I have about as much fashion sense as a wet paper bag, but I still know what I like and don't like. When it comes to the cycling kits (that's English for "uniform") the Tour riders are wearing, Team Astana wins my vote for best dressed. That light blue strip (that's English for "kit") is easy on the eyes which, given that the Astana boys seem to be in all the moves at the front, is a good thing. The yellow jerseys and shorts of the Saunier Duval-Prodir squad is also one of my favorites. And since we are in France, I have to admit that the AG2R boys are styling.
The worst-dressed list is headed by the Euskatel-Euskadi team of Basque riders. These guys took a very nice-looking strip and turned it into a fashion nightmare. If you are going to do orange, which is the primary color of the Basque flag, you have to go bright and bold like the previous Euskatel jerseys. It seems like they toned down the brightness a bit--not good. But it's the shorts that really blow. The orange patch in the back makes the riders look like they are wearing fanny packs. OK, I know some of you out there wear fanny packs when you ride but this is the Tour where they have support vehicles and domestiques to carry everything.
I still haven't warmed up to the new Discovery clothing. Props to the boys for going green and addressing global warming, but I'm so used to the old kit it just doesn't seem right. Of course, when your sponsor's logo is black-and-white, you're behind the eight ball before you even get started. I am convinced we will have one, possibly two, Disco riders on the podium in Paris so I guess I'd better learn to like their new kit.
Well, if you haven't figured out by now that I have no eye for fashion, please chime in and let me know whose kit you like and don't like. Obviously, there are no winners or losers, or I would be out of here.
Some race commentary...
Vino continues to make us all feel bad for his early race crash and what might have been. If you haven't warmed up to the Kazakh's aggressiveness, check your blood pressure. I saw his right knee wound, sans bandage, and it looked really ugly. Luckily for me, dinner isn't for a few hours.
The Contador-Rasmussen tete-a-tete was incredible. Rasmussen told the French press after the stage that he knew he had to go with each attack because George Hincapie was still up the road, and if Contador got up to him solo it could have gotten ugly.
I feel sorry for Levi. He was stuck in a no-win situation. Maybe he didn't have the legs to go with Contador or counterattack once Rasmussen and his teammate were away, but if Levi wants to get on the podium, he is going to have to put Cadel Evans in his rear-view mirrors on the final mountain stage since Evans appears to have better TT form.
Ever upwards,
Bruce
Active Expert: Bruce Hildenbrand
Previous Next
Theresa
I think the Astana kits are cool! I like CSC and Lotto, too. But I can't get used to the Disco kits either. I love George's kit! It's really cool. And you are right on with Estakatel kits, those shorts are awful.
Janet
I'm not liking the yellow of Saunier Duval-Prodir. The all yellow kit distracts from the wearer of the REAL yellow jersey.
Maryellen
My favorite kit this year is Francaise des Jeux. Don't really know anything about the team or its riders, but I love the way that kit looks on those riders. Can't quite warm up to Disco's new colors -- the blue and green is just a little bit jarring. And I agree with Janet -- sometimes I'm just not sure where the yellow jersey is when Saunier Duval-Prodir is in the picture. Now having said all that, they all look fabulous no matter what they're wearing!
Joe
I also know notthing about fashion, so it's interesting that the two kits that Bruce pointed out as being the best are the two I would name as the ugliest in the peleton. I agree with the other comments that Saunier Duval's uniforms are confusing, especially since Rasmussen has decided to wear yellow shorts. Think the organizers of the tour should make them switch to yellow on white in future tours. Anyway, I like Disco's new uniform. If I had to pick the best looking kits, I'd say CSC and Caisse D'Epargne.
bike200
Your new name at the shop is Bruce Blackwell. Actually got a nice ring to it.
Babette
Personally, I like the Astana kits too - they are definitely easy to pick out in the crowd and look nice with Vino's fair skin. I agree that the FDJ kits are also sharp and distinctive. Too many of the team jerseys/colors are similar and difficult to distinguish (like the problem with Saunier Duval). The Disco jerseys and shorts just have too much stuff and too many colors.
Even though I don't want to see all the local guys out riding around in seafoam green shorts imitating Vino, any kit is better than cycling nude: "BELGRADE. Serbia - Two Austrians and a German were fined for cycling naked along the banks of the River Danube in Serbia where a heatwave has sent temperatures soaring." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19913495/?GT1=10150
darthbutter
I agree that Astana has the best kit -- a fresh and distinctive color reminiscent of the Kazakh flag. (Did you also see that Vino's TT bike had the team colors on the spokes? Very sleek.)
T-Mobile is my other favorite. Surprising how they manage to make a bold pink not look girly.
Saunier-Duval should be forced to change, as they distract from the yellow jersey. I mean, if Target ever sponsored a team, surely there'd be outcry that it's too easily confused for the polka-dot jersey.
Disco just has too much on it.
CSC and Caisse d'Epargne are too similar to each other, though both kits are somewhat attractive. Same goes for Cofidis and Barloworld.
Predictor-Lotto just seems like it can't commit to what color it wants to be. (PL also gets my vote for oddest sponsor; the lottery I can see, but a home pregnancy test?!)
Bruce
I was always a big fan of the Blue train of US Postal. Those were some classy kits. Maybe they'll sponsor the boys again when the Discovery contract is up...
I really can't stand Astana's gear. There's something about that blue/green that doesn't belong anywhere except Caribbean water. I like CSC and Quickstep's kits in this year's race. I think Discovery looks good with the green. The black, red and white on the Lotto boys looks sharp as well.