It’s a dilemma that many a new national – or even world – champion cyclist is faced with – where the national colours, or the rainbow bands, are set on a predominantly white jersey, should it be teamed with white shorts or black ones?

Now, white can look very smart when set against tanned skin on a sunny day, but when the weather turns, it doesn’t leave much to the imagination.

So what did Steve Cummings, winner of the time trial and the road race at the British national championships on the Isle of Man last week do when he couldn’t make his mind up?

He asked Twitter, of course.

With the 36-year-old from the Wirral lining up for the start of the Tour de France in Dusseldorf on Saturday, time was of the essence, and the results are now in – with Twitter users overwhelmingly going for black, by a margin of more than six to one.

That’s the same choice his Dimension Data team mate Mark Cavendish has opted for, both as world and British champion.

Peter Sagan, winner of the last two world road championships, raised eyebrows when publicity shots after his 2015 win suggested he was going the white route – but when he raced in the kit, black won the day.

Outgoing British champion Adam Blythe of Aqua Blue went the white route this year, however.

With rain forecast in Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium for the opening days of the Tour de France