Today isn’t the hottest day of the summer in the UK, but with another heatwave forecast for later in the week, Rapha has launched its Pro Team Ghost clothing that’s designed to offer “advanced thermoregulation that cools body, engine and mind”. Rapha says that the fabric is the lightest and thinnest it has ever used, providing “an evolution in breathability, even when wet”.

You couldn’t say that hot weather is ever guaranteed in the UK, but we’re in danger of having a full, proper summer this year (yes, I know, I know! I’ve tempted fate… but I’m not entirely sure that’s how the universe works), so many riders will welcome the introduction of Rapha’s Pro Team Ghost clothing, which is designed for riding in 20-40°C. The Ghost Suit is currently being used in the Tour de France by EF Education-EasyPost riders, while separate bib shorts and jerseys are also available in the range.

“July in France, it’s hot as hell,” says EF Education-EasyPost sports director Tom Southam. “And the racing is even more intense. There’s less space for riders to cool down – both physically and mentally. If you’re packed tightly in a bunch all day, it’s an added stressor. Everything around is just radiating heat. The side of the road is packed with hot people, the tarmac’s baking. There’s cars everywhere, there’s helicopters. It’s intense.”

We’re guessing your weekend ride isn’t as full-on as all that, but Rapha has developed the Ghost range “with advanced textiles and construction techniques that aid cooling”. The idea is to keep riders as comfortable as possible and provide a competitive advantage.
“Rapha’s product team trialled a range of prototype material technologies on athletes in the climate chamber,” Rapha says. “Performing FTP tests within a 48°C heat index, using an existing Rapha jersey as the benchmark, the materials team settled on a fabric that not only increased heat loss and airflow, but also felt lighter to the wearer.”
> What is FTP? 7 key facts to learn about functional threshold power, a major training metric
Ghost’s material is designed to offer a high level of breathability. We’ve not used it, but that’s very much the impression you get from the pics.

“The open weave structure and advanced elastomer yarn maintain airflow, even when wet,” says Rapha’s Anne Weir. “The fabric also stretches with less force, enabling it to move with the body very naturally.”
Rapha says it has reduced the number of panels to increase comfort. The jersey (upper section) of the skinsuit is made from just one piece of fabric, for example, and seams and darts are reverse stitched – meaning they’re on the outside – to reduce irritation.

Rapha’s Sam Towner says, “The way that we’ve created the second skin feeling is to have an even distribution throughout. We’ve equalised the whole thing to sit the same everywhere. This makes it feel lighter, more intuitive. In fact, you don’t really feel it’s on.”
You’d better double-check to avoid embarrassment, then. You can’t be too careful.
Rapha says its Pro Team Ghost clothing is designed to be worn without a base layer underneath in 20-40°C temperatures. This is Rapha’s top-level performance kit, so it’s not cheap.
- Pro Team Ghost Jersey, £225
- Pro Team Ghost Bib Shorts, £275
- Pro Team Ghost Suit, £495
The Ghost Air Jersey, which is said to be designed “for hot and humid sub-tropical climates”, will be released in October.

7 thoughts on “Hot out? Rapha introduces Ghost range for riding in extreme heat”
Can you see my nipples…..my
Can you see my nipples…..my back hair…YES.
You mean you dont shave your
You mean you dont shave your back hair for extra watts? Shame on you?
And tape those nipples up.
will it protect you from the
will it protect you from the sun?
Tom Simpson wrote:
My first thought as well… What’s the SPF factor of the clothing?
The promotional photos seem
The promotional photos seem to have all been taken at night to avoid that “use case”. Maybe on the label it says “Not suitable for use during the day” or some such. And just imagine the impact of the weight of the all that extra sunscreen needed…
¡Still wearing the Gabba!
¡Still wearing the Gabba!
Rapha’s website won’t let me
Rapha’s website won’t let me access it any more (Firefox on Ubuntu). Now I know: they’re Ghosting me!