Produced by Rapha, the new EF Education-Nippo kit is officially launching online at rapha.cc in April 2021. Having shaken up the peloton and got into ‘hot water’ with the UCI at last year’s Giro d’Italia with a ‘duck inspired’ kit that certainly turned a few heads, this year’s team apparel is a stickler for the rules.
In fact, as the company notes, it has complied with every possible rule and regulation on the positioning of logos, etc. To this end, it has retained the measurement marks on the apparel as way of focusing on… ‘the rulemakers’ regulations’.
A release from Rapha explained the irreverent approach taken….
‘From the low-profile blackout kit we debuted at the 2019 Tour Down Under to the standout switch out that shook up last year’s Giro, Rapha and EF have always designed to disrupt. Pulling on our kit should always mean pushing the envelope and committing to driving the sport forwards.
‘But even as the team who brought the pro peloton its first duck-inspired kit, we don’t want to ruffle too many feathers. After getting into hot water last season, we’ve decided to create a compliant kit for 2021. In fact, we’ve tried to create the world’s most compliant cycling kit. Though we’ve earned a reputation as rule breakers, our design for this season centres around the rulemakers’ regulations.
‘To ensure we comply with every rule and regulation no matter how seemingly insignificant, our designers have shown their working. For correct positioning and spacing of sponsor logos, they’ve left their meticulous measurements marked up while subtle annotations are a nod to their creative approach to compliance.
‘These finer details won’t be seen from the helicopter shots but for those who wear our kit, riders and supporters alike, they will serve as a reminder of our team’s desire to move the dial and change the sport. For fans following the team on TV or from the roadside, their favourite riders will still stand out in the team’s traditional hi-vis pink.’
www.rapha.cc/ef-education-first
