Here’s what Cycling Canada should have done with the new national team kit

On Monday, Cycling Canada launched the new national team jersey and bibs. Gone is the traditional blue, instead replacing it with the colours of our flag.

The clothing is being debuted at the 2023 “super worlds” where 130 Canucks will be competing in almost every cycling discipline there is.

The national team kit has gone through many iterations over the years, including special versions for the Olympics, but this new style is markedly different. Although there have been red and white and black versions before, the solid red and white is completely new. Some of the comments on the federation’s Instagram page seemed to miss the traditional blue, while others wondered if it was too similar to the national championship jersey. But there were several who welcomed the new jersey, especially that it resembled our flag. You can never please everyone, of course. Many said the jersey would be easier to spot (some suggested the former design was too close to the Belgian jersey) although the new national team kit now joins several other countries with red and white, like Denmark and Poland. Either way, it’s here to stay!

Now, had Uncle Matt been in charge of the design, he would have created the most Canadian cycling outfit ever, that definitely would have stood out and been incredibly unique.

Christian Meier is popularizing the Canadian tuxedo in Spain

If you were a fan of cycling in the ‘90s, you may remember the Italian Carrera team, home of Claudio Chiappucci, Stephen Roche and the late Marco Pantani. The team went from having a pair of “denim” bibs, to going fully monty and making the jersey, shorts, arm and leg warmers all look like jeans.

Sorry AG2R Citroën, but Geoff Kabush rocked the OG denim gravel kit

So, given that there’s nothing more Canuck than a Canadian tuxedo, how about doing that for our national team kit? You could even make the maple leaves on the shoulders to look like patches you’d sew onto your backpack.

Check out my crude mock-up below. If anyone’s reading from Cycling Canada, hit me up!