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Footon-Servetto-Fuji lays bare new kit

ProTour team's 2010 kit takes term 'skinsuit' to another level...

Team Sky’s glitzy launch in London last week is likely to be talked about for a long time to come, this weekend fellow ProTour team Footon-Servetto-Fuji similarly staged a launch that is likely to linger long in the memories of those who attended, albeit for different reasons.

The English version of the team’s website described the launch, which took place in the Hoznaya, Cantabria, as “astonishing” – perhaps not the best choice of translation from the original Spanish, but one that in the circumstances seems entirely appropriate.

Seemingly taking its inspiration from the movies The Italian Job, The Mask of Zorro and The Full Monty – bear with us, it will all become clear – proceedings got under way before an audience numbered in the hundreds with the showing of a short film, Cycling Transporter, which had champion rally driver Dani Sordo showing off his driving skills as he led a gang attempting to hijack an armoured car apparently laden with gold.

Making good its escape, the armoured van was then shown arriving outside the hotel where the team’s launch was taking place, at which stage the riders, dressed in black skinsuits and capes, appeared on stage escorting the van’s cargo – which turned out to be nothing less than the team’s 2010 bike, which adopts a rather blingtastic gold, white and black colour scheme.

The best was yet to come, however. Cycling, as we all know, is a sport prone to the odd fashion disaster. That shirt that looked so good on a tanned and fit rider in fully co-ordinating team kit during the Tour de France may not look so great after you’ve gone out and bought it and worn it with mismatched shorts, socks, helmet and mitts and then hopped onto a bike of yet another colour.

And while weekend warriors may be forgiven for the odd fashion faux-pas, every few years, a pro team itself comes out with a new kit that almost defies description. Last night, Footon-Servetto-Fuji was that team.

Officially, the colour scheme, dreamt up by the artist Dario Urzay, is described as gold and black, but the former seems much closer to – how shall we put this – fleshtone. And the main motif on the shirt is a large, black footprint. All of which means that any rider wearing the kit looks like a giant has discovered them in the altogether and, outraged, has decided to stamp on them. With the foot he's just dipped in a big pool of black ink.

It could be that the lighting at the launch venue gives an unfavourable impression of the kit, or that once the season gets going and the riders are able to start working a bit more on their cyclist tans, it won’t look so much that they are fitter-than-average members of a naked bike ride, especially come the Team Time rial that kicks off this year's Vuelta in Seville. 
 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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15 comments

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WolfieSmith | 13 years ago
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I've come late to this baiting. I hadn't noticed this kit until stage 2 of the Tour. My ten year old son said " Dad.. That bloke on the right - is he naked...?" Poor sods. Imagine getting the call to join the Tour and then been given that kit to wear for three weeks..The whole team looks as if they're Batman's latest enemy - The Butterscotch Riddler.

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hammergonewest | 14 years ago
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I wonder if we'll all look at it differently should Footon-Servetto start kicking arse this year? Even if I liked the kit the whole Footon/futon bit is going to be an impediment to me being able to take them completely seriously

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CliveDS | 14 years ago
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At least it's getting some attention, lets see what that looks like out on the road.

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mr-andrew | 14 years ago
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I can't stop laughing. This could be the worst kit ever.

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Fringe | 14 years ago
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have you seen their website, looks like a washing machine detergent advert (with music). im a fan already  4

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stuke | 14 years ago
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I do like the bike paintjob though, proper bling!!

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Old Cranky | 14 years ago
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How long until they decide to add a green fig leaf over the crotch area?

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Tony Farrelly | 14 years ago
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Good idea!

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Blackhound | 14 years ago
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Maybe you should get a set for the next Friday schwag give away!

AT least they will be noticed....

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Alankk | 14 years ago
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black and gold.. black and gold.. sing it with me!

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Tony Farrelly | 14 years ago
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ah yes the denim look - that was Carrera, Stephen Roche wore it… that was quite classy by comparison to this B)

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Fringe | 14 years ago
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thems not a good look eh!.. almost as bad as that one quite a few years ago, cant remember what team it was off the top of my head but it resembled a pair of denim dungarees..bad enough at the best of times but as a cycling jersey, jeeez.

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Tony Farrelly | 14 years ago
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It's certainly an incentive to do well at the nationals - shame they've all got half a year to wait

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stuke | 14 years ago
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I bet the national champions of the team are glad they can wear their countries colours instead

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Jon Burrage | 14 years ago
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that doesnt look good at all, not sure how many cycling fans you will see riding around in that kit.

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