Rapha x Palace skateboards debut distinct kit at today's Giro D’Italia ITT

I don’t know what to make of it, exactly, but I do know awesome kit when I see it. And this Rapha x Palace collab - debuting at today’s opening ITT stage of the 2020 Giro - is exactly that. A kit masterminded by the EF braintrust in a way that they only could.

Now, I know nothing about Palace. But they seem cut from the same cloth as some of Rapha’s more eccentric designs and plenty capable of pandering to team personalities with style. The entire fleet of team bikes, POC helmets and eyewear will also feature a distinct Palace paint job during the Giro. Finally. No more confusing the traditional pink for the leader’s jersey.

Cycling loves its rules and this kit flies in the face of tradition, leveraging a team of designers that is alien to cycling’s aesthetic and its origins. You gotta love that. This year’s Giro features three time trials and a slew of mountain stages. Mimicking the chaotic kit, expect plenty of chaos and fast-changing weather to animate racing in the final week, especially stage 18, when riders go over the Prato side of the Stelvio. Happy Giro, everyone.