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White is the new black as Team Sky unveils 2018 kit

Black jersey in use since 2010 disappears as new Castelli kit follows colour scheme used in last year's Tour de France...

Team Sky has unveiled its new kit for the 2018 season - and for the first time since the UCI WorldTour launched in 2010, the jerseys will be white, not black.

The new colour scheme reflects that used in last year's Tour de France, won by Chris Froome as he took his fourth overall win in the race in five years.

According to Team Sky, the switch from black to white follows positive response by fan's to that on-off jersey used last July.

The jersey marks the second year of Team Sky's partnership with Castelli, with previous performance clothing sponsors being Adidas and Rapha.

In common with its previous kits, the new one retains the blue line along the spine, and like last year's version from Castelli, it also has the 'data pattern' recording the team's victories over the seasons.

As with the Adidas kits Team Sky used in its first three years in the peloton, the sponsor's logo on the front appears in white against the background of a blue band across the chest.

Team Sky 2018 kit - Froome 2.jpg

Team Sky Principal Sir Dave Brailsford said: “We initially changed to white jerseys for the Tour de France last summer, and it was the feedback from riders and the response from our fans that inspired us to go white for the 2018 season.

“Our ambition is for our riders to have the leading performance clothing in the peloton, and we believe that the 2018 kit is our best yet.”

He continued: “Castelli have a long record of innovation within our sport, both in terms of performance and design.

“They put performance first and are pioneers in research and development. They put the rider at the heart of their thinking and our 2018 kit reflects that.

“From the outset we quickly developed the high levels of dialogue and communication that have characterised our partnership.

"That has enabled us to work dynamically on the testing, feedback and development cycle, combining our knowledge and experience and applying that straight to the rider and their performance in both training and racing. Our success in 2017 is testament to that collaborative approach.

Brailsford added“Castelli lead the way when it comes to performance clothing in our sport and we are sure we will continue to see the benefits of our partnership as we look to new challenges in 2018.”

Team Sky 2018 kit - Stannard.jpg

Steve Smith, Brand Manager at Castelli, commented: “Since we began our partnership with Team Sky they have embraced new ideas around every aspect of the team kit.

“That attitude has given us the opportunity to work with them to create something unique and different for 2018. Not only does the new kit look great, but we’re confident it will be the best performing Team Sky kit yet.

“Castelli and Team Sky have worked closely throughout 2017 to refine, update and improve all aspects of the kit. Riders and staff have been right at the heart of the process, influencing everything from design through to the specific technical updates we have made. 

“We’re proud of our partnership with Team Sky and we’re looking forward to more success together in 2018”.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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17 comments

Avatar
don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
0 likes

I've been wearing Castelli for years.

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RobD | 6 years ago
1 like

I think I preferred the sky blue training kits they've had in previous years, it stood out a lot, I guess this is different to all the teams with lots of black kit (unless they've all had the same idea this year and are all going to release new lighter colour schemes)

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alansmurphy | 6 years ago
2 likes

Because Sky invented replica kit?

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Redvee | 6 years ago
3 likes

Perfect for getting more money out of the fanboys.

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Leviathan | 6 years ago
0 likes

Perhaps they should have tried Sky... blue!

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alansmurphy | 6 years ago
1 like

The team is clearly whiter than white Rapha...

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Rapha Nadal | 6 years ago
1 like

More transparent than the team.

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Random Rouleur | 6 years ago
3 likes

Have always thought that it was odd that a team that was so focussed (perhaps a little too much, but let's not get into that now) on marginal gains wore a black jersey, that surely must absorb a lot more heat than a white kit, even with modern fabrics?  Wearing black in the hottest days of the TdF or during the Vuelta must affect rider core temperature??

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peted76 | 6 years ago
1 like

First thing I thought of was 'see through' .. kinda boring, predictable as per last year TdF still.. a change is as good as a rest right. Maybe this is a ploy to get people to stop likening them to the 'sith lords' and go more jedi.. baddies wear black and goodies wear white right.

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EddyBerckx | 6 years ago
1 like

Can't beat a good see through cycling top where you get to show people your 1980's wrestling style bib straps.

 

Rapha are pi**ing themselves...

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esnifador | 6 years ago
0 likes

Really really really boring.

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Kadinkski | 6 years ago
2 likes

The black was cool and synonymous with their brand. This version is just dull. Its like the All Blacks changing to a white kit, why would ya?

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Al__S replied to Kadinkski | 6 years ago
0 likes

Kadinkski wrote:

The black was cool and synonymous with their brand. This version is just dull. Its like the All Blacks changing to a white kit, why would ya?

Well in their case, because they're playing another team with a largely black or dark kit

Avatar
HarryTrauts replied to Al__S | 6 years ago
1 like

Al__S wrote:

Kadinkski wrote:

The black was cool and synonymous with their brand. This version is just dull. Its like the All Blacks changing to a white kit, why would ya?

Well in their case, because they're playing another team with a largely black or dark kit

 

I think a similar factor is at play here.  There are many black or dark jerseys in the peloton and this one stood out a bit more than the black one.  

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leaway2 | 6 years ago
0 likes

Will the death star go white?

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Deeferdonk | 6 years ago
1 like

Thank goodness they haven't gone for white bottoms as well. Thats the one area of proffesional cycling that can do without transparency.

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nniff | 6 years ago
2 likes

Should be a strong, consistent look for the Classics - "Road Filth with accents of Used to be White"

 

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