Tour de France 2018
The Winning Kit
Three weeks of frenetic racing have come to a close, and Britain has a new Tour de France champion. For many, Geraint Thomas was not the pre-race favourite, but finding form at the Dauphine and putting in dominating performances both in the Alps and the Pyrenees has seen him emerge from the shadows of Froome to become Team Sky's third Tour winner, and clinch his first grand tour title. From head to toe, this is how you dress like a Maillot Jaune winner.
You could say Geraint really stepped up his game at the 2018 Tour. A long standing fan of Fizik shoes, Thomas used a pair of R1 Infinito Knitted Cycling Shoes. These premium Italian shoes boast a unique knitted upper and are stitched with a dynamic arch support, making them both breathable and supportive. A double Infinito Boa System holds your foot securely in the rigid carbon footbed. A super stiff UD carbon vented outsole ensures power transfer is never compromised, while the 155 gram weight makes these shoes perfect for everything from the cobbles of Roubaix to the high mountains that litter the final week of the Tour.
From Wiggins' 2012 win to Thomas' 2018 victory, KASK has protected Team Sky every step of the way. For this year's race Thomas used their sub 200 gram Valegro. An especially warm three weeks in France, the 36 vents provided the Welshman with exceptional ventilation, while the fast wicking internal lining ensured, even when the heat was on, Sky's new found leader kept cool under the pressure. For the flatter stages the Utopia, the brand's fastest ever road helmet, was chosen. Available to purchase later this year, KASK claim the Utopia saves 6 watts when riding at 50kph compared to their competitor's offerings.
Whether it's the world's best sprinters, GC men or loyal mountain domestiques, the chances are many will be wearing Oakley sunglasses. Geraint has long opted for the iconic Racing Jackets but chose to wear the brand's special edition Tour de France Jawbreakers on select stages of the 2018 Tour de France. Favoured over the Racing Jackets for their increased periforal vision and extended coverage, the Jawbreaker and recently launched Flight Jacket were both popular choices for Team Sky.
A brand that has strong roots to racing, sponsoring the leader's jersey at the Giro d'Italia, Castelli are experts when it comes to dressing the pros. Although a remarkably dry and warm edition, Team Sky still demanded kit to cater for everything from the penultimate day's individual time trial to the sweltering heat of the mountains. Super lightweight jerseys and well padded bib shorts are not only designed to aid performance, they are also key in keeping some of the world's leading riders comfortable during the 3,351 kilometre race.
Avoiding saddle sores and ensuring Thomas powered through every one of the 21 stages in comfort, Fizik's Arione offered Team Sky's Maillot Jaune a wide range of options when it came to positioning on the saddle. The Arione's length makes it perfect for tip of the nose efforts as well as powering in the saddle up the long mountain climbs that littered the 2018 race.
