The UCI allows teams one kit switchout per season. For some teams, like Jumbo-Visma, this is a right reserved for the Tour de France Femmes, where the rider’s yellow jerseys would obviously detract from the famous Maillot Jaune. The same situation arises for EF Education at the Giro d’Italia. For other teams, it can be down to a new sponsor arrangement, which often tends to occur at the Tour as this is the biggest stage. Finally, for others, it’s simply a chance to make a splash and line up against the best riders in the world with some fresh kit.
Back at the start of the season, I took you through all the World Tour kits for the season, ably assisted by my mother, who passed extremely critical comments on most of them. As such it only seems right that I outline the five switchout kits for the Tour de France Femmes, for Canyon-Sram, UAE Team ADQ, Fenix-Deceuninck, Uno-X, and Jumbo-Visma.
Despite being midway through a bike tour I did approach my mum for comment, along with her friend Jenny.
Canyon-SRAM
The original team kit was my favourite of all of the 2023 kits, despite being identical to the 2022 kit. For the Tour de France Femmes however it’s been parked in favour of a full package of jersey, shorts, bike, helmets, and bottles clearly inspired by the ‘avec Zwift‘ part of the race’s oft-truncated name.
I like it a lot, but that’s perhaps because it puts me in mind of Fruit Salad penny chews from the corner shop. Whatever it is it’s bold, bright, and easy to spot without being overdone: Top marks from me. Also, the paintwork on the teams Canyon bikes is really very good indeed.
For once my mum and I (and her mate Jenny) agree: “We like this one! It’s a peach melba of colours and very classy shorts. Jenny and I would be delighted to wear this.“
Fenix-Deceuninck becomes Fenix-Elegant
The original Fenix-Deceuninck jersey came in near the bottom of our overall rankings, and to be frank not much has changed for this kit beyond the sponsor name, and my mother’s opinion of it. Deceuninck is a windows company, with ‘Elegant’ being its flagship product range (absolutely textbook cycling sponsorship here), highlighted for the Tour.
The Jersey is more or less unchanged, but now my mum says she likes it: “That’s lovely! Great arm detailing and back pockets. Lives up to the name.”.
I’m still holding on for a Belgian superteam entirely sponsored by building supplies though… Soudal-Deceuninck-QuickStep…
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