A deep dive into the archives of professional cycling reveals a recurring theme: some team kits, despite their functional purpose, have been nothing short of aesthetic catastrophes. From the early days of the sport to modern-day designs, certain ensembles have consistently drawn criticism for their questionable color combinations, bizarre patterns, or ill-conceived themes. This retrospective journey, prompted by the recent uproar over the 2026 Ineos Grenadiers' orange and grey design, unearths a 'dastardly dozen' of the most visually challenging kits to ever grace the peloton. These outfits, ranging from the garishly loud to the frankly inexplicable, serve as a testament to the fact that even in a sport focused on performance, fashion can sometimes take a jarring detour.
A Historical Review of Cycling's Most Aesthetically Challenging Uniforms
The cycling world was recently abuzz with strong reactions to the Ineos Grenadiers' 2026 kit, featuring a striking yet divisive blend of bright orange, white, and grey shorts. This particular design choice elicited widespread disapproval, with many fans describing it as a "sartorial car crash." Despite the initial criticism, the team later opted for traditional black bibs for early European races, raising questions about the original grey short decision.
Historically, professional cycling has a rich tapestry of fashion faux pas. One notable example is the Castorama team's kit from 1990-1995. Designed by the late Laurent Fignon, this uniform was an homage to the home improvement retailer's staff, resembling a DIY abomination with its blocky, Lego-like appearance. Riders were even jokingly rumored to deliver paint and nails on non-race days.
The 2010 Footon-Servetto kit also stands out for its ghastly skin-beige colored jerseys and shorts, complete with a massive footprint logo. Team general manager Mauro Ginaetti, now head of UAE Emirates, has been linked to several controversial kit designs throughout his career.
Moving to 2006, Astana's kit, worn by Alexander Vinokourov, featured a full cyan-pale blue ensemble with matching shorts. While memorable for its distinctiveness, its aesthetic appeal was often debated, much like Vinokourov's contentious drug test results.
In the 2000s, Phonak, a team owned by hearing aid manufacturer Andy Rihs, presented an eye-wateringly ugly kit. The green, white, and yellow design prominently displayed a large ear on the front, coinciding with a period of the team's questionable roster choices.
French building supplier teams have a curious history of problematic designs. BigMat Auber 93, active since the early '90s, has had many shocking kits, with their 90s dungaree-style rivaling Castorama for the title of "worst."
More recently, EF Pro Cycling's Palace Giro d'Italia collaborations, particularly the 2020 edition, generated considerable discussion. A product of a partnership between Rapha and skateboard company Palace, these 'one-race-only' special kits, often featuring loud colors and eccentric patterns, were designed to capture attention, which they certainly did.
The 2014 Belkin kit, a bland and technologically inspired green, white, and black design, represented a departure from their dazzling yet questionable Rabobank predecessors, serving as a transitional, forgettable phase before the team became Visma.
Columbia-HTC's 2009 kit, famously worn by Mark Cavendish, featured "Marvel-style abs" that many found unappealing, though the team's numerous victories often overshadowed the design flaws.
Belgian teams have also contributed to the list of fashion blunders. Intermarché–Wanty's kits from 2021-2025 were noted for their "billboard clashers" aesthetic, described as an overload of frites and chocolate imagery with a generous mayo coating.
Finally, for a brazen 13 years, AG2R-La Mondiale (2011-2023) audaciously sported brown shorts. While initially controversial, they surprisingly gained some traction, even influencing casual wear. Thankfully, recent redesigns have retired the brown shorts to the realm of nostalgic, albeit questionable, fashion choices.
The ultimate nadir of cycling kit design is often cited as the 2014 IDRD-Bogota Humana San Mateo-Solgar women's team kit. This flesh-colored design sparked widespread outrage and was deemed "unacceptable by any standard of decency" by then-UCI president Brian Cookson, highlighting the fine line between bold design and outright inappropriateness. Compared to this infamous kit, even the most criticized contemporary designs seem mild.
In conclusion, while function often dictates form in professional cycling, there's a clear historical pattern of teams venturing into sartorial realms that elicit strong, often negative, reactions. These kits, however, contribute to the sport's rich and colorful narrative, proving that even in uniform design, there's always room for discussion, debate, and sometimes, a little bit of sartorial shock.
This retrospective journey through cycling's most aesthetically challenged kits offers a compelling insight into the subjective nature of design and the evolving trends within professional sports. It underscores how team uniforms, beyond their branding and performance aspects, can profoundly impact public perception and become memorable, even if for all the wrong reasons. The ongoing debate surrounding kit aesthetics serves as a reminder that in the world of cycling, every detail, down to the last stitch, is subject to scrutiny and passionate opinion.