Rapha have launched their Spring/Summer women's range with a focus on kit for racing, training and long-distance cycling.

The new additions include hot-weather products, with the Souplesse range in particular seeing upgrades to fabrics and fit to bring it closer to Rapha's Pro Team collection. The refreshed collection now draws on insight from extensive testing by leading men's and women's pro teams including Canyon/SRAM.

Meanwhile the Brevet range, designed for long-distance and multi-day riding, has seen the addition of essential pieces for women including bib shorts with a perforated chamois and fabrics that can be washed and dried overnight.

In the Classic range, the Women's Classic Wind Jacket II and Women's Classic Gilet II have been overhauled with a fabric update and increased reflectivity built into the seams. New for SS17 is the Women's Flyweight Jersey for hot weather riding. Rapha claim this is their lightest jersey yet, with fit, fabric and details designed for comfort in hot and humid conditions.

Rapha sent three riders on a cycling trip to Malaga to showcase the new range, and with the help of a fake ID and a telephoto lens Sportive.com managed to capture the following intimate snaps:

OK, so the photos came from the press release - but we think you'll agree the new kit looks pretty sharp, very much in keeping with Rapha's trademark clean styling.

Here's a quick run-through some highlights of the new range that caught our eye:

Souplesse Aero Jersey

Souplesse Aero Jersey.
Souplesse Aero Jersey.

As worn by CANYON//SRAM women's World Tour racing team and previously only available in team colours, the jersey has been updated for 2017. Inspired by Rapha's pro riders and tested in the wind tunnel, this is a highly engineered jersey cut for an aerodynamic fit for when speed is of the essence.

RRP: £130

Souplesse Lightweight Jersey II

Rear detail of the Souplesse Lightweight Jersey II.
Rear detail of the Souplesse Lightweight Jersey II.

The lightest jersey in the Souplesse range with a 110gsm main body fabric offering excellent wicking and stretch for hot days in the saddle. Laser-cut ventilation holes lend extra breathability, while the pockets have been redesigned to offer more storage without adding bulk.

RRP: £120

Souplesse Bib Shorts II

Souplesse Bib Shorts II.
Souplesse Bib Shorts II.

Performance bib shorts for racing and high-intensity training, updated for 2017. With fabric based on the award-winning Pro Team Bib Shorts, Rapha claim these bibs are supportive, opaque and breathable. The mesh upper is constructed from a high stretch, high-wicking fabric, crafted to minimise pressure points across the shoulders. The shorts have a new low profile gripper that is raw cut with a wider impact area to minimise pressure points on the leg whilst staying in place.

RRP: £175

Women's Brevet Bib Shorts

Brevet Bib Shorts.
Brevet Bib Shorts.

Whether you're into touring, audax, sportives, randonnées or simply enjoy taking the scenic route home, the Brevet bib shorts are designed and developed for long days in the saddle. The straps have a lined mesh fabric for comfort whilst reflective stripes on the legs boost visibility.

The shorts feature a a higher front rise with the upper portion designed to work like a base layer to provide warmth on descents or in cooler temperatures, while helping with ventilation on climbs or in warmer conditions. The fabric and chamois are quick-drying and designed to be washed and dried overnight, ready for the next day's riding.

RRP: £180

Women's Flyweight Jersey

Flyweight jersey.
Flyweight jersey.

Offering a more relaxed fit than the Souplesse collection, the Women's Flyweight Jersey is designed for riding in extremely hot and humid conditions - think of it as your summer holiday jersey.

Lightweight and highly breathable, made from a high-wicking and fast-drying fabric, the fit of the jersey is designed to sit slightly away from the skin to allow air flow around the body. The collar sits low for improved breathability, unnecessary seams have been removed to improve moisture transfer, and a mesh yoke and lining inside the back pockets increases ventilation.

RRP: £95

Rapha Women's 100

Alongside the new additions to the women's range, the Rapha Women's 100 returns on the 23rd July. A display of collective spirit amongst cyclists around the world, thousands of women will ride at least 100km wherever they are.

Check out rapha.cc/womens100 to get involved. And no, you don't have to be wearing Rapha to take part...

The new Rapha SS17 collection is now available at www.rapha.cc.

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