Cycling News: The WorldTour team Education First (EF Pro Cycling) has been pursuing its own unique path in terms of design, style, and public image for years, consistently generating buzz. Whether it's about sporting matters, such as their race program, which includes gravel races like Dirty Kanza and similar events, or about style, the team's distinctive approach is undeniable. With extravagant jersey designs by Rapha, matching Cannondale bikes, and POC helmets, they've consistently turned heads and underscored their individual personalities. This is also true of their new designs, created in collaboration with Palace Skateboards for the 2020 Giro d'Italia, which have already become a topic of conversation at the start of the race.
The cooperation between a team and brands with a high degree of individuality often seemed very difficult in the past, sometimes one had the feeling that only money rules and the teams simply have to submit to the wishes of the sponsors, without a common work identity. With Team EF Procycling (formerly Garmin or Cannondale-Drapac etc.) and their clothing sponsor Rapha, the bike manufacturer Cannondale and helmet/glasses supplier POC, parties with a lot of ego meet and yet they complement each other to form a large whole and are hardly without each other imaginable.
The team and its partners struck again at the Giro d'Italia 2020 and after just a few kilometers of racing everyone is already talking about it. Because the entire appearance of the team has been completely revised with an already unique design. For this, Rapha and Palace Skateboards have teamed up and designed a limited special collection that will be worn at this year's Giro d'Italia. Based on the jersey design, all Cannondale racing machines as well as POC helmets and goggles were also kept in Palace's extravagant design. This is almost reminiscent of the times of La Vie Claire or "Z" or Mario Cipollini, who, however, only caused such eye-catchers as a loner.
Cycling is a big unknown for Palace Skateboards
The idea behind such designs is still the same as it was in 2019, when Rapha returned to the WorldTour peloton as a partner of Team EF Pro Cycling - namely to be different and to break the status quo of conservative professional cycling in unconventional ways. Because this sport, as beautiful as it is for us fans, is very traditional and known for its opaque and extensive concept. In order to show the sport from a really fresh perspective, however, the team not only put new methods and events such as gravel races in the foreground on the sporting side, but also ventured into cooperation with Palace Skateboards, a company that takes the aesthetics of cycling to heart is foreign, which does not know its origins and is not familiar with its traditions.
In the new design, EF does not conflict with the Maglia Rosa
You can see that at first glance, because at the Giro almost everyone celebrates the Magila Rosa for the leader of the race, but not the equipment of the EF Pro Cycling Team. Because clashing with the pink of the Maglia Rosas - which would have been unavoidable with the previous season's outfit - the new uniform of the EF pros shows an intrepid design that hardly has anything to do with the history of cycling, let alone the Giro has. Even if this seems atypical for the manufacturer Rapha at first glance, because the company celebrates cycling and its history with its designs again and again. Together with the skateboard manufacturer Palace, however, there is not only an urban lifestyle, but also a lot of potential for surprises.
Rapha, Cannondale, POC and Palace Skateboards - a perfect combination
The result is an individual team kit that is second to none, because in addition to the jerseys from Rapha, the other partners of the team naturally also adapt and deliver an all-round complete look. Swedish protection makers POC enhance the alternative look with custom helmets and goggles, including the limited edition Tempor helmet. With the Cannondale bikes SuperSix EVO, SystemSix and the time trial machine SuperSlice TT, the riders are not only visually perfectly equipped, but also always have the right vehicle for the varied stages.
Get the new look of the EF Pro Cycling Team from Rapha!
Look like the pros! The new EF Pro Cycling team kit will include Pro Team Aero Jersey and Pro Team Bib Shorts II, along with custom socks, hats and a supply bag. All of these products will be available along with the ever-popular Pro Team Training Jersey in men's and women's variants, as well as a strictly limited edition women's-specific version of the Pro Team Bib Shorts and Pro Team Aero Jersey.
Cannondale's beautiful wheels will not be available for sale
In a race with a highly varied stage and three time trials, riders will compete on Cannondale's top three racing machines: the SuperSix EVO, the SystemSix and the SuperSlice TT time trial machine. Each frame features a design that integrates seamlessly with the Rapha and Palace Skateboards capsule collection with bold logos and unique graphics, while still delivering the best performance.
Unfortunately, Cannondale will not be offering the bikes for sale in what could soon be a cycling classic - a decision we deeply regret; but maybe that will change if the Americans are overwhelmed with inquiries.
Since the Giro d'Italia also continues off the bike, efforts have also been made to create a Palace leisure collection with a team look. The casual collection includes a t-shirt, long-sleeve t-shirt, hat, hoodie, oxford shirt and the Palace GoreTex Jacket. All products are available online during the Giro.