The second offering from Belgian brand, Vermarc, in our summer clothing special is the Omega Pharma-QuickStep jersey.
Finished in the colours of Tom Boonen’s World Tour team, it’s made from a perforated, 100 per cent Polyester fabric Vermarc call TVX (Total Vapour Exchange).
The fabric has two weaves. The inner yarn is loose to allow moisture to escape to the exterior, while the outer yarn is spun more tightly to keep moisture on the outside of the garment once transported there.
We first encountered TVX when testing Vermarc’s Flanders Classics kit in April. In the cooler temperatures of spring it performed well, but the recent hot weather has supplied more demanding conditions. In temperatures from the mid-teens to low twenties, it was equally efficient.
We wore it for an ascent of the Col de la Madeleine in mid July and remained cool and dry throughout the 2,000 metre climb (if a little chilly at the top). It repeated the trick during more recent outings on home soil.
The three rear pockets (six inches deep) provided adequate storage and the elasticated top to each held the contents in place. We also liked the full-length zip, which performed its task without complaint and offered protection to the skin from two slim fabric panels which close neatly behind it.
There’s no lining to this jersey (it’s a summer garment, after all) and the raised seams rest directly against the skin, but in our experience, do so without irritation.
Vermarc have opted for elastic at the hem, rather than a silicone band, and at the sleeve, but we found they held both in place adequately. The same device is used on the sleeve of the recently-tested Strada jersey, where we found it ineffective and constricting. On the sleeve of this jersey, however, we experienced no such issues, perhaps due to the different fabric and tailoring and what feels like a lighter elastic.
The fit around the body was impressive: a close cut that didn’t leave rolls of fabric when on the bike and which, at the front, ended just below the hip bones when off it. At the rear, the drop tail was shallow, just covering the tops of the buttocks, but no greater length is required in the dry summer conditions for which this jersey is intended.
Would we recommend the Omega Pharma-QuickStep jersey? Definitely. A good fit, breathable fabric, and the opportunity to ride in the colours of Boonen, Martin and co. is an impressive combination, in our opinion. The pale colours in the body and shoulders are another advantage when riding in hot conditions.
The Omega Pharma-QuickStep short sleeved jersey costs £54.99 with a full-length zip and £49.99 with a short zip. Both come in sizes from SML to 9XL.
