Perhaps the only real negative fallout from last year’s Garmin-Cervelo merger was the team kit. Out went the distinctive and stylish diamond pattern in in came the dull black that every team from Sky to Leopard seems to favor.
It was as if clothes horse and fashion-forward team manager Jonathan Vaughters suddenly turned conservative, voted republican and went color-blind.
The retreat to drab seemed to undermine the very core of the Garmin-Cervelo team values, deny its kooky brashness, erase the maverick streak and blandly announce “we’re, we’re bigger and duller!”
In a word, wrong.
The new black is now the old black and the argyle army has been mobilized and inspired again, just in time for the tour de France.
We’re really excited about the Tour de France kit,” team manager Jonathan Vaughters said in a press release. “The lighter colour is perfect for hot weather and our signature argyle is more prominent.”
Signature is the key word in that release because Garmin-Cervelo had lost their look, their style and their freak flag.
Apparel sponsor Castelli was only too happy to deliver to bring back the diamonds.
“We consider the Tour de France a very special event that deserves a special design,” Castelli Brand Manager said Steve Smith said in a press release. “This team is rider-centric, and Castelli has done its part to make sure the riders have the most comfortable and technically advanced clothing for this big event.”
Garmin-Cervelo officially has it’s groove back and we’re expecting almost immediate argyle-activated benefits. GC hopeful CHristian Vande Velde will stay upright and crash free the entire tour. Sprinter Tyler Farrar will finally fine good luck in the Tour, move past the sadness of his best friend Wouter Weyllandt’s death and win a stage. David Millar will sparkle in the time trial.
There may have been a silly and pointless interruption, but blonde bombshells and Jonathan Vaughters both know the same thing: diamonds are forever.
The new kit could use a little orange like the old Slipstream kits.