"To everything there is a season," as Joe Biden noted in his victory speech; and no one understands the cyclical tides of fashion and fortune better than Rapha.
The brand have come a long way since 2004. Indeed, recent collections have turned full circle from founder Simon Mottram's original vision of delivering a riposte to "garish polyester plastered with logos", as one Financial Times interviewer described cycling kit in the late 90s.
Their recent collab with skate brand Palace for the Giro d'Italia was a case in point:
This week sees another fresh drop, and another turn of the wheel as Rapha launch the Futuro collection.
The Futuro line is inspired by the 1990 Tour de France, when new print techniques, bike tech and team sponsors combined for a radical shake-up of bikes and kit.
"Our latest limited edition collection honours the era when professional cycling first looked to the future, embraced new technology, and transformed itself beyond all recognition," explain Rapha.
"During the late 80s and early 90s, pro cycling was flooded with a raft of sponsorship deals from electronics companies vying for attention in the European market. Toshiba entered the race in 1987, taking over from La Vie Claire as title sponsor of Greg LeMond's former team. Renowned for their rapid adoption of new technology, they were among the first to use carbon fibre frames, clipless pedals, aero handlebars, and heart rate monitors.
"But perhaps their most memorable technological application of all? Their jersey design. The advent of sublimation printing brought forth an anything-goes era of garish graphics, and the heavy black diagonal lines, brash colours, and big logos of Team Toshiba's kit were no exception.
"With new names, new technology, and new ideas being expressed at supersonic speed, the 1990 edition of the Tour was a vision of the future. Blasting off from France's science-fiction theme park in Poitiers, the riders of the peloton rode bikes which, complete with newly developed aero handlebars, aptly resembled rockets from another universe."
The collection includes jerseys, bib shorts, jackets and accessories pairing retro styling with cutting edge materials and design elements.
There are three designs in the range: Coureur, Futuro and Sonic. Each pays tribute to a different rider or story from the 1990 Tour.
Over to you Rapha...
COUREUR
Nicknamed 'El Diablo' for his attacking style, Claudio Chaippuci upset cycling's natural order in the first stage of his 1990 Tour debut - making a break with three other riders that finished more than 10 minutes ahead of the bunch. It would take that year's winner, Greg LeMond, another 15 stages to claw back the time from young Chiappucci, further cementing the Lombardian's reputation as a devilishly audacious racer.
Coureur Jersey £140
This special edition jersey features design elements honouring Chaipucci's style, complete with embroidered details and badges that tell his story. Fully knitted merino sleeves, collar, and hem pay tribute to classic cycling jersey style, while three button-secured rear pockets provide storage and a further subtle nod to the sport's garment history. The jersey honours a rider whose raw emotion flew in the face of a peloton preoccupied with technological progress.
Coureur Cap £30
A cotton cycling cap with a special edition design honouring a young racer who took a big chance in his 1990 Tour debut. Complementing the special edition Coureur Jersey, this cotton cycling cap completes the limited collection, and features a traditional quarter-panel design as well as a limited edition livery.
SONIC
As well as paying visits to futuristic attractions like Futuroscope, the Tour in the early 90s was defined by new technology, and an influx of new technological sponsors. The Sonic design harks back to this era of innovation when traditional kit designs were completely overhauled with the advent of sublimation printing. Comprising a special edition jersey, bib shorts, socks and headband, the collection honours a period of racing when electric colours, and electrifying performances, were de rigueur.
Sonic Thermal Jersey with headband £160
A special edition jersey with a matching headband to honour an era of new ideas at the Tour. This special edition long sleeve jersey features design elements honouring those days, complete with sublimated artwork on the shoulder panel and cuff, as well as reflective heat transfers reminiscent of the loud logos that dominated cycling in that era. The jersey is made from a breathable and high-wicking midweight fabric designed to insulate against seasonal chills, but also wick moisture during high-intensity riding.
Sonic Winter Bib Shorts £195
These special edition Pro Team Winter Bib Shorts feature design elements honouring those days, complete with visual cues and loud logos reminiscent of those that dominated cycling in that era. The bibs feature a three-layer hybrid fabric that offers wind protection and water resistance to the front, and warm yet breathable, fleece-backed panels at the back, while a high waist and thermal uppers provide further warmth for your torso. A longer leg length gives your quads much needed extra coverage on cold days, and our men's Pro Team chamois pad balances support and speed for a race-winning advantage. Designed for winter training when skies darken earlier, reflective logos and elements feature throughout.
Sonic socks £20
These special edition Pro Team Socks feature design elements honouring those days, complete with visual cues and loud logos reminiscent of those that dominated cycling in that era. The socks wick sweat efficiently, are soft, comfortable, and stay in position more securely than other racewear equivalents. With a breathable mesh upper, these socks are designed for high-intensity riding or racing. Aiding comfort and fit, the fabric has added Elastane to provide more stretch, while the cuff offers improved support.
Sonic Lightweight Shadow Jacket £200
This special edition Lightweight Shadow Jacket features design elements honouring those days, complete with artwork on the shoulder panel and cuff, as well as reflective heat transfers reminiscent of the loud logos that dominated cycling in that era. Made with our proprietary Lightweight Shadow fabric, this out-of-the-pocket jacket combines feathery weight with unparalleled wind and water-resistant properties. A full-length, two-way Vislon zip allows for easy adjustments on the fly, while elasticated closures at the cuffs and the hem hold the jacket in place at the same time as keeping bulk to a minimum - helpful when stuffing the jacket into a jersey pocket.
FUTURO
The 1990 peloton looked right at home framed by Futuroscope - a science-fiction theme park designed to showcase the best of modern technology. Hosting not only that year's prologue, but a double-header Grand Départ featuring a 138-kilometre morning race and a 45-kilometre team time trial in the afternoon, pro cyclist Frans Maassen described it as "like something from space." The Futuro design takes inspiration from these futuristic surroundings with special edition design elements and a striking reflective treatment.
Futuro Training Jersey £85
This special edition Pro Team Training Jersey features design elements honouring those days, complete with sublimated artwork and an iridescent treatment reminiscent of the loud logos that dominated cycling in that era. The jersey is made with a lightweight, open-structured fabric on the front panels for wicking and breathability, while on the back, a close-knit fabric provides added sun protection and improved support for full pockets. A thicker elastic trim on the pockets keeps the contents secure, and a gusset at the bottom expands to add extra volume.
Futuro Long Sleeve Training Jersey £95
This special edition Pro Team Training Long Sleeve Jersey features design elements honouring those days, complete with sublimated artwork and an iridescent treatment reminiscent of the loud logos that dominated cycling in that era. The jersey is made with a non- perforated fabric to the front, and the same 155gsm fabric as the short sleeve version on the back. It has a race fit that suits an in-the-drops, on-bike position, and maintains the stripped back Pro Team aesthetic with elastic hems and set-in sleeves. The pockets have been engineered to expand, allowing for greater volume for your ride essentials.
Futuro Lightweight Gilet £90
This special edition Pro Team Lightweight Gilet features design elements honouring those days, complete with sublimated artwork and an iridescent treatment reminiscent of the loud logos that dominated cycling in that era. Extremely lightweight, it can pack down to be stored in a jersey pocket until a cold descent or as the sun drops, and also incorporates a two-way VISLON® zip, allowing you to unzip from the bottom for easy access to your jersey pockets. As with all Pro Team products, everything about this cycling gilet is designed with performance and comfort in mind: a mesh fabric on the inner collar and perforated holes on the neck help you avoid overheating and the directly applied silicon on the front hem helps keep the gilet in place during hard rides.
RGB Long Sleeve Training Jersey £95
This special edition Pro Team Training Long Sleeve Jersey features design elements honouring those days, complete with sublimated artwork and an iridescent treatment reminiscent of the loud logos that dominated cycling in that era. The jersey is made with a non-perforated fabric to the front, and the same 155gsm fabric as the short sleeve version on the back. It has a race fit that suits an in-the-drops, on- bike position, and maintains the stripped back Pro Team aesthetic with elastic hems and set-in sleeves. The pockets have been engineered to expand, allowing for greater volume for your ride essentials.
Available to RCC Members now
Members of the Rapha Cycling Club will enjoy 48 hour priority access to the new range, before it goes on general sale Friday 13 November.
Find out more and browse the collection at rapha.cc/category/futuro-collection.
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