Lacoste Steps into Road Running with the Neo Run 2

Lacoste, historically established on tennis courts and in premium sportswear, is expanding its horizons and setting its sights on road running. The French brand's latest offering for the category is the Neo Run 2, a model designed to bridge the label's heritage aesthetics with the ongoing boom in urban running.

The standout design feature of the shoe is its upper, which incorporates a piqué fabric texture—a direct nod to the classic polo shirt created by René Lacoste in 1933. Sporting a clean, minimalist silhouette, the model reflects a deliberate strategic position: rather than competing head-to-head on cutting-edge technical performance against titans like Nike, Adidas, or Asics, the brand aims to establish a presence in runners' everyday wardrobes, casual lifestyle, and light workout routines.

This move onto the pavement aligns with other sports expansion initiatives by the brand, which has also been gaining ground in padel through rackets, technical apparel, and exclusive branded courts in destinations such as Courchevel and Bali. The company's momentum—led in the Brazilian market by former Asics executive Pedro Zanoni—was featured in a recent news roundup by Radar Stemma.