The 2026 Cycling Kit Report Card: Hits, misses, and Head-Scratchers
Updated january 9, 2026 07:13AM
The january fashion parade of fresh team kits is perhaps the one thing that can raise a cycling fan from their festive stupor of chocolate and cyclocross. Each year, the peloton’s sartorial choices are hotly debated, sparking joy, derision, and everything in between. This year is no different.
Who went wild with a wacky reinvention? Who struck the designer’s curse with a kit that makes eyes bleed? Will we see the arrival of a new GOAT to challenge the likes of la Vie Claire, Brooklyn, and Vêtements Z?
Well, sadly, no team tailored something for 2026 that’s worthy of a plinth in cycling’s pantheon of apparel. But there are certainly some … memorable … items in cycling’s new wardrobe. Here’s a breakdown of the most striking – for better or worse – kits in the 2026 men’s peloton.
dig it: Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, Decathlon CMA CGM, Movistar
If launching a plane with pedal power this winter didn’t garner Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe enough attention, its eye-catching chevrons and color-block kit should do the job when racing begins. The bold design and bright colors are sure to stand out in the peloton.It’s a refreshing change of pace, and a kit that genuinely excites.
Movistar’s clean and classy white kit might be the best thing the Spanish squad does all year. It stands out while remaining subtle, dripping with understated cool. Enhorabuena! The simplicity of the design allows the riders to take center stage,and the white provides a crisp,modern aesthetic.
Decathlon CMA CGM’s lopsided sleeve and random red sash make no sense, but somehow, it works. It’s a bold choice that defies conventional cycling kit design. And while the loss of the iconic brown shorts of the Ag2r-La Mondiale era is still mourned by many, this 2026 design offers a welcome change.
Undecided: NSN
Team NSN’s “magic eye” of a design is a polarizing one. The geometric patterns are intriguing, but the pastel colorway is… questionable. It’s a risk, and whether it pays off remains to be seen. Though, the launch blurb is a masterpiece of marketing speak: “It is indeed inspired by the Mediterranean city from which the team’s new identity has been forged… a city that never stands still, where tradition meets modernity…” A truly aspiring statement.
Ugly: Soudal Quick-step, UAE Emirates-XRG
Quick-Step’s addition of green accents in 2026, while intended to improve visibility, is a misstep. The “visibility green” lines simply look… wrong.bring back the T-Rex logo from 2024, please!
Even a team as successful as UAE Emirates-XRG can’t salvage this kit.With a $60 million budget, one woudl expect a more refined design. Tadej Pogačar is fortunate to have a rainbow jersey to distract from this monstrosity.
Courting controversy: Ineos Grenadiers,Modern Adventure
Ineos Grenadiers certainly poked the bear with their 2026 kit. The decision to go with white shorts was already controversial,but pairing them with an intensely orange top is a bold move.Escape Collective has aptly rebranded them as “Traffic Cone-os” – a fitting description.
While not a WorldTour team,Modern Adventure deserves a mention for their maroon shorts. The “lipstick” look is… a choice. Thankfully, there’s no sign of a logo for Lance Armstrong’s podcast.
Disappointing: EF Education-EasyPost, Jayco-AlUla
The hype surrounding EF Education-EasyPost’s kit reveals has diminished as their partnership with Rapha, which consistently delivered innovative and stylish designs. Assos’s first offering for the team is… underwhelming. It’s not bad, but it’s simply… pink. However, the promo photos do feature a nod to the legendary “Assos Guy,” which is a nice touch.
MAAP set a high bar with their 2025 kit for Jayco-AlUla. This year’s offering is largely the same, with a subtle flame motif added. Sadly,the striking silver-gray shorts have been replaced with black. A missed opportunity for a truly standout design.
Ultimately, the 2026 kit season is a mixed bag. While no team has produced a truly iconic design, there are still plenty of fascinating – and occasionally questionable – choices to discuss. As the season unfolds, it will be fascinating to see which kits become synonymous with memorable performances and which fade into obscurity.
