Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Madison RoadRace Premio short sleeve jersey

8
£74.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Brilliant summer jersey for those who like to ride hard in the heat
Weight: 
128g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

Madison's RoadRace Premio jersey is designed for the Madison Genesis pro race team. With its close-cut fit and lightweight construction it's perfect for those hot summer day blasts or long climbs into the hills.

Madison says that the Premio is made from the finest Italian Lycra and it certainly does feel very good against the skin. It's soft and offers loads of stretch to maintain a figure-hugging shape without feeling overstretched; the jersey never feels tight or restrictive.

> Find your nearest dealer here

This is a top that is designed for the rider who likes to spend most of their time hunched over the handlebar, as the front is cut high to avoid bagginess and the tail is dropped nice and low to stop any of your lower back being exposed.

Madison RoadRace Premo mens short sleeve jersey - riding.jpg

The rear section is held in place by elastic and a silicone gripper and I certainly never had any issues with it riding up.

Sizing is good, even though when you do hold the jersey up it looks about two sizes smaller than it should be – highlighting the amount of stretch in the material.

Madison RoadRace Premo mens short sleeve jersey - sleeve.jpg

Alongside the Lycra panels you get sections of mesh to keep the air flowing. The side panels, under the arms and a central strip down your back lets body heat escape. It's so effective that the jersey is actually quite cold until the temperature is knocking at least 18°C – unless you are really hammering it.

Madison RoadRace Premo mens short sleeve jersey - back.jpg

As you can guess, this means the Premio is highly breathable and it has to be seriously hot and muggy before it becomes overwhelmed.

Madison RoadRace Premo mens short sleeve jersey - chest.jpg

It comes with a full zip that runs smoothly and it's good to see a zip garage at the neck and waist. I've had many expensive shorts ruined by the bottom of the jersey zip rubbing against them when riding in the drops.

Madison RoadRace Premo mens short sleeve jersey - hem.jpg

Round the back you get three pockets which feel a bit narrower than usual but are impressively deep. The two outer ones are angled on the entrance, too, to aid getting your fingers in there on-the-fly, and thanks to some well-thought-out double stitching there is little in the way of sag across all of the pockets.

Madison RoadRace Premo mens short sleeve jersey - pocket.jpg

You also get a zipped outer pocket for your valuables, plus a couple of black reflective strips. They seem a bit of a token thought, to be honest, but then this isn't really a jersey you're likely to be using on a lot of night rides.

Madison RoadRace Premo mens short sleeve jersey - pocket zip.jpg

Priced at £74.99 the RoadRace Premio is competitive against other top quality jerseys, and although there is the odd stray thread end here and there on the inside, it is very well put together.

> Buyer's Guide: 15 of the best cycling jerseys for summer

This season we've already taken a look at the Castelli Superleggera, which, while a bit lighter and not so racy in design, is similar with regards to the temperature range. That costs £115, while the slightly cheaper £65 Primal Mai Tai does lack a few of the finishing touches of the Madison.

It comes in a variety of colours, not all as vibrant as this fuchsia, but it should help you stand out on the road – great if you want to be conspicuous without going down the high-vis route.

Verdict

Brilliant summer jersey for those who like to ride hard in the heat

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Madison RoadRace Premio short sleeve jersey

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Madison says: "Built for the demands of a pro cyclist, the RoadRace Premio jersey gives a superb fit and sublime comfort"

It's very performance orientated and very good at its job.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Madison lists these features:

The pre-curved shape gives ultra comfort when in the riding position

Three rear hand pockets offer enough space for spare tubes, tools, food and a race cape, and the concealed zipper pocket keeps your phone and keys safe

Constructed from the finest Italian Lycra, our RoadRace Premio jersey hugs the body without being restrictive

Mesh panels in the underarm, side panels and running the length of the centre back allows the body to stay a cool

Laser cut armholes with silicone grippers at the cuff prevent the jersey moving around

An ultra lightweight elasticated rear hem with silicone gripper keeps the jersey firmly in place

Zipper guards at either end of the front zipper prevents discomfort

Subtle black reflective details aid with night time visibility

Custom built from the ground up for the demands of our own Madison Genesis pro race team to meet the requirements of a pro athlete

Limited lifetime warranty

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

It's cut close, so if you don't like it clingy go up a size.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

A simple 30 degree wash takes care of things.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

This is a proper figure-hugging race jersey that's great when the temperature really starts to rise.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The fit.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Its lightweight construction means it is limited to only the very warmest of days.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

If you've got the body for it, the Madison RoadRace Premio is a great race jersey with its combination of tailored cut and high breathability.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: Kinesis Aithien

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

Add new comment

1 comments

Avatar
Freddy56 | 6 years ago
0 likes

Price is high for a jersey....it is just a jersey.....but It will match my new shoes- thanks for review

Latest Comments