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Better than the Gabba? Castelli Perfetto Light jersey now available

Castelli introduce the Perfetto Light, a lighter, more breathable, short sleeve version of the Gabba

Better than the Gabba? That’s what Castelli are saying about the Perfetto Light, a more breathable, short sleeve version of the Italian firm’s all-conquering foul-weather jersey.

We told you about the Perfetto when it first broke cover at Eurobike, back in September 2015, and now it’s available, right in time for spring.

Castelli first introduced the Gabba in 2009 ahead of that year’s Spring Classics. It was the idea of Gabriel Rasch (nicknamed Gabba), riding for the Castelli-sponsored Cervélo TestTeam at the time and now a directeur sportif for Team Sky, who wanted a windproof, water resistant jersey, with an aerodynamic fit for racing. Since then a whole host of rival clothing manufacturers have launched lookalike jerseys.

The Perfetto Light is new from Castelli and is touted as a more breathable version of the Gabba

“There’s no denying that the Gabba short-sleeve jersey has been a game changer in pro cycling,” say Castelli. “Most of the peloton pulls it out whenever the weather is cold or wet. But sometimes the Gabba is too much.”

The Perfetto Light is said to have the same cut as the Gabba and uses a Gore Windstopper 150 fabric, 25 per cent lighter than the Gabba’s fabric, on the front, shoulders and sleeves, with a water resistant Nano Light material on the back. That’s essentially an unbrushed version of Castelli’s Nano Flex fabric (used on the Nano Flex tights), which is water resistant and has plenty of stretch, but Castelli say there’s no membrane to inhibit breathability.

Breathability is key to the Perfetto Light and Castelli say the jersey’s fabric “is very tightly knit so you don’t feel the wind coming through, but it is open enough to prevent the moisture build-up that you can experience with the Gabba during intense efforts or when the temperature rises.”

Castelli recommend the Perfetto Light for cool or damp spring and autumn rides, when the weather’s unpredictable but the temperature’s high enough to make complete windproof protection over-kill. Castelli say the jersey is light enough to wear pack into a pocket if worn over a regular short sleeve jersey and conditions improve.

Expect to see the Perfetto Light on the backs of Cannondale riders at the Spring Classics

“[The Perfetto Light] can cover most of the conditions of the Gabba (except wet racing and very cold), yet it handles warmer temperatures better,” according to Castelli, though they say it doesn’t fully replace the Gabba, but instead provides an additional option “ideally suited to cool temperatures, especially when it’s dry or there’s a risk of light rain”.

Expect to see the Perfetto Light worn by Cannondale riders through the Spring Classics and, as it’s a race-inspired piece, the cut is slim. Features include a lengthy dropped tail to protect against road spray, three rear pockets, a full-length zip with an oversized zipper pull to make it easier to use on the bike, and reflective detailing on the pockets and hem.

The Castelli Perfetto Light jersey costs £125 and is available in six sizes (S-XXXL) and five colours (black, red, high-vis yellow, high-vis green and blue).

Website: Castelli