Rapha and EF Education-Nippo has revealed its hotly anticipated Giro d’Italia switch-out kit, with an understated but deeply stylish celebration of people from different backgrounds coming to achieve a single goal.
Pink is the sacred colour at the Giro d’Italia. For all 103 editions of the race, the leader has worn the maglia rossa, a vibrant and eye-catching jersey designed to set itself apart from sponsor-clad team jerseys.
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Of course, for the prestigious pink jersey to stand out, it needs to be the only one of that colour in the peloton. This causes problems for Team EF Education-Nippo who don baby pink apparel throughout the cycling season.
But, in true EF style, each time the Giro rolls round, they turn this problem on its head, creating new, one-off jerseys for the race alongside their clothing sponsor, Rapha. The designs are often unique and divisive, both exciting and repulsing fans.
Last year, we were treated to a collaboration with skateboarding superbrand Palace to create one of the wackiest jerseys ever seen in the cycling world. Reminiscent of the time LeMond’s Team Z jersey entered the scene back in the 1980s, the design featured pop-art style ducks, kaleidoscope patterns and the Palace logo.
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Like marmite, some loved it, some hated it. Regardless of the design itself, the jersey was a great tonic. In a year when everything was turned on its head, the jersey threw up another unexpected twist in 2020, disrupting tradition and bringing a new perspective to the sport.
For the 2021 Giro, Rapha have again produced another stunning jersey design. Perhaps a little more understated than last year's duck-adorned racewear, it has a black base which features blocks of every single colour but one: the Giro’s pink. With this, the pattern is both striking and stylish. Not one to do things in half measures, Team EF have given their bikes a matching paint job, too.
Team EF-Education Nippo has a roster of riders from all over the globe, and the jersey is the perfect representation of this as the team work together in the fight for the maglia rossa. They will race in the Euphoria collection throughout the Giro d’Italia this year and it will be available for purchase from Rapha at the end of May.
After months of the world looking pretty dull and grey, Team EF will bring a welcome splash of colour to our screens as we enjoy the Giro this year.
The kit will be available to buy from Rapha at the end of May.
