This year marks a historic milestone for Castelli, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary through a series of high-profile activations. These begin with the unveiling of a special commemorative kit that WorldTour team Soudal Quick-Step will wear at the Giro d’Italia.
The centerpieces of the Giro d’Italia collection are the Aero Race 8S Jersey, Sanremo 8S Pro Speed Suit and Body Paint V TT Speedsuit. These have been updated with a new Vintage Cream colourway furnished with heritage logos and text elements that reference landmarks from the long history of the brand.
The technical pieces are complemented by special-edition Premio Black Bibshorts and Pro Light Wind Vest, which also feature the anniversary insignia. Founded in 1876, Castelli is an international cycling apparel brand based in Fonzaso, Italy, known for introducing performance breakthroughs such as the first Lycra shorts and aerodynamic racing jerseys.
Steve Smith, Global Brand Manager at Castelli, said “For the Giro d’Italia, we wanted to provide Soudal Quick-Step with some bespoke kit that genuinely reflects 150 years of Castelli, not just as a celebration, but as a continuation of what our brand stands for today.
“Over the decades, the Castelli scorpion and wordmark have evolved constantly, each representing a different moment in our history. Rather than selecting one era, we decided to bring them together by layering multiple identities into a single design that tells a broader story.
“The Vintage Cream tone was chosen to give a vintage look to the team, and also because it provided the right canvas for the design. It softens the overall look and allows the different scorpion colours and wordmark variations to sit together cohesively.
“One of the key features sits on the back of the jersey, where the Castelli scorpions run across from left to right in chronological order. It’s a simple gesture, but it creates a clear timeline – showing progression and evolution.
“We extended that thinking across the full race kit. On the bibshort and other pieces, we introduced text in carefully selected areas to honour some of the many pivotal moments in Castelli’s history – linking years to our breakthroughs that shaped the sport.”
Key historical breakthroughs noted by the company include:
- 1967 – Armando Castelli creating the very first time trial speed suit for Jacques Anquetil
- 1977 – Introducing the first Lycra short into the pro peloton
- 1981 – Bringing sublimation printing on pro team kit
- 1999 – Integrating the first fully ergonomic chamois in the Progetto Y Bibshort
- 2007 – Creating the first aero cycling jersey
- 2010 – The invention of the Gabba Rain Jacket
- 2011 – Launching the Sanremo Speed Suit
- 2026 – Launching the Aero Race 8S Jersey
Steve Smith continued “Of course, the design still had to function as a Soudal Quick-Step race kit too, so wider sponsor visibility and clarity remained critical. The process became about balance, integrating our own historical elements in a natural way, without overwhelming the jersey or compromising performance.”
Jurgen Foré, CEO at Soudal Quick-Step, said “One hundred and fifty years is an extraordinary milestone, and what makes Castelli’s story so compelling is that their history has always been defined by pushing forward, not standing still. That is something we recognise in ourselves. We are proud to wear this kit at the Giro d’Italia as it is a beautiful tribute to everything they have built.”
A limited run of replica Competizione 4 Jerseys have been produced in the new design and are available at the company website and select dealers priced at US$130, €100 or £100.
The Giro d’Italia kit is one of several activations planned for the summer 2026 season. A ‘Once Upon a Ride’ challenge has been introduced on Strava between May 7–20, 2026, with group rides also being organised on May 9, 2026.
