Someone designed a way better version of Derek Gee-West’s champs jersey

For Canadians, the news that our star GC rider, Derek Gee-West, was official on Lidl-Trek’s squad for the next few years was stellar. Finally, the long protracted contract saga from The Team Formerly Known As Israel-Premier Tech was done.

Aaaaaand then we saw the national championship jersey.

Gee-West, coming off a fourth-place overall finish at the 2025 Giro d’Italia and a national road title, was seen in a…unique jersey. On his previous team–now known as NSN Cycling, the jersey delivered. It resembled a classic design and popped. How great would it be to see the maple leaf going toe to toe, erm, elbow to elbow, with the best riders in the world?

Derek Gee-West and 2026

Unfortunately, due to all the, you know, stuff, Gee-West didn’t race following leaving the team. No Tour du Pologne, no Vuelta a España, no Grands Prix races, no Worlds. But that design was pretty good.

It should be noted, that the design favoured by many pros–Alison Jackson, Olivia Baril, Ben Perry, and more…uses the design previously used by Cycling Canada for the podium jersey. (And you can read about someone’s very strong opinions of that little ditty below.)

Cycling Canada just ruined the national championship jersey

Although some federations are stricter with following the letter of the law when it comes to jersey rules–the UK, France, etc., there are few regulations as to design, as opposed to saw, continental kit like the Pan-Am or Euro champ jersey. So you can kinda do what you want for the Canuck kit. Which is exactly what Lidl-Trek did.

Where’s the leaf?

The official Lidl-Trek jersey technically includes Canadian elements, but the execution minimizes their impact. The maple leaf is placed low on the torso, reducing its prominence and making it difficult to identify in race situations. At speed or from distance, the jersey reads as a standard team kit rather than a national champion’s jersey, blurring the visual distinction that such titles are meant to create. Part of the problem may lay with the sponsor placecment, and that’s fair. But some teams–usually French teams, prioritize the flag design over sponsors. Not even if it’s a tricolore. Check out Antoine Duchesnes’ beauty of a top.

So…about that new national champs design (that none of the pros are using)

National champion jerseys across the peloton typically prioritize clarity and symbolism, drawing heavily from flag motifs and established colour hierarchies.

In contrast,…