This years best team kit?

Opinion (noun) – A view or judgement formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge

There has been a lot of chatter around team kits this season. Sky switching to Rapha is controversial for some fans, based largely on the prices the brand asks for its kit. There’s also the team that isn’t; Blanco. Blanco the ‘brand’ created for the team that can no longer speak (or at least advertise) it’s association with the men’s world tour; Rabobank.

Interestingly, what looks to VCSE like a nicely executed and simple strip, appears to be hated by the majority of commentators. The colours chosen closely follow the brand identity of bike supplier Giant but perhaps the stigma of doping that led to Rabobank’s withdrawl prevented Giant from taking the title sponsorship over.

One rung down the professional ladder there are further team kits that win the VCSE seal of approval. Vini Fantini’s luminous yellow jersey’s are anything but subtle but one that we can imagine wearing. Also, VCSE’s team of the week Caja Rural have a clean design  that extends to the green accents on the Vivelo bikes.

The worst kits? AG2R’s brown shorts, Argos Shimano’s white / translucent kit when it rains and perhaps worst of all the decision to add Merida lime green to Lampre’s blue and pink. Never a good look.

Here at VCSE however, our vote for the best team kit in 2013 leaves the men’s tour altogether. With 65 victories in 2012 Specialized Lululemon were the most successful team in the women’s pro-tour. They have added some great new riders to the roster for 2013 who will join our GB rider Katie Colclough.

Describing the Specialized Lululemon kit as black and white doesn’t do it justice. Fortunately we can share this video introducing the 2013 squad along with our other women’s road racing content on the VCSE You Tube channel.