rapha team tour de france

Hot Looking Cannondale, Rapha, and Palace Collab Kits and Gear for the 2022 Tour

Men’s Team EF Education-EasyPost and Women’s EF Education-Tibco-SVB Team will be easy to spot in the peloton

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. How we test gear.

With the 2022 Tour de France kicking off on Friday, July 1, teams are starting to show off their new kits and Tour-specific paint schemes. But the Cannondale, Rapha, and Palace Skateboards collaboration might be the most innovative one yet and is guaranteed to stand out in the pack.

In the men’s Tour, Team EF Education–EasyPost will be on the brightly colored Cannondale bikes with kits to match. While on the women's side, EF Education-Tibco-SVB will be rocking the same bikes and kits during the women’s Tour de France Femmes. The nineties-style bold graphics and bright designs this year aren’t just fun: There are Easter eggs hidden throughout the kit that highlight important themes in cycling—women’s cycling in particular.

The women’s gender symbol is placed prominently on the bike frame and takes up the entire front of the jersey, along with cartoon dragons and an airbrushed hot pink, white, purple and blue paint scheme that calls to mind t-shirts that you’d buy on the boardwalk at the shore in the mid-nineties. Both the men’s and women’s teams will race with the same aesthetic, with minor differences in team-specific branding, as a show of solidarity.

"In a sport renowned for its lengthy rule book and chaotic calendar, we’ve shone a light on new faces, and unorthodox races,” Rapha said in 2020. "But for a truly fresh perspective on the sport, we’ve teamed up with a company that is alien to cycling’s aesthetic, oblivious to its origins, and untrained in its traditions."

Cannondale worked with Rapha and Palace Skateboards to ensure that this year's design was consistent across the bikes—special edition Cannondale SuperSix Evo, SystemSix, and SuperSlices—and the kits for Le Tour. The bold branding celebrates the return of the Tour de France Femmes after a 33-year hiatus and amplifies that women deserve the same exposure and rewards that the men’s field has long enjoyed.

"The changeout is our way of celebrating women in sport and the Tour de France Femmes," said Jonathan Vaughters, the CEO of the EF Education-EasyPost team. "It’s wild, it’s bold, and it’s an exciting time for the cycling world and long overdue. It’s an honor for our team to race in this kit in advance of the women’s Tour de France. Both races will be incredible, and we’ll fight to keep this kit and its celebratory message at the front of the race this July."

Love the look? Good news: the Cannondale bikes in this paint scheme will eventually be available for sale, as will a limited run of the Rapha jerseys and bibs (plus a toned down ‘training’ version for those who stopped wearing neon in 1998). Get them as soon as they drop, these will sell out in minutes!

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} News

Demi Vollering’s Future Remains Uncertain

Julian Alaphilippe: Will He Stay or Will He Go?

Pinarello Unveils Two New For 2024 Summer Olympics

Tour de France 2024 Contender Power Rankings

Demi Vollering Announces Departure from SD Worx

Australia’s $60K Olympic Track Bike

Strava Gives Cyclists More Data to Obsess Over

Laura Kenny Announces Retirement

Reviving the Philly Cycling Classic

Van der Poel Signs Ten-Year Deal with Canyon

UCI Sanctions Lefevere Over Derogatory to Women

Our Rapha and Palace Tour de France kit

Our latest collaboration jersey celebrates the Tour de France Femmes

June 28, 2022

For us, July means one thing: the Tour de France. But what is the world’s greatest bike race with just a race for men? For the first time since the 1980s, men and women will be on the startlines — and it’s about damn time.

The Tour is the zenith of competition at the height of the European summer. It’s make or break for riders and teams, a celebration for fans and an odyssey for the riders taking on sweltering, hour-long ascents and serpentine downhills at 100 kilometers an hour… all with a thin pair of shorts for protection.

Over 29 days this summer, men and women will strive and struggle in the world’s toughest sporting event and we hope you join us for the ride on the roads, on social media, and on TV. Vive le Tour, and at long last, Vive les Femmes.

To celebrate the majesty of the Tour de Force, we have once again partnered with Rapha and Palace Skateboards to create a striking limited-edition switch-out kit for the riders of the EF Education-TIBCO-SVB and EF Education-EasyPost teams.

"It's been a very long road to get to this point, and all of us, the riders, staff and management, realize the significance of this jersey and will be proud to wear it.” - Linda Jackson, the founder and owner of EF Education-TIBCO-SVB

This collaboration doesn’t end with our racing kit. Our entire fleet of Cannondale race bikes, including the Cannondale SuperSix EVO which will be available for purchase, will have a crisp new look to match our kits, as well as POC helmets and Crocs, decked out with distinct designs imagined by Palace. WHOOP and Wahoo have joined in as well, creating their own designs inspired by the kit.

We’ve been buzzing with excitement about this collaboration with Palace and Rapha. Like us, both race with character and have never been afraid to break from cycling’s dusty traditions. Rapha and its designs regularly refer back to the sport and cycling history while Palace is disruptive, witty and always surprising, authentically straddling the worlds of high fashion, streetwear and core skate. Upon these daring shoulders, the kits are set to turn heads across the world and push the boundaries of the sport.

“I'm just thrilled with the kit that Rapha and Palace Skateboards have designed to celebrate the return of the women's Tour de France. Women's cycling has been growing steadily over the past couple of decades, but the return of the Tour de France will accelerate this growth and further our search for equality,” said Linda Jackson, the founder and owner of EF Education-TIBCO-SVB. “It's a true honor to have the EF Education-EasyPost men's team racing their Tour de France in a jersey that celebrates women's cycling. It's been a very long road to get to this point, and all of us, the riders, staff and management, realize the significance of this jersey and will be proud to wear it.”

The design narrative of the second Rapha and Palace collaboration righteously celebrates the Tour de France Femmes. After 33 years, women are finally able to return to race and we are ready to show the world what it's been missing.

“The changeout is our way of celebrating women in sport and the Tour de France Femmes. It’s wild, it’s bold, and it’s an exciting time for the cycling world and long overdue. It’s an honor for our team to race in this kit in advance of the women’s Tour de France. Both races will be incredible, and we’ll fight to keep this kit and its celebratory message at the front of the race this July,” said Jonathan Vaughters, the CEO of the EF Education-EasyPost team. The first collaboration with Rapha and Palace at the men’s 2020 Giro d’Italia did not fall short of expectations and the kit was something altogether different, merging the worlds of fashion and cycling and changing the sport once and for all. We are proud to carry on this tradition of defying expectations and challenging norms, all while cloaked in the most original kit in the peloton.

The change out extends to the full range of team bikes from Cannondale to celebrate the return of women to Le Tour. Every element of the frame design of the SystemSix, SuperSix EVO and SuperSlice is bold and intentional to seamlessly combine with the Rapha + Palace team kit that both our men’s and women’s teams will don at the Tour. Unique touches extend beyond the obvious elements of the design; each SuperSlice incorporates easter eggs for each rider to match their personality and riding style.

Share this story

Featured event, more from tour de france.

Today's Digital Daily

site categories

Parent item expand the sub menu, paris provisional calendar is out: dries van noten to present his final men’s show, the best street style from milan design week, l catterton acquires majority stake in kiko milano, palace and rapha team up for the return of tour de france femmes.

A key element of the capsule design is a green dragon, which symbolizes the supernatural power, wisdom, strength and hidden knowledge.

London/China Market Editor

• Share this article on Facebook
• Share this article on X
• Share this article on Flipboard
• Share this article on Pin It
• Share this article on Tumblr
• Share this article on Reddit
• Share this article on LinkedIn
• Share this article on WhatsApp
• Share this article on Email
• Print this article
• Share this article on Talk

Cult British streetwear brand Palace is teaming up with cycling wear specialist Rapha on a capsule that celebrates the return of Tour de France Femmes this summer after a 33-year hiatus.

On top of a limited-edition switch-out kit for the riders of the EF Education-TIBCO-SVB and EF Education-EasyPost teams, the second collaboration between the two comes with a range of gender-inclusive casualwear offerings, including Crocs clogs complimented with Rapha and Palace Jibbits, cropped T-shirts, pullover jackets, utility vests, silk scarves and caps.

The two first worked together back in 2020 for the Giro d’Italia race.

A key element of the capsule is a green dragon placed alongside Palace’s signature motif Triferg. The dragon symbolizes the “supernatural power, wisdom, strength and hidden knowledge,” as the two felt it was “a great way of encapsulating the spirit of the women who ride for EF Education-TIBCO-SVB.”

The collaboration will be available through Rapha online , in select Rapha Clubhouses and through Palace online and in store from July 15.

FOR MORE FROM WWD.COM, SEE:

Calvin Klein and Palace Cook Up a Collaboration

Vans, Palace to Debut First Collaboration, With Jeremy the Duck Motif

Palace and Juergen Teller, Together Again

Sign up for WWD news straight to your inbox every day

Ethan Hawke, Maya Hawke & Laura Linney Talk ‘Wildcat’

WWD and Women's Wear Daily are part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Fairchild Publishing, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Fashion Expand fashion menu

• Fashion Trends
• Fashion Features
• Fashion Scoops
• Designer & Luxury
• Ready-To-Wear
• Accessories

Business Expand business menu

• Government & Trade
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Marketing & Promotion
• Human Resources
• Business Features
• Real Estate

Beauty Expand beauty menu

• Beauty Features

Men's Expand mens menu

• Mens Accessories
• Mens Clothing Furnishings
• Mens Designer Luxury
• Mens Lifestyle
• Mens Retail Business
• Mens Sportswear
• Mens Fashion

Runway Expand runway menu

• Men’s Fall 2024
• Pre-Fall 2024
• Spring Ready-to-Wear 2024
• Fall Couture 2023
• Resort 2024

Denim Expand denim menu

Sustainability expand sustainability menu.

• Environment
• Social Impact

Home/Design Expand home-design menu

• Interior Design
• Architecture

WWD Weekend Expand wwd-weekend menu

Events expand events menu, eye expand eye menu.

• Celebrity Real Estate

Shop Expand shop menu

More expand more menu.

• Fairchild Live
• RetailRx Community

Verify it's you

Please log in.

Rapha + Palace celebrate Tour de France Femmes with EF kit & custom Cannondales – Availability Update

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

The Tour de France is set to kick off next week and Rapha, EF Education & Cannondale are celebrating in another style collaboration with Palace Skateboards. But this year, with the launch of the 8-day Tour de France Femmes (and the biggest prize payout in women’s cycling), both the men and women will be riding in Rapha + Palace Tour de Force switch-out kit and custom-painted Cannondale race bikes emblazoned with the female gender symbol on top of playful graphics.

UPDATE: Scroll to the bottom of the Rapha bit for their ride & off-the-bike kit availability…

And besides the Rapha replica kit, you can also pick up a Rapha + Palace TdF Cannondale SuperSix, too!

Rapha+Palace custom Tour de France, Femmes & Force!

For the first time in 33 years, pro women cycling will get its own proper stage race with the 8-stage Tour de France Femme which takes on the iconic Champs-Élysée the day after the men’s final, then ultimately marching east 1029km from Paris to the mountains to culminate in a summit finish at La Planche des Belles Filles on the final day of July.

To emphasize the importance of the women getting a proper French stage race, the EF men will start 3 weeks earlier from July 1st in the same kit as the women, and the same custom-painted bikes, with a Rapha+Palace Skateboard design with a prominent women’s gender symbol and a bunch of playful little yellow dragons.

Rapha+Palace Skateboards EF Education Tour kit

In addition to flashy bikes, Rapha is making the riders’ custom kit available soon too. Women can get the Pro Team Aero Jersey and Pro Team Bib Shorts II in the full Rapha+Palace EF Education-Tibco-SVB pink, blue & yellow dragon design, or a more low-key gray Pro Team Training Jersey.

Men get the same choices in Pro Team Aero Jersey and Pro Team Bib Shorts II in the same pink, blue & yellow dragon design with the men’s team Rapha+Palace EF Education-Easypost sponsor logos, or the low-key gray Pro Team Training Jersey.

Less over-the-top style (and pricing) options include a Rapha+Palace EF cotton cycling cap, white Rapha+Palace EF edition synthetic Pro Team socks, or a cotton Rapha+Palace EF musette.

No official word on pricing or availability yet , but we expect it to hit the online shop in time for fans to be decked out before the Tours’ finishes. RCC members will get a first shot at it though.

Update: The new Rapha + Palace kit officially goes on sale July 15 at 11:00 BST for the UK, EU, Canada & South Korea; later the same day July at 11:00 EDT for the USA; and lastly the next day July 16 at 11:00 JST for the Asia-Pacific market. 

In addition to the team riding kit, there will be Rapha + Palace Crocs, cropped tops, technical skirts, technical shirts, technical shorts, and much more including a silk scarf and some cotton tees with that cute little cartoon dragon. It’s all kinda wild really, but quite interesting at the same time…

EF Education Tour de Force custom Cannondales

Both the EF Education-EasyPost men and EF Education-TIBCO-SVB women will complete their Tours de France on a fleet of three Cannondale race bikes in matching limited edition Rapha+Palace paint jobs: the lightweight road SuperSix Evo, the aero road SystemSix, and the time trial SuperSlice.

Of those, only the SuperSix will be available to consumers. You can get your own Rapha+Palace TdF custom Cannondale SuperSix Evo Hi-mod carbon frameset direct from Rapha ( soon ), just like the pros ride.

Although, maybe it’s not exactly the one the pros ride? Last December Cannondale received UCI approval to compete on a new SuperSix Evo 3 Limited Edition. From the outside the team bikes look the same, so we would have to assume it’s just some superlight, extra-stiff carbon layup inside, right?

You can’t get the special edition Cannondale SystemSix race bikes.

But they still are worth a closer look.

There’s a bit more surface area for silly graphics on an aero road bike.

Then, the Cannondale SuperSlice Evo takes it to the next level.

This disc brake SuperSlice (Evo?) appears to technically still be a prototype. But we’ve spotted it racing for over a year now , so it’s curious how that fits within the UCI’s technical rules.

In any case, it’s a nice big flashy canvas for the Rapha+Palace Skateboards custom look.

Cannondale.com

Cory Benson is the EU Tech Editor of Bikerumor.com .

Cory has been writing about mountain bikes, enduro, cyclocross, all-road, gravel bikes & bikepacking for over 25 years, even before the industry created some of these names. Prior to Bikerumor, Cory was a practicing Architect specializing in environmental sustainability, has designed bike shops & bike components, and worked as a bike shop mechanic.

Based in the Czech Republic for 15+ years, he is a technical mountain biker, adventurous gravel rider, and short & medium-haul bikepacker. Cory travels extensively across Europe riding bikes, meeting with key European product developers, industry experts & tastemakers for an in-depth review of what’s new, and what’s coming next.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Awesomely Gawdy. Love it….the bikes at least.

Follow Us On

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

• MAGAZINE OFFERS
• BIKE INSURANCE
• Best Products
• Maintenance
• Accessories
• Long-Term Reviews
• BikeRadar Podcast
• First Look Friday
• Bike of the Week
• Tech Features
• Routes and Rides
• Bike Galleries
• BikeRadar Bargains
• Buyer's Guides
• Fitness & Training
• Sizing & Fit
• Mountain Biking UK
• Cycling Plus

Cannondale ‘leaks’ new SuperSlice in Palace X Rapha Tour de France collab

Tasty custom bikes include a new SuperSlice TT, plus SuperSix EVO and SystemSix machines

Ashley Quinlan

Cannondale, team bike suppliers of Team EF Education – EasyPost and EF Education-Tibco-SVB, has just shared details of the custom paintjobs for the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes.

The rather shouty paintjobs mirror the Rapha kit that the riders are set to wear at the Tour , and come from a collaboration between Cannondale, Palace Skateboards and the British clothing brand.

New SuperSlice?

We first spotted a new Cannondale time trial bike at last year’s Tour de France , and this year it looks as though it’s nearing an official launch with this new paintjob.

The UCI normally allows for a year of prototyping before a bike needs to be launched officially to the world, so we expect to see details about the new SuperSlice coming soon – although Cannondale hasn’t shared anything just yet.

We’ve noted some design tweaks that indicate this definitely is the new SuperSlice. The front wheel now lives prouder of the down tube, while the stack height definitely appears to be low.

The fork legs have remained thin as per the previous generation SuperSlice.

The frame features a significantly sloping top tube, and a deep seat tube that we would speculate works with the dropped seatstays to shape air around the rear wheel.

Easter eggs

Rapha has told us that each SuperSlice contains unique Easter eggs, nodding to elements of their rider’s personality and riding style.

That makes each bike as unique as the pilot who rides them, which could mean that each could be sold off at a later date, perhaps to support the EF Education charities that supports both men’s and women’s teams. No word on that yet, though.

Share this article

Senior technical editor

• Terms & Conditions
• Subscribe to our magazines
• Manage preferences

• global">Global
• indonesia">Indonesia
• united_kingdom">United Kingdom

We got you covered. Don’t miss out on the latest news by signing up for our newsletters.

By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .

Download Our App

• dark_mode" data-event-name="menu_navigation" data-custom-event="null" class="dark-mode icon-type d-none d-lg-flex nav-item">
• login">Login
• sign_up">Sign Up
• search" data-event-name="menu_navigation" data-custom-event="null">
• Food & Beverage
• Movies & TV
• Tech & Gadgets
• Brand Ranking
• Brand Directory
• Hypebeast100

Palace and Rapha Reunite to Celebrate the Return of Tour de France Femmes

Delivering kits for the ef education-tibco-svb and ef education-easypost teams and a custom fleet of cannondale bikes..

Palace ‘s 2020 collaboration with Rapha was one of its most unexpected link-ups, but it turned into much more than just another dual-branded capsule. Following the collaboration, the EF Pro Cycling Team won the Giro d’Italia stage despite kit fines, and HYPEBEAST subsequently deep-dived into the hype behind Rapha , the unexpected crossover between fashion and cycling , and an in-depth look into Palace’s best collaborations . Now, the London-based skateboarding stalwart has teamed up with Rapha again, this time around celebrating the return of Tour de France Femmes.

For the first time since the 1980s, women riders will get the chance to compete in the world’s most famous cycling race. To celebrate this Tour de Force, Palace and Rapha are releasing a limited-edition run of switch-out kits for the riders of the EF Education-TIBCO-SVB and EF Education-EasyPost teams.

What to Read Next

Evisu and Palace Roll the Dice In Spring 2024 Collaboration

Palace and GAP Outfit the Cool Kids In Spring 2024 Collaboration

Palace and KAPPA Hit the Track With Alpine F1 Collection

The adidas Golf TOUR360 24 Makes Its Return to the Course

Nike LeBron 19 Low Gets Another Mismatched Arrangement

Craig Green’s SS23 adidas Collaboration is a Lesson in Restraint

Essentials: No ID

Air Jordan 1 Low OG "Bleached Coral" Bears a Summer-Ready Palette In This Week's Best Footwear Drops

Here’s What Went Down at the CENA Festival 2k22 in São Paulo

Seiko Unveils Latest Range of SKX Sports Style GMT Watches

Another-1 Aims to Immortalize Graffiti Through the Metaverse With DRIP-LAB

Ferragamo Applies Expert Material Innovation to Sustainable Fibers For New F-80 Skeleton

Reigning Champ vs. Prince Delivers Tennis Staples

Supreme Summer 2022 Tees

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

A Pro Cyclist Rode An Unofficial, Solo Tour De France And Beat The Pack

James Doubek

Lachlan Morton rode the whole route of the Tour de France without the kind of help official racers get, like mechanics and meals. He started behind official Tour racers and finished five days ahead. Lucy Le Lievre/Rapha hide caption

Lachlan Morton rode the whole route of the Tour de France without the kind of help official racers get, like mechanics and meals. He started behind official Tour racers and finished five days ahead.

Pro cyclist Lachlan Morton wasn't officially in this year's Tour de France, but he rode the route anyway, by himself — and beat everyone to the finish in Paris by five days.

After starting shortly behind the official group on June 26, he crossed the unofficial finish line at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday: 3,424 miles in 18 days, including ascents up some of France's famously brutal mountains.

Morton rode around 200 miles each day, usually spending about 12 hours in the saddle before finding a place to camp for the night (or simply riding through the night).

"To go out and ride your bike really far one time is one thing, but then to sleep in a tent and wake up at 5 o'clock the next morning to do it all again and do that again 15 or 16 days, that's a huge challenge," he says, "and is every bit if not more difficult than I thought it would be."

For comparison, you can cross the continental U.S. on a bike in just over 3,000 miles, and for most people, it can take at least two months.

Morton rode 230 miles on June 30. His own personal Tour de France was far from his first unassisted endurance trek. Lucy Le Lievre/Rapha hide caption

Morton rode 230 miles on June 30. His own personal Tour de France was far from his first unassisted endurance trek.

The team Morton rides for, the U.S.-based EF Education-Nippo, called it the Alt Tour . While the EF squad riding in the official Tour de France has mechanics and spare bikes at the ready, hotels to sleep in, all their meals provided and daily massages, Morton was left to his own devices.

A typical day on the Tour de France is about 100 miles. And in the official Tour, buses ferry riders from where one day's stage ends and the next day's stage begins. Morton rode those gaps himself, significantly adding to the total mileage.

There are two rest days on the Tour. Morton had none.

He carried all his clothes and gear on his bike, bought his own food and fixed his own flat tires.

Morton was left to his own devices for camping and buying food each day. He faced profound challenges: rainy days and nights, shortage of supplies and lots of pain. Lucy Le Lievre/Rapha hide caption

Morton was left to his own devices for camping and buying food each day. He faced profound challenges: rainy days and nights, shortage of supplies and lots of pain.

There were profound moments, like having the road to himself, riding through a glorious sunrise in the Alps, when he "felt very lucky to be out there doing what I was doing."

But Morton faced profound challenges as well: rainy days and nights, going to sleep hungry, running out of supplies. Lots of pain.

"I got a sore knee on the first day, which was a pretty significant problem and something that I didn't have a lot of experience with," he tells NPR. He had the idea to buy wider, longer pedals (he actually had to buy a whole bike from a supermarket just to get the pedals) that let his feet move around more and ride in his sandals.

"It turned out to be the perfect solution for my knee problem," Morton says, but then it created another problem: "I got pretty significant blisters from the sandals."

But he made some modifications and was able to make do riding in sandals for most of the journey.

It was all to raise money for World Bicycle Relief, a nonprofit that provides bicycles to people who need them in developing countries.

Morton rode almost all of the days in sandals, which he had to modify after getting blisters — the result of a previous modification of his bike because of a sore knee. Lucy Le Lievre/Rapha hide caption

Morton rode almost all of the days in sandals, which he had to modify after getting blisters — the result of a previous modification of his bike because of a sore knee.

It wasn't his first epic solo ride

It's only the latest zany idea for Morton, who specializes in off-the-beaten-path riding. He's done two of cycling's premier three-week Grand Tours before — the Giro d'Italia in 2020, and the Vuelta a España in 2017 — but gets the most attention for his solo adventures.

In 2019, he went from the bottom to the top of Great Britain, more than 1,200 miles, in under five days of cycling time. Last year, he rode through deserts and massive climbs up mountains on off-road trails in southern Spain , completing 446 miles in 43 1/2 hours, barely stopping at all. He has done epic rides through the Australian Outback , through the Balkans and in Colombia and set a record for the fastest known time on the Kokopelli Trail from Moab, Utah, to Loma, Colo.

A few months into the pandemic last year, with a lot of pro cycling at a standstill, Morton briefly held the record for Everesting — that is, riding a bike numerous times up one hill to reach a total vertical elevation the equivalent of Mount Everest.

Lachlan Morton Sets A Bicycling 'Everesting' Record

He's far from the only bicyclist to embrace extreme endurance events recently. Endurance cyclist Jack Thompson has now overtaken the Tour de France after starting more than a week behind.

Among the many events that require riders to support themselves the whole way, there's the yearly Tour Divide, which runs from Banff, Alberta, Canada, to the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico — about 2,700 miles, done in under 14 days by Mike Hall. And the Trans Am Bike Race, from Oregon to Virginia, done in under 17 days by Abdullah Zeinab. Fiona Kolbinger rode from Bulgaria to France in just over 10 days to win the Transcontinental Race .

Morton rode around 200 miles most days, though sometimes much more. On the final day, he rode 350 miles in about 20 and a half hours. Rapha hide caption

Morton rode around 200 miles most days, though sometimes much more. On the final day, he rode 350 miles in about 20 and a half hours.

But Morton is notable for his platform, leading some to argue that his type of adventure, complete with video documentation, live GPS tracking and a social media boost, is the future of professional cycling.

There's always a place for events like the Tour, he says.

However, "I think there's definitely a space beyond that where you can have top athletes competing in events or challenges or riding their bikes in a way that is still inspiring in the distance or the speed, but it's also a lot more relatable to the way that most people use their bikes," Morton says. "I think the Tour de France is unattainable for 99.9% of athletes. And, you know, you could buy a bike and put some bags on it and go tour France and there's no one that can stop you."

• Tour de France

Rapha abruptly closes North America office and lays off staff

'We are realigning Rapha to better reflect our strategic priorities and current market dynamics' says CEO Francois Convercey

Rapha has abruptly closed its North American office and laid off six of its eight staff as the clothing brand says it is “realigning Rapha to better reflect our strategic priorities and current market dynamics.”

Rapha CEO Francois Convercey told Velo that the layoffs were part of a consolidation plan made by the London-based brand.  

Rapha sells its high-end clothing and other products in the USA via its direct consumer website, eight clubhouses and has recently begun to work with selected retailers. 

Rapha’s customer service will now be managed from the UK, with Bicycle Retailer reporting that this will be outsourced.

Stages Cycling ceases operations and lays off entire staff, report suggests Surprise Specialized sale slashes hundreds of bikes and accessories by 50% New SRAM Red groupset spotted in the wild at Tour de Romandie

Rapha was acquired by the Walton family's RZC Investments company in 2017 but is one of many clothing brands to be hit by the post-COVID-19 market volatility.

In its financial accounts published in November 2023, Ralpha’s trading company Carpegna Ltd posted a pre-tax loss of £12 million, despite significant increase in turnover since RZC acquired Rapha. This marked six years of concurrent loss.

“We are realigning Rapha to better reflect our strategic priorities and current market dynamics. Over the past five years, Rapha has experienced significant growth and these recent changes will focus us on accelerating towards our purpose of inspiring the world to live life by bike," Convercey told Velo , who first reported the news.  

Get The Leadout Newsletter

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

"Organizational changes are always challenging, and I want to extend my gratitude to everyone at Rapha for their hard work — we will do everything we can to support those affected by the organizational changes. U.S. roles in Bentonville were impacted due to the consolidation of resources in London, but NWA [Northwest Arkansas] will remain the home of our North American Headquarters.”

A Rapha spokesperson told Cycling Weekly that the consolidation will not impact the Rapha clubhouse in Bentonville, one of the 22 retail locations the brand operates throughout the world.

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters , Shift Active Media , and CyclingWeekly , among other publications.

New disc brake-equipped Giant Trinity TT bike spotted at Tour de Romandie

Tim Merlier prepares for big-name Giro d'Italia sprint showdown

Tour of the Gila: Tyler Stites wins stage 3 time trial

Most Popular

2-FOR-1 GA TICKETS WITH OUTSIDE+

Don’t miss Thundercat, Fleet Foxes, and more at the Outside Festival.

GET TICKETS

BEST WEEK EVER

Try out unlimited access with 7 days of Outside+ for free.

Start Your Free Trial

Powered by Outside

Rapha North America Abruptly Closes Bentonville Office, Lays Off Staff

Ceo says the brand will continue to have a presence in northwest arkansas but that lay-offs are due to a 'realignment of strategic priorities and current market dynamics.'.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

On April 24, Rapha North America laid off six of the eight employees who worked its Bentonville office with the remaining two employees set to relocate.

Rapha’s CEO Francois Convercey issued the following statement to Velo.

“We are realigning Rapha to better reflect our strategic priorities and current market dynamics. Over the past five years, Rapha has experienced significant growth and these recent changes will focus us on accelerating towards our purpose of inspiring the world to live life by bike.

“Organizational changes are always challenging, and I want to extend my gratitude to everyone at Rapha for their hard work — we will do everything we can to support those affected by the organizational changes. US roles in Bentonville were impacted due to the consolidation of resources in London, but NWA [Northwest Arkansas] will remain the home of our North American Headquarters.”

According to a former employee who asked to speak on the condition of anonymity, six of eight people who worked in the office were “terminated for non-performance reasons” upon arriving to work on April 24. The former Rapha staffer told Velo that in addition terminating his employment, Rapha’s North America Managing Director Tom McMullen said that the current Bentonville office would be closing.

McMullen later told Velo  that the brand was “closing one office and will open another, the office is still open for now and will be until we transition,” he said. He added that the lay-offs were not abrupt but planned, although the employees had not been made aware before April 24.

McMullen will stay with Rapha and take on a different role within the company. The other remaining Bentonville employee works in marketing and will work remotely.

Rapha was founded in 2004 by Simon Mottram . In 2010, the brand opened a North American outpost in Portland, Oregon. In 2020, that office was shuttered, and Rapha opened its downtown Bentonville office , which was housed at 702 SE 5th Street.

The US office first shrunk in size in September 2023 after a swath of global layoffs at the brand. According to Velo’s source, half a dozen customer service representatives in Bentonville were let go during that lay-off, including the manager of the department.

This go round, the remaining customer service team, as well as some positions in marketing and finance, were terminated. The dissolution of the US-based customer service team means that Rapha’s English-speaking customer service department will be outsourced to a London-based company called FoundEver.

Since 2017, the Rapha’s majority owner has been RZC Investments, controlled by Steuart and Tom Walton, the grandsons of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. The Walton brothers have been active in promoting Bentonville as a cycling destination and bike-friendly community. The company also lists Allied Cycle Works and Wahoo as its other cycling-related investments.

Rapha products are sold through its website, its clubhouses and by some bike retailers, including Trek stores and Conte’s Bike Shop locations. The brand owns and operates 21 ‘clubhouses’ around the world, which function as retail space, cafés, and meeting spaces for group rides and community events.

According to a Rapha spokesperson, the clubhouses will not be affected by the recent changes in Bentonville.

In 2019, the brand founded the Rapha Foundation, which has supported 10 cycling-centric non-profits and projects around the world.

Popular on Velo

What’s it like to be an American cyclist living in France? Watch to get professional road cyclist Joe Dombrowski’s view.

Related content from the Outside Network

One way south, mountain bikers react to their first taste of non-alcoholic craft beer, video review: bmc urs 01 two gravel bike, kiel reijnen vuelta video diary: the painful decision to abandon.

• Electric bike
• Gear Minute Videos

Search form

• Industry News
• Announcements
• Retail News
• New Products

Classifieds

You are here, rapha closes bentonville office.

By Betsy Welch

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (VELO) — Rapha has closed its North American office here, but the brand's CEO says the area remains its North American headquarters.

The U.K.-born company, acquired by the Walton family's RZC Investments in 2017, moved its North American headquarters to Bentonville in 2020 . 

This week, the company laid off six of the eight employees at the office, Rapha’s CEO Francois Convercey confirmed to Velo . 

“We are realigning Rapha to better reflect our strategic priorities and current market dynamics. Over the past five years, Rapha has experienced significant growth and these recent changes will focus us on accelerating towards our purpose of inspiring the world to live life by bike," Convercey told Velo. "Organizational changes are always challenging, and I want to extend my gratitude to everyone at Rapha for their hard work — we will do everything we can to support those affected by the organizational changes. U.S. roles in Bentonville were impacted due to the consolidation of resources in London, but NWA [Northwest Arkansas] will remain the home of our North American Headquarters.”

Rapha's remaining customer service team in the U.S., as well as some positions in marketing and finance, were terminated. Rapha’s English-speaking customer service department will be outsourced to a London-based company called FoundEver.

In North America, Rapha products are sold through its website, its clubhouses and by some bike retailers, including Trek stores, Trek's e-commerce site, and Conte’s Bike Shop locations and website. The brand owns and operates 21 "clubhouses" around the world, which function as retail space, cafés, and meeting spaces for group rides and community events.

RZC Investments, controlled by Steuart and Tom Walton, the grandsons of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, also lists Allied Cycle Works and Wahoo as its other cycling-related investments.

According to Companies House, the British agency that handles corporate registrations, Rapha's parent company, CARPEGNA LTD,  had sales of £118 million (about $147 million at the time) in the 12-month period ending January 29, 2023, the latest information available. The figure was down from £138 million in the 12-month preceding period, but up considerably from the £42 million in revenue Rapha recorded in the year RZC acquired the brand.

Full story on Velo . 

Sign up for our newsletter

Restrap gets into the hydration vest market, praxis launches new carbon road crank named for bonny doon road climb, bike-carrier demand helps propel thule's 9% q1 net sales gain, nbda to submit comments to cpsc on behalf of north american retailers regarding e-bike safety regulations, seeks retailers feedback, temu.com recalls some kids' helmets, join the conversation.

Bicycle Retailer and Industry News

Upcoming Events

Download the 2019 Industry Directory

Read the 2021 Sales Training Guide

• Opinion/Analysis
• Product/Tech
• Studies/Reports
• Classifieds Refund Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service
• Staff Directory
• Browse Classifieds
• Submit a Classified

Advertising

• Advertising Info

Save 20% on Bib Shorts

Performance Sportswear

New Arrivals

Bibs, Shorts & Tights

Jackets & Gilets

T-Shirts & Tops

Hoodies & Sweatshirts

Shorts & Trousers

Base Layers

Shoes, Overshoes & Socks

Eyewear & Accessories

Racing & Training - Pro Team

Road & Gravel Riding

Mountain Biking

Adventure Riding

Hoodies, T-Shirts & Tops

Shorts,Trousers & Leggings

Accessories

Shorts, Trousers & Leggings

Read the Story

View the Lookbook

Latest Stories

Product Guides

About Rapha

Athletes & Teams

Rapha Foundation

Social & Environmental Impact

Women's 100

Festive 500

Rapha Prestige Rides

A Day In Hell

RCC Escapes

See all events

What is the RCC?

Discover the Benefits

Get the App

Hire a Bike

See all Clubhouses

Tour de France Guide: Week 3

As the leaves fall from the trees and the sun sets shortly after each day’s stage finish, time is running out for riders to make their mark on this strangest of Tours. As ever, the third week is largely the preserve of the climbers and overall contenders but there are opportunities for the fastmen too. Here’s what to look out for on the run into Paris.

Lyon - Grand Colombier 13.9.20 – 175km

A giant of the Jura, the Grand Colombier didn’t appear on the Tour until 2012 but since then it has become a firm favourite. With a spectacular series of hairpins and commanding views over the Lac du Bourget, it’s picturesque and this year hosts its first summit finish. And with two categorised climbs before the Grand Colombier, it’s sure to be decisive for GC.

Who does it suit?

Will Roglic peak too soon? Will Bernal recover in time? Only time will tell. Our call for this stage is Astana’s Miguel Angel Lopez who has looked very strong every time the road has tilted upwards.

La Tour-du-Pin - Villard-de-Lans 15.9.20 – 164km

The last time the Tour visited these parts, it took on an identical route. Frenchman Laurent Fignon looked to have the title sewn up in 1989 as he won by 24 seconds to extend his lead to nearly a minute. Famously, it wouldn’t be enough. Over three decades later, we can only hope for the same amount of suspense.

With climbs that are hard but not destructive, this stage is fertile ground for an ambush. A strong breakaway specialist or distanced GC favourite might well win. Mikel Landa perhaps?

Grenoble - Méribel Col de la Loze 16.9.20 – 168km

Now here’s a stage for the cycling campaigners, complete with a spectacular piece of new cycling infrastructure which won’t help you on your ride to work but could well prove to be decisive in deciding the winner of this Tour. From Grenoble, we take on the iconic Madeleine followed by an unused ascent to the Col de la Loze, the last eight kilometres of which will be raced on a newly surfaced bike path. What’s not to like?

Altitude comes into play today as the race crests 2,000 metres twice. Logic and last year suggest that this will put the peloton’s Colombian contingent, and perhaps the 2019 winner, to the fore.

Méribel - La Roche-sur-Foron 17.9.20 – 168km

For the final Alpine stage of this year’s race, the ASO have rolled out some of the range’s biggest hitters with the classic combination of the Cormet de Roselend, Saisies and Aravis. Debuted two years ago, the Plateau des Glières is the final climb of the day and also the toughest, sure to cause a GC shake up and reduce the bunch to an elite echelon of overall contenders.

Who’d bet against Wout van Aert pulling on the flat, whittling down the group on the climbs, then galloping away to another stage win. We would, this one’s for his teammate Sepp Kuss.

Bourg-en-Bresse - Champagnole 18.9.20 – 160km

For the sprinters who remain at the start of this stage, it will feel like a long time since that last relatively simple sprinter’s stage. All the more reason to make the most of it. There are a few lumps and bumps on today’s route but nothing to trouble the fastmen who will duke it out in Champagnole, which hosts only its second stage finish, the small matter of 83 years after its first.

Sprints contested by riders with nearly weeks’ racing in their legs are almost another discipline. Ewan, Bennett and Van Aert might have lost some sparkle by now, so we back Kristoff to come good.

Lure - La Planche des Belles Filles 19.9.20 – 191km

It’s been thirty-five years since Bernard Hinault last won the Tour for France, and if there was a stage for that drought to be ended, this is it. We’re in Thibaut Pinot’s backyard in the Vosges for the race’s only time trial and hopefully a finale that runs the iconic battle between LeMond and Fignon close in the drama stakes.

Everyone will be talking about Thibaut but this course suits Roglič to a tee. Hold onto your hats for this one, all bets are off.

Mantes-la-Jolie - Paris 20.9.20 – 122km

The race’s arrival in Paris is by no means certain but if the riders make it, they'll already be two months late. The sprinters’ teams will be making up for lost, working hard to reel in the inevitable breakaway before the biggest set piece sprint of the year on the Champs Elysées.

Can Kristoff bookend his Tour? Might Bennett get lucky? It’s a wide open sprint field this year but, for our money, Caleb Ewan is still the favourite here.

What The Pros Are Wearing

EF Pro Cycling Pro Team Aero Jersey

Made for race days when the slightest aerodynamic advantage can underpin a race-winning move. No ordinary replica, this 2020 team edition is identical to those used by EF Pro Cycling riders at the highest level of competition, from infiltrating the breakaway to sprinting for the finishing line. Smooth fabrics on the front and textured at the back minimise drag to ensure effort equates to speed. The sleek material on the back panel has a directional nap – smooth in one direction, rough in the other – to provide an additional aerodynamic advantage. And we’ve got the palmares to prove it – this jersey has seen the top step at one of cycling’s Monuments and Flanders finest classic, De Ronde.

Hugh Carthy, EF Pro Cycling

EF Pro Cycling Pro Team Bib Shorts II

The only choice for race day. These bib shorts are tried and tested, from the top step of the cobbled Classics to stage wins at Grand Tours. Raced throughout the season by the riders of EF Education First Pro Cycling, these bibs are the ultimate in comfort and performance. Redesigned and refined endlessly over the years, our latest iteration is finely tuned for a competitive advantage yet highly durable to withstand the chaos of the pro peloton, from Belgian cobbles to alpine summits.

Tour de France Guide: Week 1

Fasten your seatbelts for an unusually lumpy first week of racing that will take the peloton from the Med to the Massif Central.

Tour de France Guide: Week 2

If the riders thought the first week was tough, it’s not about to get any easier. As the Tour travels from Lavaur and Lyon, we take you through all that will come in between.