Rapha Pro Team Training Jersey III

The Rapha Pro Team Training Jersey III is a very good all-round training jersey with an excellent fit and comfortable across most UK summer conditions. It feels equally at home on long endurance rides and harder interval sessions, making it a versatile option for riders who want one jersey to cover most of their summer training.

Materials

Rapha uses a dual material construction, combining a structured main body fabric with breathable side panels to help manage heat and moisture. The fabric has plenty of stretch and feels noticeably softer than most jerseys, making it very comfortable on the bike across everything from five hour endurance rides to harder interval efforts.

At 139g, this sits more in the mid-weight camp than an ultra-light climber’s jersey, which makes it a really practical option for UK riding. It offers enough breathability for warm summer days but feels a little more substantial than the very lightweight mesh jerseys designed for 30°C plus conditions.

Rapha recommends this for temperatures from 16-32℃. I’ve managed to test it at 14-28℃, and it was more than comfortable in this range.

On a 28℃ all-day epic around the white Tuscan gravel roads, the jersey did get damp but quickly dried out on the descents, and I was comfortable by the time we stopped for a celebratory pizza.

Whilst it is a capable summer jersey, if conditions are towards the top of the recommended temperature range, I think I’d prefer something a bit lighter like one of Rapha’s Air or Climbers type mesh jerseys. However, this one is more practical for UK summer riding given how infrequent days over 30℃ are.

Fit

Rapha describes the updated fit on this version as an ‘engaged’ fit. It feels more modern than older Rapha jerseys, with a shorter front and slightly longer sleeves that suit an on-bike riding position.

I thought the updated sleeves were a good length and fit. The medium length sleeves stayed in place and fit well around my arms.

Whilst the cut at the front is a touch shorter than some jerseys, I didn’t find it too short that my stomach was exposed when off the bike. I don’t think it’d be an issue if you were particularly tall for your jersey size.

Size

The jersey comes in seven sizes, XS-3XL. At 1.78m and 76kg, the size guide had me between medium and large. Rapha says if in between sizes then size up, so I tested the large. I found it to be a good fit and I would agree with Rapha. I think the medium would have been too small for me.

At the back there are the usual three pockets and these are the main compromise here: they’re noticeably smaller and sit slightly higher than on some jerseys, which makes them less suited to longer rides where you need to carry extra layers.

There’s a thick band on the rear hem that helps stabilise the jersey and keep the pocket contents secure. It worked really well. The items remained secure whilst climbing out of the saddle, and I never found myself adjusting the jersey.

There is a zipped valuables pocket, which always gives me peace of mind with my key.

There is a zip garage at the top to prevent any irritation, and the zip has a large tag for easy adjustment.

Given a spell of good weather, I wore and washed this a lot over the review period, and it still looks impressively fresh, with no signs of stretching or sagging.

I tested the ‘raspberry/plum’ colour, which looks good. It is also available in seven other colours, making it easy to find one you like. As is typical with Rapha, there’s a big logo on the arm and rear pocket.

Value

At £125, this isn’t cheap, but it sits competitively alongside other premium jerseys and the fit and comfort help justify the price.

I recently reviewed the Castelli Espresso 2 jersey which is excellent and at £135 not much more expensive.

Sam rated the Assos Equipe R Jersey S11 similarly highly and it too is priced at £135.

I also reviewed the Santini Ready to Ride Jersey last year, which was very similar to the Rapha Jersey and is a bit cheaper at £100.

> Best summer cycling jerseys — tops to beat the heat from just £10

Conclusion

Overall, this is a very good all-round training jersey. It offers an excellent fit, strong comfort across a wide range of UK summer conditions and works equally well for endurance rides and harder efforts. The only real drawback is the smaller pockets.