The 2018 race season has already begun – the Tour Down Under has come and gone –  and if you want to know what’s going on in the peloton you need to know who’s who. 

Here’s our guide to the kits the big teams are wearing this year.

Ag2r-La Mondiale 

AG2R jersey (1).jpg
AG2R jersey (1) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

AG2R-La Mondiale has switched to Italian clothing brand Rosti and ditched last year’s busy design, which featured one brown sleeve and one blue sleeve. Too far ahead of its time! They go for something altogether more classy in 2018. 

They’re still rocking those brown shorts, though (not pictured for reasons of taste). We’re all for breaking convention, but brown shorts! Non! 

Astana Pro Team

Astana kit 2018 (1).jpg
Astana kit 2018 (1) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Astana has neatened up its jersey a little for 2018 and added a yellow band on the left sleeve to match the one on the right – as with AG2R, asymmetry is out.

It’s a ‘yes’ from us.

Bahrain-Merida 

Bahrain Merida 2018 kit (1).jpg
Bahrain Merida 2018 kit (1) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Bahrain-Merida has widened the blue band across the chest of its 2018 jersey, and changed the sleeves and collar from blue to red, but it’s a pretty similar overall impression to last year.

This lot don’t look too happy about it, mind. In fact, they look decidedly miserable. Chin up, lads, we think it’s a strong look.

BMC Racing Team 

BMC.jpg
BMC (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

BMC’s kit hasn’t changed all that much for this season although new sponsor Sophos is now represented on a blue collar, which puts a dent in the red, white and black theme.

That fella behind’s not bothered either way, just as long as he gets to finish his cone pyramid before it’s time to clock off.

Bora-Hansgrohe 

Chevrons, huh? Cheeky. Germany’s Bora-Hansgrohe has a completely new kit having switched from Craft to Sportful. We need to have a talk about Jay McCarthy’s tash at some stage, though.

Dimension Data 

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Dimension Data (1) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Dimension data has ditched most (not all) of the black from its jersey and goes for a more distinctive white/green combo. We can’t decide whether this is a step forward or a step back. Maybe it’s neither. A solid mid-table performance.

These pics make us think: barber shop wall. Number two at the back and sides, please, leave it a little bit longer on top. Ta.

EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale 

EF Education First (1).jpg
EF Education First (1) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

The new name is challenging, admittedly, but we’re right behind a bit more pink in the pro peloton. Whether or not it should be teamed up with bright green is perhaps a little more open to question, but you’ve got to take a style risk now and again.

FDJ 

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FDJ 2018 (1) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Although FDJ is currently racing in the same kit as last year, the team is taking on a new sponsor and will be known as Groupama-FDJ from March. Here’s the new jersey (below).

It has to be said, the boys don’t look wild about it.

Lotto-Soudal 

Lotto Soudal 2018 front (1).jpg
Lotto Soudal 2018 front (1) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

What’s going on here? Like the mullet, Lotto-Soudal’s jersey is business in the front, party in the back.

Lotto Soudal 2018 jersey rear (1).jpg
Lotto Soudal 2018 jersey rear (1) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

It looks like they’re channelling an Eddy Merckx-era Faema jersey – which is a Good Thing – but those coloured circles that have been added at the rear, they’re just a bit… uncalled for. They’re out of control.

Mitchelton-Scott

Mitchelton Scott 2018 jersey (1).jpg
Mitchelton Scott 2018 jersey (1) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Well, whaddya know? They’ve only gone and changed their name again. This team has so far been Orica-Scott, Orica-BikeExchange, Orica-GreenEdge, GreenEdge Cycling and now Mitchelton-Scott and it has only existed since 2012. The change of name means a new kit, obviously, and they’ve switched from blue to predominantly black. That curious shape on the chest is part of the logo for Mitchelton, a wine, hotels and spa business.

Movistar Team 

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Movistar kit 2018 (1) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Movistar Team has had a dark blue jersey decorated with a bright green M since the telecommunications brand began sponsorship in 2011 but that all changes this season – now it’s light blue with a white M. The clothing still comes from Scotland’s Endura and it still looks pretty cool to us. Bold!

Quick-Step Floors 

Quick-Step haven’t gone for a wholesale redesign, they’ve just taken the various elements from last year, given ’em a bit of a shake and left it at that. It kinda works.

Team Katusha Alpecin 

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Katusha 2018 5 (1) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Katusha Alpecin has added light blue to the mix for 2018, which gives them a bit of an Aston Villa vibe. Geez, how many riders do they have on this team? That’s a helluva lot of free haircare products to give out. Oh, it’s a ride-out. As you were.

Team LottoNL-Jumbo

LottoNL-Jumbo have made a few logo changes and the tops of the shoulders are now yellow rather than black but the 2018 jersey is a similar proposition to last year’s. But hang on a sec! Last year the Lotto ball numbers were 24, 2, 6, 37, 15 and 45. This year they taken the 2 out and stuck a 1 in there (no, really, that’s an actual fact!). Why? This must mean something important. If only we knew what it was.

Team Sky 

Team Sky (1).jpg
Team Sky (1) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Whoa! What happened to all the black? Sky has dabbled in white kit before but it has gone in with both feet for 2018. Sir Dave Brailsford is going to be up late into the night getting that clean after a muddy Paris-Roubaix. What are the odds on a Persil logo being added at some stage during the season?

Team Sunweb 

Team Sunweb (1).jpg
Team Sunweb (1) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Unless we’re very much mistaken, that’s the exact same kit Team Sunweb was wearing last year. Cheapskates. Or maybe they’re saving the planet, in which case: well done.

Trek-Segafredo 

Trek Segafredo (1).jpg
Trek Segafredo (1) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Trek-Segafredo has switched from Sportful clothing to Santini and ditched black from its jerseys in the process. The pin-stripes are back, though, putting us in mind of Liverpool FC around about 1982-84. You know, Souness, Hansen… Dalglish and Ian Rush slotting them in up front. It’s a good look.

UAE-Team Emirates

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UAE Team Emirates (1) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

UAE-Team Emirates have altered their logos a bit over the past few months but that’s about yer lot. Still, the team has only been around in this form for less than a year, so we’ll let ’em off.