Rapha & Sky to end sponsorship after 2016 season

[MattTuck]

Just got an email announcing this. I wonder what the reasoning is.

Will be curious to see if they sponsor another team. As far as Sky, it seemed to make good sense. British team with British clothing.

[Davist]

I'm guessing they got the exposure they needed (does Rapha need any more exposure?), probably quite expensive. Nowadays, a 4 year stint for a grand tour team seems pretty good. (I'm sure some conspiracy theorists will chime in about more nefarious things)

[corky]

Gotta be financial differences.....

[chiasticon]

fwiw, they discount the sky gear frequently. at least three times a year you can find it 20% off or more. now, of course they're still making a ton of cash on that. but I'm guessing that things not selling as well as they'd like has to be some factor. and yeah, I'm sure it's not cheap to keep the team going plus pay whatever they're asking.

still, definitely a fruitful sponsorship deal for them. two TdF wins and 2nd at vuelta for froome, hour record for wiggins, plus tons of other stuff...

[El Chaba]

Wasn't the kit supplied to the Team actually made by Nalini/Moa Sport anyway?....

[oldpotatoe]

Wasn't the kit supplied to the Team actually made by Nalini/Moa Sport anyway?....

A lot of Euro team and otherwise branded stuff made by Moa..great company, kinda the Italian bike clothes version of Giant Bike Company or Vittoria Tire in Thailand. Don't mow if Sky stuff made by them or not.

[yashcha]

When I lived in Guangzhou one of the swiss guys I used to ride with owned a clothing company called cuore. He claimed that they made the SKY clothing for Rapha. He also mentioned making clothing for a team called IAM cycling.

[oldpotatoe]

When I lived in Guangzhou one of the swiss guys I used to ride with owned a clothing company called cuore. He claimed that they made the SKY clothing for Rapha. He also mentioned making clothing for a team called IAM cycling.

IAM cycling the real deal.

[johngmartin]

It's probably because I responded that I didn't care about their partnership on the last Rapha survey for a 20% off code.

[charliedid]

My guess is too much money to continue and they received the exposure they were looking for.

Rapha's success will continue to be as a lifestyle company supporting riding and racing on a local level.

.02 cents

[thirdgenbird]

A lot of Euro team and otherwise branded stuff made by Moa..great company, kinda the Italian bike clothes version of Giant Bike Company or Vittoria Tire in Thailand. Don't mow if Sky stuff made by them or not.

Is that where my Campagnolo stuff came from?

[El Chaba]

When I lived in Guangzhou one of the swiss guys I used to ride with owned a clothing company called cuore. He claimed that they made the SKY clothing for Rapha. He also mentioned making clothing for a team called IAM cycling.

I thought Nalini/Moa made their team wear as well...As pointed out by OP, Moa does a LOT of contract manufacturing for quite a few "labels"....

[pdmtong]

Rapha got what they needed out of the Sky deal, which of course was global exposure but more relevant to me was the acceleration of their pro team designs. I'm no pro, but their pro team kit works and fits great, much nicer than the merino based function/fashion pieces. Now after four years, time to move the investment money from sky to other projects.

[Waldo]

It's probably because I responded that I didn't care about their partnership on the last Rapha survey for a 20% off code.

Damn straight. If it weren't Rapha we wouldn't be discussing the non-renewal of a team clothing contract. Another slow news day in cycling world -- didn't someone admit to or was caught doping recently?

[beeatnik]

These pics may tell part of the story:

http://www.teamsky.com/teamsky/photos/imagegallery/8724#1#cW6exfIUBPDocM3g.97

https://www.slocyclist.com/many-kits-pro-cycling-teams-use-just-ask-rapha-team-sky-hint-lot/

So how many kits does it take to sponsor a pro cycling team? Well, we find out here that each rider gets 800 pieces of clothing. Each. Rider. Gets. 800. Pieces.

But don’t be shocked because that has to last them until at least June when they get the whole thing over again.

Now I’m not too great at math (English major over here, yup), but I asked Siri. She said that with all 40 of Team Sky’s riders getting fitted out, that adds up to 32,000 kits. Good work, Siri. Double that number for the entire year, and it’s 64,000 pieces (hey, I did that one in my head!).

[MattTuck]

Is it foolish to hope that Rapha signs with another team and brings some of their design sense to that kit? I'm looking at you, AG2R.

[ceolwulf]

Are they going to continue with the Wiggins team?

[Spdntrxi]

I hope for BMC


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[chiasticon]

These pics may tell part of the story
that's madness. but I doubt that's reason for them to stop the partnership. I'm sure they knew exactly how much clothing they'd need to provide when they entered into that partnership. plus, I'm guessing sky didn't just pull this amount out of the...sky...(lol) but had it based on what their experience of normal usage is. and that's probably somewhat standard across pro tour teams.

but geez. 800 pieces? I'd have to add another room onto my house to store and organize it.

[MattTuck]

that's madness. but I doubt that's reason for them to stop the partnership. I'm sure they knew exactly how much clothing they'd need to provide when they entered into that partnership. plus, I'm guessing sky didn't just pull this amount out of the...sky...(lol) but had it based on what their experience of normal usage is. and that's probably somewhat standard across pro tour teams.

but geez. 800 pieces? I'd have to add another room onto my house to store and organize it.

Is there a break down of the pieces?

800 seems high on the face of it, but when you start to think that they probably have 100+ in just socks and gloves.

Judging by the image below, it looks like about 10 jerseys. Which seems about right, as a professional, you're wearing them every day.





http://www.teamsky.com/teamsky/bestfit/images/master/1/2014/12/17/-1/8712/944/708/1418840460631.jpg

[bcroslin]

Is there a break down of the pieces?

800 seems high on the face of it, but when you start to think that they probably have 100+ in just socks and gloves.

Judging by the image below, it looks like about 10 jerseys. Which seems about right, as a professional, you're wearing them every day.

http://www.teamsky.com/teamsky/bestfit/images/master/1/2014/12/17/-1/8712/944/708/1418840460631.jpg

Someone should tell the Sky dudes about the secondary Paceline market. They'd make a killing!

[Joxster]

Moa do make the Rapha kit and about 15 other pro team kits. For a small logo on the jersey it costs ｣750,000 a season, a friend of mine makes a product that Sky uses and they wanted but he couldn't afford or justify that outlay.

[mvrider]

Anybody know why Samsonite cases sold in Europe and Asia look so much nicer than the ones available in the U.S.?

http://www.teamsky.com/teamsky/bestfit/images/master/1/2014/12/17/-1/8723/944/708/1418840497560.jpg

[Cicli]

Someone should tell the Sky dudes about the secondary Paceline market. They'd make a killing!

Yep and you dont even have to wash it. Sell it as lightly used. :butt:

[jmoore]

I hope for BMC


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

BMC kits are desperate for an aesthetic upgrade.

[jonnyBgood]

I like a lot of Rapha's products but never have been a fan of Team Sky


Look forward to seeing some new designs

[pdmtong]

Someone should tell the Sky dudes about the secondary Paceline market. They'd make a killing!

I dont think so

80% of folks here weigh more than 145#s and the other 20% are new grads who can't afford it.

[krhea]

I dont think so

80% of folks here weigh more than 145#s and the other 20% are new grads who can't afford it.

Truth.

[jonnyBgood]

I dont think so

80% of folks here weigh more than 145#s and the other 20% are new grads who can't afford it.

Yeah. I'm 5'11"/6' 190 pounds solid and all of the Pro Team stuff I wear an XXL and the Classic stuff I wear a XL and I'm not overweight at all :rolleyes:

[beeatnik]

^pdm meant that sky team members wouldn't be able to sell their last season threads on here since the biggest guy on their payroll is probably 170.

[Wakatel_Luum]

I love Rapha clothing but I wouldn't touch the Sky gear with a 40 ft pole...the last time I wore team gear was when 7-Eleven & Motorola was around...

[pdmtong]

I love Rapha clothing but I wouldn't touch the Sky gear with a 40 ft pole...the last time I wore team gear was when 7-Eleven & Motorola was around...

Wearing team kit is very popular in Europe and Asia not so much here which in some ways is why the understated basic Rapha aesthetic gained popularity

I have to admit almost going for sky pro team kit at 50% off but like you decided the look was not for me

[oldpotatoe]

I hope for BMC


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Think BMC is Pearl Izumi for 2016

[Wakatel_Luum]

Pearl Izumi owned by Shimano so not surprised...

[oldpotatoe]

Pearl Izumi owned by Shimano so not surprised...

Well, I know the main jersey design guy at PI and I don't think this has anything to do with it but...

[Joxster]

Wearing team kit is very popular in Europe and Asia not so much here which in some ways is why the understated basic Rapha aesthetic gained popularity

I have to admit almost going for sky pro team kit at 50% off but like you decided the look was not for me

I'm of the opinion that you need to earn it to wear it

[FlashUNC]

Vintage team gear is cool. Current team gear, not so much. Best of both worlds. Buy the stuff new and stash it in a closet for 10 years or so.

[jmoore]

I'm of the opinion that you need to earn it to wear it

If the teams didn't want you to wear it, then they would not sell it. I'm sure they would love to sell 1000's of kits to every rider who wants them.

[I Want Sachs?]

Once Rapha sell enough Sky kits to whoever wants it, there is no further need to continue the support since the Rapha fans would not buy the same graphics over and over again. I mean, how often do you wear out your kit?

It is more profitable to associate with another team and sell another Rapha clothing with new graphics.

Maybe return to Sky after another 10 years might make sense, if Sky or Rapha is still around.

[Idris Icabod]

If the teams didn't want you to wear it, then they would not sell it. I'm sure they would love to sell 1000's of kits to every rider who wants them.

I agree with jmoore on this. I was at the Tour of Britain a few years ago and there was a guy in full Garmin kit on an ex-Garmin team bike. Matt White (team DS at the time) was unbelievably appreciative of this guys support, spent a good long time discussing the origin of the bike.

[jlwdm]

Once Rapha sell enough Sky kits to whoever wants it, there is no further need to continue the support since the Rapha fans would not buy the same graphics over and over again. I mean, how often do you wear out your kit?

It is more profitable to associate with another team and sell another Rapha clothing with new graphics.

Maybe return to Sky after another 10 years might make sense, if Sky or Rapha is still around.

I don't think it makes sense to sponsor another tour level team. The clothing sponsorships I have seen in the past require a lot of clothing for all team staff and a lot of dollars paid to the team. Rapha has gotten the marketing it wanted.

Jeff

[torquer]

Is it foolish to hope that Rapha signs with another team and brings some of their design sense to that kit? I'm looking at you, AG2R.
I responded to a Rapha on-line survey earlier this year, and one of the questions was which other pro teams I'd like to see them sponsor.
My answer was Giant-Alpecin, but I just wanted to see Degenkolb and Kittel rocking something more inspired than what they had been wearing.
But you're correct, Matt, AG2R needs the most help.

[milkbaby]

I'm sad to see them split because the Team Sky stuff was always on sale for a big discount during Rapha's summer and winter sales... I'm waiting for the winter sale to pick up the Sky brevet jersey.