January brings with it the beginning of a brand new racing season. The Tour Down Under will quickly be in full swing, and we’ve had pictures of the entire workforce kits for the upcoming season.
When I joined Cyclingnews many moons in the past there was a really democratic system the place every member of our fantastic editorial workforce, each racing and tech, received a vote, which then resulted in a fantastically honest and extremely time-consuming article. One 12 months I instructed we simply get my mum to do it and since then it’s grow to be considerably of a convention.
My mum makes her personal garments, so has an eye fixed for sample matching and design, in addition to being a fairweather biking fan. She’s additionally liable to some reducing outbursts, which makes for excellent quotes. To save her time and psychological anguish I’ve determined to rank all of the kits myself – this isn’t a democracy I’m afraid, however for these of you unable to kind your individual opinions please do be at liberty to go mine off as your individual over a beer with your pals.
To the groups, I hope you’ll take this as a light-hearted little bit of enjoyable. I’m certain in some unspecified time in the future I’ll have to elucidate myself to a number of press officers, however for now let’s simply dive into it, beginning on the backside and getting progressively higher.
30. Cofidis
They’ve received that badly mistaken. That’s a giant mistake – why have they put maroon and yellow with that good crimson? They seem like they’re carrying 1930’s strongman bathing fits! That’s such a disgrace.
Right, I really do actually like this jersey, however two years in the past the workforce promised my mom a workforce jersey on Twitter. She was very complimentary about that season’s jersey – in stark distinction to the 2025 equipment – and has been ready expectantly ever since. As such, I can’t in good conscience, as a loving son, do something however stick Cofidis lifeless final. To the workforce: You’ve received a full 12 months now to rectify issues for subsequent 12 months.
29. SD Worx-Protime
I believe there’s extra thought given to bus seats. You can’t really see the sponsors – If I used to be Specialized I’d be a bit dissatisfied. It is marginally higher than Cofidis however not a lot. Any jersey with ‘Payroll’ on it places the worry of God into me.
I believe it’s the speckly nature of the jersey, however the combo of patterns and hues actually places me in thoughts of the seats on British buses and trains, the material of which I’m sure is designed to cover all method of sins. It’s not hideous, however in my head the workforce is successfully now SD Worx-Routemaster or InterCity 125-Protime.
28. XDS Astana
You can’t see it a lot by way of the smoke are you able to? You know when Astana was a pleasant clear turquoise that was good wasn’t it? At least the crimson will cowl up any errors once they fall off… It’s this bloody fade once more. This is the issue with the peloton proper now, and never sufficient stripes. Give me a Breton stripe!
Last season’s jersey was good and punchy. It wasn’t basic Astana (RIP blue bibs) but it surely was nonetheless respectable. This one is a bit insipid for my liking, with the color patches wanting like one thing ran within the wash fairly than creating any visible intrigue.
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29. Israel-Premier Tech
It’s alright. I can’t be any extra enthusiastic than that I’m afraid. It doesn’t spark pleasure. The different drawback within the peloton is there’s an excessive amount of blue.
It’s crisp and neat, but it surely has the vibe of a consultancy powerpoint presentation. It’s not a jersey that might lower free on the bar, however select to work late, eschewing any semblance of labor life steadiness. It wants to chop free and embrace the euro vibes a bit extra and slap some neons in.
26. EF-Easypost and EF-Oatly
Oh effectively that’s a pleasant departure! That’s fairly cute, and never as a result of it’s pink… the E on the arms appears like a polar bear. Not unhealthy, and it’s totally different – I just like the diamonds.
Quite the autumn from grace for my part. I normally love the EF kits, even that one from 2023 that appears a bit like a highlighter that was about to expire. This is just too… Louis Vuitton for my liking. It doesn’t scream ‘Oat milk sponsor’ as a lot as ‘our riders nails are additionally monogrammed’. Given I’m certain Lachlan Morton will inevitably embark on some mad endeavour like driving to the moon and again it looks as if a jersey completely incongruous with solo, mucky endeavours.
25. UAE Team ADQ
It’s a bit busy down the entrance but it surely does have a pleasant neckline. Bland.
The 2024 UAE Team ADQ equipment was a tour de pressure of pastel shades. For some purpose the workforce has ditched that fashionable, shiny, vibrant aesthetic in favour of a jersey that places me in thoughts of pharmaceutical merchandise. Creams, topical ointments and unguents.
24. Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
They received it spot on two years in the past however we have now received NHS inexperienced. What the hell are the helmets about? They’re attempting all the colors, however they want to return to brown. It’s fairly good but it surely’s not the brown shorts, and in addition that inexperienced must be on each side to work.
I’m really fairly certain most of you’ll like this jersey, however I can’t I’m afraid. It’s a really private affliction however my dad and mom are each dentists and that pale inexperienced is strictly the identical color as ready room chairs and even worse that hardening putty that’s used to take dental impressions. I can nonetheless scent it.
23. Equipo Kern Pharma
Ooh now that’s higher. That’s a bit natty, additionally it’s teal not blue so it’s elegant, and I like a bit little bit of the crimson that’s good. Also Kern is a pleasant make of cheese isn’t it? Cornish Kern, made by the identical individuals as Yarg, lovely stuff, from Lynher dairies.
The Kern Pharma bikes from my Vuelta a España tech gallery had my favorite paint scheme of any bike final season, however sadly the workforce has been by the identical dental goo curse as Decathlon. It solely ranks larger because it’s a bit extra Euro in look, and based mostly on good will from final season.
22. Ineos Grenadiers
Oh what have they performed…Oh OK, effectively they’re attempting to get again to black once more aren’t they? Slowly getting there. They’ll get again to all black once more. I fairly prefer it but it surely’s not very putting. If they went again to the central band it’d be higher. Probably subsequent 12 months we’ll discover them in half crimson half black.
We’re into the mid-table now. The Ineos jersey is fairly inoffensive, and now Bahrain has modified its personal orange and black jersey to white it’s no less than a bit extra distinctive. It doesn’t set my coronary heart aflutter, however neither does it trigger me any visible misery.
21. Human Powered Health
Oh look that’s precisely the identical as Ineos Grenadiers!
Essentially every little thing I stated about Ineos can be true for the HPH equipment, besides right here it’s just a bit higher executed. Less is extra is all the time a invaluable lesson to study.
20. Bahrain Victorious
Well they’ve made an effort with the hat; they seem like targets don’t they? I believe I’ll simply put that down as ‘good’. Smart however boring – It wants a little bit of crimson on it to provide it a raise.
As is ever the case on this mid-table space I discover it exhausting to muster up an opinion right here. It’s completely inoffensive however equally the Bahrain Victorious 2025 equipment isn’t terribly thrilling. So unmoved was I by it that I initially forgot to incorporate it within the rankings in any respect.
19. Movistar Team Men and Women
It’s a departure, as an alternative of it being all blue it’s now white. The ‘M’ appears a bit like an amoeba going alongside, doesn’t it? It’s these fades once more – it appears prefer it’s gone mistaken within the wash. It’d be higher simply plain white.
As with Bahrain, it is only a bit… meh is not it? How that is allowed given it clearly clashes with the younger rider classification jersey on the Tour de France is past me.
18. Soudal Quick-Step
Oh effectively that’s basic. It’s about as basic as you will get. Nice massive stripe, you’ll be able to see the sponsors, everybody’s comfortable. Classic jersey.
The Soudal jersey isn’t unhealthy in any approach, however what will get me is a workforce with such historical past producing such a contemporary wanting jersey. The 2019 Deceuninck – Quick-Step jersey was absolute peak for lovely Euro jersey design. I would like only a block color of that lovely mid blue. I would like blue shorts too, and I wish to see Classics riders kicking across the backroads of Belgium in blue tights, not black. Is that an excessive amount of to ask?
17. AG Insurance Soudal
That’s one other factor, I believe the ladies’s and males’s workforce kits must be the identical! It doesn’t have as good a neck line because the UAE Team ADQ. Oh and one other factor, when you’ve received Specialized and you’ve got lobsters [Castelli] they need to have equal prominence. You can’t see who’s on this one, so when she stands up and says ooh I’ve received you’ll be able to’t see the sponsors. All the sponsors ought to go in a pleasant neat approach.
I choose this jersey to the Soudal Quick-Step choice due to the little flash of inexperienced, but additionally as a result of the workforce isn’t burdened by the load of some nice historic jerseys that it might battle to stay as much as.
16. Visma-Lease a Bike Men and Women
Who are the tyre individuals, the individuals who go round handing out tyres? [Mavic neutral service from years ago] This places me in thoughts of Mavic. I like yellow and she or he’s even received tyre treads on the underside of the jersey.
Given the workforce has gone from having a equipment sponsor to apparently making their very own equipment for 2025 you’ll be able to forgive them for not having any actual visible design overhaul. It’s neat, crisp, and as a fan of apiarists I do benefit from the honeycomb motif, however it’s a little plain for my liking.
15. Arkea-B&B Hotels Men and Women
Now final 12 months Arkea had a very nice equipment and once they had been leaning forwards you may see Arkea down the perimeters very clearly. And the lads’s and girls’s kits are equivalent – high marks there.
I believe that is the most effective of the jerseys I don’t actively like. It’s effectively laid out, with effectively seen sponsors and it’s been round lengthy sufficient to have a coherent identification, but it surely’s by no means a jersey I’ve notably warmed to. I believe it’s as a result of the crimson clashes so horrendously with the celeste of the workforce’s Bianchi bikes to be trustworthy.
14. VF Group-Bardiani-CSF Faizanè
Oh God assist us, that is terrible. It’s turquoise once more!! The shorts are good… it’s received that bloody nasty dayglow yellow emblem [the small Alé logo – ed]. I hate dayglow…it’s that urine color. No. If they wore black footwear they’d look much less tryhard. If they’ve turquoise bikes as effectively it’ll be a catastrophe.
This one actually pulled me in two instructions. On the one hand it’s fantastically euro, which I really like, and alternatively that color is completely hideous. I believe if it had extra or brighter sponsor logos to make it extra visually arresting then I’d prefer it extra, or color matching shorts. I do know I stated ‘much less is extra’ just a few phrases in the past however I’m a person of contradiction and this actually isn’t that severe.
13. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
When they had been in inexperienced it was pretty, wasn’t it? I believe we’re seeing an excessive amount of of Red Bull and it’s a bit Formula1. I believe the phrase ‘inoffensive’ springs to thoughts. It’s effectively designed although, with the darkish blue going beneath the armpit.
I do like this jersey, however I believe it is a bit too motorsport for me. Cycling is already turning into an increasing number of like Formula1 with every passing season, however that does not imply we must be pandering to that specific aesthetic. Part of what makes biking nice is brilliantly gross wanting equipment generally, and that is too good and only a bit busy.
12. UAE Emirates XRG
They’ve received a lot cash these guys and that’s all they’ll provide you with? It’s easy but it surely fades… why don’t they only have good stripes? I do like a splash of crimson and it’s clear, and the crimson is nice, but it surely’s fades once more.
I actually liked the 2024 UAE Team Emirates equipment, and whereas this one can be fantastically neat and monochromatic, I can’t abide this present aesthetic obsession with having smoke impact fades on equipment. Up shut you’ll be able to see it effectively sufficient, however in the true world, not in a photograph studio, it simply makes the equipment look soiled.
11. Picnic-PostNL
That’s fairly good. I hope the orange stripes go down his again too, it’s enjoyable! I don’t know who Picnic is however I’d bear in mind them. I actually like that, it’s nice.
I used to be initially fairly down on the DSM jersey of 2024, but it surely grew on me, and clearly paved the way in which for this season being a greater placement. Crisp, neat, no fades, and stripes. A profitable formulation.
10. Groupama-FDJ
I prefer it. I do know there’s an excessive amount of blue within the peloton however there’s a definite lack of fades right here and it’s got a stripe down the center. I like that: Three colors max, no fades, elegant.
No actual change from final 12 months, which was additionally excellent. If they introduced Thibaut Pinot out of retirement only for the photographs I believe it’d rank higher as a result of he’s very good-looking and beautiful and is form to animals.
9. Uno-X Mobility
Oh they’ve performed it once more!! Look it’s not tough, you set the X UNDERNEATH the Uno. Apart from that the colors are good. I did must eat my phrases final 12 months because it did look good on the bike and I do like that yellow. But poor ladies, you’ll be able to’t have them with an ‘X’ on their chests.
Having a equipment with no zip is rogue, although the riders will possible simply put on a skinsuit. Lovely colors, neat, easy, and the polygons add texture with out detracting from issues or making it look mucky. An incredible train in neat design and effectively worthy of a high ten placement.
8. Lotto
You know, that’s not unhealthy. That’s elegant once more. I just like the white taking place the perimeters, and whereas there’s a fade happening within the tummy division you received’t see it when he’s he’s all hunched over. Puts me in thoughts of Cofidis once they had been wise.
I really like this jersey simply because it might fairly simply be from 2008. It’s pure nostalgia, complete Belgie goodness and I believe the workforce will do much better on the Spring Classics because of this.
7. Jayco-AlUla / Liv-AlUla-Jayco
Oh that’s ghastly! That’s low cost purple and gray. Unsaturated darkish gray. If somebody received the spotty jersey with that it might be an absolute visible catastrophe. What a disgrace. Grey shorts?! Why didn’t they’ve some good color shorts? Inspired by Saudi Arabian deserts, you’re kidding me? They’ve drunk an excessive amount of.
Maap’s debut single for the WorldTour and it’s straight into the highest ten. It’s positively going to separate opinions, however as I’m the one scripting this I get to place out to the world that I fairly prefer it. Ignore all of the fluff about it being impressed by the southern lights and shifting desert sands, simply take pleasure in seeing gray shorts and sizzling purple flashing previous. Maap normally nails the aesthetic transient, and that is no totally different, and an enormous enchancment on final season’s choice.
6. Intermarché-Wanty
We’re again within the 1980’s. That’s prefer it says on the tin. That’s an excellent biking equipment; I wouldn’t put on it myself but it surely does what it says on the tin. Functional in a pleasant approach.
Slipping just a few locations in comparison with final 12 months, principally as a result of the last word lovely fluoro, euro, sponsor-soup jersey has received a bit too neat for my liking. I would like extra of that fluoro yellow, and much more sponsors. Chuck some on the sleeves, down the thighs, wherever there may be house. Even so, I nonetheless adore it, and when you’re a correct biking fan you’ll too.
5. Wagner Bazin WB
Do they count on to come back in final or one thing when it’s all gone darkish, as a result of no one must be requested to put on that. I’d resign now. You know we’ve simply completed off the second bottle of Warnicks Advocaat and somebody ought to make a equipment in that color, not this.
Absolutely sensational work right here. Fluorescent, highlighter inexperienced used as liberally as doable. Take be aware: being daring pays off – If you’re going to go lurid no less than go all in. Half-arsing it appears cowardly, whereas that is clearly a robust garment.
4. FDJ-SUEZ
Boring. Smart however boring.
Much just like the Groupama-FDJ equipment this has a sure je ne sais quoi that I can’t put my finger on, however I prefer it lots nonetheless. It additionally will get bonus factors for really placing sponsors on the french nationwide champs jersey, one thing that I’m certain Marc Madiot forbade for the Groupama squad and resulted in Arnaud Demare wanting a bit like an entrant in a sportive.
3. Canyon-Sram Zondacrypto
Oh Christ. That is the other of the Malta individuals [Polti-VisitMalta]. Someone has simply taken a paintbrush and scribbled haven’t they? It isn’t following the three color rule. This is not going to develop on me.
Beautifully chaotic as ever, however lovely nonetheless. As ever, that is the benchmark jersey in opposition to which ‘fashionable’ wanting designs are judged in opposition to, and but once more it’s a nice choice.
2. Lidl-Trek Men and Women
It’s second for me after Polti. No fades, it’s simply actually cool. They look fabulous. Three color rule works each time. Three colors; no fades.
I didn’t suppose final 12 months’s choice might get higher however right here we’re. I believe, of all of the kits of the fashionable period, this one will stand the take a look at of time as an all time nice. It’s up there with the 2019 Deceuninck – Quick-Step jersey. It’s crisp, neat, with complimentary main colors which have a contact of caprice about them. I actually need the workforce bus to be painted as if it was a type of Little Tykes pushalong vehicles to match the vibe, however even with out matching transport I nonetheless suppose it’s top-of-the-line jersey of the lot.
1. Polti-Go toMalta
Ooh that’s REALLY pretty. Actually that’s implausible, adore it! That’s a correct 1970’s jersey. Great color inexperienced too, that’s simply the most effective. That’s particular, they usually’re on white bikes too. This is the primary one which’s made me actually smile.
Brb, reserving a vacation to Malta proper now. Somehow the workforce has managed to weave the three colors of Christmas – crimson, inexperienced and white – and create a jersey that not solely doesn’t make its riders seem like extraordinarily quick mall santas, however really appears lovely. Hats off to the design workforce right here.