Commemorative Giro d’Italia Kit helps kick off a summer of celebrations.
Soudal Quick-Step will take to the roads of the Giro d’Italia this May in a special commemorative kit, as long-standing apparel partner Castelli marks 150 years as one of cycling’s most storied and innovative brands.
The kit centres on a ‘Vintage Cream’ colourway, a deliberate nod to Castelli’s heritage, applied across their race-proven Aero Race 8S Jersey, Sanremo 8S Pro Speed Suit and Body Paint V TT Speedsuit, alongside Premio Black Bibshorts and a Pro Light Wind Vest. Across each piece, a series of heritage logos, scorpion variations and text elements trace the arc of Castelli’s history, from the early marks of the 1960s through to today. On the back of the jersey, the Castelli scorpion is reproduced in chronological order creating a subtle but striking timeline of the brand’s evolution.
Castelli’s history is one of genuine firsts: the first lycra short in the professional peloton; the first sublimation printing on team kit, the first ergonomic chamois, the first aero jersey, and the Gabba, the wet-weather garment that redefined what riders could wear in the worst conditions. In 2011, the Sanremo Speed Suit emerged as the fastest suit in cycling, and has remained to ever since, with its latest iteration being part of the same commemorative collection.
Castelli Global Brand Manager Steve Smith said: “For the Giro d’Italia, we wanted to provide Soudal Quick-Step with some bespoke kit that genuinely reflects 150 years of Castelli, not just as a celebration, but as a continuation of what our brand stands for today. The vintage cream tone was chosen to give a retro feel, and because it provided the right canvas. It softens the overall look and allows the different scorpion colours and wordmark variations to sit together cohesively. Our goal with this design wasn’t to look back, but to proudly show how our history still informs what we do today.”
This was echoed by Soudal Quick-Step CEO Jurgen Foré, who said: “One hundred and fifty years is an extraordinary milestone, and what makes Castelli’s story so compelling is that their history has always been defined by pushing forward, not standing still. That is something we recognise in ourselves. We are proud to wear this kit at the Giro d'Italia as it is a beautiful tribute to everything they have built. We believe the best way we can honour it is by racing hard. We will be chasing stage victories and targeting GC ambitions, and we hope there will be many opportunities to show these beautiful garments on the podium at the Giro d’Italia.”
The Giro marks the beginning of a wider summer of celebrations for Castelli, with a series of activations planned across the coming months. A group of ‘Once Upon a Ride’ challenges have launched on Strava, with organised rides taking place around the world. On Sunday 25th May, a celebration event in Milan will coincide with the premiere of a new short film of the same name.
A limited run of replica Competizione Jerseys in the commemorative design are available via Castelli Cycling and thewolfpack.shop.
Photo credit: ©Castelli Cycling