The kit Mark Cavendish, Lizzie Armitstead, Sir Chris Hoy and co hope to wear when riding to Olympic gold this summer has been unveiled at the Tower of London.
Designed by Stella McCartney, appointed by adidas as creative director for the project, the kit represents a stark move away from Great Britain’s bold red, blue and white kit traditionally worn by riders on national duty.
Instead, McCartney has opted for a more subtle design based on the Union Jack, although only a flash of red appears on the collar and arm, with RCUK readers giving it a lukewarm response on our Facebook page.
The kit aims to provide a unified design across the team, according to the British Olympic Association, “breaking down the iconic design [of the British flag] and reconstructing it, creating a modern and contemporary twist.”
And Hoy called it “fantastic” and “classy”, with the four-time Olympic gold medallist underlining the importance of wearing kit which breeds confidence within the team.
“It’s very important that you feel confident in your kit and you feel good in it because you don’t want to be thinking about it when you’re competing,” said Hoy.
“To know that you’ve got the fit correct, it’s air-dynamic, it’s efficient when you’re on the bike, that’s a big part of your performance.
“You want to step out there looking the same as a unit. If you’re all wearing exactly the same kit and you all look smart and you all look together it’s quite intimidating to other countries.
“The kit looks fantastic and a bit of a twist to have the union flag incorporated in it but not in an obvious way. “I think it’s really classy… and one I think we will all enjoy wearing.”
McCartney, who has been working on the design for two years, said: “The first place to start on a project like this is to look at the Union flag. For me it’s one of the most beautiful flags in the world and it was important for me to stay true to that iconic design but also to modernise it and present it in a contemporary way. Ultimately, we wanted the athletes to feel like a team and be proud with the identity we created.”
The kit is said to be the most comprehensive range ever been supplied to a national team and includes competition kit, training wear, the presentation suit, footwear and accessories.
BOA chief executive officer Andy Hunt added: “This partnership has brought together the best in performance technology through adidas, the best in British design and creativity with Stella McCartney and the best in British sport with our greatest team.”
See more of Team GB’s new kit on the BOA’s Facebook page.
What do you think of the new kit? Classy? Or dull? Tell us on the forum.
