Top 5 women's race team kits of 2016

The new improved women's road race calendar, with events like the UK Women's Tour and La Course, provides some excellent opportunities for watching the world's best female cyclists ride in action. It also provides an ideal opportunity for some pro kit ogling.

With everyone from the top teams in the world to domestic teams upping their game with striking colours or unusual prints, this isn't just kit that stands out in the peloton – it's also kit that we want to wear.

Boels Dolmans

This eye-catching kit is produced by Specialized and worn by the likes of Lizzie Armitstead, Christine Majerus, Chantal Blaak and Evelyn Stevens – though to be fair Armitstead is mostly in the white and rainbow world champion stripes these days. It features an ombré grade from orange to purple, and even has a matching helmet.

If you fancy channelling your inner Armitstead, you can get the kit yourself from Specialized. It retails at £100 / $150 for the SL Pro Jersey and £140 / $180 for the bib shorts.

Women's SL Pro kit at Specialized.com

Drops Cycling Team

Okay, we've sneaked this one in as Drops are an amateur team – but they have a professional attitude to cycling. They're also one of the few domestic teams racing in the UK Women's Tour. Drops Cycling Team have a distinctive look, but what else would you expect from a team sponsored by a design company? We like the vertical pastel stripes on the black background, and the fact that their turquoise helmets and Trek bikes coordinate.

Get the whole kit, stripy socks and all, from Prendas Cycling

Cannondale Girls

Another sneaky addition, we couldn't resist including the Cannondale Girls kit. Produced by Sugoi, it features a cool pop-art inspired portrait on the front, and a star print on the back and shorts. While the team may ride both knobbly and skinny tyres, we can't help but be impressed with their creativity when it comes to jersey design.

Rabo Liv

While the white and orange Rabo Liv team kit might be one of the most traditional designs in our lineup, it's also one of the most iconic. It is, after all, the team multiple world champion Marianne Vos rides for. However 2016 might be the last time you see this colour way, as sponsor Rabobank ends its sponsorship of the team at the end of 2016.

Canyon//SRAM

Since it was unveiled at the end of 2015, the striking Canyon//SRAM team kit has rapidly become a favourite of cyclists of all genders. Designed and produced by Rapha, the kit is inspired by hazard warning tape, with flashes of colour on a stealthy black background. So popular is it that Rapha will be producing a men's version of the kit in 2017.

The Canyon//SRAM team kit is priced at £130 / $210 for the jersey, £170 / $260 for the shorts, with various accessories also available, all online at Rapha.

_{Top 5 women's pro team kits for 2016}