cycling clothing?
There are some very good brands, but we have a special position thanks to the concept of fashion AND sport. There is currently no other brand in the bike sector that combines the performance story with the fashion aspect.
What skills do you bring to the company from your career as a professional cyclist?
Firstly, a general interest in and enjoyment of sport. Cycling teaches you the technical aspects - what functions do I need? I can test things myself and the customer notices that.
What type of driver are you targeting?
The collection looks cross-country orientated! We call the group Active Performers, i.e. people who also have a certain drive for success at work and are also more competitive when biking. People who definitely value looking good while doing sport.
How much do the jerseys cost?
Short sleeve jersey 89 Euro, long sleeve jersey 99 Euro, jacket 159 Euro - I think we are in a range where you get real performance for the money.
Where can you get the clothes?
We are currently expanding our dealer network and have integrated an online shop into our website.
Can you imagine yourself racing cars one day?
I think it's a cool thing, but I'm more the type to actively power myself up. I prefer to pedal myself rather than step on the accelerator.
You can find out more about the Dos Caballos clothes here: www.dos-caballos.com
