Cycling apparel specialist Rapha and apéritif brand St Raphaël, have launched a special edition collection that celebrates both brands’ collective ties to the sport of cycling.
During the 1950s and 1960s, St Raphaël, an unlikely sponsor of cycling as a quinine-based aperitif, helped to inspire a generation of cyclists.
Invented in Paris in 1830, the amber-coloured elixir lent its name to a team containing, rather fittingly, one Raphaël Géminiani. Affectionately known as Le Grand Fusil (The Big Gun), Géminiani went on to manage the team, signing riders such as Rudi Altig, Roger Rivière, and Tom Simpson.
Of all the talent brought in by Géminiani, however, none seem to capture the spirit of the age quite so well as Jacques Anquetil, who joined in 1962, and was fundamental to the team’s success.
Alongside the main Saint Raphaël team, there also existed a feeder squad called Rapha- Géminiani, whose name was taken from their gregarious manager and another drink bottled by St Raphaël – Rapha.
A release from British cycling brand Rapha noted… ‘With distinctive typography and a brand image associated with the ‘savoir-vivre’ of France’s post-war glory years and the golden age of road racing, the name Rapha seems forever destined to define a certain cycling style.
‘And more than 40 years on, in 2004, it served as the perfect moniker for a newcomer to the industry determined to breathe new life into the sport.
‘Today, both brands proudly celebrate their history with a six-piece collaborative collection which features the Pro Team Aero Jersey, Quarter Zip Knit and accessories, including a reversible cap, a first for Rapha.’
Rapha founder Simon Mottram, said Rapha was born from my passionate love of cycling and, for me, the natural home of road racing has always been the South of France.
“I spent holidays there as a child and lived there as a student. When I close my eyes and think of racing I imagine the colours, sounds and smells of a race passing through a town somewhere in Provence or the Cote d’Azur.
“A town like St Raphaël in fact. When I discovered that the eponymous vermouth brand sponsored the greatest team of the ‘glory years’ of cycling I couldn’t get St Raphaël and its sister brand Rapha out of my mind. It had to be the name for my brand.”
Mottram continued, “Twenty years after I first registered Rapha as a trade mark it is a huge honour to be collaborating officially with St Raphaël on this collection. Rapha has always championed cycling culture and bike racers, with one foot in the past and one firmly placed in the future. This collection reflects our passion and origins perfectly.”
Joyce Visser, St Raphaël Senior Brand Manager, said “Cycling history is full of inspiring stories and great victories. One of them is the history of the Saint-Raphaël cycling team and its iconic riders such as Jacques Anquetil, who actually served as a source of inspiration for Rapha.
“With both brands ‘Rapha’ and ‘St Raphaël’ sharing the same DNA, this partnership was truly meant to be. Through this unique limited-edition collection, we can honour our joint history and bring people together to create many meaningful moments around cycling.”
The Rapha + St Raphaël Collection includes: Men’s & Women’s Pro Team Aero Jersey, Quarter Zip Knit, Cap, Merino Socks and Bidon
