Rapha is selling new gear. It’s called the Pro Team Lightweight Shadow jacket (what a mouthful!) and if you’re big on cycling, you might want to take a long.
This isn’t the first time we’re seeing this sleek fitness apparel. We saw at this year’s Liege-Bastogne-Liege (also La Doyenne) with EF Education First. They of course had sufficient times to test the jacket during Belgium’s irate weather along the 256-kilometer track.
Rapha says it manufactures this jacket using a durable water repellent treatment, like with its previous Shadow jacket. This time, though, it’s got a new fabric that’s lighter and stronger that its aged sibling.
The company claims that its jacket is capable of “warding off biting wind and keeping the rider dry in all but the most concerted of downpours, while also regulating body temperature.” We’ll have to test it first, of course, but that sounds pretty impressive.
The fabric also features an element of mechanical stretch, wrapping around the rider’s body to create a tight “race” fit. Elasticated closures dot the cuffs and the hem, which hold the jacket in place. At the same time, it allows it to trim the bulk down to a minimum. That’s great news if you want to stuff your jacket into a jersey pocket.
You can get it in Dark Navy, Green Grey, and Yellow. It’s a tad bit expensive at £200. But if you have plans to hop onboard the La Doyenne next year, the race demands no less.
Photos courtesy of Rapha
