Tag: Argos Shimano

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.

The unluckiest man in cycling?

Ben_swift

Unlucky? – Ben Swift

Picture from http://www.britishcycling.org.uk

Ben Swift tumbled out of the Trofeo Alcudia yesterday descending the Coll d’Honor. Swift had a decent showing with consecutive top 10 finishes in the Challenge Mallorca to date and to crash out on the last day seems typical of his luck in the last 12 months.

Swift was Sky’s go to sprinter at last years Vuelta a Espana and while the team were primarily focused on Chris Froome for the GC there was a lead out of sorts for Swift including Ian Stannard.

While Swift often appeared well placed in the run up to the red kite he often appeared to have go too early, particularly when teammates had ridden hard to get him into a decent position. This was probably as frustrating for him as there were other stages where he was simply outgunned by the other teams, notably Argos Shimano.

John Degenkolb who vies with Marcel Kittell as top sprinter for Argos was the sprint story of the Vuelta with five wins. Certainly Degenkolb made it look easy dominating the early flat stages and taking the final stage win around the streets of Madrid. Swift’s best result was 2nd on stage 18.

Arguably Sky’s front line sprinter now that Mark Cavendish has gone to Omerga Pharma it will be interesting to see what races Swift is entered into this year. It’s hard to imagine that Sky will have much interest in the sprints on any of the grand tours with the possible exception of the Vuelta. The teams emphasis is very much on the Giro and the Tour with a ramped up effort being made for the spring classics also.

Swift obtained the points jersey at last years Tour of Poland along with two stage wins. The result illustrated his strength against the world tour teams second string outfits but it remains to be seen if he has the firepower and Sky the motivation to win in the biggest events.