Rapha launches limited edition Gavia Collection to celebrate Andy Hampsten's 1988 Giro d'Italia victory

Rapha has a penchant for celebrating momentous days in cycling history, and its latest is just in time for the start of the Giro d'Italia today. Its new Gavia collection marks the 30th anniversary of Andy Hampsten’s victory in the 1988 Giro d’Italia following his now iconic snow-struck ride over the Passo di Gavia that put him into the maglia rosa jersey. He is still the only American to have won the race.

The new Rapha Gavia collection “celebrates not only Andy’s iconic ride but also the preparations and equipment choices that allowed him to perform as he did,” explains Rapha. What’s in the collection then? It includes a jacket, jersey, bib shorts, hat and gloves. Let’s take a closer look.

The Gavia Jersey (£155) is modelled on the blue classification jersey Andy Hampsten was wearing on that stage. It’s made from Rapha’s Sportswool RPM 150 merino and polyester fabric with a stitched chest panel design with Gavia 88 logo. Details include a silver-plated zip, embroidered back pocket and pink lining.

Pair the jersey with matching Gavia Bib Shorts (£200), based on the company’s Classic Bib Short II (read our review here) with the Gavia logo along the side of the legs and a newspaper collage design on the bib straps to match the new base layer (more on that later) and a size-specific padded insert.

Andy Hampsten wore a jacket underneath his jersey on that day in 1988, and Rapha has created a Race Cape (£250) based on its Pro Team Race Cape, with a Polartec 3-layer waterproof and breathable fabric. There’s a reflective Gavia 88 logo, a soft neoprene collar, cuff zip and Vislon full-length zipper.

This was a time before helmets had become mandatory, Andy Hampsten wore a winter hat which Rapha has recreated with the Gavia Hat (£50). It’s made from RPM 150 merino fabric with thick lining and a waterproof front panel with wool ribbing to cover up the ears.

What do you think of this Gavia base layer (£55)? Years before cycle clothing really took the technological leap it has in the last decade or so, racing cyclists used to (and sometimes they still do) stuff newspapers down their tops before a mountain descent to keep wind chill at bay. Now Rapha isn’t going to sell you a newspaper to recreate this, but this base layer is printed with pages from the Italian newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport so it's a nice nod to that tradition. Away from the visual design, the jersey is made from a lightweight and breathable material with a race-ready fit and bonded seams and stretch side panels for an improved fit.

The one piece of clothing that is also noticeable from that iconic photograph of Andy Hampsten riding through the snow is a big pair of gloves. Rapha has created these Gavia Neoprene Gloves (£40) based on its Pro Team Neoprene Gloves with a subtle logo on the finger.

Rounding out the collection are the Gavia Socks (£15). Apparently, they conform to Andy Hampsten’s belief that sock length should see the cuff sitting just above the ankle. Do you agree with him?

You can see the full collection here 

This isn’t the first time Rapha has celebrated Andy Hampsten’s Giro victory of course. Back in 2008 the London clothing brand launched the Andy Hampsten Jersey made in the style of the actual jersey Andy wore that day and included a collectors race number ‘172’ with safety pins. Did anyone buy this jersey and still have it, or wear it still? Do let us know below.

Early May is a time of unpredictable and changeable weather conditions and the collection does look to provide a good range of choices for tackling everything from warm sunny days to cold, wet and windy rides. Still,  launching a race cape and neoprene gloves in May seems a challenge. What do you think?