The Tour de France Grand Départ in Barcelona is now upon us, and with it comes the traditional flood of new kit reveals. This year, six teams will sport brand-new designs when the Tour gets underway today.
The UCI used to be firmly against jersey switch-ups, but after some rule loosening, the tradition began in the mid-2010s as a fun novelty for a select few teams. Now, the habit has spread across the peloton to the point where this year a quarter of the competing teams will be wearing one-off kits for the Tour. If that sounds a lot, that figure is actually smaller than last year.
Designing a special jersey is usually based around three considerations. One: avoid the usage of the Tour’s signature yellow. Two: create a lighter (often white) jersey for the heat. Three: unveil or showcase team sponsors.
We’ve now had the chance to see these new threads on the streets of Barcelona ahead of Saturday’s team time-trial, so here’s what we think.
Pinarello-Q36.5
For their debut Tour de France, Swiss team Pinarello-Q36.5 have given their jersey the typical Tour treatment. By that, I mean they’ve swapped out their navy blue and black combo, which any woman will tell you is an abomination of a colour pairing (I’m in agreement, by the way), for a lighter baby blue and white jersey. Since Tadej Pogačar won’t be wearing his European Champions’ jersey, it’s good to have something that reflects those Euro tones.
The jersey’s Cambridge blue is paired with grey bibs, which is all the rage right now. Together, they create a really pleasant mix of colours, which is only enhanced by the touches of Pinarello gold.
They’re hardly reinventing the wheel, but this is the kind of kit you could wear on a Sunday ride without looking like the Yellow Pages threw up on you. Blue and grey, what’s to argue about?
Cyclist rating: 7/10 (Girona uniform)
Movistar
After a few years of wearing white all year round, Movistar have decided the Tour is worthy of a special jersey. With Movistar being a Spanish team, this Grand Départ is a big deal for them.
The Tour-exclusive jersey draws on Barcelona’s Sagrada Família, the basilica designed by Catalan architect Antonio Gaudí. According to the team, ‘the jersey’s graphic elements are inspired by the shapes, textures, and geometries found in the Sagrada Família’. This might sound original, but they’re not the only team referencing Gaudí, as you’ll see below.
Movistar’s attempt is fantastic. There are shadows, layers and changes in colour throughout the jersey, which instantly gives the illusion of a stained glass window or an intricate church hall. This blue is offset by some bursts of yellow. Take note of the yellow pattern on the sleeves, which mirrors the print found on the paving slabs in Barcelona.
Maybe the heat of Barcelona has got to my head, but this is my favourite Tour de France kit of the lot. It’s a great nod to the city without ramming it down your throat in a loud manner. Call off the competition now, we have a winner.
Cyclist rating: 9/10 (Muy bueno)
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
It’s the year of blue, it seems.
Indeed, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have ditched their gondalier outfit and have gone full swimming pool for their Tour jersey.
It all looks pretty pedestrian, which is odd for Red Bull, apart from the upside-down 13 featured on the jersey’s body. That’s a nice homage to the long-running tradition of flipping the race number, but also a nod to this being the squad’s 13th Tour de France appearance.
On the whole, it’s very clean. Actually, I think I prefer this to the usual Red Bull team kit. From what I’ve seen in photos and at the Team Presentation, it looks great on the riders, especially with all of Remco’s golden and rainbow bands on the sleeves.
Cyclist rating: 8/10 (I don’t believe in numerical superstitions)
Caja Rural
Caja Rural have gone full retro for their 2026 Tour de France kit. Despite this being their debut Tour (ish), the team is invoking the 1980s by adopting the same design as the team that was also sponsored by Caja Rural, who competed in the Tour in 1987 and 1988. The original is seen modelled by the grandad in the photo above, right next to a very hungover-looking Fernando Gaviria.
The designers have respected the original design and delivered a great jersey here. If the team were on the WorldTour level, this would instantly become a Merci Poupou-style classic. However, it’s Caja Rural, and many people have forgotten that they’re even here. Hopefully, this gem of an outfit inspires some intrigue for a team that have a lot to prove at this race.
I know I said Movistar was my favourite earlier on, but this one is close. How much credit can I give to them though, given is essentially a rehash of a kit from 40 years ago.
Cyclist rating: 9/10 (Olden but golden)
Jayco-AlUla
Jayco-AlUla have been directionless this year, with poor results at Grand Tours and WorldTour races alike since the beginning of the season. They’re one of only two teams in the top division without a WorldTour win in 2026, and they’re coming to the Tour de France with a spineless roster.
In that case, this jersey feels like a cry for help – or for relevance at least. It adds splashes of chartreuse-mint green to the usual flame effect on the jersey. That lighter tone has been injected into this design to celebrate GreenEdge’s 15th Tour de France, despite this year looking poised to be one of the poorest in that long history.
The launch of the jersey at Paris Fashion Week was interesting, but felt a little try-hard. From my perspective, it feels as though Jayco is trying to copy EF’s higher-impact switch-out kits. Ultimately, this is nowhere near as daring, and the team wearing it lacks the same personality and identity to pull it off.
That said, the jersey’s already got more air time than the squad’s Tour roster, so it’s working for the sponsors.
Cyclist rating: 5/10 (Brat green is so 2024)
Visma-Lease a Bike
Visma-Lease a Bike have unveiled a new Tour kit ahead of each edition since 2021. Highlights include the vomit Van Gogh jersey in 2022 and the Wetherspoons carpet from 2024, but this year the team pitched two designs to the public: a light cornflour coloured number or a black number.
The fans went to the ballot box and chose the darker variant of the kit titled ‘The Architect’, which is said to be inspired by Catalan artist and, you guessed it, architect Antoni Gaudí.
Some of his sketches appear on the jersey, which may or may not have been assisted by AI, but it doesn’t feel as though the team are trying too hard to emphasise that part of the brief. However, it feels just a little more forced than Movistar.
Wearing black might not be the best choice once the riders hit a 40°C heatwave in week one, but the kit will pop out when paired up with the yellow helmets and flashes on this kit.
On the whole, this kit looks clean. At first glance, it looks like the one from last year, but the Gaudí reference adds a special touch to this one, especially since the race starts right by the massive unfinished church he designed.
Cyclist rating: 7/10 (Gaudí reference is much appreciated)