The four official Santini jerseys that will be worn by the La Vuelta 21 champions were unveiled today in Madrid. Aside from the leader jerseys, which are made from recycled fabrics, five special kits celebrating five of the Spanish race’s most iconic stages and the two official CERATIZIT Challenge by La Vuelta jerseys were also presented.
Santini Cycling Wear and Unipublic presented the four official leader jerseys for La Vuelta 21 today at the Hipódromo de la Zarzuela in the Spanish capital. Also unveiled were five Santini kits dedicated to five of the highlights of the Iberian race. Additionally, two further jerseys, which will be worn by the CERATIZIT Challenge by La Vuelta women’s champions, were presented on the same occasion.
«The partnership between ourselves and the prestigious Spanish race, which has endured for five years now, is something we are particularly proud of – commented Paola Santini, marketing manager Santini Cycling Wear – because it confirms our unwavering commitment to pro cycling and dressing great champions».
The official jerseys for the 2021 event will be made in Santini’s factory in Bergamo (Italy) using recycled fabrics: Ecofabric RECY by Corno, an environmentally friendly fabric spun from recycled yarn recovered from materials that have been used or discarded in the environment, and Sitip’s Native – Ecoknit which, once again, is made from recycled fibres and yarn without the use of polluting chemicals. The aim being, of course, to reduce the consumption of natural resources and reliance on non-renewable energies.
The leader jerseys are: La Roja (red jersey) sponsored by Carrefour for the overall race leader, the points leader, on the other hand, will sport the green jersey with the Škoda logo. The white jersey Fenie Energia-branded jersey will go to the best young rider and the polka dot jersey sponsored by Loterías y Apuestas del Estado will be donned by the King of the Mountains.
The women in the CERATIZIT Challenge by La Vuelta will also be wearing Santini and the official jerseys for this 7th edition were displayed today during the presentation at the Madrid race track.
The general manager of La Vuelta, Javier Guillén celebrated “five years of profitable and mutual collaboration”. “The jerseys are the hallmark of any cycling stage race and for La Vuelta it is a pride and a joy to be equipped by Santini, one of the most efficient and prestigious brands in the market and probably the most stylish one !”, he added.
SPECIAL LA VUELTA 21 KITS
In addition to the official jerseys, Santini also makes several special kits dedicated to the La Vuelta’s most iconic stages each year. The five kits include a jersey, bib shorts, socks, cap and gloves as well as a cotton t-shirt.
The Burgos kit celebrates the first stage of the race during which competitors will compete in an individual time trial in the city of Burgos: the jersey’s design was inspired by the rose window that adorns the southern façade of the majestic 13thcentury Cathedral of Santa Maria. The entire kit and the cotton t-shirt are in the red and white of the flag of Autonomous Community of Castile and León and will feature the number 01 to reference the first stage of the race.
Stage 7 of La Vuelta 21 starts from Gandía and ends in Balcón de Alicante. The route will take competitors through the spectacular forests of the regions of Valencia and Alicante which have also inspired the mainly green Alicante kit. The back and sleeve of the jersey also features the words Estima la Natura (“Love the Nature”), also sported by the sculpture atop the Balcón de Alicante.
The mast at the top of Pico Villuercas, the finish line of the Extremadura stage, is the main motif of the kit celebrating that stage. The radio mast for the now-abandoned military base features on both the back and sleeve of the jersey. Its colors are inspired by the flag of the Extremadura region.
However, the most iconic stage of the 2021 edition is the 18th which ends at the top of Altu d’El Gamoniteiru after a gruelling 15-kilometre climb with an average gradient of 9.69%, peaks of 17%, and a total elevation gain of 1,465 m. The peak is at an altitude of 1,791 m and it is this figure that gives its name to the Santini kit dedicated to the stage. All of the items in the kit are in a navy/blue color combination to reference the sky above the peak. Red and white striped details are a nod to the antennas on the peak. The back of the jersey is adorned with a crown with the hairpins of the gruelling climb. The number 18 is also featured in the kit as a reminder that it is the 18th stage.
In honor of the last stage of La Vuelta 21, which finishes in the historic city of Santiago de Compostela, Santini has made the blue and yellow Galicia kit which features the shell motif, the symbol of the famous Way of Saint James, on the back and sleeves of the jersey. It is also a reference to the Jubilee Year of Saint James, patron saint of Galicia and Spain. To coordinate with the kits, Santini also presents three must-haves for cyclists: a windproof jacket and a vest with a multi-coloured cap with a fun lined pattern.
Replicas of the leader jerseys and the five special kits can be purchased online from the Santini website (www.santinicycling.com), from the official La Vuelta store, from Ciclos Cabello, in Cordoba (www.cicloscabello.com) and select specialist cycling shops worldwide.
SANTINI CYCLING WEAR
Was founded in 1965 by Pietro Santini who spotted a market for technical cycling clothing as a result of his abiding passion for the sport and competition. In what would seem like a revolutionary and contrarian choice today, the Bergamo-based company made the pivotal decision to design and manufacture all of its products exclusively in Italy. Each item is designed and developed by a designer team with deep-rooted passion for the two-wheel world to meet four key requirements: fit, performance, comfort and durability. Santini currently produces 5,000 items of clothing per day and exports 80% of its output. It is deeply committed to ongoing investment in researching and developing innovative textiles and new production methods. However, people – athletes - remain its central focus as it continues to refine its creations to allow cyclists pursue their sporting passions in comfortable but inimitably stylish kit | www.santinicycling.com.
