Dear Lidl-Trek, long time listener, first time caller. I can say on behalf of lots of Canadian cycling fans, we are glad this whole saga is over, and our national champion, Derek Gee-West, has a new team. And what a team it is! Your WorldTour squad is stacked. Juan Ayuso, Matias Skjelmose, Giulio Ciccone, Mads Pedersen…the list goes on. And good old Osgoode, Ont.’s shining star, Derek Gee.
Like everyone, we heard the rumours a while back he may have found a team after leaving the Team Formerly Known as Israel – Premier Tech. And Lidl-Trek seems like a great fit. It will be interesting to see how you all juggle so much GC talent, but I’m sure you’ve already put a lot of thought into it. (To your social team, can we avoid the Derek GeeCee thing this year? Especially since, thanks to another Canadian cycling star, Ruby West, Derek has an extra last name.)
But back to kit. First off, it’s clear you have some great ideas for design. The “regular” team jersey is spectacular. The paint jobs on those Treks are simply a very big chef’s kiss.
And some of the other national championship jerseys look great. Quinn Simmons’ stars-and-stripes—great. Sure, there are always constraints when a team is trying to include vital exposure for sponsors, but you managed to pull off a solid Dannebrog jersey—the oldest flag in the world, no less—for Mattias Skjelmose. Emma Norsgaard’s Danish digs were also spot-on. Mathias Vacek’s Czech kit is a beauty too.
And how can we forget the Holmgren twins? At least it’s been easy for Bella, since she just keeps winning rainbow jerseys. The UCI has pretty strict rules on the placement of the bands, as I’m sure your team knows, and every single one (there’s been so many) of her rainbow jerseys just rocked. And sister Ava’s Pan-Am kit was dynamite as well.
Ava’s national championship jersey was fine, but it runs into the same problems that Gee-West has. We get it, there are no rules as to how a national championship jersey is designed. There’s quite a bit of wiggle room from what the pros get on the podium as to what they wear on the road. (And don’t get me started on the current podium jersey—that’s a whole other story.)
Mike Woods freestyled it big time with his hockey/track kit. This year, Alison Jackson went back to the O.G. kit, but stylized the maple leaf.
But Gee-West’s maple leaf shouldn’t be on his stomach. Again, sponsors, sure. But isn’t there a way to move things around so it screams a little more Canada? Imagine how great it will be when he’s at the Tour or the Giro (TBD, I guess) and a maple leaf jersey is roaring through the crowds.
Some maple leaves on the sleeves wouldn’t hurt either—that’s usually a thing around here. In fact, you can look at his jersey (that he never even got a chance to race in because, well, you know) on that…other team, for inspiration. Big ol’ maple leaf, nice red sleeves.
The French have always been a nice inspiration for national championship jerseys, which are meant to resemble the flag. Former pro Antoine Duchesne, who raced with Groupama–FDJ, had a beauty.
Vraiment content d’enfin pouvoir porter cette belle feuille d’érable 🍁 sur ce tour de Pologne 🇵🇱! L’érable tatoué sul chest! #incroyableerable #erableduquebec #equipegroupamafdj #tourdepologne 📸@atcommunication #garneausports #XComfortZone pic.twitter.com/5KgYqv2JON
— Antoine Duchesne (@tonythetiger_1) August 5, 2018
More recently, Olivia Baril of Movistar also rocked a pretty nice national championship jersey.
Listen, we are Canadian and never like to ruffle feathers…well, sometimes we do if the situation warrants it…but the season hasn’t quite begun, so maybe you could try again with this jersey? It wouldn’t be the first time a national championship jersey has been redone. Intermarché–Wanty (remember them?) redid Georg Zimmermann’s German champs jersey. And recall how Italians were…not happy with Vincenzo Nibali’s top at Astana?
Just move the maple leaf up a bit, maybe throw a few on the sleeves. We’d be so grateful. Either way, best of luck this year.
Love, Canada.