VETO – A brand experiences a revival
‘Objection – I’ll veto it!’. That was the first thought that RA-CO boss Wolfgang Schreck had the moment he was no longer allowed to continue offering and selling Vetta bikes in his racing bike range. That was back in 1998 and there was cycling fever in Germany, triggered by a certain Jan Ullrich, who was the first German to win the Tour de France in 1997.

But what really happened? Together with his former partner, Wolfgang Schreck had sold the Vetta brand in Germany, which not only produced racing bikes, but also cycle computers, which featured in the Tour de France during the 1990s. However, after Wolfgang Schreck split up with his business partner, the latter prohibited him from further selling Vetta.

From Vetta to VETO: the starting signal for a new brand

It was clear for Wolfgang Schreck that, without racing bikes, RA-CO’s product range would be incomplete. The solution? A separate brand that combined quality and expertise – that is how VETO was born. The necessary expertise already existed within the company and Wolfgang Schreck already had the brand name ‘VETO’ at hand following his reaction to the situation.

The first steel and aluminium frames for road and track were soonafter developed, and the brand quickly gained an excellent reputation thanks to its success with Team Köstritzer. VETO bikes were ridden by future sporting greats such as Olympic champion Jens Lehmann, Tour de France team winner Stephan Schreck and top sprinter Andre Greipel.

Focus on core business – VETO disappears, but not forever

VETO bikes were part of the RA-CO portfolio for several years, however, the effort required to keep up with technology and development was very high. This was because the production of carbon frames was in it’s infancy and the company had to concentrate on its core business.
At that time, in addition to the company’s own Cyclus Tools development, there was the exclusive distribution of the KALAS clothing label in Germany and, above all, the development of the company’s own INTEC bike brand – classic steel and aluminium bike frames for every purpose. VETO therefore disappeared from the market for a while, but always remained at the heart of the company.

VETO awakens from it’s deep sleep after 20 years

After VETO, RA-CO then further added carbon racing bikes to its portfolio. First with Argon 18 and then later Kuoata were distributed in Germany by the Erfurt-based company. However, when Kuoata ceased it’s production, the Schreck family had to decide how to continue in the future without being so dependent on third party manufacturers. What better solution than to develop and produce their own high-quality carbon racing bikes? And with VETO, they already had a racing bike brand that was lying dormant and just needed to be awakened.

Together with leading engineers and experienced partners, the VETO brand was rethought – and in just under two years, went from an idea to the premiere of the first finished carbon frame.

Comeback: VETO conquers the market with innovative models

The brand celebrated an impressive comeback in 2022 with the VETO B983 endurance racing bike. The name is a tribute to RA-CO’s Thuringian home, where the ‘B’ stands for ‘Großer Beerberg’, Thuringia’s highest mountain, and the number 983 for its height. This was followed shortly afterwards by the VETO S978, the brand’s first gravel bike, named after ‘Schneekopf’, another prominent peak in the region. Further models will be based on this concept.