Valverde unveils new world champion's kit
Spaniard rides in the rainbow bands for the first time at sponsor event in Madrid
Alejandro Valverde has unveiled the jersey that he will race in as the new world champion. The Spaniard pulled on his new rainbow kit and rode in it for the first time at a 'Festival of the bike' public event put on by team sponsor Movistar in Madrid on Sunday.
The white jersey features the traditional rainbow bands across the middle, with the Movistar logo and name appearing just above in the blue of their standard issue team jerseys.
The kit was made by Movistar's kit sponsor Endura, and the Scottish company's logo appears on the top left of the chest, while over on the other side are the logo's of the UCI and Movistar's bike supplier, Canyon.
Two blue M's appear on each shoulder, while the logo of telephone company O2, another brand of Movistar's parent company Telefonica, is on each arm. While the normal Movistar shorts are navy, Valverde has opted for black, with the rainbow bands on the trim.
The Scotland based Endura company gave an insight into the process of making a world champion's kit, explaining that ideas were bounced around in the aftermath of Valverde's Worlds victory in Innsbruck last Sunday, and the design process was kicked off on Monday morning. From start to finished product, the process took less than the 6 hours 46 minutes it took Valverde to win the world title.
Endura use a process called dye sublimation printing, whereby "a mix of heat and pressure transfers hi-tech inks from printed sheets straight into the fabric itself".
Valverde is set to race in the new kit for the first time at the Tre Valli Varesine in Italy on Tuesday, ahead of Il Lombardia on Saturday.
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