Champions' Jerseys
Discussion
Why are these such a big thing in cycling?
I'm not belittling the effort required for example, for EBH to become the Norwegian National Road Race champion, but it does strike me as a little odd that he'll be wearing that jersey working as a domestique for Wiggo, whose TdF win is a much greater achievement, yet Wiggo won't be wearing the yellow jersey for the rest of the year.
Of course, the tour is won as an individual/pro team rather than for one's country, but I'm not aware of any other sport where a world or national champion wears different kit either?
I'm not belittling the effort required for example, for EBH to become the Norwegian National Road Race champion, but it does strike me as a little odd that he'll be wearing that jersey working as a domestique for Wiggo, whose TdF win is a much greater achievement, yet Wiggo won't be wearing the yellow jersey for the rest of the year.
Of course, the tour is won as an individual/pro team rather than for one's country, but I'm not aware of any other sport where a world or national champion wears different kit either?
Not exactly the same situation but there is similar in football, where championship winning teams tend to have different sleeve badges from everyone else.
Also, in the SPL, but not sure where else, the League winners use a different design of ball for their home games, with a golden design rather than the team colours of everyone else.
Only real argument I can think of for wearing champions' jerseys in cycling is to help the spectators see who is likely to be challenging for a win but this stops making sense when the winner of every event isn't treated the same.
Also, in the SPL, but not sure where else, the League winners use a different design of ball for their home games, with a golden design rather than the team colours of everyone else.
Only real argument I can think of for wearing champions' jerseys in cycling is to help the spectators see who is likely to be challenging for a win but this stops making sense when the winner of every event isn't treated the same.
Quite simple.
Tour de France is a stand along event and crucially an international thing. The national championships is just that, for Norwegians/Spaniards/Brits etc etc etc.
As such the individual that wins is the Champion of their Country. What Bradley Wiggins won, is a race. (a particularly important one, true, but you see the difference?)
In terms of the special kit, it's just one of cyclings traditions - possibly unique due to the bizarre individual come team aspect of it.
Tour de France is a stand along event and crucially an international thing. The national championships is just that, for Norwegians/Spaniards/Brits etc etc etc.
As such the individual that wins is the Champion of their Country. What Bradley Wiggins won, is a race. (a particularly important one, true, but you see the difference?)
In terms of the special kit, it's just one of cyclings traditions - possibly unique due to the bizarre individual come team aspect of it.
Also, trade teams tend not to like their riders wearing national champ jerseys as it means they're not in the proper kit with sponsors names as prominent as they should be. IIRC someone had a bit of a head-to-head with his team in the last couple of years over this but he was forbidden from wearing it.
Rouleur said:
If you say so 
Ok NVM i just wikipedia'd it 
I thought it was TT only up until then.louiebaby said:
I'm not certain, but has Wiggo's Sky kit got the French flag around the bottom of the sleeves, (on a short sleeved top?) I think I noticed this on the cycle show last night, when I was getting caught up???
That would be the England national champ bands that denotes he's a previous winner of the UK road racelouiebaby said:
I'm not certain, but has Wiggo's Sky kit got the French flag around the bottom of the sleeves, (on a short sleeved top?) I think I noticed this on the cycle show last night, when I was getting caught up???
If it was Wiggos kit it will be the British champions rings (from last year). The current holders of the national championships wear the 'full kit', all past winners wear them as rings on their sleeves. Cav will have the 5 rings on his sleeves forever after this year.Kermit power said:
Why are these such a big thing in cycling?
I'm not belittling the effort required for example, for EBH to become the Norwegian National Road Race champion, but it does strike me as a little odd that he'll be wearing that jersey working as a domestique for Wiggo, whose TdF win is a much greater achievement, yet Wiggo won't be wearing the yellow jersey for the rest of the year.
Of course, the tour is won as an individual/pro team rather than for one's country, but I'm not aware of any other sport where a world or national champion wears different kit either?
In answer to the question, may I direct you to the UCI rules for the wearing of the World Champions' Jerseys:I'm not belittling the effort required for example, for EBH to become the Norwegian National Road Race champion, but it does strike me as a little odd that he'll be wearing that jersey working as a domestique for Wiggo, whose TdF win is a much greater achievement, yet Wiggo won't be wearing the yellow jersey for the rest of the year.
Of course, the tour is won as an individual/pro team rather than for one's country, but I'm not aware of any other sport where a world or national champion wears different kit either?
http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?Me...
"Until the day before the world championship of the following year, the world champions must wear their jersey
in all events in the discipline, speciality and category in which they won their title"
I presume that National Cycling rules must be derived from UCI rules, so the requirement to wear the National Champions Jersey is, presumably, the same as for the Rainbow Jersey. I'll leave you do dig further if you feel the need.
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