Sportful Gruppetto Team Jersey

The Sportful Gruppetto Team is a light and airy, sharp-looking, pro-quality jersey at a very sensible price.

Sportful supply pro team Saxo Tinkoff with clothing and while you can buy replica kit, you can also get the same kit sans sponsors logos, in a choice of three smart colourways. So you get the same fabrics, fit and performance, but without looking like a pro rider. This makes the Gruppetto a real gem of the Sportful range.

Sportful score highly on fit and performance of fabrics. As an Italian company, their clothing does come up a little small but it's not as tight as some Italian firms: a medium feels like a proper medium should do. With clothing I'd really recommend trying on before you part with your money, just to be on the safe side.

The jersey is simply constructed. The front and rear panels are joined with a slim side panel, and the jerseys and shoulder are one panel. A full-length quality YKK zipper not only makes pulling the jersey on and off easier, but gives you maximum ventilation when slogging up Alpe d'Huez. Or Box Hill.

DryPro Lite fabric, a 100 percent polyester, is used for all the main body panels. It's light and airy stuff, it works well to keep your temperature in check with high airflow through the weave. An Aero Stretch Mesh is used on the shoulders for further breathability.

The waistband is lined with a grippy silicone elastic and does well to stop the jersey riding up your bib shorts, especially when you're crouched low in the drops. For stowing spares and food, you get three rear pockets. They're a regular size, and easily take a day's worth of supplies.

Sportful also claim the Gruppetto is the most aerodynamic jersey they've ever produced, but they don't support this claim with any data. As with most products that come with aero claims attached, it's very difficult for us to test this. Where clothing is concerned, aerodynamic gains come from minimising excess material that can catch the wind and cause drag. Given the tight fit and good cut of the Gruppetto jersey, it's fair to say it's probably as good as any other 'aero' jerseys on the market.

Aero debate aside, it's a very comfortable jersey for training, racing and just riding. The design is contemporary and there's the choice of three colours, so you might be able to match it with the rest of your kit. The jersey looks really sharp when worn with the matching Gruppetto bib shorts.

At £65, it's neither cheap nor expensive, sitting as it does somewhere in the middle of the available price spectrum. Pro level kit at an affordable price.

Verdict

Comfortable, well-ventilated pro level kit at an affordable price.