EF Education-EasyPost will switch to a 72 per cent recycled Rapha kit for the Giro d’Italia, adding yellow to the team’s already colourful wardrobe.
The new EF Giro Switch-Out kit is much less pink than the strip the WorldTour team has ridden in the 2023 season.
This is to avoid clashing with the Maglia Rosa – the general classification leader’s jersey at the Giro d’Italia.
It follows previous switch-out kits used by the team at the race, including 2021’s Euphoria kit and the duck-themed collaboration with Palace skateboards.
From pink to yellow
Rapha has swapped the lighter shade of pink on the front for yellow, and tinted the sleeves lime and dark green.
The top half of the back is also yellow and sits above an orange strip with two recycling logos.
The bib shorts use the same dark green as the jersey and two different shades of blue.
Leftover materials
The replica version of the EF Giro Switch-Out kit is made entirely from leftover materials, according to Rapha.
Called Rapha Excess, the collection mirrors and adds to the colourways of the team-issue kit to maximise the amount of fabric it repurposes.
The brand says the EF Giro Switch-Out kit contains a smaller proportion of recycled material because UCI rules mandate that all team kit looks and is the same.
The Excess Collection forms part of Rapha’s plan to reduce the environmental impact of cycling.
It claims to have saved 2,303m of surplus fabric and 24kg of yarn, while trying to reuse zips, elastic and size labels where possible.
The team bike, the Lab71 version of the Cannondale SuperSix Evo Hi-Mod, appears to have a fresh paintjob too.
The mottled pattern on the down tube combines the colours of the jersey and bib shorts.
EF Education-Tibco-SVB will also wear the new kit at the Giro Donne in June.
Goldleaf Colnago 'Gioiello' C68
It’s not only Rapha that has released custom kit for the 2023 Giro d’Italia.
To celebrate the 106th edition of the Corsa Rosa, Colnago has released a limited-edition Gioiello bike, based on the C68 frame and adorned with gold leaf.
The Italian brand says the 50 units of the Gioiello, which means jewel, will be individually numbered. The bikes will be available to buy for €22,000 from 8 May.
The design of the 3D-printed bottle cage replicates the spirals of the Trofeo Senza Fine, the Giro d’Italia overall winner’s trophy, and is coated with gold leaf, according to Colnago.
The bike’s CeramicSpeed OSPW derailleur cage is printed in 3D titanium and TiN-coated.
The Ace of Clubs Colnago logo decorates the textured fork, saddle and handlebar tape. The symbol is also printed on the spokes of a gold-coloured version of the ENVE SES 3.4 wheelset wrapped in custom Pirelli P Zero Race TLR tyres.
Colnago Gioiello spec details
Frame: Colnago C68 Road
Handlebar and stem: Colnago CC.01 integrated, carbon
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9250
Pulley wheel: CeramicSpeed OSPW 3D Printed Ti OSPW TiN Coated
Saddle: Selle Italia SLR flow carbon
Wheels: Enve SES 3.4 Gold version
Tyres: Pirelli P Zero Race TLR Gold x Colnago for Giro d’Italia
Handlebar tape: Colnago for Giro d’Italia
Bottle cage: Colnago for Giro d'Italia
