Rapha to supply Team Sky's kit for next four years

Think there's a bit more to this than kit.
Rapha Condor Sharp and Sky to link up in some way? What with JTL moving and everything, maybe Sky could do with a development team??
Rather that than Virgin!!

Rapha is expensive, but it also represents value for money. Best bought in the sale, I'll admit, but it is well made and does what it is meant to do. I'm 70kgs and 41, so fit part of the mamil model, but the clothes work and fit well. I don't get the negativity associated with Rapha, it's nice well made clothing, if it's not to your taste then buy something else, there are plenty of brands to choose from.
I think this is a great arrangement, Sky, Jaguar and Rapha all together makes for a great story. Whether I'll buy any Team Sky or TeamGB is questionable, but the advances they make for Sky will filter over to other items, e.g. a skin suit isn't in Rapha's range atm, not that I need one.
Well done Rapha, a few more British cycling companies making a business success out of the Olympic and Tour success won't hurt anyone.

I'm really hoping they breakout the imagination and come up with something that isn't dull dull dull black, or wow, lets really jazz this up with a thin slash of colour

Nice to see Sky using a british brand but I'd echo what other's have said, this will be costing Rapha a fortune so they'll need to recoup that somehow and unlike a massive company like Adidas they may not just be able to spread the cost across other areas of their business.

Also, can Rapha really compete with Adidas where the technology and R&D comes into it? I'd have thought that, in a team where marginal gains are everything, Sky'd potentially be losing out on this deal in every other way except money.

Maybe the money Rapha have put down outways any performance disadvantages. If so, expect the kit, and huge line of assorted Team Sky branded jackets, socks, t-shirts, shorts, caps etc etc to be extremely extensive and expensive.

shouldn't we just be pleased that a British team is using a British kit supplier.
Yeah Rapha is expensive and I don't own any, but so is Assos and Castelli.

And surley anyone has a right to buy any replica kit they like regardless of weight.
Grow up people, cycling is supposed to be fun.

Bravo Sky and Rapha and Jaguar

hilarious move.

Pretentiousness will give an extra 5 second saving over 40km in a time trial. Marginal Gains.

that seems like a big coup for Rapha - like 'em or not, ousting an incumbent supplier the size of Adidas can't have been an easy task.

Strategically it looks like a pretty good match of brands - both british, aspirational etc, etc.

As doc mentions, their pricing strategy is working wonders for them - comparing them to Decathlon etc. is irrelevant as they're just not competing for the same market segment.

Good on 'em.

TBH the current Sky replica kit is shite quality and vastly overpriced.

I suppose with it being Rapha at least you get to buy what the team are wearing.

But Rapha must be shelling mega bucks for this and will want returns on their outlay.

The Rapha strategy on pricing obviously works, plenty of sales and kit about. It is excellent quality and the pricing reflects this plus an exclusivity.
This strategy is not original, but a proven one.
When BMW first brough cars into the UK, pricing was moderate, comparable with the mid-range of the day, and so were sales. A hike in price to bring the brand to a less affordable price point brought a tag of exclusivity, and sales jumped. There are plenty of them out there today, and they are still just that little bit more expensive....plus it worked for VW with the Audi range as well.
So good luck to Rapha, they are a fresh company with a clear vision of where they want to be, and a record of success. Some people always like to knock success, a b it sad but good that it does not put off the ambitious.

I was in Decathlon the other day and saw they are doing some rather nice jerseys reduced to £4.99 each. Beat that Rapha!

Didn't realise we had biggoted internet trolls on Road cc. Now there's a surprise! Thought our sport was so inclusive as well. Disgusted

Would not be seen dead in a Sky or GB kit. Don't mind showing support with a t-shirt or a cap but fat men in Sky kit make me laugh

Smart move.

Now all the haters can gather together and bitch about two cycling successes in one place, leaving the rest of the internet a more pleasant place for the rest of us.

It will get all chavvy now then, even more fat middle aged men will be wearing Rapha. Now is time to find a new brand.

If you thought Adidas team kit was out of your price range...