Michele Bartoli, possibly the pioneer of the small frame and slammed stem.
The difference between Style and Fashion is that Fashion changes, but style is something that persists through the ages. You can’t buy it, and you either have it or you don’t. In other words, you can get all the best and expensive kit and still look complete crap if you don’t have Style. Conversely, you can wear the most crap kit possible and make it look good if you have the gift. That is why photos of Anquetil, the Prophet and Roger de Vlaeminck still blow our minds even though they are wearing completely outdated kit. This is also why Pantani could wear lycra jeans and Cipollini could wear a Zebra suit and make us contemplate trying our hands at it. (We should not.)
If there was an upside to the EPO era, it meant that a number of riders who had immaculate style may never have risen to the top of the fish bowl if it weren’t for EPO. Allegedly. Michele Bartoli was a prime example of a rider who was so doped up that he had plenty of bandwidth left for a complete and total commitment to Looking Fantastic at All Times. Allegedly. Let’s face facts (allegedly): the Mapei kit would have been lining the rubbish bin if it weren’t for riders like Bartoli and Frank Vandenbroucke. And Michele pioneered the mini-frame with long, slammed stem and a meter of seatpin.
I think we all agree that doping is wrong, but it doesn’t feel so wrong when they looked so good. We owe him a weighty debt for his contribution.
Shameless Plug: come down to the Rouleur Classic this week to listen to me cover this topic in greater detail. And then head to the pub with me afterward to hear me do it louder. My speaking schedule is as follows:
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@Chipomarc
Perhaps if I worked in a coal mine it would be an appropriate beer, other that that it is just a poor excuse for drinking.
This here should prove my point
Well, the new Movistar kit is just fugly.
@chuckp
The white simply does not make sense at all! Green would be logical . . . .
Sometimes I wish I didn't do twitter
@chuckp
Not to mention that the jersey pictured is their attempt at a Spanish champs jersey for Malmerde, simplest fucking colours in the world, but they can't do a simple hoop design cos Movistar wouldn't want their logo interfered with (I assume).
Check out the new Tinkoff training kit.
@chuckp
Unfortunately I saw that too. Sagan must be doubly happy to be wearing the WC bands. At least for most of the season he won't have to wear that abomination. It's like that awful Rock n Roll kit (or whatever it was called) matched with shitty club wear.
The IAM kit looks about the best that I've seen for 2016. Etixx is blah. Sky will be black.
@wiscot
I know @frank will probably excommunicate me, but I have to admit that I kinda like it. I've always had a soft spot for Acqua Sapone zebra kit. So ugly it's beautiful. And I'm fine with a team daring to be different. For me, so much of the pro peloton is sameness and boring. Almost to the point where you can't tell which team is which. At least this dares to go out on a limb and be different. I actually wish they'd race in it (at least once).
@wiscot
It's just their training kit. It won't look too horrible with his bands, thankfully.