Any jersey, like any other cycling tech from clothing through bar tape to saddles and bikes themselves that slaps a ‘Pro’ moniker somewhere in its name gives the consumer some level of expectation regarding the level of performance on offer. Pro, like the pros use, yeah? Oddly the Le Col Pro Jersey II isn’t the pinnacle of the brand’s performance; it sits beneath the Hors Categorie and Pro Aero jerseys. Despite perhaps not quite living up to its name on paper, how does it stack up against the competition?
I’ve been wearing the Pro Jersey II for a good few hundred kilometres, mostly on the backroads of the northern Lake District, but with several forays onto gravel too. We’ve had heatwave conditions and cooler days so the thermal management of the fabrics has had a thorough going over, as has the fit and storage. Does it deserve a spot alongside the best cycling jerseys? There’s only one way to find out, besides buying one yourself and testing it alongside its competitors, but that’s our job.
Design and aesthetics
Many jerseys have a unique selling point. The new Rapha Gravel Jersey has a gravel-specific cummerbund, The Invani Reversible is (you guessed it) reversible, and the Rapha Brevet has enough storage to cope with even the most voracious raids on the nearby bakery while bonked out of your mind mid-audax. The Le Col Pro Jersey II, as far as I can tell, doesn’t have a hook. It is the archetypal cycling jersey. Five panels, three back pockets with an elasticated upper, a small collar, a rubber gripper at the lower hem and relatively wide, flat silicone grippers for the arms.
It is very similar to the Sport Jersey in terms of design, but utilises a four-way stretch fabric whereas the Sport is two-way, and the Sport eschews the arm grippers in favour of a simple material double-over. The cut is racier, I’ve tried a small in both models, and the Pro is definitely more performance orientated, so if you want form fitting then definitely go Pro.
The material used in the entirety of the jersey certainly feels luxurious, and as a bonus, it’s 100% recycled, which is certainly heartening to see. It’s smooth, almost soft-touch in the hands, with plenty of stretch. I must say I think the hem gripper is a little basic for a…
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