EF Pro Cycling reveal special switch-out kit for the Tour of Flanders

Black and white design will be worn by EF Education-EasyPost and EF Education-Cannondale, as Rapha launches new 'Flandrien collection'

12:18, Friday 29th March 2024

George Poole

Junior Writer

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Coryn Labecki, Michael Valgren and Kristen Faulkner will line up in their team's one-off strip on Sunday

For the first time in the team's history, EF Pro Cycling have revealed a switch-out kit for the Tour of Flanders, which will be worn by both EF Education-Cannondale and EF Education-EasyPost on Sunday.

Designed by clothing partner Rapha, the black, white and pink kit marks the launch of the British brand's 'Flandrien collection' and accompanying 'Past Forward' 20th-anniversary campaign. Alongside the EF kit, Rapha is launching a range of clothing inspired by classic racing jerseys from De Ronde.

Predominantly sporting a striped black design, the switch-out kit has a white strap around the chest with classic typography marking the team name - as was all the rage in cycling's 'golden era' - and is detailed by pink trimmings on the chest, sleeve and zip.

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EF Education-Cannondale and EF Education-EasyPost will head into the women's and men's Tour of Flanders with two former winners in their midst, Coryn Labecki and Alberto Bettiol. Both riders have been pictured trying out their new garms and will hope to recapture former glories this weekend.

“De Ronde is a masterpiece of cycling, something holy and sacred for the Flemish people. I love the passion that they have," said 2019 winner Bettiol. "They wait for one year for this race, and I feel a sense of responsibility to do my best for them, because of the history, because they write my name on the asphalt.

"I am one of the few guys in the peloton who have seen what it means to win the Ronde van Vlaanderen. I got from the Flemish people even more passion, even more excitement, even more desire to race here in this countryside. The Flandriens grew up with this mighty Ronde van Vlaanderen. Now, I am a part of their history. This is a feeling you only have here in Flanders and in a few other parts of the world.”

Bettiol will start the men's race as one of the favoured riders, after displaying his best form in years over the past few weeks. It wasn't to be for the Italian on Wednesday at Dwars door Vlaanderen, with the 30-year-old forced to vacate the front group with cramps, but he can be confident of pushing red-hot favourite Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) all the way.

As for Labecki in the women's race, the American will take to the start as somewhat of an underdog, with her spring marked by a series of DNFs so far, though her team will have a strong contender in Kristen Faulkner.

The 2017 winner revels in the history that surrounds this age-old race.

"Flanders represents the truest essence or meaning of road cycling. It is just a cool frickin race," she said.

"This is the standard and the highest level of racing. There is just so much history in the classics. They are some of the hardest and most technical road races in the world. I love cobbled climbs. I love the challenge and the technicality of it and then fans just add an extra dimension to it that not all races have."

Switch-out kit joined by special-edition Cannondale bikes

EF Pro Cycling are a team well-known for their special-edition kits. Usually identifiable by their bright pink designs, the American outfit have regularly used a switch-out in the Giro d'Italia, whilst Lachlan Morton recently debuted a unique white design for the Absa Cape Epic in South Africa.

Their latest reveal is a more traditional affair than the PALACE ducks and animal prints we have seen in the past, with Rapha taking inspiration from classic cycling jerseys in their latest collection. The Flandrien collection is said to celebrate both the heroes of the race and 20 years since the brand first launched in 2004.

Cannondale's SuperSix EVO Lab71 will be seen in a unique decal on Sunday

Alongside the black, white and pink kit, the team's bike manufacturer Cannondale has produced a special paint job for the team's frames that will be raced on Sunday. With pink trimmings on the seat stays and forks, the black frame is also spotted by dashes of pink throughout.

The special-edition kit and accompanying Flandrien collection will be available to purchase for Rapha Cycling Club members from 15:00 BST on Tuesday 2 April, with the range available to the wider public 24 hours later.

For the latest news, interviews and analysis from the world of professional cycling, be sure to check out the Racing tab on the GCN website and visit our essential guide to The Spring Classics to stay up to date with all of the action from cycling's most exciting season.